{"id":217,"date":"2019-02-26T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-16\/"},"modified":"2023-02-24T11:54:16","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T10:54:16","slug":"wings-of-chaos-chapter-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/26\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-16\/","title":{"rendered":"Wings of Chaos: Chapter 16"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 16: Feasts, Feys and Flanking<\/span><\/h3>\n
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When they returned from their defeat in Dragonspear Castle, Shale lay in her bunk staring up into the darkness. It was late afternoon, but she was exhausted and had drawn the curtains over the window. She was alone beside her fox. \u201cI failed,\u201d she whispered, feeling tears roll down the sides of her cheeks. \u201cI\u2019m supposed to destroy them, but I couldn\u2019t even scratch <\/em>one. Gwaeron,\u201d she wiped her face, sitting up and wrapping her arms around her knees. Trigger lifted his head to look at her, then rested his head back on his paws and closed his eyes, \u201cI need more from you. I need to be better.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She waited for what seemed like an hour in complete stillness, listening for a sign. Finally, she pulled the blankets up over her face and rolled over, closing her eyes. Just as she drifted to sleep, she heard the soft voice of Gwaeron in her mind. \u201cThe powers are within you. Seek them out, Shale. I gave them to you long ago\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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When she awoke the next morning, she wasn\u2019t sure if the voice had been there, or if she\u2019d dreamt it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale descended the stairs of the hostel and found the Feast of the Moon celebrations had already begun. Ale was flowing as freely as the fried pork and breakfast porridge, and she found Oszaren and Whisper already sitting and finishing their meals, Whisper lapping at a bowl of milk. She joined them as they were discussing the cloaked girl with the green skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Once the rest joined them, Oszaren said seriously, \u201cI\u2019ve been thinking a lot about the fight yesterday, and I think we need to be smarter. We need a strategy before we walk into places like that. We need better exits.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBring them to us, rather than fight on their grounds,\u201d Shale said. \u201cAnd set up traps.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMy philosophy,\u201d Reverence began, \u201chas always been\u2014to run in there\u2014mess things up\u2014and get out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat doesn\u2019t work as a group,\u201d Oszaren shook his head. \u201cWe should be flanking our opponents and catching them off guar\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFlanking.\u201d The tiefling interrupted. \u201cI know about flaying<\/em>, but flanking\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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With that, Oszaren launched into a thorough explanation of how flanking worked in a battle situation, using their mugs and positioning them as people in a battle scenario. Eventually, they asked the barman for the ales they\u2019d tapped for the celebrations, the Daggerfield Honey Lager and the Greenfield Brown, and each took a mug and stepped into the fresh morning air. Shale agreed with Oszaren. If they were going to travel as a group, they needed to fight as one. Especially if they were going to defeat the Queen of Dragons.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Large tables and dozens of tents had been erected around the yard, and the place had filled with new travellers overnight. A small caravan of musicians had set up their instruments on a wooden platform and were tuning them in preparation for a full day of revelry.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019d like to see if they have any instruments for sale,\u201d Shale said to her companions, sipping on her lager and eyeing the stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI go too,\u201d Whisper said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI would be\u2014interested as well,\u201d Reverence said, and the three of them, with Trigger bounding between their legs, walked over to the musicians.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A small halfling man with a pointed white beard and bright blue eyes smiled at them with creased skin as they approached. Shale returned the smile and introduced them. \u201cWe\u2019re wondering if you have any instruments for sale, perhaps ones that you no longer use but will do for an amateur\u2019s use?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The halfling looked at her thoughtfully. \u201cWhat sort of instrument are you looking for, my lady?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cA viol, if you have it,\u201d she said. She\u2019d learned to play the viol from her father as a child. It had been years since she\u2019d practiced. The children loved to hear it\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd the rest of you?\u201d the halfling asked Whisper and Reverence.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDrums?\u201d Whisper asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAye, I might have some,\u201d he nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cA dulcimer,\u201d Reverence said with a smile<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNow that is a unique instrument,\u201d the halfling told him. \u201cBut you\u2019re in luck. We do have a member in our troupe who plays it. I will warn you, however, we don\u2019t sell our pieces to just anyone. You\u2019ll have to prove your ability.