The Young and the Mareless VII
The shape of the stable comes together much more quickly than you realized and as night begins to fall on the third day, you pack up your tools and realize Charles is nowhere to be seen. Curious, you see some fresh hoof prints and follow them. What could a horse possibly be doing at nighttime, you think to yourself.
As you step quietly, the distinctive hoof prints of Charles lead you directly to Cecil’s home. Following further, you continue towards a stable you remember helping Cecil rebuild for his horse, Lucky Lady.
Before you can go further, a familiar gruff, clipped voice emerges from ahead. Ric Ryph! You quickly seek a hiding place in the hedgerow near the stable.
“Well, that’s not enough. A thousand years and weird self-referential pronouns? That could mean anything.”
A second, unfamiliar accented voice emerges from the stables.
“You said this was it, that if I figured out what they were up to, and if we found the dragon, I could go back to the way life was going to be…”
“Maybe that’s true, but the deal has changed. If you want your love to live, you’ll get more concrete proof that Beatrix is more than what she claims. Or else. You have two days. Now wizard, shut this fleabag up.”
A flash of light emerges from the stable, and you see Ric Ryph and Cecil emerge.
“And wizard,” Ric spits the word out derisively, “Don’t forget our deal. I know your secrets too…” he trails off as he stops in his tracks and stares straight towards you in the bushes next to the fenceline.
Your heart pounds louder and louder.
Sweat breaks out on your forehead.
You can feel Ric’s scheming eyes on you.
One second turns into five seconds.
No one's here, you find yourself thinking over and over again.
Cecil looks in your direction and coughs, Ric shakes his head as if returning from a reverie and mutters to himself unintelligibly before continuing more loudly, “... secrets I know a certain few people in Bahltruvia would be very interested to hear about.”
You continue to hold your breath as Cecil leans on a staff you’ve never seen before. The staff is adorned with a hauntingly peculiar sparkle that catches your eye. Cecil spends a few moments gazing out into the darkness, as Ric strides off in the distance.
Sensing this is your moment to get away unseen, you race back to your home. Moonlight illuminates your path. When you arrive, a single dagger is stuck in your door.
As you step quietly, the distinctive hoof prints of Charles lead you directly to Cecil’s home. Following further, you continue towards a stable you remember helping Cecil rebuild for his horse, Lucky Lady.
Before you can go further, a familiar gruff, clipped voice emerges from ahead. Ric Ryph! You quickly seek a hiding place in the hedgerow near the stable.
“Well, that’s not enough. A thousand years and weird self-referential pronouns? That could mean anything.”
A second, unfamiliar accented voice emerges from the stables.
“You said this was it, that if I figured out what they were up to, and if we found the dragon, I could go back to the way life was going to be…”
“Maybe that’s true, but the deal has changed. If you want your love to live, you’ll get more concrete proof that Beatrix is more than what she claims. Or else. You have two days. Now wizard, shut this fleabag up.”
A flash of light emerges from the stable, and you see Ric Ryph and Cecil emerge.
“And wizard,” Ric spits the word out derisively, “Don’t forget our deal. I know your secrets too…” he trails off as he stops in his tracks and stares straight towards you in the bushes next to the fenceline.
Your heart pounds louder and louder.
Sweat breaks out on your forehead.
You can feel Ric’s scheming eyes on you.
One second turns into five seconds.
No one's here, you find yourself thinking over and over again.
Cecil looks in your direction and coughs, Ric shakes his head as if returning from a reverie and mutters to himself unintelligibly before continuing more loudly, “... secrets I know a certain few people in Bahltruvia would be very interested to hear about.”
You continue to hold your breath as Cecil leans on a staff you’ve never seen before. The staff is adorned with a hauntingly peculiar sparkle that catches your eye. Cecil spends a few moments gazing out into the darkness, as Ric strides off in the distance.
Sensing this is your moment to get away unseen, you race back to your home. Moonlight illuminates your path. When you arrive, a single dagger is stuck in your door.
