Ruins In The End (We Three Mages, Book Two)

Chapter Eleven: The Legend's Legacy

"So this was how you located Messa's house so quickly?" Mari whistled. Nadia had taken point and lead her friends through the desert.

"Saved us a lot of time," Nadia answered. Nadia had cast a seeing enchantment, which allowed her to see two miles in the direction she looked. "Has a few drawbacks, but ultimately a useful—" Nadia tripped on a rock.

"I take it one of those drawbacks is not being able to see what's right in front of you?" Calvin laughed.

"Unfortunately," Nadia sighed from the ground. Jared and Mari both helped her back to her feet.

"Devin, can you be her seeing eye person?" Mari asked. Devin just nodded; he hadn't talked much since he found out about his parents. Devin placed Nadia's hand on his shoulder.

"I won't let you fall again," Devin promised her.

"I know you won't," Nadia smiled. As the five walked along, Devin began to open a little bit more and the more he talked, the more like him he seemed.

"Wait, so Mari told this Messa that she and Nadia are the Mages of Legend?" Jared asked Devin.

"The look on Mari's face once Messa came out of her house was priceless," Devin giggled. "It was the look of regret."

"Hey, hey, hey, it got her to train us, didn't it not?" Mari had to laugh along with them. "Besides, even after we showed her our Books and robes, she still didn't believe us."

"I would love to meet Messa some time," Calvin grinned, "she sounds like a hoot!"

"Stop!" Nadia commanded everyone.

"What?" Jared ran up next to her.

"There's a group of people ahead, they're resting at a lagoon," Nadia squinted to get a better look.

"Which country are they from?" Mari asked.

"I can't tell," Nadia replied.

"Then we'll need a closer look," said Jared.

Calvin, Nadia, and Devin had snuck up behind one of the tents. Nadia peered around and took a quick head count.

"Fifteen," she whispered to Calvin and Devin.

"Alright, my turn?" Calvin asked and Nadia nodded in return. Calvin took hold of Devin's sword and stealthily used it to draw a ring around the unknown's set up. As he did so, he left little floating barrier disks behind. When he came back, the disks had connected. Nadia then touched the one nearest to them and had them multiply until they encompassed the unknown's camp.

All clear, Nadia Telepathed the other two. Soon, Mari and Jared had joined up with the three. "Calvin and I set up a screen so we're invisible to these people," Nadia whispered. "They shouldn't hear us either, but keep your voice down just in case."

"Are we gonna attack or what?" Jared asked, ready to go.

"I think they're just traveling through," Nadia shook her head.

"I'll place some tracking charms on a few of their wagons to be on the safe side," Calvin slipped away. When he came back, Jared teleported everyone a good half mile ahead of the strangers and the five continued on their way. It wasn't until a day later that Calvin brought up the mysterious caravan.

"Guys...they're practically following in our footsteps," Calvin warned everyone.

"Are they following us?" Mari asked.

"No, Nadia's been covering our footprints since we saw them last so there's no way they know we're out here," Calvin had a worried look on his face.