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale nervously agreed, and he trotted off to one of their wagons to dig out the instruments, calling to another halfling, a younger boy, to help him in his search. They returned several minutes later with the requested pieces and Shale took the viol carefully in her hands, testing the sound by running the bow along the strings. The sound was clear and sharp, though a bit out of tune. The varnished wood was chipped in places, but it was still a beautiful instrument. She pressed it under her chin and began plucking the strings, adjusting the tautness of each one until they rang out with a distinct sound. Then, she raised the bow lightly in her right hand and began to play, slowly at first. Then, as the music took over, she felt the familiar sensation of a song being formed. Low and feeling, then quick but paced, then drawn into a slumbered sadness, then pulled into one lasting note, a mournful cry that faded to a whisper and was gone. She looked down at the viol in surprise, then lowered it from her chin when the halfling man started clapping. \u201cBravo!\u201d he said appraisingly. \u201cWell done, miss. The viol is yours for twenty-five gold. Take good care of it. It was Mayit\u2019s before it was yours, our master tiefling violist.\u201d Shale thanked him and handed him the gold, and the young halfling boy gave her a latched leather case for her to stow it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whisper went next, and the halfling passed him a Bodhr\u00e1n, a circular drum with animal skin stretched over one side, and two wooden crossbars inside. He placed his paw inside against the skin and took the tipper, a small rounded stick, in the other hand, and began to thump the tipper against the drum, creating a smooth rhythm. Shale had seen this drum before. Kelek played one when he was alive.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cExcellent rhythm,\u201d the halfling nodded approvingly. \u201cYes, yes, you\u2019ll do just fine with this one.\u201d With that, they exchanged gold for the drum.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Finally, Reverence was given his requested dulcimer. It was a flat, trapezoidal instrument that Shale had never seen before. It had four strings stretched across it, and Reverence sat on the edge of the stage to play it, placing the dulcimer across his lap and plucking at the strings. The sound was a tad too pitchy to Shale\u2019s liking, and the tiefling played it hesitantly. After a minute or so, the halfling stopped him. \u201cRight, right,\u201d he looked at Reverence musingly, a slight grimace to his features, \u201cI suppose that will do, though I suggest you stick to the basics for now and keep at it with the practice.\u201d With that, he sold the third instrument.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They thanked him and turned away to see Keelan standing close by. As they passed him, he shook his head and said, \u201cwhat is Kossuth\u2019s name was that gods-awful sound?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRev-erence,\u201d Whisper said matter-of-factly, then trotted away.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI need another drink,\u201d Keelan muttered as he walked off.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s not even noon!\u201d Shale objected.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence went to get another drink, then climbed onto the roof of one of the stables and began meditating, the drink beside him. Occasionally he peeked to see if Zelena, one of the twins setting food out on the tables outside, was looking at him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren joined Shale, calling to Fillip to come closer. \u201cI just spoke with that girl\u2019s father again,\u201d he shook his head, looking disappointed, \u201che says they\u2019re taking the girl to Waterdeep to have spellcasters try and cure her curse. I offered to help, but he couldn\u2019t be convinced.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUnderstandable,\u201d Shale said, \u201cher parents are protective, and it\u2019s easier for people to believe in something they pay for rather than something given to them freely.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren sighed, then said, \u201cFillip, can you get Oyn blackout drunk?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ll have to pay extra for the good spirits,\u201d Fillip said, checking the blue skies, \u201cbut okay.\u201d With that, he sauntered off.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhy do you want him out?\u201d Shale asked curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI noticed something,\u201d Oszaren told her, taking her a few steps from the gathering crowd by the field of tables, \u201cwhen we saved Oyn\u2019s cart from the hobgoblins. There\u2019s magic in there, and I want to find out what it is.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFair enough,\u201d she said, \u201cbut I don\u2019t want to steal from the man. Reverence has grown strangely fond of him, and he is a tad pitiful to behold.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI just want to see what it is,\u201d the warlock said. \u201cKeep an eye on Fillip and Oyn, and when it\u2019s dark, I\u2019ll come get you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale agreed, and Oszaren went off to find Keelan.