The newly appointed King Bakugo led his posse of intrepid rescuers out to the Dark Lands territory in the wee hours of the morning, before it was even light yet.
The group total numbered the two mythical creatures; Camie, of course; Tai Lee; Mai (who seemed to have nothing better to do); Tohru, one of Camie's tribe's top stealth experts who'd they'd met on their previous quest; and a Barbarian who's name was Arden and didn't say much. He just carried two pieces of flint stone in his hands at all times.
["Arden" means "fiery".]
The rock quarries where the stronghold was were about 20 miles away, so, by dragon, it took them only about half the part of an hour to get close, then they had to go on foot.
Camie covered them all in strong illusion magic so that they'd blend in.
"Want me to scout ahead and find the part of the stronghold where they keep prisoners?" Tohru asked.
"I was just about to order that," Bakugo said. Since they were trying to be quiet, he was speaking in a low growl instead of shouting.
"Oh, if you're going to do that, use this." Mai pulled something out of her belt. "I filched this off these merchants from the East two weeks ago."
She held up what looked like two large seashells.
"Stolen from a mermaid cavern, they said," she said, in her bland voice. "They use them to communicate underwater. They say if you talk or listen into one, you can hear anyone from anywhere. It's magic."
[My sister told me DND actually can have communication stones or other devices--I did not know that before I wrote this.]
"Those are priceless," Camie said. "You didn't sell them?"
"I didn't think selling something that useful would be smart when the Dark Forces are everywhere. What if they got them?" Mai said.
"Mai, you brilliant bandit." Camie was impressed. "I should promote you."
"Whatever." Mai didn't seem to care for compliments.
"Only two?" Mina said.
"You want to say only two when we have something that impressive?" Ei was in awe.
"I just meant that we can't split up into more than two groups," Mina said.
"We only need two if I'm going ahead." Tohru took one. "So I just talk into it?"
She tried this.
Camie put the other one up to her ear. "Oh...I really can hear you.... This is so on fire."
"On fire?" Mina said.
"Because it's a hot idea," Camie said.
Mina still didn't get it. Bandit speak really made no sense to her at all.
"Just get going, Useless," Bakugo told Tohru grumpily.
"I'm not useless if I'm going." Tohru stuck out her tongue at him. "But away I go."
She turned invisible, and they saw the grass and dirt under her feet move as she sprang away, nimble as a deer.
"I have great servants," Camie commented, leaning on a rock.
It felt like a long time ticked by before the shell made a sound again.
Camie held it up to her ear.
"Slow down, sister," she said. "Uh uh....uh huh....yes.... Oooh, that's not good..."
"What is it?" Bakugo demanded impatiently.
"I'm on the shell, Mister." Camie gave him an annoyed glance.
