More diplomacy graced the mountain between her decision to leave, and Veleria actually doing so. Now that the winter had passed Caed would return to Ashvale, where he would assist the lich alongside Wren. He claimed he was doing this for payment, but despite coin changing hands, Veleria knew him better.
Ashvale was safer than his cabin and he wanted to be nearby upon her return. She was pleased to know someone would be waiting for her.
Days after he had gone, Veleria and Althalos Cromwell were in the room where they previously trained. She had packed a single change of clothes. Both the set in her pack and the ones she was wearing were reinforced. Everything else she chose to leave here, knowing they would be safe in Cromwell’s care. The mask leered out from her belt.
Soon after, a single black-eyed raven landed on her shoulder.
It is different than my usual summons. Knowing what this Corvus has seen, I suspect they will be less inclined to shoot a normal bird out of the sky.
A bright blue circle of complicated sigils wove itself beneath her feet. Gliding back, Cromwell began to complete the spell.
I am placing you in the densest portion of the forestry surrounding Hogsfeet. My familiar will guide you to Lindow, but the moment you arrive you must heed the Stranger and wear the mask. No matter what you cannot remove it in the presence of others.
“Got it,” said Veleria. She had a death grip on the straps of her backpack. Internally she could feel her passenger, and she was comforted to know that Caellach was apprehensive too.
From here on out they would only have each other.
Veleria closed her eyes.
Her stomach dropped instantly.
Suddenly she was on all fours and nearly ready to vomit. The foliage between her fingers caused her pause, and as Veleria opened her eyes she realized that she was no longer inside the mountain.
To think that Edgar of all people would master such mysteries.
Rarely did they speak directly, but Veleria was glad to find Caellach communicating. Before responding herself, she removed the Stranger’s mask and set it on her face.
It was horrible. Lithe fingers pierced her skull as a cold chill spread across her body, causing Veleria to grimace and actively stop her body from heating as a fear response.
Then it was over. Blinking, Veleria looked around the canopy of trees once more, suddenly unsure if she was even wearing the Stranger’s mask at all. When she looked down at herself she saw her skin was rather pale, her clothes were more light and simplistic, and what she could see of her hair was no longer black, but white with an odd strawberry undertone.
“An elf,” said the Stranger. He was in front of her in the guise of Reaver. “Expertly designed to appeal to a rather specific individual. You will understand what I mean when you see him.”
He was gone again, and Veleria sighed. Above her on a short branch, Cromwell’s familiar preened while it waited.
"Just one bad experience after another,” Veleria shook her head. “Magic really takes the piss out of you.”
An apt description.
The sound that she heard from him left her still. Was he chuckling? Had she made a godlike being laugh? With a smile of her own pulling at her lips, Veleria turned her head towards the bird.
“Let’s get moving,” she told it.
It took off, and Veleria followed dutifully.
* * *
Three months had passed since Adrian landed in their care. While they figured it would take time for Veleria to arrive if she was, in fact, within Mt. Yelugh, still Corvus began to worry. Cromwell had sent two familiars after him, one of which had found them in Lindow.
Sat before them, they had bound Adrian tightly to a chair. Both of his hands were tied individually and he couldn’t move his fingers much, if at all. He had gotten out twice. Both times Vos’iin had nearly beaten him half to death.
They had since dosed him multiple times. Most of the time he was silent as a result, but Corvus caught the man crying on numerous occasions. He certainly had his demons.
How many of these nightmares referenced his father, or the slowly rotting whore that Reaver had seeded with him?
Corvus bit their nail while resting their boots on Adrian’s unwitting lap. They had to keep up hope that the girl would come. Otherwise, they and Vos’iin would most certainly come to blows. The elf was a loose cannon. Each day he grew more and more agitated. He had already killed people in town, a number of which Corvus had disposed of.
Then there was that woman he brought in. He beat her, raped her, and killed her far more slowly than Corvus would have preferred. They had thought Raker was a problem, but at least the shapeshifter kept their nasty habits far from the demesne, and respected Alk’Hath and her people enough not to indulge in front of them.
He was a “good dog,” unlike Vos’iin who was nearly feral.
As they considered their options, they absentmindedly touched a cold silver chain around their neck, pulled downward by an emerald gem Alk’Hath had lent them. Contacting the sorceress was their last option. If the girl did not show, then they had to confirm the situation, and hopefully any punishment Alk’Hath doled out would be minimal.
Worst part being they would have to let Adrian go. With all they had done to the man, if they were lucky he wouldn’t immediately side with Cromwell and begin destroying their advantages in the surrounding areas.
No, thought Corvus. She has to come. Why else would Cromwell go through all this fucking trouble just to look after this drunkard?
This had also been the sorceress’s idea.
Alk’Hath knew Veleria better than any of them.