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Trigger was having fun bounding around the tables, where patrons dropped the occasional scrap of food for him to gobble up. As it drew to afternoon, Shale walked through the people, sipping on an ale and watching dancers take to the field, spinning and twirling and pulsing to the ever-growing music. The sun was hot, but no one seemed bothered, and it seemed most people were feeling their drinks and had thrown off their shoes to stomp in the flattened grass. Shale kept away from the dancing. It wasn\u2019t something she did anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Soon, Fillip was dancing with Arietta and they were laughing together and flirting. Oyn sat by one of the tables shouting loudly to no one in particular. It seemed Fillip had done his job well\u2014the man was nearly unconscious from drink. When Fillip ended his dance with Arietta and the girl rushed off to continue working, the druid grabbed a couple more glasses of spirits and poured them into a full mug of ale, bringing it to Oyn. The man drank it eagerly, then stared off, unseeing. Fillip clapped him appreciatively on the back, and the man dropped to the table, snoring. It was midafternoon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren found Shale a few minutes later. \u201cWe should go now, while he\u2019s out. I hadn\u2019t expected Fillip would get him unconscious this quickly,\u201d he admitted, and they stole off toward the stables.<\/span><\/p>\n

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After creeping past the stable boys, who were running around playing games or sneaking drinks, Oszaren and Shale pushed open Oyn\u2019s wagon and jumped inside, Oszaren scanning for magical items. Inside was a rack of fine silk clothing and a few empty bird cages. On the floor were a couple of locked chests. The warlock reached out a hand and touched the clothing, drawing his fingers across the hangers until stopping on one and pulling it out. It was a tattered coat covered in multicoloured patches. \u201cThe coat,\u201d he whispered, \u201cit\u2019s some sort of conjuration magic. Something to do with the patches.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTry putting it on?\u201d Shale suggested.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren hesitated, then stuck his arm through the coat and put it around himself. He felt around the inside of it and checked the many pockets. The inside of the coat was also patched, and there were runes stitched along the inside of it. Nothing changed as he wore it. \u201cIntriguing,\u201d he said, removing the coat and pointing to a blue silk robe on the rack, \u201cthere\u2019s something magical inside that one\u2019s pocket.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale cautiously pulled open the pocket and looked inside without touching the contents. \u201cLooks like a vial,\u201d she said, reaching in and taking it out, \u201cand it has a note with it.\u201d The vial contained a light blue fluid. She unfolded the note. \u201cDear brother, here\u2019s a small gift. You\u2019ll know when to use it. Signed, Maurice.\u201d The word \u2018small\u2019 had been written in quotation marks. \u201cDo you know what it is?\u201d She asked Oszaren, handing him the vial.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He inspected the liquid for a moment, shaking, then swirling it. \u201cLooks like a potion of growth,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGross,\u201d Shale whispered, taking it back and returning it, with the note, back into the pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s what it\u2019s for,\u201d Oszaren said quietly. \u201cI think Fillip\u2019s rubbing off on you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale smiled and Oszaren returned the patched coat to the rack. \u201cI don\u2019t want to take anything,\u201d he said again, \u201cI just wanted to make sure we could trust him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFair enough,\u201d Shale said. \u201cLet\u2019s get out of here before someone realizes we\u2019re gone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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They left the cart as they had found it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When they returned to the feast, the light of day now fading into an evening lit by hanging lantern light, they saw the dancing had stopped to make way for Reverence and Keelan, who were shirtless and sparring, each wielding a staff. Fillip was running through the crowd making bets as tiefling and human cracked one another with their staffs, dodging and punching where they could.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe leave for two minutes<\/em>,\u201d Oszaren muttered, then raised a hand and placed a bet with Fillip.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They had, more accurately, been gone for half an hour, but still.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The fight was a close one. Reverence used his agility, spinning and dodging around Keelan, but Keelan used his strength, taking each blow from the monk as if it were a mere tap, then charging and swinging with the staff until it snapped in half and he had to resort to fists. Reverence threw aside his staff and raised his fists, getting in kicks where he could.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale turned and saw Oyn still snoring loudly on the table, oblivious to the people around him. A couple of young boys were stacking playing cards on his head, and there were crude drawings inked on his face. She felt laughter bubble up and had to admit that the day was a good one, and a much-needed break. Fillip, having finished collecting his bets, came to stand by Oszaren and Shale, a cocky smile on his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWho did you bet on?\u201d Shale asked, curious to see who would win.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cKeelan, of course,\u201d Fillip said happily. \u201cThe monk\u2019s got his speed, but no one\u2019s as strong as\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFillip!