The Phoenix and the Lamb

Chapter 16

Disclaimer: I do not own Cult of the Lamb. I am simply a fan of the game. I was inspired by Jbrine061. Please check out her story. She is amazing. Now onto the story.
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Edan had returned to his Cult once more. He had wanted to build a few things before going to fight the final acolyte and then Leshy. Thanks to Ratau's teachings and guidance, he was getting the hang of being a cult leader. The followers were happy as well, unless they were on clean up duty...

What bothered him now was how to see Ebany again. He was happy to see her in his dream, but he wanted to see his sister in real life. Once he had finished, he would ask Ratau about it. Perhaps Clauneck would have answers with the cards of what is to happen? He had met Clauneck after venturing to Darkwood. A mysterious being with the power to read what the fates say through the tarot cards he drew. After contemplating, he decided to make his way to Ratau's home first. Unlike Ebany, he hadn't thought of Forneus' traveling route just yet. He hadn't encountered the motherly cat just yet.

Edan made the trip to the rat's hut. Upon reaching his destination, Edan knocked on the door and waited for an answer. Ratau wasn't expecting visitors so a knock surprised him. He got up and answered, seeing the lamb there. "Ah, Edan! Welcome!" He said. It was always nice to see the lamb!

"Hello, Ratau! How are you?" Edan asked.

"Glad to be retired!" He smiled. "Say, ye ever play knucklebones?"

"Um, no. I can't say that I have." Edan replied.

Ratau only grinned. "Come sit! I'll teach ya the basics."

"Okay." Edan nodded and followed him inside. Ratau led him to a hexagonal table in the middle of the room. "Sit, I'll set up." Ratau told Edan. Edan nodded and sat the table. The rat came back with some dice and explained the rules of the game.

Taking turns, a player rolls one of the dice and they must place it in a column on their board. Once a column is filled, it will not except any more dice. The score is the sum of the dice values on the board. Edan listened as Ratau explained the rest of the rules. The lamb felt a bit of nostalgia as he remembered when he and Ebany would play board games on rainy days. Rune would sleep after getting bored of watching them. Benjy would defeat them both and leave the two wondering how he did it every time.

Ratau rolled first. "So. What brings ye to my shack?"

"I wanted to ask you about something. It's a bit of a long story." Edan said, taking his turn once Ratau had finished.

"I'm all ears!" Ratau said.

"I met someone after I escaped the attack on my home... She helped me hide for three months before the Old Faith found us. She's the sister that gave me the name, 'Edan'. We aren't blood related but we bonded in the last three months. It was safe until cultists showed up in the village nearby. Ebany gathered supplies and we planned where we would go once we were ready. Unfortunately, we were found while traveling. The Hunter that attacked my village took one of her feathers once she was incapacitated and they took me away... I had a dream with her the other night, we talked, I got to tell her that I was ok and alive, and how it happened. We tried to make a plan to meet up, but I don't want any of the Bishops to find out." Edan frowned. "They took me and left her on the road on the way to the next village... She's okay now, but I still want to see her."

Ratau listened and nodded and took his turn. "And yer hopin' I can help ya come up with a plan?"

Edan nodded. "Yes. You're more familiar with these lands than I am. Is there any route that Ebany could take to avoid detection? The Bishops will sense her presence the second she enters like when Leshy found me. Can you help me?"