{"id":218,"date":"2019-03-07T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-17\/"},"modified":"2023-02-24T18:53:02","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T17:53:02","slug":"wings-of-chaos-chapter-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/07\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Wings of Chaos: Chapter 17"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 17: The Twins<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Six days after their quick encounter with the large spiders, the caravan spotted another roadside inn with lit windows and wisps of welcoming smoke floating up from the chimney. As they travelled northward, the nights were colder, and most mornings brought white frost, making the blades of grass crunch underfoot as they packed up their camp. Therefore, the excitement was tangible with the promise of mattresses and a stoked hearth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThank the gods,\u201d Arietta said, flipping her golden hair and resting her cheek on Fillip\u2019s shoulder as he steered the cart forward on the wide road. \u201cI miss sleeping in a bed. Being on the road is horrid,\u201d she pouted.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale rolled her eyes and looked over to Reverence for support, but the tiefling was walking beside the cart staring quite obviously over at Zelena, who sat in the back looking bored and staring at her feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSee that?\u201d Fillip pointed at the treetops, where a smaller wisp of smoke drifted up into the darkening sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat do you think it is? A house?\u201d Shale asked curiously, squinting.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The druid shrugged. \u201cWe could check it out,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Arietta wrapped her arms around his. \u201cOh no, please no,\u201d she complained. \u201cLet\u2019s keep going. I\u2019m so sick of the road. I want a warm bed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip seemed annoyed by the girl and pulled his arm free. \u201cYou\u2019ve been on the road for a couple weeks,\u201d he pointed out, \u201cthe rest of the people in this caravan have been on the road for more than a month.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Arietta crossed her arms and looked out at the fields, sniffing. Shale couldn\u2019t tell if it was an act, or if the young woman really was naturally that annoying.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When they neared the inn, they noticed only one cart out front and the place seemed empty from the road. \u201cThat\u2019s strange,\u201d Shale said as Whisper came back to their cart after scouting around the caravan. \u201cYou\u2019d think the hostel would be packed on a road this busy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence nodded thoughtfully. \u201cIt is\u2014strange.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTrigger,\u201d Shale called her fox, and he appeared at her feet a moment later, \u201crun up and check the building, see if there\u2019s anyone inside, then come back. Try to stay hidden.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The fox yipped and ran ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSend owl,\u201d Whisper offered, jumping onto the cart next to Zelena. Then, his eyes clouded over as his fey owl shot from his paw and went soaring after Trigger. A minute later, the fox returned, and Whisper looked up, concerned.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFive only,\u201d the tabaxi said, jumping down from the cart. \u201cFour with nice clothes. One is halfling that work there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDid they seem dangerous?\u201d Shale asked, and Trigger yipped. Shale looked up at Fillip, Reverence and Whisper. \u201cI\u2019ll go get the others.\u201d With that, she ran off to find Keelan and Oszaren.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren, Keelan and Fillip went ahead of the caravan to scope the people inside, who Whisper guessed, from what he\u2019d seen through his owl\u2019s eyes, were nobles based on their dress. The warlock, paladin and druid were the three most nobly dressed of their party, and therefore took the lead. That, and Fillip was weirdly good at talking to people\u2014for a druid.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren pushed open the door to the Grinning Gnome<\/em>, which creaked on its hinges as they entered a huge, brightly lit room lined with thick wooden pillars and scattered with round tables. Four people, two human men, a half-elf man and a half-elf woman sat at one of the tables. They were laughing and talking loudly, but they all went silent when the door opened and Oszaren, Fillip and Keelan walked in. One of the human men with thick, curled black hair and a closely shaved beard stood, his robes slightly too tight for his burly figure as if they were made for someone else. \u201cSorry, lads,\u201d he said in a voice that was anything but. \u201cInn\u2019s taken. You\u2019ll have to find another or spend the night out on the road.\u201d There was an unspoken threat in the man\u2019s voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip gave a casual smile and splayed his hands. \u201cIt looks to me like the inn is empty but for you four.\u201d His eyes flickered over to the small halfling woman who was standing at the bar on a stool, nervously circling a rag over the same spot of polished wood as she watched them. The tension was palpable.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUnfortunately,\u201d the man said with a shrug, \u201cwe paid for the whole place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWorks for me,\u201d Fillip said, turning to leave.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan grabbed Fillip by the shoulder to keep the half-elf from exiting. \u201cNot so fast,\u201d the paladin growled to his friend in a low voice, then said more loudly to the other four. \u201cWho do you think you are?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The standing man, who seemed to be their appointed leader, measured Keelan with his eyes, then slammed his mug on the table and said, \u201cwe\u2019ve paid for the place, as I said. Private function<\/em>,\u201d he sneered, then looked to the halfling woman. \u201cGoldra. Back us up on this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren was staring at the group, carefully taking in their lack of displayed weapons and their fine dress.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Goldra stirred at the sound of her name. \u201cUm\u2014y-yes, they paid for the whole inn. The stables too.\u201d She was visibly nervous.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip, seeing Keelan\u2019s stubborn stance, said reassuringly, \u201cwe promise we wouldn\u2019t be in the way. We simply want beds for the night, after weeks on the road and in the rain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNot my problem,\u201d the man said, folding his arms aggressively. The others at the table didn\u2019t speak, but they were all tensed and watching. \u201cYou can camp in the forest. If you\u2019ve been doing it for weeks, what\u2019s another night?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSeems a small group to be needing so much room,\u201d Fillip pushed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe paid for it, now get out.