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Story Update:
At the other end of the Lands of Guem (from the previous chapter), where the cold winter prevailed. Since the defeat of Sol'ra, the Amethyst glacier suffered no more under the influence of stone that fell from the sky. The fate of Ice Elf people was no longer to be feared; along with the reformation of ice, the different tribes resumed their former territories. Slowly, but surely life on the glacier returned to normal. Outside the snow fell slowly, a thin snow visibly chilled the bones of the poor merchants that came to negotiate with the . This ice elf, like all of the rest of her entire race was not afraid of the cold and as a result she watched great fun with these men and women from the south to trade with it. The Master-Linker now governed the northern trade route between the ice elves and other peoples of Lands of Guem, which gave her great power. A merchant delivered a number of letters from elsewhere. Among these letters, one attracted the attention Laelyse it came from Castle Kaes and wore a very special seal of the Stone Linkers.
"Dear Master-Linker Laelyse,
Just like you have asked me too, I have conducted an investigation into the activities of in whom the Board has entrusted the reins of the guild. Various witnesses and Master Maen’s words have not given me any evidence as to whether he would use the resources of the guild for personal benefit. However, everything leads me to believe he's hiding something. I do not know his goals or if it officially involves the guild in the conflict against the Equinoxiens to increase the influence of the Stone Linkers guild in the Council, his actions, often personal, are not playing in his favor. After checking some of his reports to the Board they seem have simply never been written and when they have been written in a fragmentary manner. Your fellow men feel the same way as me and so I serve as an intermediary between you. The Board therefore requests you to support Master Maen in his mission and find out what he's up to.
Please destroy this letter after you have read it.
Yours truly,
. "
Laelyse crumpled the parchment, while igniting it with magic. This journey did not appeal to her, because she had a lot to do here with the other ice elves. But she had chosen a life of adventure and this was an opportunity for her to see the world. In addition, she could not refuse an assignment given to her by the Stone Linker’s Board. She spent the rest of the day organizing her trade, her assistant, a member of the guild, would remain on site to perform various minor transactions. Once she had finished, she equipped herself in preparation for her trip and activated an to journey to the other side of the world in a blink of an eye.
At Castle Kaes, well over a thousand leagues from the Amethyst Glacier, Master Maen, , , and exchanged ideas about Eredan, his family, and what they must do to achieve answers.
“Come now, Ciramor, you have agreed to join us in this adventure, so it's time to tell us more about Eredan,” insisted Master Maen in a honeyed voice.
“What would you like to know?” asked the Guardian.
“Start with Eredan that seems a like good place. How did you meet?
Ciramor frowned; the question to him seemed devoid of meaning.
“You already know that, stop testing me. I've never met Eredan, what I know I owe the previous Guardian.”
“Yes, I know, I know that is what you told the group that was left in charge of the search for that you met. You lied to them about the Stoneeater, you knew he was not a creation of Eredan is that correct?”
“What difference does it make?”
“Many things, we will leave together, and although you are a Guardian, I think that this is perhaps not the truth, because you have lied repeatedly, I want to check if we are not running a risk by letting you into our group.”
Ciramor who was sitting in a chair slowly stood a stern look in his face. “You doubt my words and my status? May I remind you that it was I who protected the Lands of Guem by containing the Nehant inside of me to confront ? It was I who had helped to find Stoneeater? And also fight against the Equinoxiens? And I have the !” He said in a tone of challenge, showing the famous magical, old stick, which was a possession of Eredan. (, , )
Master Maen smiled.
“Do not get angry, Guardian, I just wanted to see your reaction to be called a liar.
At that moment someone knocked at the door vigorously. Without waiting for an answer Laelyse entered. Her entry into the room caused it to get colder, both literally and figuratively speaking. Master Maen had not expected such a visit.
“Master Linker, we salute you,” said Maen as he bowed along with Temujin and Catalyna.
The ice elf bowed in turn to follow the protocol that was set in place within the guild.
“Dear friends it has been a long time, I'm really glad to see you. Are you Ciramor, the Guardian?” She asked looking at the only person there that wasn’t a Stone Linker.
