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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Spider_Jerusalem" data-source="post: 2435346" data-attributes="member: 5507">"Where did you get that staff?”Vaerana and Torious were already ahead of their companions as they pulled the villagers to their feet and herded them towards the entrance. Thalin dashed out into the grey night of the blizzard. Holding Erifeci aloft, Thalin cried “Eci!” and drove the crystal end into the knee-deep snow. For a moment nothing happened, then with a pulse of energy that popped Thalin’s ears, a perfect circle of snow melted in an instant and flowed towards the edges of the spell, where it quickly re-froze. The mage left the staff and helped move who he could out of harms way.The villagers stumbled into the sanctuary, the darkness of the blizzard that whirled around them transforming into a light rain as it entered the bubble. The ceiling gave way as Milo vaulted the last few feet to safety. The adventurers watched the rush of ice surround them and flow over the magical dome in a thunderous tunnel. Before he had time to breath a sigh of relief, Thalin felt a bony hand clutch at his arm, and turning to look at the aged face of Errilinth. He managed a weak smile as she carefully placed Erifeci back into his hands. The burnt man’s warning of You cannot trust that woman in red melted into Thalin’s thoughts and he fought to gather his wits about him.“Where did you get that staff?” asked Errilinth.“It was passed on to me” answered Thalin.“I understand,” Errilinth smiled thinly, “truly I do”"Then you won't touch the staff again," commanded Thalin."Oh no," laughed Errilinth, "the staff will not answer to me anyway""Wait. You know of this staff?" asked Thalin, holding Erifeci between them. "A great many things. But you must understand that right now we are like hunted mice in a meadow," whispered Errilinth, "certain words could give our position away surer than if we had lit a pyre.""What do you mean mice in a meadow?""We are watched, that is all.""So be it. We must talk further of this, and soon. My quest to Tilverton hangs on the last words of a dying mage and nothing more. I need to know more of what it is I must do.""Soon Thalin, soon."Errilinth forced a dry laugh, and turned back to the children of the village. Thalin watched as the old woman pointed out the way they would next be travelling to the children, informing them of the wonderful views they would get when they crossed through the next pass. Wondering whether this woman was a threat at all, he turned back to the remainder of the villagers and was surprised to see them looking at him, their eyes expectant. He knew what he had to do.Breathing deeply, Thalin looked at every villager in turn, “We can stay here no longer. We must reach lower ground. The town of Ilinvur only lies a few days walk away, we should make shelter by night fall if we do not stop.”“Thalin,” said Mikka, stepping closer to the mage and placing a hand on his back, “these people need rest. If we travel now we must stop at daybreak”Thalin sighed heavily and glanced at the tired faces surrounding him. He knew it was true. “We rest at daybreak. Get everyone ready.”Mikka nodded solemnly, then turned towards the cross-legged Milo and winked, showing him a handful of the mage’s silver pieces.To be continued in…Ice, Luck and HonourChapter 10: Another Brick in the WallThe heroes descend into the valley, but their way is blocked by a heavily guarded border-wall. As Thalin pulls out all the stops in his first mage-duel, Torious’ negotiation skills are pushed to the limit, and Milo succumbs again to the thirst of Vampire, will the heroes make it through in one piece?</blockquote>

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