<\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan glared and flexed his arms threateningly, then said, \u201cfine, let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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As the three of them turned to leave, Oszaren whispered a spell under his breath, warming each of their four beers with a hidden smile. They heard one of them spit out a mouthful as they closed the door behind them, and he shouted, \u201cGoldra! What\u2019s wrong with this batch? Get us another one!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell,\u201d Keelan sighed, \u201cI hate them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAgreed,\u201d Oszaren said under his breath. \u201cI\u2019m going to check the back. Something\u2019s off with these folks.\u201d With that, the warlock turned invisible and tiptoed off.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip shared a look with Keelan and put his hand on the paladin\u2019s shoulder, \u201cI\u2019ll talk with their horses and see what I can find. I suggest you return to the caravan and tell them to continue up the road. We\u2019ll meet up with you soon enough.\u201d Then, the druid transformed into a fat rat and scampered away on four legs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan shrugged and headed back to the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip skittered under the cart in front of the inn and ran under the horse\u2019s hooves, transforming back to his half-elf form once he was sure he was out of sight from the windows. He cast a familiar spell and looked at the horse, who was chewing a mouthful of hay and seeming disinterested. \u201cHey, what are you doing?\u201d Fillip asked casually.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The horse looked up at him lazily, snorting. \u201cUh, restin\u2019. Eatin\u2019.\u201d It nickered. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSame,\u201d the druid said, \u201cso, what about your owners? Anything you can tell me about them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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If a horse could shrug, this one did as it bent to tear off another mouthful of hay, \u201cthey\u2019re the two-legged ones inside.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAre they good people?\u201d Fillip asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI pull the wooden box for them,\u201d the horse said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGreat,\u201d Fillip said, swearing to himself as he ended the spell. \u201cWell, that was useless.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren turned invisible and crept through the back door to the kitchens. As he slowly opened the door, he saw a balding human man with mousy brown hair chopping onions and dropping them into a boiling pot over the fire. The man hesitated, then spit into the bubbling pot. Oszaren made a mental note not to eat the soup as he crept forward invisibly into the main floor of the inn, then passed the small halfling owner and turned up the stairs, the echoing laughter of the four patrons fading into muffled sounds as he reached the second landing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhy,\u201d Reverence wondered aloud, \u201cwould they\u2014rent the entire inn?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s what I mean,\u201d Keelan growled, shaking his head, \u201cit makes no sense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cPerhaps we should\u2014go in there and take the place\u2014forcefully.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale crossed her arms. \u201cWe can\u2019t just force them out. If they really did pay for it, as the owner said, then we have no right to take it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The caravan was stopped a short way up the road, waiting to hear word from Oszaren, who had yet to come back.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIf I was rich,\u201d Fillip smiled, \u201cI\u2019d probably do something like this too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cExactly,\u201d Shale said, \u201cso it doesn\u2019t mean there\u2019s a nefarious purpose. If they paid for the place, then it\u2019s theirs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan reluctantly nodded, but Reverence seemed unsure. \u201cIt does seem suspicious,\u201d the paladin said. \u201cThe owner seemed very nervous.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMaybe I can talk to the halfling,\u201d Shale suggested. \u201cIf we find out something\u2019s wrong, then we can act. But not before then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Arietta moaned, \u201cI\u2019m sleeping in a bed tonight, Fillip,\u201d she said, not for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s speculative at best,\u201d the druid told her. \u201cFine, we\u2019ll wait until Oszaren returns. Reverence, can you get Oyn to take our cart and we can get everyone to start making camp off the road?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The monk agreed and trotted off to find Oyn, and the two of them came back to the cart with Oyn\u2019s horse and cart pulled around the rest of the caravan on the road, Oyn looking nervous.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren appeared through the darkness a few minutes later, holding his arm, which was bleeding and stuck with a crossbow bolt. The warlock stumbled over to them and Keelan quickly rushed to heal him. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d Fillip asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSnuck upstairs,\u201d Oszaren said, blinking furiously, \u201cto look through their stuff. Just clothes, not much else in their rooms. The rest of the rooms are empty. When I was trying to sneak out of there, I must\u2019ve made some sound on the stairs. One of them shot me with their crossbow as I was running out. I think it might\u2019ve been tipped with poison.\u201d As he said this, he leaned against their cart, grabbing his head. \u201cEverything is spinning.\u201d Keelan ripped out the bloodied bolt and inspected it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt is poisoned, alright,\u201d the paladin agreed, casting it aside and placing a hand over the wound and whispering a few words of healing under his breath.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A moment later, Oszaren breathed with relief, and some of the colour returned to his pale cheeks. \u201cThanks, Keelan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell,\u201d Reverence demanded, \u201cis that enough\u2014proof?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale shook her head, \u201cany one of us would react the same way if we saw someone sneaking around us invisibly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTheir bolts were poisoned,\u201d Oszaren said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat about that other smoke we saw earlier?\u201d Shale asked. \u201cMaybe it\u2019s some other travellers who know what these people are up to.