“What business do you have in Talt young lady? The largest of the two guards asked.
Thessa set down her bag, “I am a traveler just passing through. I thought I might patron one of your inns, the Hunter and Hound?”
“So, you are just traveling through for a day and night’s stay?”
“I have never been to Talt before. I thought I might explore the shops and see what the city has to offer. I could stay a few days.”
“If you plan to stay more than one day, I need to take down your name.”
“My name is Zarina Deshane, and this is my cat, Sarren.”
Oh, you couldn’t change my name?
“Well now, I had not noticed the kitty. You might want to carry her through the streets to the inn. We have many dogs roaming the city that might chase it.” He reached down and pat Sarren on the head.
“She will take her chances.” Thessa said cheerfully. She imagined Sarren scowled at her, but the cat said nothing to her.
“Suit yourself, miss. The Hunter and Hound is down the Main Street to your left; you can’t miss it.”
“Thank you kind sir.” She said with a slight genuflect.
“Now, don’t go gettin’ into trouble or I will have to come after you.” He said.
“I won’t.” She said back, wondering if the guard was flirting with her. She couldn’t tell. She would have to ask Sarren about it at the inn if she was paying attention. She might have been too upset at her to notice.
Sarren stayed unusually close to her legs as Thessa made her way up the street to the Hunter and Hound Inn. The guard was right, it was not difficult to find. She went in, set up her payment for her accommodations, and a entered the room. It was pleasant and not at all dusty or stuffy. There was a table with two chairs, a chest of drawers with a water pitcher on top, a bed large enough for two people to sleep on comfortably, and a window with a pane big enough for Sarren to sit on and stare out. She put her things on the bed.
You could have carried me.
“You killed a man, I doubt a dog will be a challenge for you.”
Sarren went to the window pane and hopped up on it. It will be dark in a couple of hours. Are you sure you want to do this?
“I have to stop Tanyth and appease Cassany, and I have a few reasons of my own. Yes, I want to do this. Are you going to be able to come along with me or are you scared of street dogs?”
Ha, you’re funny. I will come along with you, but I expect you to take care of me should there be any trouble with canines of any type.
“It’s a deal.”
Chapter 20: The Way is East
When Ephaltus returned to Crysinnia, he decided the best course of action would be to secure a ride on a ship to the Sunken Lands. He had already been gone from the Arsenal of the Way for too long, and the trip back by caravan would take another month. The dryads would be furious with him if he traveled another month by ship to the Sunken Lands, and then it would probably take two months from there to return to the Arsenal. Marlee had not contacted him with any problems. Perhaps if he checked in with her, he could plan whether to travel on or return home. There was one more alternative. He could have Marlee contact the Grey Mage. Perhaps he could convince Asleth to make a portal and take him to the east coast, or even to the city of Arnost on the main island of the Sunken Lands. It would be a misuse of his power as Tourney Master, and he wasn’t sure it was ethical either. Using one of the mage’s powers for the personal gain of a Tourney Master was unheard of and would certainly be frowned upon at the least. He decided his desire to travel would have to wait. He needed to go back to the Arena and check in before he could finish his quest to find the seventh god, so he packed up his things and evoked his arcane magic to return to the Arsenal of the Way. He could return to the origin point in the arsenal as long as he was still the Tourney Master.
The end destination of the portal placed Ephaltus in the main chamber of the Arsenal of the Way. He took his things, including the scrolls and parchments he collected in the pocket dragon chamber before he headed for the Earth Chamber living quarters. There he found Marlee at the dining table, scribing words onto parchment. She was so engrossed in her work that she started when Ephaltus let the great wooden door close.
“Hey, you frightened me. How did your errand go?”
“It went well; however, I am afraid it led me to yet another long term errand to the east.” He glanced at her writing. “How did it go here?”
“Nothing to report. The mages are all doing well, taking into account the tragic circumstances of some.”
“It’s all part of the process. I have seen Cassany do much worse to her champions in order to get them to comply with her twisted will. The trick for us is not to interfere unless it’s absolutely warranted.”
“That’s just it. How do we know what’s warranted and what is manipulation on our part?”
“It’s tough call, but essentially, if the gods or mages do something to disrupt or something that can potentially