\u201d Arietta called excitedly, pushing through the circled crowd to reach him. \u201cFillip!\u201d She flipped back her golden hair and smiled at him beautifully, \u201cI spoke with Zelena, and she\u2019s agreed, if somewhat reluctantly. We\u2019re going to join your caravan! Only until Waterdeep, and we\u2019ll find jobs there,\u201d she was out-of-breath with excitement.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cReally?\u201d Fillip asked, eyes glimmering. Shale couldn\u2019t tell if the glee was from her news, the drink, or both. The druid was more than a bit drunk.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI can\u2019t wait! I\u2019m going to pack right now,\u201d the girl said, then turned and ran off back to the hostel.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou invited the two barmaids?\u201d Oszaren asked in exasperation.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip nodded, looking pleased with himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren sighed and shook his head. \u201cYou really will do anything to get that notch on your bedpost.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s really more of a\u2014oh, never mind,\u201d the druid said, waving the thought away.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Just then, Keelan sidestepped out of Reverence\u2019s kick and body-checked the tiefling into the side of the stage, which had been set up with poles and hanging lanterns. One of the wooden poles cracked as Reverence slammed backwards into it and the lanterns swung dangerously. The musicians scrambled off the stage quickly. There were cheers all around as the monk steadied his feet, shaking his horns, stumbled for a moment, then charged at Keelan. The man blocked the first two punches, then ducked as Reverence feinted, and the tiefling\u2019s punches hit him in the chest, arm, stomach, then, came around in a sweeping blow across the man\u2019s jaw. Keelan dropped as the last one hit, and he landed heavily in the grass.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe tiefling WINS!\u201d Fillip announced, bouncing into the ring and grabbing Reverence\u2019s arm, lifting it in the air.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence\u2019s eyes flashed a glowing red and he shouted in triumph. Keelan rolled over, looking dazed, a large bruise forming on his face. Reverence reached down and grabbed the paladin\u2019s arm, helping him to his feet and slapping him happily on the back. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell fought, indeed!\u201d Fillip was saying, \u201canyone else ready to step into the ring\u2026?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence helped Keelan through the crowd and brought him over to an empty table, where they sat. Oszaren and Shale joined them, and the warlock offered to buy them each a drink. Keelan pressed a hand to his face and cast a healing spell over himself until the bruise faded to a yellowish green. \u201cAh, that\u2019s better,\u201d the Paladin sighed, and a few minutes later he had an ale in each hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip came jogging over to them, looking rather unsteady on his feet, and said in a slurred voice, \u201chey, Keelan. Good fight! Say, you wouldn\u2019t be able to maybe sober me up a bit? Use one of your\u2026\u201d he wiggled his hands in the air dramatically, \u201cmagical religious thingy\u2019s or something?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan stood and raised his two mugs of ale, saying, \u201cafraid I can\u2019t right now, Fillip. My hands are full.\u201d Then, the paladin wandered off into the crowd to find his employer, Colyn.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As the night progressed, so did everyone\u2019s drunkenness. Oszaren and Whisper had gone off to try some scheme to heal the cursed girl, Fillip had gone to see if Arietta would dance with him some more, Reverence was busy staring at Zelena any time she came near, and Keelan was going around telling people about the Lord of Fire. By midnight, the barman announced that the Feast of the Moon was upon them, and they all drank to their ancestors, and those who\u2019d fallen in the year. Reverence shot crackling sparks of light into the air, and the musicians played.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale felt slightly buzzed when she finally wandered upstairs to bed with her fox. As she passed Fillip and Arietta, she heard her telling him, \u201cI think I\u2019ll sleep better in my own bed tonight, Fillip\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The caravan began moving on the road by late morning, many of those in it grumbling about headaches and dehydration as they packed their wagons. Arietta moved around the caravan, chattering animatedly to her sister Zelena, who nodded and seemed disinterested as they brought their packs of clothing into Fillip\u2019s wagon. Shale didn\u2019t trust the girls and found Zelena especially suspicious, but she made room for them to sit with the druid as she hopped off and followed on foot, helping Whisper keep an eye out for other travellers on the road. The road they travelled on was wide and flat and well-used, and they passed several other caravans within their first few days. Keelan now rode a black gelding, a thick beast and well-armoured, beside Colyn and his other guards. The paladin simply told them he\u2019d conjured the warhorse, though none of them had seen proof of that, so Shale suspected he\u2019d purchased it from another traveller. The horse\u2019s name was Ember according to Keelan, and it seemed a calm, well-trained beast.<\/span><\/p>\n