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCouldn\u2019t hurt,\u201d Fillip shrugged, nodding his head, \u201cit was this way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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As their caravan pushed ahead to find space a mile up the road, the six of them headed into the forest toward where Fillip had last spotted the other line of smoke. They came to a clearing about a hundred feet into the trees. A fire burned brightly, and two elven men sat by it. One was turning dripping meat on a spit, and the other was carving something in his hand. Whisper shot his owl from his paw and the creature flapped its wings and landed on an upper branch, and the branch started to glow. The one who was cooking looked up, then nudged his companion and they both walked over to the tree and stood under it, looking up at the glowing branch and muttering their curiosity. As they did so, Whisper came from his hiding place in the trees and went to sit by the fire. When the elves turned back, they both jumped and drew daggers. \u201cHalt!\u201d one of them yelled.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whisper meowed curiously, tilting his head at the knife points.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s alright,\u201d Oszaren said calmly, stepping from the trees and showing empty hands, \u201cwe mean you no harm. We simply saw your smoke a while back and were curious who you were.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The one who spoke first hesitated and lowered his dagger, visibly relaxing. \u201cWe thought you were someone else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWho?\u201d Oszaren asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe people at the inn,\u201d the other elf said as he flipped his dagger and put it back in his belt.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou kill them with us?\u201d Whisper asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cKill them?\u201d The man laughed. \u201cThat\u2019s absurd. My brother and I are merchants, not fighters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d Oszaren asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLucian. My brother is Andark.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI have other friends here, in the trees,\u201d Oszaren said. \u201cIs it alright if they join us? They won\u2019t harm you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lucian hesitated again, then nodded, \u201calright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale stepped into the firelight, giving the brothers a nervous smile and showing she was unarmed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo you know anything about the people at the inn?\u201d Fillip asked as he made himself comfortable cross-legged next to the fire, warming his hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lucian shook his head. \u201cNo idea. We tried to get a room, and they sent us back to the road. But, there\u2019s something off about them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAgreed,\u201d Reverence said gravely.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, we won\u2019t bother either of you about it, if you\u2019re not interested in a fight,\u201d Oszaren told them, to which both brothers nodded gratefully. \u201cWhat are you doing travelling in these parts?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh,\u201d Andark said, excitement appearing in his eyes, \u201cwe make wood carvings and sell them in the towns. Would you like to see?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence immediately followed the elf to their wagon of supplies, which Shale only now noticed was filled with crates. The elf and tiefling were soon haggling on prices, and Reverence came away with a wooden owl carving, which he happily pocketed. The purpose of such a thing was a mystery to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLet\u2019s get back,\u201d Shale insisted. \u201cI will find an excuse to talk to the owner and see if these people are trouble.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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They took their leave of the elven brothers, who seemed relieved to have them go. Once they were back on the road, they made their plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale and Whisper threw open the front door of the inn and stepped inside the large room filled with round tables. At the foremost one sat four individuals, who went quiet at the sight of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI said, the place is OUR\u2014\u201d one of the men started shouting, then turned to see Shale, her lavender hair covered with a scarf, and Whisper, a seven-foot tabaxi in travel-worn clothes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, I\u2019m so sorry,\u201d Shale said, looking around at the almost empty inn with confusion, \u201cI simply came in here looking for Goldra.\u201d She put on her most flirtatious smile and the man with the curly dark hair blushed. The half-elf woman at the table rolled her eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whisper made a move toward the bar, where the halfling owner stood, tensely watching.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHey!\u201d The man stammered, tearing his gaze from Shale as he drew a crossbow from inside his cloak, \u201cdon\u2019t move, cat-man!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whisper purred and looked over in confusion. \u201cMilk,\u201d he said simply, pointing at the bar.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGet out, we\u2019ve rented this inn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m here to speak with Goldra,\u201d Shale said again, more firmly, and the halfling woman\u2019s eyes flickered with confusion, then understanding as she met Shale\u2019s gaze. Fillip had caught her name when scouting the inn the first time round. \u201cI have news about your father,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGoldra,\u201d the man said roughly, his crossbow still trained on Whisper, \u201cwho are these people? Do you know them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShe doesn\u2019t know us,\u201d Shale corrected, straightening, \u201cI\u2019m a friend of her mother\u2019s, and I have a troubling message about her father, as I said<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man looked from Shale, to Whisper, to Goldra, the latter barely moving. \u201cFine,\u201d he finally said, lowering the crossbow and pointing a meaty finger at the halfling woman, \u201cbut I expect a discount on all of our drinks tonight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Nodding numbly, Goldra hopped down from the bench behind the bar and shuffled over to Shale, who grabbed the small woman\u2019s arm and pulled her out of the door. \u201cWe will only be a minute,\u201d she assured the four strangers, and Whisper slammed the door behind them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Goldra let out a scream, which Shale quickly shushed, as she noticed Keelan, Fillip, Oszaren and Trigger all standing outside, crouched under the windows.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShh, it\u2019s okay, it\u2019s okay,\u201d Shale assured her, placing two gentle hands on her shoulders. \u201cWe\u2019re here to help. We think those four people in there are trouble, but we couldn\u2019t know for sure until we asked you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Goldra sniffed and nodded fervently.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWho are they?\u201d Shale asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cT-they\u2019re,\u201d she looked around at the others nervously, then said, \u201cthey\u2019re human traffickers. They take groups of travellers, drug them, and drag them away to sell.