Northbound Pilgrimage III

Chapter XX - The Golden Stag

There was one good thing about what happened to Gandrehel.

After her unexpected confession in her house, Bishop, Aeyrin and her were all chained and brought to the garrison. Gandrehel even got her nose healed by a priest there, but guards remained in her mansion to collect evidence.

Aeyrin and Bishop were still worried during the questioning. She could change her mind about fessing up. Everything could become more complicated if she suddenly changed her story. But they had no way of knowing that. So they told the only thing they could – the truth.

Not the complete truth, of course.

Bishop said Gandrehel invited him to her house and Aeyrin admitted that she saw him enter. The guards did ask why Bishop went in at all, but fortunately they were satisfied with the explanation that he needed some information from her, unrelated to the poisons.

They had to tell the guards about their soul gem rings and how they worked. They were useless now, of course. Such a damn shame. But who knew what would have happened if Bishop didn't shatter his? The guards were satisfied with their explanations of the rings' working and with Aeyrin showing them her extinguished one and Bishop his shattered one. They did want to keep the rings as 'evidence', though it was obvious they were more interested in selling them to some interested mage. But who actually cared? The rings were useless and if someone wanted to study the technique, there was nothing bad about that. It was nothing harmful.

The rings were taken and Bishop and Aeyrin were kept in the garrison for an hour or two after that, still chained and waiting. Apparently the guards were questioning Gandrehel all this time.

It was an excruciating wait, but after someone approached them, they were finally released. Of course, Aeyrin did get fined a hundred drakes for taking matters into her own hands, despite the guards' understanding. She still broke into the mansion and beat up Gandrehel.

But they were just happy with that result. Gandrehel was going to prison, apparently, which didn't exactly feel like vindication anymore. Not after it became clear that all her actions were born out of fear of Duful.

But that was the good thing about her fate, no matter how odd it was to think about it this way.

From prison, she would have no chance to contact Duful and warn him about Bishop looking for him – no matter how afraid she was of him.

At least they hoped as much. Corrupt guards were always a possibility, but hopefully Gandrehel would feel safe enough in the prison not to bring more of Duful's attention to herself.

And all that should at least remain true until Bishop finally found the clan. He knew where they should be now.

The two of them spent one more night in Cheydinhal after their interrogation, before they headed out into the wilderness again. Bravil wasn't very close, but they should get there in two days' time.

It wasn't very comforting though.

Aeyrin had been dreading this ever since Gandrehel uttered the word. Bravil. She shuddered just at the thought of that.

She had only been in the city once. And it was enough for a lifetime. She never hoped to return there.

But there was no other choice. They had spent so much time here chasing after the clan, she could not refuse to continue now when they were likely close at last.

The one night they could spend in the wilderness was a blessing before they had to settle in that awful town. And for the first time ever, she actually welcomed the full Secunda approaching soon. That meant one thing – no matter what, she could not stay in Bravil longer than one night. Not before she needed to leave and distance herself from everyone.