The beginning

Soren could sense a difference in his apprentice. The air around her seemed...off. He nodded, storing the thought away for later. "Very well. We should carry on, then. There's not much daylight left." He began packing away his provisions into his satchel.

Kallias touched Cala's shoulders. "We'll discuss your future later," he promised.

Five picked up Athen and put his arm over his shoulder. "Kallias, grab his other arm. We're going to have to get out of here now."

Kallias hurried to Athen's side, taking his arm and putting it over his shoulder. "We're leaving now. Seth, please follow. You'll be protected."

Zander noticed the clouds dissipating. He breathed a sigh of relief as his soldiers cheered. "Safe another day," he muttered. He prodded the miser girl still on the ground. "Hey. Why were you running from a ghost dog if you're a miser?"

Soren put his bag on and stood with the group. "Ready when you are, lady and gentlemen."

"Misers are still afraid of ghost!" she protested. "What can I do to a ghost? Look at me!"

Zander shrugged. "You're a lot older than you look, by the sounds of it." He looked back up at the city. "Besides. Little girls don't flail around in a miser-infested city on their own."

"My age doesn't change that I'm small and powerless," Anna complained. "Besides, Misers aren't what you should be afraid of."

Cala stood behind Soren, unsteady, and nodded. "I'm ready as well."

"Is that right?" A woman came up to Zander asking for directions to the schoolhouse as she carried a small child. He pointed the way and looked back down at the girl after the woman had thanked him and walked away. "What should we fear?"

Tira watched the group in the city from atop a high building. "Pathetic," she muttered coldly. "So easily brought down by such a small group...so utterly pathetic."

Five started dragging Athen, looking back at the others. "We need to get to the camp before we're spotted by other, less friendly Misers. They'll be looking for Athen."

Soren looked around cautiously, following closely behind. "As a matter of fact, I believe we're being watched as we speak..."

"I do not doubt that. That is why it is essential we return to the camp in haste. More will be coming." Kallias hurried along side Five, looking about him uneasy.

Tira motioned a cloaked miser over. He fell to one knee next to her. "Follow them," she breathed as she watched them go. "And don't eat any of them," she added. The miser saluted her with a fist to the ground before seemingly disappearing from sight.

Asterianna watched Athen through her third eye, writing her visions on the scroll and sealing it as he fell. She opened the next and began writing the event and journey to the camp as a separate scroll, careful to keep all details in order. Quietly, she sealed them and brought them to the chamber, returning quickly to begin the next, aware of the sleeping monster below the floor her feet scurried across. Have mercy on me if I wake him, she prayed silently to the gods.

Ezekiel went to return to the camp himself after growing tired of waiting, coming up behind the group with Athen. One look told him that this could very possibly be bad, and his heart started racing. "Hey, guys..?" He started, slowly realizing who the being was in front of him. "Is that..?"

Seth staggered behind Kallias and Five, holding his eye. [i]What is going on....[i] he wondered, his head aching.

Kallias looked over his shoulder. "Ezekiel?" he asked.
He looked at Athen. "This is a friend of Five, I was told," he replied, avoiding names. "We don't have a lot of time to talk. He was stabbed. Will you please escort Mr. Lykke and his assistant to see Zander. Ask him to be polite to our guest. Wait there for me. I won't be long and I have a need for you."

Just being paranoid, I suppose He thought to himself, giving a confident nod while gesturing to Soren in a way that meant for him to follow. He wouldn't dare press the matter, since it would seem there was much tension. Everything seemed to have the horrible stiffening feeling seeped into it, so he barely wanted to speak at all.

Soren nodded. "Good luck ambassador, Five. Shall we, Cala?" He cracked his back loudly and followed after the boy. "These bones are bound to fall apart someday," he chuckled.

A nervous laugh came from Ezekiel while he slowly made his way back, turning to look at Soren. Its no wonder no one ever came to get me, someone got hurt. I don't understand, it seemed really uneasy... He looked ahead again, gulping. Maybe if he just stayed quiet then they'd make it to Zander without him messing up.

Cala walked behind Soren, continuing to cover her eye. She glanced back at Seth, feeling dreadful and weary. "Sir, might I ask why we're separating?" she asked.

"I suspect we're to report to this 'Zander' about the exorcism," Soren ventured. "Though, I'm sure the ambassador and Five need to deal with our friend while we do this." He looked up at Cala, a worry line creased his forehead as he frowned. "Does your eye hurt, Cala?"