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTold you,\u201d Reverence said from over their heads. The tiefling was sitting on the overhang of the roof. Goldra jumped again, and Reverence held up a hand in apologetic greeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo they have magic?\u201d Shale asked calmly, to which Goldra nodded again, tight-lipped.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s all we need to know,\u201d Oszaren whispered. \u201cAre you satisfied, Shale?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale reluctantly nodded. \u201cHow long have they been here, Goldra?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cA couple weeks,\u201d the halfling breathed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI want you to hide,\u201d she told her firmly. \u201cGet under something and stay out of the way. There\u2019s going to be a fight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The woman\u2019s small frame was shaking, but she nodded again in understanding, then turned to open the door. She gave their group one more look over, then slipped inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTook you long enough!\u201d The muffled shouts of one of the men said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cEase up,\u201d another complained, \u201cshe can\u2019t serve us food if she\u2019s too bloodied.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShut it, Elward.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOkay,\u201d Shale said, peeking through the window and casting her hunter\u2019s mark on the one who seemed to be their leader. He had grabbed Goldra and was lifting her off her feet. \u201cLet\u2019s take them out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes,\u201d Reverence said from above, excitement clear in his voice as he turned and scaled the roof.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ll go in through the backdoor,\u201d Fillip said quietly, then winked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThere\u2019s another worker in there,\u201d Oszaren reminded him, \u201ctry to get him out without hurting him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cEasy enough,\u201d the druid smiled, then disappeared around the corner of the building.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale bent and readied a crossbow trap, infusing it with a simple spell to fire if anyone but her party or Goldra tried to escape through the front door. Oszaren put a hand on the outside of the door, looking around at them meaningfully, then said, \u201clet\u2019s fuck them up,\u201d and threw open the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They all ran through, weapons drawn.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren rushed forward first and cast a holding spell on one of the men, who was chugging a beer and instantly froze, the beer spilling over his front. Then he began shooting the frozen figure with eldritch blasts until he fell back, stiffy, to the floor. Whisper went invisible, and Shale didn\u2019t bother to keep track of the tabaxi as she took out her bow and shot an arrow at the man holding Goldra, Trigger bounding forward and leaping in to bite the arm holding the halfling. The man swore and dropped Goldra as he faced his attackers, Shale\u2019s arrow sticking in his forearm, the point dug into his leather armour. There was a loud crash and a man\u2019s scream from the kitchens, followed by the roar of a bear. A window on the second level shattered, which left Shale to assume Reverence would be coming down the stairs any second. Three large brown bears charged in from the kitchens and surrounded the man in front of Shale, and as soon as Goldra dropped she sprinted for the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI guess sometimes the prey comes to you,\u201d the half-elf woman said, casually standing from the table and shooting a small, buzzing light from her fingertips, which whizzed toward the three bears and exploded in a sudden burst of fire. The man, who still had Shale\u2019s arrow in his armour, was able to jump out of the way. Trigger ran to Shale\u2019s feet. All three bears flew back, their fur singed. The smell of burnt hair was pungent, and the two bears suddenly flashed and were gone, leaving only Fillip in his bear form. He rolled to his feet, roaring. Shale put away her bow and drew her two blades as another of the men took out a crossbow. Instead of aiming it at her, however, he flicked and shot at Keelan, who was trying to stand between their fleeing leader and the door. The bolt grazed Keelan\u2019s cheek, and the paladin instantly went pale. Poison, Shale thought frantically, and sure enough, Keelan stumbled and fell against a table for support, the point of his sword dropping. He swung wildly then, looking confused.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The poison worked quickly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A sphere of flames rolled over the prone man, who was still frozen from Oszaren\u2019s spell, and Shale didn\u2019t turn to look for Whisper. She knew his spells well by now. Instead, she ran around the sphere toward the man with the crossbow, brandishing her weapons.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence leapt down the stairs striking at the woman, who, it was now evident, was their spellcaster. Within a few seconds, she was severely bloodied and backing up as Oszaren also began hitting her with spells.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The man Shale charged dropped his crossbow and drew a short sword, narrowly dodging her strike. She heard a thump behind her, but didn\u2019t turn until she heard another noise, and suddenly felt a stinging pain in her shoulder. She stumbled, grabbing at her shoulder and feeling a bolt there. The man she fought grinned and lowered his blade as she fell to her knees. She looked back. The man who\u2019d been frozen was standing over Keelan and Fillip\u2019s unconscious bodies, smiling, his crossbow aimed at her. Shale felt her vision swim and her body became heavy. The man next to her pulled out a glass vial and said to his friend, \u201chold your breath.\u201d Then, he smashed the glass on the ground and a thick smoke rose up. Shale coughed as the smoke consumed her. She collapsed, her vision tunneling into darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Oszaren swept like a storm over the fallen bodies of his comrades, his greatsword flashing and the snake tattoos along his forearm glowing with power. He held his breath against the curling smoke and lunged at the man standing over Keelan, lopping off his head with one smooth strike. Without hesitating, he ran past to the man who released the smoke and cut cleanly through the hand holding his sword, then cut the other hand holding another vial, then, finally, removed his head. Blood sprayed in a glorious arc and splattered across the walls as the head landed and rolled. Luckily, the vial didn\u2019t break.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren jumped through the smoke and saw Whisper shoot a bolt of fire at the sorceress. She countered the spell and was slammed from behind by his sphere of flames. The woman shrieked as she burned and fell.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The last man was running past Whisper, trying to escape through the back door. The tabaxi chased him, and Oszaren ran after them, finally gasping in air once he was clear of the smoke. \u201cGive up!