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By their fourth day of travel, Shale noticed a strangeness about Arietta and Zelena. They claimed to be twins, but everything about their features were too perfect\u2014too similar. Zelena was quiet and brooding where Arietta was chatty and excitable. Neither of the girls had many skills, and contributed very little to their nightly guarding, their daily cooking or their morning packing. Oszaren finally had Beyd agree to take them on as servers in the evenings when his wagon of ales was open for business.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale asked Whisper to keep an eye on the girls and see if he noticed anything strange or magical about them. The tabaxi admitted there was something strange about the way Zelena walked, but he couldn\u2019t quite figure out what it was.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence took his chance romancing Zelena one day, walking up to her and having an awkward, stilted conversation about the weather. When he talked to Fillip about it later, Shale overheard the druid telling him confidently that the twin was falling for him, he had no doubts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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There was a commotion a few wagons ahead of theirs, and a teamster stood up in his stirrups, pointing out to the rolling fields and shouting, \u201cthere! See it? See, I told you I saw something! See the shiny one?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale ran around the wagon to get a better look at what the man was pointing to. She squinted her eyes and saw, sure enough, a herd of about twenty deer, and one buck standing in the middle of them glittering in the sunlight with silver antlers and a shimmering golden hide. The buck looked up at them, then turned and the herd sprinted off toward the forest\u2019s edge.<\/span><\/p>\n

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All at once, people in their caravan began grabbing bows and crossbows and running after the herd, shouting and whooping. Shale called Trigger, and they started running, her long legs taking her to the front of the group.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip transformed into a deer and bounded past them, Whisper riding low on his back. They reached the forest ahead of them and disappeared through the trees. Shale slowed to a jog, realizing the deer were lost to them unless she were to spend the time tracking the herd. She looked back at their caravan, which had stopped on the road. The rest of the hunters caught up with her and started pushing through the branches of trees.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat if it\u2019s a trap?\u201d Shale said to Trigger, and the fox yipped up at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence and Oszaren were with the hunters, Shale noticed, yelling at them to get back to the caravan. She jogged toward them. Oszaren looked annoyed. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d She asked him, still a bit out of breath.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSeems strange, seeing a magical buck out in the middle of nowhere.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cExactly what I thought,\u201d she said, relieved someone else agreed. \u201cI worry it\u2019s a trap.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey will do\u2014what they want,\u201d Reverence said, walking over to them with a sigh, looking back at the hunters, who were still working their way through the trees. \u201cI\u2019m going back to the caravan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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They walked back, keeping their ears strained for any notes of distress from the hunters.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip bounded through the trees after the herd, Whisper weighing on his back. He slowed to a stop, looking around and sniffing the air, his large ears turning. The air was warm here, much warmer than it should have been. He heard the snap of a twig and turned his head. Through the trees, he saw a horse-sized wolf with a white and gray pelt. The wolf was watching him, and when he caught its eyes, it winked, then turned and ran off.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip ran after it without hesitation, Whisper wrapping his paws tightly around his neck.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The wolf leapt out of sight and Fillip suddenly felt air under his hooves as he went tumbling down. Whisper flew off his back as he rolled to a sliding stop at the bottom of a steep hill. He blacked out for a second, then shook himself and saw he was back to his half-elf form. Cautiously, he stood, brushing leaves and dirt from his cloak. The forest was quiet. He scanned the trees for a moment and saw there was an overgrown pond nearby with long, bending reeds dipping into the deceivingly shallow waters. He pressed his mind into the reed\u2019s consciousnesses and said, have you seen a large wolf nearby?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Of course we\u2019ve seen it, <\/em>the reeds whispered in his mind, swaying in a nonexistent breeze, it\u2019s right behind you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip spun around. At the top of the hill he\u2019d fallen down, at least forty feet above him stood the wolf, its yellow eyes watching him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWho are you?\u201d Fillip demanded. Where had Whisper gone?<\/span><\/p>\n

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The wolf titled its head, and with a soft voice inside his mind said, you mean you don\u2019t remember me? Fillip, I feel hurt\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The druid stared for a moment, then said, \u201cah, um, yes, no, it just took me a moment. Of course, I remember you\u2014how, how are you? It\u2019s\u2026good to see you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

