Storm took the brooch from the Matriarch.
"Thank you, Milady!! We'll be back as soon as we can with an update for you." Storm answered.
"Be careful while traveling through the human kingdoms. The humans have become increasingly more paranoid of late.
That makes it dangerous for those who are not human.
Tread lightly. "
"We'll be careful. " replied Aurora.
They spent a few more minutes discussing the contact he was to meet in the city before she dismissed them and returned to her duties.
With the audience now officially over, Storm and Aurora left the temple and discussed plans for the journey.
"Are we going immediately?" Asked Aurora.
"No, Northburg is several days of flight away from here.
We'll need to prepare and I need to set plans in place for the others while I'm absent. " Storm replied.
They flew back to the hideout and Storm spent the remainder of the day with his commanders.
He told Augustus to prepare for the Hag's possible arrival and set a deadline for the construction efforts around the hideout.
It was decided that Storm and Aurora would first fly out towards Twin Rivers to meet with the Gnolls.
Storm would pass on instructions and new orders for them, before continuing with the rest of the journey towards Northburg.
Storm pointed at a large map of the continent.
"From Twin Rivers, we'll fly over the Dark Forest here."
He drew a line from Twin Rivers though a region of wilderness that had no activity.
No settlements of any kind were close to the area.
"Why doesn't anyone live in the area?" Asked Aurora.
"The humans believe the Dark Forest to be haunted or cursed.
Any settlement built close to it's borders doesn't even last a month before being destroyed. " Explained Kalipso.
"Is it actually haunted however?" Asked Aurora.
Kalipso hesitated.
"...unfortunately, yes. There was an Haven in the forest that became corrupted many years ago.
The corruption spread through the many forest spirits and Fey that inhabited the region.
Warping them into Dark Fey, a cruel and malicious form of fairies that are gifted in a wide range of dark magics.
The forest spirits transformed into dryads and they stalk the forest for victims to tear apart.
Worse still, dark magic saturated the very air and the dead in the forest do not rest easily.
Many humans, elves and dwarves died in that forest and their spirits still linger, driven mad by their cursed fate, they attack without mercy!" Finished Kalipso.
She looked Storm in the eye.
"I don't like this at all, Calamity! The Dark Forest is avoided for a reason!!
I have no sway over the dark creatures that live there!
I won't be able to use my influence to barter for safe passage! Traveling through that place is suicide!!" Kalipso exclaimed.
"That's why we won't be traveling 'through ' it, Kalipso. We'll be flying over it." Storm replied.
"The Forest is vast, Calamity.
It would take at least 2 full days and nights to fly over it.
You won't be able to stop and rest for that entire time. "
"I can do it! This isn't the first time I've had to fly for extended periods of time!"
Storm looked at Aurora with concern.
"You don't have to go with me, Aurora! I can make the journey on my own!" Storm suggested.
"I promised that I'd go with you and that's 'exactly' what I'm going to do!!
The danger of the trip changes nothing!!" She replied.
"Why not just follow the roads around the forest that the humans use?
Wouldn't it be safer?" Asked Grombrim.
Storm immediately shook his head.
"It would take too long!
Time is of the essence if we want to find the agent alive!!
We'd also be traveling close to several humans settlements.
Including Stone Helm.
They would be on alert and it will increase the chances of us being discovered.
I know it's risky.
But this is the only way to get to the city quickly and without being discovered. " Storm explained.
"Are the Kitsune's help even worth the risk, Calamity?
They're 'lovers' not 'fighters'. " asked Grombrim.
"They've got an web of informants spread across the whole continent and a network of contacts that will open many doors for us. But there's another reason..."
Storm looked each adviser in the eyes to insure he had their attention.
"This Kitsune was investigating the hidden hunter base and managed to find a potential leak.
We need any information she might have gathered.
It might be the key we need to locate it and destroy it."
"Destroy it with what, Calamity!!?
A handful of broken elves, a trio of old ladies, a pack of dogs and a handful of miners!!?
You know we lack the forces to assault it!!" Exclaimed Grombrim.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
But for now, finding it takes top priority. " replied Storm.
"Fine!! It's clear that you've already made up your mind!!
Arguing about it further serves no purpose!!" Said Grombrim.
With the planning for the journey now concluded, they discussed the city of Northburg itself.
The city was located at the only pass that led into the Northern Wastes.
The Wastes was a part of the fringes that was completely surrounded by impassable mountains except for a small narrow pass.
As the name says, the region was locked in a neverending winter that made the land all but inhospitable except for the hardest of creatures.
Jotun, Yeti, Frost Wolves and Tundra elves all carved out a rough life in the wastes.
They raided the surrounding villages regularly until Northburg was built to keep them contained.
The city was an impregnable fortress that only the hardest of warriors called home.
Due to the size of the invaders that often assaulted the city, they had some of the most skilled warriors in the kingdoms.
The frozen region also attracted a wide range of cryomancers and an academy was constructed inside the city that was widely known as the best place to study and learn cryogenic magic.
"The place is in an near constant state of war.
Expect them to be especially suspicious and unwelcoming to outsiders, Overlord. " Augustus warned
"Hopefully our cover will allow us entry.
We'll be posing as travelers coming to visit family located in the city." Replied Storm.
"Can we count on the Kitsune to assist if you run into trouble?" Asked Razor.
"The Matriarch sent word to them to expect us and she gave me the name of an 'fine establishment of pleasurable delights' that the Kitsune run in the city.
Not sure what she meant by it though?"
"A Brothel, dragon!!
She was talking about a brothel!!" Explained Grombrim.
"Ohh!!!!..... Well.... the hostess of this .... establishment is the handler of the Kitsune agents in the city.
She'll set us on the trail." Explained Storm.
Since it was already getting dark, Storm decided that they would set off at first light the next morning .
He dismissed everyone and he and Aurora retired to his residence to get some rest of the long journey.
They both curled up in the nest.
She layed on her side and Storm curled around her back.
He rested his head on her shoulder and grasped her protectively.
He lowered a wing over her and they both closed their eyes to sleep while locked in each other's embrace.