\u201d Oszaren shouted as Whisper grabbed the fleeing man by the arm and pulled him back roughly, \u201cyour companions are dead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The man struggled for a moment, then let his crossbow clatter to the floor, seeing Oszaren told the truth. The warlock raised the tip of his bloodied greatsword under the man\u2019s chin as Whisper kicked away his crossbow and began rifling through his pockets. \u201cWhere is the antidote for my friends?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need one,\u201d he said solemnly, \u201cthey\u2019ll wake if you shake them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat sort of poison did you use?\u201d Oszaren pressed the tip of the blade against his skin, drawing blood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The man winced as Whisper pulled up another vial like the substance that had created the smoke.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just something we use to put people to sleep. We call it ether. We don\u2019t try to kill them,\u201d he said, \u201cwe need them alive if we\u2019re going to sell them. That\u2019s what we were trying to do to the rest of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFine,\u201d Oszaren said, \u201cWhisper, tie him up.\u201d He threw the tabaxi a length of rope from his pack, keeping the point of his sword trained on the man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper quickly tied his hands, then punched the man in the side of the face. He punched him three more times, and finally Oszaren said, \u201cenough.\u201d He raised the hilt of his sword and hit the man in the temple, knocking him to a heap on the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Shale awoke to a floating, spectral hand shaking her roughly. She sat up, coughing, and looked around. Keelan, Fillip and Reverence were just getting to their feet. Trigger was laying asleep next to her. She shook him, and the fox awoke groggily, immediately rubbing his long nose under her arm. She scratched him. \u201cIt\u2019s okay, buddy,\u201d she said softly. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSleep smoke,\u201d Oszaren said, walking through the room. \u201cThey were hoping to take us prisoner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale winced and grabbed her shoulder, where the bolt was still embedded. \u201cHere,\u201d Fillip said, walking unsteadily to her side, \u201clet me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The druid pulled out the bolt and healed her. Keelan and Reverence began searching the bodies. \u201cThey were definitely traffickers,\u201d Keelan said, taking out another vial of poison and showing it to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe took a prisoner,\u201d Oszaren said, nodding back toward the kitchen, \u201cwe knocked him out and Whisper tied him up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPrisoner?\u201d Reverence smiled wickedly, striding across the room to the kitchens. \u201cExcellent.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Fillip went to find their caravan up the road and tell them to return to the inn while Oszaren went through the room and used prestidigitation to magically scrub the place clean of blood. The smoke had completely dissipated, and they were able to drag the bodies and heads outside through the back door. Reverence dragged the prisoner into the cellar and Shale decidedly did not want to know what methods of torture the tiefling would use this time. Instead, she retrieved the frightened Goldra and assured her the traffickers were gone for good.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat about the other people they took?\u201d the halfling woman asked frightfully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Shale shook her head, \u201cbut we\u2019re going to find out. Our monk is on it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Reverence dragged the unconscious man into the cold cellar with Whisper\u2019s help, then pointed to the dirt floor. \u201cCan you\u2014dig hole deep enough\u2014that he can\u2019t\u2014crawl out?\u201d He asked, and Whisper obliged, magically pulling up the dirt and piling it next to the earthen walls of the underground cellar.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence tore off the man\u2019s clothes until he was down to his smallclothes, then unceremoniously dropped him into the hole. Then, he jumped down next to the body and took a vial of the ether they\u2019d found on him and dripped it into his mouth to keep him unconscious. With Whisper\u2019s help, the monk crawled back up the hole and they dragged a table upside down over the hole to cover it. \u201cThank you, Whisper\u2014you can go now,\u201d he dismissed the tabaxi, then sat in cross-legged meditation in the darkness and waited for the man to wake.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\u201cIf I don\u2019t get Arietta to sleep with me by now,\u201d Fillip grumbled under his breath as the members of their caravan filed inside the well-lit inn, \u201cthen it\u2019ll never happen.\u201d The half-elf put on a big smile and ran to grab Arietta by the hand as she and her sister wandered inside. \u201cAs promised, my beautiful Arietta, your bed awaits!\u201d He declared proudly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan found them a table and sat, watching Fillip and Arietta head up the stairs together, his expression hollow. \u201cAre you alright?\u201d Shale asked the Paladin, who looked up at her in surprise. \u201cThat drug they gave us was quite potent,\u201d she clarified.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He cleared his throat and straightened, \u201cIt\u2019s a useful drug. It\u2019s too bad we didn\u2019t find more of it to use.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale nodded her agreement, then caught Zelena walking the perimeter of the room with a dull expression. \u201cExcuse me,\u201d Shale said, leaving Keelan at the table with Oszaren and Whisper. \u201cZelena, hi,\u201d she said, trotting over to the woman as others of their caravan picked seats at the table or started carrying their clothing upstairs for the night.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHello,\u201d Zelena answered, looking at her, a hand on a window sill.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSince your sister is\u2014ah, otherwise occupied, I thought perhaps we could share a room. The innkeeper said there aren\u2019t enough for everyone, and it might give us an opportunity to\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Zelena sighed, sounding bored.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cGreat,\u201d Shale gave a stiff smile and handed her a key. \u201cIt\u2019s number eleven. You can bring your things up whenever.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSure,\u201d she said solemnly, then walked off, one hand tracing the wall as she did so.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale shook her head and sat back down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou really don\u2019t like her, do you?\u201d Oszaren asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t trust her,\u201d Shale crossed her arms, \u201cthat\u2019s why I\u2019m planning on going through her things once she\u2019s asleep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDon\u2019t tell Reverence that,\u201d Keelan warned. \u201cHe fancies her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s because she\u2019s as solemn as he is,\u201d Oszaren joked, and Shale smiled, but her attention was not on the main floor of the inn. Her thoughts drifted to the stairs under the kitchen, to where Reverence was torturing their captive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