How am I? <\/em>The wolf asked. I don\u2019t think you <\/em>do remember. Let me remind you. <\/em>Then, the large wolf leapt and sprinted down the hill straight toward Fillip.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper got to his feet at the top of the hill and howled at the wolf, but it ignored him. It pounced on Fillip and the two of them rolled, tumbling, straight into the pond, where they were fully submerged in weedy darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Fillip opened his eyes to see himself standing in a strange land. It was a forest, but everything was sharper and more colourful, the bird\u2019s songs more melodic. When he turned his eyes to a tree, every single leaf came into focus at once. He could count the veins, the ridges, and he could feel the water pumping through the roots, being sucked from the wet earth. The world pulsed and throbbed, and he felt strangely aroused. \u201cNow do you remember?\u201d a woman\u2019s voice said softly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip spun, and instead of a wolf, there stood the beautiful fey sprite he remembered, with long, shimmering dark hair. \u201cMy love,\u201d he said, smiling brightly and opening his arms to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Her perfect face formed into anger as she slapped him hard in the face. \u201cDo you know how long it\u2019s been?\u201d She demanded, eyebrows drawn together. \u201cIt\u2019s been DECADES! Did you ever think of me? Did you?<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip touched a hand to his stinging cheek. Sensations were stronger, more vibrant here. His skin seemed to vibrate. \u201cOf course I thought of you, darling. Every day<\/em> I thought of you!\u201d He insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBastard,\u201d she muttered, but her expression softened, and she sighed, touching a light hand to cup his. \u201cI know you did.\u201d She drew him into an embrace. \u201cI\u2019ve missed you,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He traced his hand along her smooth back, the hairs raising on her skin and he drew his fingers up along her spine and twisted them into her soft hair. Her lips pressed into his, and his memories faded as light and colour and every sensation took over.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Whisper stood over the pond, stirring the murky water and drawing it up into a sphere, then letting it splash back down and drawing up more water. Suddenly, Fillip emerged on the other side of the pond, coughing and spluttering, and dragged himself over the reeds. Whisper ran to his side and helped him up. \u201cWhat happen?\u201d The tabaxi demanded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip coughed up more water, wiping back his mud-coated hair. \u201cHow long was I gone?\u201d He finally breathed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cGone?\u201d Whisper looked at him in confusion. \u201cNot gone, you drown. Maybe minute.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cA minute?\u201d Fillip said slowly, \u201chow can that be? I was there for\u2026 for years.\u201d The memories were already fading. Had it been years? Or only months? Perhaps a few days? Or, now that he thought of it, maybe it had been only a minute, as Whisper said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He felt warmth in his coat pocket and thrust his hand in, drawing out a smooth, palm-sized stone. It was a polished green gem with carvings of vines. Whisper reached out a paw to grab it, but Fillip snatched it away and stowed it back in his pocket. As he released the stone, he heard a woman\u2019s voice inside his head. Now, don\u2019t forget me this time.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

When Fillip and Whisper returned from their hunt of the buck, they were both quiet. Fillip was covered in mud but didn\u2019t seem bothered by it. Oszaren used a spell to quickly clean off the druid, and Fillip spent the next few days to himself. Even Arietta couldn\u2019t pull him from his reverie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

As they rode on, Shale and Whisper scouting ahead, the air grew thicker with fog. Shale reckoned they were nearing the Misty Forest, which was aptly named. They proceeded cautiously for the better part of an hour before Shale halted, touching Whisper\u2019s shoulder and saying, \u201cdo you hear that?\u201d In the misty trees she could her skittering and clicking.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper nodded and ran back through the mist to warn the others. Shale set up a crossbow in the dirt and aimed it at an angle toward the trees, wedging it between a couple rocks. \u201cHelp me, Gwaeron,\u201d she whispered, and a trail of magic leaked from her hands and into the crossbow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Trigger sprang from the trees and came to her side, yipping, and a second later, she heard thundering hooves as Keelan, atop his warhorse, rode out of the mist toward her, his red cloak billowing out behind him. He drew his longsword and gave her a nod just as four large black spiders and four ettercaps came crawling out of the forest. The ettercaps were bipedal figures with black, spidery pincers and long, hanging limbs prickling with fur. Their heads were bald and glistening. Keelan nudged his gelding in between Shale and the spiders, and Ember danced on his feet in anticipation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The spiders clicked and clacked in their slicing language, and just as they began to charge Keelan and Shale, Reverence ran out of the mist wielding his spear and struck one of the spiders, a pulsing energy exploding from his spearpoint and leaving the spider stunned and reeling. A massive ball of fire rolled into their midst, Whisper