Beloved tilted her head as most of the groups started gearing up, then she glanced at the forest, the winds had picked up considerably. The trees swaying despite the sunny skies. Couldn't the children see… the only safety to be found… was under Nix's wings?
Noelle almost had a heart attack when she turned to ask Tania something only to be face to face with Lady Beloved. Well… Lady Beloved was looking up at her, Noelle had half a head over the petite female. "Lady Beloved?"
Jaxon also looked over, he'd thought getting some fresh air with the Gippsi delegation was in order… not to mention maybe seeing that plant beast of virtue.
Beloved tilted her head, "Where are you going, what do you seek? To leave now, possible danger you'll meet."
Noelle stiffened, Lady Beloved only looked… curious. "I thought… it might please you and Lord Nix if we went hunting…"
Beloved clapped in understanding, "Oh, If I were you I would not bother, cause I always win, Nix is so biased." When Beloved didn't get the reaction she wanted she continued, "You could catch tigers, you could rip dragons limb from limb, but you could never catch a beast greater than him."
Noelle forced herself to not frown… was she saying… they… would have to capture Lord Nix? Despite her best effort she glanced over Lord Nix. He was so… petite, he'd been so easy to coax. Catching him… didn't seem like some impossible feat.
Beloved covered her mouth, but that didn't hide her smile as she turned around. Nix was only a few steps behind. She grabbed Nix around his legs then started to run away. "You cannot defeat me, for I have caught Nix! What greater beast dares to top this?" She asked laughing as she fled past the startled foxes. Nix was also laughing as he was carried away.
Caius flattened his ears… that was cheating! Aiya! He wanted to cheat too! When would his Little Snack be his to capture?
"How could there be, a greater hunter than I? I have captured a king, only a god would suffice." Beloved echoed as she disappeared into the trees.
Noelle stared after the pair… gone like a whisp of smoke. Then she shared a look with her cousins. "Should we… follow?"
Lamont hesitated glancing at his horse. His tiger claws were still damaged, using his spares wasn't the worst, but if there was danger. "I think… we should stay."
Tania wanted to cry… she was going stir crazy. If she had to go weeks without any personal time, she might just go mad. Maybe mad enough to try tempting one of the birds to take her flying.
Sebastian settled in at the table. His granddaughters helped soothe the worst of the swelling, but it was still throbbing painfully. Most of the foxes had taken to the forest, no doubt following after the pair.
"I have a really… really dumb idea." Calix announced drawing his family's attention. Actually, in the silence he'd drawn most everyone's attention. Including the unwelcome attention of his majesty, and the necromancer.
Sebastian eyed his grandson warily, "Perhaps it should remain unspoken."
Calix gave a sheepish grin, "Uh. I was thinking… maybe… we try to barter for" when his grandfather's interest changed to horror his voice started to taper off. "… the… crystals."
Sebastian stared at his grandson as if words could not express his incredulity at such an absurd proposal. A legendary goblin, king of his kind had only gained one of the lesser crystals… "Calix, perhaps you should find your bed, because such grandiose dreams should surely be limited to when you sleep."
Calix flushed as he ducked his head. Unfortunately… not everyone appeared to take his grandfather's advice. He watched the necromancer hurriedly approach the nest.
Jakub peered into the nest, ten small black birds were in various states of disarray. Half still on their backs with bloated bellies. "Come little bird, come trade with me." He coaxed holding out a golden medallion.
Hito forced himself up, his belly was so full he couldn't yet stand. He chirped at the mage.
Jakub quickly reached into the nest showing the medallion to the only bird who'd given any indication of hearing him. "It's worth a kings ransom. An ancient relic from the church's founding. Worn by the first priestess, mother of the nation." Jakub explained.
Hito pecked at the medallion curiously. It was old, but not very useful. He wasn't a dragon… he had no need to find dragons either. "Cheep, cheep." Hito tilted his head.
Jakub wasn't sure how he knew, but he understood the rejection. Jakub started fishing though his storage, pockets, anything he could think of. "There must be something you'd like."
Novak watched uncertainly, Jakub had just found that medallion in the cathedrals hidden room. Said the medallion was able to seek out anyone with dragon blood. Finding dragons might be necessary if they didn't find a way to remove the enchantments.
Jakub patiently started to offer everything he owned, one by one, hoping something would catch the small bird's interest. Soon others approached the nest, attempting to coax the birds.
Sebastian glared at Calix, "Some thoughts should remain just those," no matter how chastened Calix looked, if anything happened, it would be partially their fault.
After a few hours, Ashton and Beloved returned. A dozen bedraggled foxes slowly followed. As soon as they settled into the nest, the small birds started to chirp indignantly, explaining how everyone was trying to barter for their emergency rations.
Beloved picked each chick up, kissing them on the head comfortingly as she nodded along.
Ashton watched as the Ophion priests met up with Lucian, no doubt their frustration was mounting as wards were triggered, but none had seen the escapees yet. The wards were one time use. Ashton glanced away, it was not his concern. The bait was already taken, he need only reel them in.