The prisoner woke groggily and began shouting up through the darkness, touching his hands against the rough dirt walls, looking for any indication of where he was. \u201cHello?\u201d He said, then began shouting, \u201chello! Can anyone hear me? Help!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The shouting continued for the better part of an hour before Reverence finally acknowledged him. \u201cYes\u2014I can hear you,\u201d the monk said softly, dangerously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhere am I? Who are you?\u201d The man demanded, then shivered, \u201cand where are my clothes?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019ll\u2014ask the questions,\u201d Reverence told him, putting a hand over the table and sliding it a few inches from the top of the hole so he could peer in. There was a dimly lit lantern in the cellar, giving only a vague impression of the outline of his horned face to the man who squinted to look up at him. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cLet me go,\u201d the man warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat is\u2014your name?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cElryn. What\u2019s yours?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat did I say\u2014about asking questions?\u201d Reverence warned, and the man seemed to shrink in his hole. \u201cGood. Now\u2014you\u2019ve been here for a tenday,\u201d he lied to the man, holding up a near empty vial of ether. \u201cYou know what this is?\u201d he asked, and the man nodded. \u201cWe\u2019ve kept you asleep for a long while. Your friends\u2014are dead. All of them. You\u2019re\u2014the only one left.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWell, if that\u2019s true,\u201d Elryn said boldly, \u201cthen our prisoners have already starved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWho were these people\u2014you trafficked, Eldinn?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Elryn,\u201d he corrected automatically. When Reverence stared blankly at him, he began pacing the few feet he had inside the hole, back and forth. \u201cTravellers, people we thought looked strong enough to face the journey.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHow did you\u2014do it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe\u2019d drug them with the ether, like we did to your friends in that inn. Then, we\u2019d drag them off until we could get our contacts to create false documentation of sentences, stating our prisoners were felons. They\u2019d get shipped out to sea without question, and we\u2019d get paid.\u201d He shrugged again, \u201cit\u2019s easy money in these parts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI wonder why\u2014you are so forthcoming\u2014with this knowledge, Alris,\u201d Reverence mused.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cMy name is Elryn,\u201d he said, growing more frustrated by Reverence\u2019s blatant mistakes. \u201cI was in it for the money, but if everyone else is dead, it doesn\u2019t matter anymore. I couldn\u2019t keep up the business on my own even if I wanted to. It was all Elward\u2019s idea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhere are you keeping the prisoners?\u201d Reverence asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIf you told it true and I\u2019ve been down here a tenday, then they\u2019re dead. Starved.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence glared at him, then grabbed the table and pulled it back over the hole, shrouding the man back in darkness. \u201cHey! Wait! Don\u2019t leave me in here!\u201d He shouted, but Reverence was already climbing up the stairs of the cellar and out the door to where they\u2019d piled the other three bodies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence found one of the men\u2019s severed heads and took it by the hair and cast a spell, covering the entire head in ice. He smirked and ran back down into the cellar, moving the table aside once more and dropping the head in the pit.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWoah, wait, hey!\u201d The man jumped back as the head landed and the ice cracked in several places upon impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to\u2014leave that there to melt\u2014while you wait,\u201d Reverence said. \u201cI\u2019ll be back\u2014tomorrow, to ask you again\u2014about the prisoners. I expect\u2014to have your answer then.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence ignored the man\u2019s screams and angry curses as he moved the table back and headed upstairs to find some supper.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Shale waited long enough to give Zelena time to fall asleep before going up to their shared room. She creaked the door open gently and threw down her pack and let Trigger run to the foot of the bed and snuffle through it for food. She closed the door and kicked off her boots, eyes trained on the twin to see her reaction, but she breathed soundly. Satisfied, Shale bent and began rifling through the woman\u2019s pack, which consisted of some nice clothing and a few wrapped food items. No makeup, though the woman\u2019s face always looked painted. There were a couple of plain daggers, but nothing else.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Something\u2019s off about this one, <\/em>Shale thought, leaning in close to peer at the woman. She didn\u2019t seem to be an illusion, or any sort of spellcaster. Shale reached out a finger and lifted a bit of the woman\u2019s hair to move it from her face, but Zelena stirred. Shale quickly jumped back and motioned to Trigger, who ran to her on the floor. She started scratching his belly, her back to Zelena. \u201cGood boy,\u201d Shale was saying to her fox. She could feel Zelena\u2019s eyes on her as the young woman awoke, watching cautiously. She didn\u2019t dare look up again until she heard Zelena turn back over. When she looked, the blanket was pulled up over her face. Shale breathed out a sigh of relief, then stripped and crawled into bed, Trigger settling in beside her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Fillip awoke with the rustling of sheets, and he opened his eyes to see Arietta had slipped out of bed and was dressing. \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d He asked groggily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOh!\u201d She gasped, turning to him, hand on her breast, \u201cFillip. You scared me. I\u2019m just going to wash up.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWash up?\u201d He said, sitting up, his bare chest pale in the moonlight streaming through their window. \u201cIt\u2019s the middle of the night.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI needed to use the chamber pot,\u201d she said pointedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThen why are you getting dressed?\u201d Fillip pressed. \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cJust\u2014out,\u201d she hesitated, pulling back her hair once she\u2019d slipped her shirt over her head. \u201cI\u2019ll be okay.\u201d She tied a warm cloak over her shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNo, you really won\u2019t,\u201d he insisted, throwing his feet over the side of the bed and walking over to her. \u201cThere are slavers around.