Eight Intertwined

153 - Eternal

When morning came, it was easy enough to decide that the travelers would not be moving on to Wellspring right way. Such a thing could have easily been possible had Primrose not been stabbed, but because of her injuries, the group needed a bit more time to recuperate. Therion had overheard Alfyn saying that Primrose's wound was worse than Cyrus' had been after the same amount of time. Apparently, Simeon had drugged her with some kind of agent through the tip of the blade. It had immobilized and weakened her greatly at the time, and while Alfyn had largely managed to clear it out of Primrose's system, she still needed to recover before she could get back on her feet again. 

Unfortunately for Therion, he knew it didn't matter how long the group stayed in Noblecourt. One way or another, they would be going to Wellspring to investigate the black market trade there next. Given how poorly their trip to the Obsidians' mansion had ended, they couldn't risk going to another town and giving up another member of their team's safety in the name of a distraction. The most they would be able to get in was a battle against one of the two gods they had not yet faced, though Therion was more than fine with that. He didn't know what to expect from the inevitable battle at the black market, but he knew he would need to be at his best if he wanted to come out of it in one piece. The last few fights had been intense enough, and the group needed every advantage they could get their hands on. 

Therion knew realistically that he should have spent this time resting. Alfyn and Ophilia had done a fine job of healing him after he was nearly killed by Miguel, but his injuries had not yet fully mended themselves. It would have been in his best interests to remain in bed for as long as he could... But Therion couldn't just do that. If he sat alone with his thoughts in the inn, then he would just end up feeling worse, and he was miserable enough as it was. What he needed right now was a distraction, and walking around the city in search of something to do was as good a way to pass the time as any. Hopefully, it would keep him from spiraling into the miserable depths of his own mind. He didn't know if he would be that lucky, but he could certainly hope for it. 

There was a small part of Therion that wanted to go and visit with Barham and Orlick again. According to Cyrus and Tressa, the latter had finally snapped out of his trance once the dragonstone was taken away from him. Apparently, the dragonstone's effects were far worse than any of them could have imagined. Once Therion got his hands on the emerald dragonstone at the black market, he would need to take it back to Cordelia and Heathcote immediately to make sure it didn't start acting out because it was alone. The effects of the dragonstones were at their most poisonous when the gems were isolated from their sisters, and Therion really didn't want to have to deal with any of his friends becoming the emerald jewel's newest victims. They had been victimized more than enough by the events of the last few days as far as Therion was concerned. 

Since he wasn't in much of a talking mood, the thief wandered aimlessly throughout the streets of Noblecourt, frowning against his scarf all the while. The atmosphere of the city was already changing for the better even so soon after Albus' death. The people were only hearing whispers and rumors of the lord having fallen in an unknown battle against mysterious assassins, but it was enough to help them finally relax. They were too glad to hear Albus was dead to even care about the potential danger his killers could have brought. The travelers wouldn't have ever raised their blades against the townsfolk, but the people didn't know that. Even so, Therion was glad no one had thought to assume it. As small as it was, it helped his self-esteem in a strange way he couldn't quite describe. 

As it turned out though, Albus' death wasn't the only reason for the people of Noblecourt to celebrate. A traveling performing troupe had come to town, and a few citizens of the city were talking and buzzing with one another at the idea of going to see the show. The performance's entrance fee was set to be rather cheap, making it the perfect entertainment for the people of Noblecourt who struggled so desperately to make ends meet under Albus' intense scrutiny. Therion had never been one for circus shows, but if he had been, he would have suggested that the rest of the travelers go with him to see the performance. Maybe that would have been the extra boost to morale they needed. It certainly was nice to think about if nothing else.