following behind it as he pushed it toward the creatures. Fillip held out his arms and two shimmering bear forms appeared in front of him and charged one of the spiders. Then he himself transformed into a grizzly. The crossbow Shale had wedged into the ground began shooting bolts at the enemies as they drew nearer, but most glanced off their natural armour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren came through the mist near Reverence and swirled his hand in the air, creating a pulsing black sphere around two of the ettercaps, obscuring them from view. From within the black sphere, Shale could swear she saw shards of ice writhing like snakes and snapping out of the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She turned and drew her blades, charging as Keelan\u2019s horse was coated in webbing. Ember snorted and reared, but his legs were trapped. Keelan swung his blade and decapitated one of the ettercaps as it drew too near. Another ettercap drew closer and puked a glob of webbing at Keelan, but he caught it with his shield and Shale rolled out of the way to miss another glob of the sticky webbing. Keelan\u2019s horse broke free of the webbing and he kicked Ember forward, slashing down at the ettercap. The horse ran past, stopped, and kicked at the ettercap with its muscular back legs. The ettercap stumbled to its knees just as Shale got to her feet and stabbed it through its clacking pincers. The pincers closed in around her arm and she felt a piercing pain shoot up her arm as she ripped it free. She suddenly felt dizzy and stumbled to the ground. Trigger ran to her, licking her face with concern, and she tried to stand, but her entire body felt like led.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan cried out and there was a crack of lightning. Shale managed to sit upright and saw Keelan slashing at one of the spider\u2019s legs with his glowing blade. She turned her head and saw another spider already dead, Fillip\u2019s two brown bears tearing apart its long limbs. Oszaren and Reverence finished off theirs with deadly blows. Another ettercap was aflame, Whisper shooting bolts of fire at it as his sphere slammed into it from behind. Fillip\u2019s grizzly form was clawing at the last ettercap, and Whisper turned as his died and threw an ethereal hand of ice into the ettercap, which froze and shattered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale looked down at her arm and her veins had turned blacker than her skin. \u201cKeelan,\u201d she barely whispered, her voice cracking. Trigger ran to Ember\u2019s legs and jumped around them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale lay back, her lungs burning. Then, she saw the paladin standing over her, hands out. They began to glow as the poison was sucked from her body. It flew up and hovered in the air for a moment before dissolving. She breathed deeply, and he helped her to her feet. \u201cThank you,\u201d she said in relief, checking both sides of her arm to ensure the poison was well and truly gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

When she looked around, she saw three dead spiders and four dead ettercaps. \u201cDid the fourth spider get away?\u201d She asked, and the paladin nodded with a grim expression.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI think they got more than they bargained for,\u201d he said, then smiled and put a friendly hand on her shoulder. \u201cI should really talk to Colyn about giving me a raise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale smiled back as the man took Ember\u2019s reins and led him through the dispersing mist. Whisper was already collecting samples from the fallen bodies and Fillip had made his bears disappear and was back to his half-elf form. Rather than his usual boasting, he returned to the wagon quietly, Arietta running after him to praise his fighting skills. Reverence sat cross-legged in the grass and pulled some food from his pack and began eating. He always seemed to be hungry after a fight, no matter how short. Trigger ran up to him and the tiefling tossed him a morsel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSee, Reverence?\u201d Oszaren said confidently, walking past the tiefling where he sat, \u201cthat<\/em> was flanking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 16 follows our adventurers in this Dungeons & Dragons campaign as they cross Faerun, fighting against the rising tide of the Dragon Cult, in this story based on The Hoard of the Dragon Queen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":643,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[18,19,17,14,15,13,16,21,20],"series":[],"class_list":["post-217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wings-of-chaos-dungeons-and-dragons-series","tag-campaign","tag-cult-of-the-dragon","tag-dnd","tag-dungeons-and-dragons","tag-fantasy","tag-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen","tag-series","tag-wings-of-chaos","tag-wizards-of-the-coast"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Giant_s-Gamble-Blog-PhotosArtboard-1-copy-13.png","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"amazon":{"key":"amazon","url":"https:\/\/music.amazon.ca\/podcasts\/09c34bbc-b359-49af-a286-31830ed5634c\/short-stories","label":"Amazon","class":"amazon","icon":"amazon.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_play":{"key":"google_play","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Play","class":"google_play","icon":"google-play.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0lcQCRs52MfYlKs35lVX4K","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"itunes":{"key":"itunes","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"iTunes","class":"itunes","icon":"itunes.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"

Wings of Chaos: Chapter 16<\/a><\/blockquote>