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI just want some fresh air,\u201d Arietta said. \u201cI was hoping to go for a walk with my sister.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFresh air,\u201d Fillip said flatly, \u201cwith Zelena. In the middle of the night. When there are traffickers about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cJust forget it,\u201d she said, pushing on his chest with her hand. \u201cLet\u2019s both go back to bed.\u201d She started to untie her cloak.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip reached up and stopped her hands. \u201cBack to bed, just like that? I don\u2019t think so,\u201d he shook his head, staring at her suspiciously. \u201cExplain yourself first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s family business,\u201d she said too politely, hands dropping to her sides.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThere should be no family business in the woods in the middle of nowhere at three in the morning,\u201d Fillip refused to drop the subject until she gave him a satisfactory answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Instead, Arietta shook her head. \u201cLet\u2019s go back to bed,\u201d she said pleadingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cArietta. Tell me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She stared at him for a few moments, then sighed and relented. \u201cFine, I\u2019ll tell you. But you can\u2019t tell your friends. Promise?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He sat on the bed and made room for her to sit next to him, which she did, folding one leg under the other so she could face him. \u201cAlright,\u201d he agreed, \u201cI won\u2019t tell them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAnd promise you won\u2019t hurt me,\u201d she added seriously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOn my word as a druid,\u201d he raised a hand, \u201cthough it\u2019s contingent on the nature of what you tell me. So long as it does not affect my safety, or the safety of our caravan, I will not hurt you or tell your secret.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reluctantly, she began. \u201cZelena and I aren\u2019t what we appear to be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBeautiful?\u201d Fillip asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She smiled, \u201cwell, I am, obviously. But, no. I mean that\u2014we\u2019ve been travelling the Sword Coast for a decade, working for an\u2014organization.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWho?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThey call themselves The Reapers. Those four people in the inn you killed last night\u2014they were Reapers. That\u2019s why I wanted to go with Zelena tonight, before we were found out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip nodded thoughtfully. \u201cI won\u2019t report you,\u201d he said finally, \u201cbut you should know that kidnapping people and subjecting them to slavery is a dark trade, and I don\u2019t condone it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt was an easy way for us to make gold,\u201d Arietta told him, seeming relieved by his reaction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cEven so, it\u2019s not okay. No one should ever be subjected to\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPerhaps that\u2019s how we got into it,\u201d she said quickly, defensively. \u201cPerhaps Zelena and I were once taken.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip paused and rubbed his eyes, then stood from the bed. \u201cI\u2014I can\u2019t sleep. I need some time.\u201d He pulled on a pair of trousers and slipped into a loose-fitting shirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFillip!\u201d She started, but he was gone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He wandered downstairs barefoot, passing Whisper on his way up the stairs. He nodded to the wizard, who looked overtired and had a pile of scrolls clutched in his paws. Fillip snuck behind the bar and took out a bottle of mead, not bothering with a cup as he sat alone and drank the sweet, warming liquor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Reverence crept downstairs early in the morning to find a drunken and exhausted Fillip sitting alone with two empty bottles of mead on his table. He gave the druid an acknowledging wave as he entered the kitchens and descended into the cellar. He pulled the table aside and saw Elryn at the bottom of the pit, curled asleep as far from the melting, decapitated head as he could get. Reverence clapped his hands together and magically forced the sound to echo like a thunderclap. Elryn jumped at once to his feet, then turned his tired eyes to the dim light peeking in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAre you\u2014ready to talk?\u201d Reverence asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFine,\u201d Elryn said immediately, \u201cI\u2019ll tell you where the prisoners are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWell?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He sighed, \u201cthey\u2019re in a watchtower, about seven miles east of here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAnything else\u2014we can expect\u2014guarding the prisoners?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Elryn shook his head. \u201cIt was just the four of us. Like I said, we didn\u2019t need to guard them. They were constantly drugged and barely ever conscious except to eat the bare minimum of food to keep them alive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence held his hand over the pit and created a showering of coals, which dropped on Elryn. He shouted, \u201cow, ow,\u201d and quickly brushed the hot coals from his hair and skin. \u201cWhat was that for?\u201d He demanded. \u201cI\u2019ve told you everything I know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence grabbed his spear, which leaned against the wall, then jumped into the pit, landing firmly on both feet in front of his prisoner. \u201cI like you, Engryn,\u201d he said, then thrust the end of the spear into the man\u2019s gut, skewering him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Blood bubbled up into Elryn\u2019s mouth, and he moaned as he fell back. Reverence wiped his spear on the man\u2019s smallclothes and spat, \u201cwhat a waste.\u201d The pit filled with the stench of released bowels.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

With his dying breath, Elryn said in a rattling cough, \u201clong live the Reapers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