“I am... Master Linker? What is your position within your guild; I must have a very poor knowledge of your organization.”
“Let me tell you,” said Maen. “The Stone Linkers have different roles within the guild and there are several levels. At the head of the guild there is a Management Board, composed of ten members who hold the title of Master Linker, who for the most part are all rich people. Below this is a representative of the guild that leads according to the objectives of the Board. I currently hold that position. Then the rest of the guild forms what is called the base. Their role is very important, because it is the foundation that transmits information to me and acts on behalf of the Board.”
“I see, so you are part of the Board... Laelyse. A courtesy call? Asked Ciramor.
“No, not at all. Do you see me being part of the Board right now? I am also, like any Stone Linker somebody who loves adventure. When I first caught wind of your adventures, Master Maen, I desired to join you from the bottom of my heart to share your route. So here I am to join your group.”
This news did not suit Maen, far away the Board he suspected was trying to control his actions. But the man was clever and he showed none of his annoyance.
“With pleasure. We were discussing about Eredan looking for any useful information that would allow us to locate Aelle. Do you know who Aelle is?” Said Maen to the attention of Laelyse.
“What little information you have given in your scarce reports.”
“Ciramor, do you have anything to say about her? Maen questioned.
“I know how to locate her, but for this we will have to go into the residence of Eredan. I knew the existence of that place before you went there Maen. As Guardian, I would be able to speak Eredan assistant, who knows more than you can imagine. The magic that was used is the same as that previously permitted the creation of Zil with respect to Artrezil. The two mages who developed this technique together with the assistances of a Guardian is a kind of ... prototype." ()
“Let's start with that. It was not possible for me to place a Stone Linker overnight stele directly in front of the house Eredan, therefore I placed it a safe distance from the Nehant's prison, but close enough to significantly shorten our trip.
The group had gone hundreds of miles in only a few moments, thanks to the guidance of Maen, to get to the former home of Eredan. Ciramor admired the building that had been described to him many times. He knew all about it, who lived there before, the number of rooms, the existence of the assistant, and some other secrets, but he had never set foot because until that moment he had no idea of the whereabouts of the home of Eredan. He carefully examined the front and soon realized he felt like he was home here.
“Follow me; I'll lead you to the assistant.” Maen said motioning to everyone.
“No need, I think I could travel through this building eyes closed. But please go on ahead. Oh, do not touch anything and do not take anything that is here,” ordered Ciramor.
One after the other the Stone Linkers and Ciramor progressed along the corridors until they reached Eredan office. Immediately, the magic assistant materialized and greeted the group.
“Welcome, Stone Linkers and Guardian.”
All eyes turned to Ciramor.
“ Hello, Assistant, I do not have to introduce myself, you know who I am.”
“Absolutely, I am your Guardian service.”
“Do you know where Aelle is?”
“Yes Guardian, am I allowed to talk in front your companions?”
“Yes, you can.”
“Aelle accompanied Eredan into the Confines sometime after the end of the war against the Nehant.”
“Where in the Confines?”
“In the stronghold of Amber Blue.”
“Amber Blue ... I know where that is, I'm already gone. Tell me assistant, has Aelle come back here since her departure into the Confines?”
“Yes, guardian, she returned several times. Then one day her visits ceased.”
“Aelle has she had an offspring with Eredan?”
“Yes, a boy.”
“Here in the Land of Guem?”
“No within the Confines.”
“What's his name?”
“Guardian, I am sorry, not authorized to disclose that information, even to you.”
“Aelle has blocked this information?”
“Yes, Guardian.”
Ciramor paused for a moment then resumed.
“Amber Blue that is where the tomb of Eredan is. His family still would find it. Do you have any questions Master Linker? Master Maen?”
“No,” said Laelyse, “let’s get moving.”
“You don’t want to know how to get to Amber Blue?” Wondered Ciramor.
Maen and Laelyse exchanged uneasy glances, then Laelyse concluded the discussion.
“We know perfectly how to get there, our overnight steles are not limited to Lands of Guem ...”
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Ty Boadicea for the awesome farewell gift. Now just to think up an avatar to go with it. Anyway, I'm still a Sap/Nomad/Pirates fan and user.
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