Chapter 3: The Brave Companions do Battle against a Traitor

Chapter 3: The Brave Companions do Battle against a Traitor
They were surrounded by shadows and the living dead upon the beach of the Hidden Harbor, but the fight was short lived. The light from the Radiant Favor of the Gods frightened the foul undead creatures, who were destroyed as they fled or were stunned by it's holy light. However, many of the people were killed and pyres were built in sadness for their deaths. Hien had acquired the loyalty of a Nezumi family whose lives she had saved from the shadows. Otylia and Red both tried to return to the plantation, but were stopped by the shadows that took refuge in the depths of the forest. Driven to madness, they returned to the beach where an old Nezumi sage took care of them. Red was bound and gagged as they rode through her madness.
The next day the Sea Cow arrived to pick up the slaves, and there was much rejoicing. After an arduous journey they were glad to return to free civilization, which they had not been to in many years, or their entire lives. The companions decided to spread out and enjoy the offers of the city. Darius and Red wandered about the slums, telling their stories. Quynh ventured to the monastery to relate her tales and pray. Hien terrorized a librarian, entering a private Imperial library to research the Magistrate Antipheros. And Otylia enjoyed the citylife, engaging with the merchants and nobles.

At night, they all rejoined to account their tales of the day. It was learned that the slaves were to become villagers, using the land they had been given by the Emperor to form a hamlet outside of the city. Hien instructed her new servants to care for the land in her stead. Meanwhile, Red arranged a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Census, who was interested in the affairs of this new village. Now they will have to face their greatest challenge yet, the gathering of proper manners for meeting a proper Minister of the Bureaucracy.

How the meeting faired will be related to in the next chapter.

Link To Log