The caravan decided to stay another night at the Grinning Gnome <\/em>roadside inn, which gave the party a chance to discuss what Reverence had learned from their prisoner.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWho are the Reapers?\u201d Oszaren wondered aloud over breakfast. \u201cI\u2019ve never heard of them before.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSome group of\u2014kidnappers and enslavers,\u201d Reverence said slowly, pulling another chunk of biscuit apart and shoving it in his mouth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They had found Fillip downstairs, thoroughly drunk, and Keelan had quickly healed him back to soberness. Whisper was still upstairs, asleep, having stayed up late copying scrolls.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s\u2014up to us\u2014to remove focus from the Cult of the Dragon\u2014to think about these Reapers,\u201d Reverence said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s our moral duty to save these prisoners,\u201d Keelan said firmly, slamming a fist into the table, as he was wont to do when feeling morally justified.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI want to stay behind,\u201d Fillip said, and they all looked around at him in surprise. \u201cThe Reapers might come back, and I don\u2019t want to leave this caravan, nor our cart of supplies, ripe for the taking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence clutched something under his robes, at his chest, and stared at Fillip for a moment, then grabbed the druid\u2019s arm and pulled him away from the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIf we can\u2019t all trust each other,\u201d Shale shook her head, \u201chow will we ever stop the cult, or save the people we want to save?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They returned to the table a few minutes later, Fillip looking grave and Reverence seeming intrigued. It was as though the two had swapped minds. \u201cFillip is feeling\u2014betrayed,\u201d Reverence explained in a low voice. \u201cHe has promised\u2014not to say anything\u2014but I was able to hear his thoughts\u2014and he has allowed me to explain to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cGo on, then,\u201d Oszaren urged.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence leaned in, and they all mirrored him, excluding Fillip, who looked uncomfortable and like he\u2019d very much enjoy getting drunk again. \u201cArietta and Zelena work for the Reapers. They have\u2014for a long time. Fillip worries\u2014that if we go to the watchtower to find\u2014the prisoners, then\u2014Zelena and Arietta will steal away and\u2014find more Reapers to come\u2014attack our caravan.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI knew it,\u201d Shale whispered. \u201cI never trusted them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan gave her an appraising look, and she glanced away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat should we do?\u201d Shale asked, then. \u201cIf we split up, we might not be strong enough to fight off whatever\u2019s in the tower.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t leave those people to die,\u201d Keelan said again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI agree with you,\u201d Shale told him, \u201cbut we need a clever plan. Oszaren? What do you think?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cReverence said the prisoner told him there were no guards around the prisoners,\u201d the warlock said thoughtfully. \u201cI\u2019m not sure we can believe that.\u201d He paused, thinking. \u201cWhat if we took Zelena with us, and split up the sisters? If Fillip is more comfortable staying behind, we can leave him and Whisper at the inn while we go on ahead looking for the prisoners. If we run into trouble, I can always send a message back to them and have them join us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWill Zelena come with us?\u201d Shale asked skeptically.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOh,\u201d Reverence smiled, a dreamy look in his reddish eyes, \u201cI think\u2014I can convince her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

They quickly finished their breakfast and gathered supplies for the day, Reverence leaving Oyn to look after the cart and horses while Fillip stayed in the main floor, promising to remain sober. They let Whisper rest and met Reverence and Zelena in front of the inn a short time later.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going on a walk with all of them?\u201d Zelena asked in a bored voice.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt might be\u2014a long walk,\u201d Reverence said carefully.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Zelena shrugged and pushed her blonde hair out of her face. \u201cFine, I don\u2019t mind a walk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis should be fun,\u201d Shale whispered sarcastically into Keelan\u2019s ear.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan led Ember until they reached the forest, then put a booted foot in the stirrup and pulled himself up onto the black gelding, clutching the reins in one hand. \u201cAnyone else?\u201d the paladin asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale smiled and shook her head, taking in a deep breath of the pine-fresh air. \u201cNo thanks, I like to walk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Shale continued to send out her primeval awareness for any signs of undead creatures. About an hour into their walk through the dense forest, she paused. \u201cI can sense undead. I think they\u2019re in the watchtower.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSo, the prisoner lied after all,\u201d Oszaren said quietly, and Zelena looked confused, then understanding washed over her face. \u201cThe people are guarded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Another hour passed before they came upon the watchtower peeking through the mess of trees and overgrowth.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe undead could be anywhere,\u201d Shale told them, \u201cbut I\u2019m guessing they\u2019re on the lower levels. Reverence, is there any way you can climb the tower from the outside to see where the prisoners are? That may give us some direction, before we start wandering through dark rooms filled with ghosts or vampires, or worse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence ran ahead and climbed up the outside of the tower deftly, pulling himself up to look through the arrow slits. Eventually, he descended and returned to them, slightly out of breath. \u201cI found the prisoners at the top of the tower,\u201d he said. \u201cFour in total. There are no windows big enough\u2014so we\u2019d have to take the stairs inside.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren took out the silver raven statue they\u2019d found at Dragonspear Castle, and the inky black illusion of a raven sprouted from it, cawing, and hopped on the ground in front of them. \u201cI\u2019m sending word to Whisper and Fillip,\u201d the warlock told them, taking out a scrap of parchment and an ink pen and scrawling on it. He rolled the parchment and tied it on the raven\u2019s proffered leg. Oszaren let the bird hop onto his hand and held it aloft, whispering \u201cwords of woe and shadow.\u201d The raven cawed again, then opened its wings and flapped into the air, soaring up over the treetops.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHow did the prisoners look?\u201d Shale asked Reverence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The tiefling looked at them, Zelena looking withdrawn, the rest all nervous, \u201cThey were beaten\u2014but alive. I saw three unconscious\u2014a gnome and two humans. One was\u2014awake. Also a human. And,\u201d he hesitated, touching a hand to his chest, \u201che had a tattoo on his chest. The tattoo\u2014was the symbol of the Harpers.\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<\/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 17 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":645,"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-218","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-3.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 17<\/a><\/blockquote>