The High priest was dissatisfied with the empire's attempts at locating the pair. They had less than four days. If their God had to find his runaway bride… there was no telling what could happen. It could very well be grounds for the covenant to be broken. Unlike with the Inago, if they lost their connection to their god, their very way of life would come to an end.
How were twenty men, not even mages, supposed to find an earth mage? Even if they did find the pair, the mage was also a sword master. It would take an army just to keep them from escaping. No matter how fast he or the other two were, they could not walk to space like the beast king. It would take time to arrive, time the pair was using to quickly escape.
Amin hesitated, "I will take a few men, we will go west. Hopefully, they attempt to reach the nest on land. If so, we should be able to head them off." Amin was not ungrateful. They had saved his life, if they had more men, more groups could be made. Unfortunately, most of their resources were focusing on rebuilding the capital. There were less than a hundred guards at the hunting palace.
The head priest was aware of the lack of manpower. If he had time, he would bring more of his own. Unfortunately, that hadn't been an option until they'd assessed the temperament of the king. Hopefully, other search groups would make their way to the king's territory now that they knew to come in peace.
"Time is of the essence. If she is not found before the ceremony, our deal will not stand." The Head priest reminded. For now, they pair couldn't approach without one of them being able to intercept, but that would change if the wards were all used. With only three of them, one had to remain at the camp site. One could rush to the triggered wards, one could rest. It would take only the smallest gap of concentration for the pair to slip in.
Amin bowed his head, "I will gather a few men, if there are more wards we can use to locate them…"
The head priest shook his head, each ward had to be carved using their god's feather. Each feather was made of almost pure mana, so few weeks after being removed form the god's body it would dissipate. Any unused mana would return to nature. Now… they could only hope the hiders slipped up before the seekers.
Jaxon was pacing back and forth as the sun started to set. Despite the constant song echoing all around, their chance at intercepting the bride was dwindling. They still had three days… but… so much could happen in that time. Not to mention, this unknown danger looming left everyone on edge.
Jaxon warily eyed his cup of boiled water… lack of sustenance was also fueling tempers. No one dared eat or drink anything until the mages could figure out what was tainted. Many only daring to eat what they had personally foraged. They could not keep forgoing food, they needed a way to barter with the smaller birds. Something had to give.
Aaron found many sleeping under the stars again. He watched as Lord Reece, Lord Nix, whatever he wanted to be called, continued to sing with his Beloved. More flames spreading out into the forest. The flames had to serve some purpose. When no answers were forthcoming, Aaron found a blanket to join the others. No matter what was going to happen, he needed to at least be rested. His empty stomach didn't even bother to growl anymore as he stared at the stars. Maybe, maybe tomorrow would be another relatively calm day.
Sebastian was almost not surprised when the shaking of the earth woke him. Glancing around it was still dark, but a battle was breaking out close to Lord Reece's nest. The real surprise however, was that Lord Reece and his Beloved were watching the Naga smack at the earth with his tail as he postured threateningly.
Calix wasn't sure how he didn't scream as he was shaken from his cot, brushing leaves or grass away he watched as the giant naga continued to hiss as the earth roiled, lifted, dipped. Beast Gods above… had the earth mistaken itself for a stormy sea? With another smack of the giant naga tail on the rising earth Calix fell on his face again.
Zane watched the waves of earth, something big was burrowing around underground… trying to reach the nest. Zane pulled his sword from his storage, neither of the birds had moved, only looking over the edge of their nest curiously.
Jaxon had his sword drawn, having already ripped the scroll the Ophion priests had given to make contact. He had little doubt that the runaway priestess and her guard were the ones trying to get to the nest. True to Ashton's word, they weren't actively reaching out to the duo… but, if they reached the nest to make a plea that could change.
Neolani rushed out only a moment after Kaveri, he'd been restless all night. She was already in a foul mood due to lack of sleep, now, less than two hours after Ashton and the female had settled in for the night, this! She watched the roiling ground retreat once again, "Earth spears! Open that tunnel up and flood them out!" She ordered racing to place herself between the rising earth and Ashton's nest.
Kaveri hissed at the female, "Back!" The power beneath the earth would tear the female apart. If he wasn't so tuned to the earth they would have snuck in unnoticed. Damned foxes!
Neolani halted as the giant snake tail blocked her way.
"Fox enchantments against you, back!" Kaveri hissed as he flared his crest to block the female from sight.
Neolani cursed as she leapt back, "Alexei!" She roared as she raced back to get a net. She would deal with the foxes afterward!
"No Inago! Back!" Kaveri hissed in frustration as he used his tail to sweep all the humans out of range. Not a moment too soon, ice arrows shot out of the opening in the earth. Several hitting his body. They didn't pierce his scales, but now frost was cooling his blood.
The five warriors were flung several yards back, the opening closing before they even hit the ground. The moving mound now had nothing between it, and the nest. Without hesitation it rapidly approached.
Beloved tilted her head as she leapt to sit on the edge of the nest. Naughty foxes had masked their approach. A moment later Nix lifted her into his lap, then sat on the edge of the nest. Nix was so pretty when he was serious!
Ashton watched the mound with half a smile. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the Ophion priests arrive at the far edge of the clearing. They were so fast they might as well have been flying, unfortunately, they were a heartbeat too late.