Caius glanced over to a mountain he was certain little Rahm was playing in… the sun was still fairly high. He shifted his gaze to eye his diligent Little Snack, still carefully brushing his tails out. There was no way his Little Snack didn't feel that… but he didn't seem concerned…
Caius closed his eyes allowing his Little Snack to continue to pamper him, Aiya, there would be time enough for questions and answers. Besides, the dragon kin and the other groups were already returning.
Novak was not smiling as they returned empty handed, mind reeding ingredient indeed. That blasted monkey could reed minds… better to capture, tame, and use it rather than make a few potions.
Jakub was green faced as he rode on a bone horse, not only had that damnable monkey toyed with them for most of the day. It had stolen half of the mercenaries weapons and an entire horse. Had his undead warriors not been protecting most of the people there would have been several deaths.
Terrence had been silent almost all afternoon. It had ignored the group of people who had been foraging in the mountain, but had actively attacked the mercenaries yesterday. Today, it attacked all of them. The most he had even seen were patches of brown fur darting through the trees. Fur, and gouges in the trunks of trees.
Gregorio had been silent as well… to have taken a full grown horse without notice, avoided all their enchanted traps, mage tracking, and taken their weapons while they were wearing them… it was a good thing the young beast had insisted the necromancer follow them. There were rumors that more than a dozen third class mercenaries had been eaten alive.
Curtis pulled his horse up beside Gregorio, "We should prepare an offering for the Young beast… had the necromancer not been here with his bone troops there would have been several deaths."
Gregorio gave a stiff nod, "It was targeting his highness." No matter what they had done, three out of every four attacks had been aimed at their crown prince. From stolen blades, rocks, even twigs. Jakub had actually taken up post on the same horse as their crown prince in an attempt to capture the beast…
Curtis glanced at the crown prince, "I noticed… I don't think we should return with them tomorrow." Curtis added somberly, they were better off not earning rewards if it put their crown prince at risk. They were just blessed that the young beast had taken a liking to him.
Gregorio hesitated, "That may not be up to us to decide." Jakub had been glaring at the crown prince on and off their entire trip. There hadn't been anything that seemed to set the crown prince apart, but if it continued to target Prince Terrence, using him as bait would be the best method.
Curtis glanced at the necromancer warily, their goals did not seem to align, "We can bring it up in the morning in front of the young beast." Curtis murmured before letting his horse fall back. It was clear the Seibel delegation wasn't the only group debating leaving the beast be.
Sebastian was regretting several of his life choices right now. Not only was his left knee swollen, he was sure he'd also twisted the ankle in their attempts to coax the cat out of a tree. And yes, it was a leopard cat with three legs. The beast only weighed about ten pounds, missing its entire back left leg, and could speak. By the dragon ancestor above, could it speak.
"You were all so rude! Just showing up without warning! If you just wanted to talk why break my home! It took so long to make! Oh, woe is me! Where will I live? Now I'm homeless, catnapped, hungry, thirsty, and all you want is your stupid riddle! Bad humans! What did I do to deserve this! I hope you all stub your toes and drink sour wine!" Vigan complained mournfully as he sat on the rump of the old human's horse.
Sebastian wasn't sure why the cat, Vigan, had picked his horse… but he hoped they would return soon so he could lay down somewhere quiet. It had been chattering from the moment they were in hearing distance.
"I was just trying to catch a fish, but no, you all had to scare my fish away. Then try catching me in a net! Do I look like a stupid fish! You didn't even say hello or introduce yourselves. Of course I ran away! Then even when I was asking what you wanted, none of you would even speak! You must all be mute! Ugh! I can't write human, what is the point in catching me if most of you can't even speak? I am not a pet! I am a wild animal! Even now, I finally came down to your level, asked what you wanted, more than once I might add, and all you say is a riddle? A riddle about what? I can tell riddles all day! I am a master Riddler! Are you all deaf as well?"
Calix was ready to make himself deaf, that was for sure. If anyone approached his grandfather the cat would take off, they had tried for a solid three hours to capture and cage it. Calix almost wished they could just gag it… put it to sleep? Calix stared up at the sun… at this pace it would be another two hours before they returned.
Jaxon was sitting on a blanket with Monroe as they awkwardly sipped tea. None of the Gippsi delegation were in a rush, occasionally wandering off. Periodically returning with flowers or leaves, or sitting down to snack and chat. The princess was carrying around a basket with a single flower she had found, but otherwise just wandered around, made tea, then repeated the cycle.
Monroe wasn't interested in being fed and watered, but the tea had a soothing fragrance. Sitting with his back against a tree, pillows helping to prop him up and keep him comfortable, bird song in the air, sun sprinkling through the trees. This was… calming. Monroe closed his eyes, there wasn't even the tingling of pain from his injuries, or dazed foggy thoughts from the drugs. He wasn't nauseous from the after affects of drugs, eating, or pain. Perhaps Monroe would ask to join the Gippsi delegation in the days to come…
Calix almost wanted to cry when he saw the hunting palace, beast gods above… Vigan had been talking THE. ENTIRE. TIME. He'd also been spouting off riddles between his chatter so Leonard had been writing every riddle down, regardless of how unrelated it seemed.
Sebastian wasn't sure which hurt more, his left leg from the knee down, or his head from the constant chatter. He kicked his horse into a trot, just a few minutes and at least one of the pains shouldn't get anymore agitated. As they approached the palace Sebastian noticed the tiger delegations had all surrounded princess Rowena while the rest filed in.
"I'm fine! Really! You are all going to smother me to death!" Rowena laughed as her cousins all hugged her tightly, "It was my fault, I should have been paying more attention. Now come on, I have to hear how you all escaped!"
Noelle was lifting Row in a bear hug while Tania and Lamont were on either side hugging them both, "I'm so so so so so so so sorry Row, I thought we'd lost you, or that we'd have to dig you out and you wouldn't be able to die… I'm so sorry." Noelle repeated for the tenth time. Hearing Row over their communications that one time hadn't been enough. They also hadn't been able to reach her again.
"Elly, I was fine, just out of range of the communication enchantment. Young Song just wanted to let you all know I was fine so let the first few messages through." Rowena promised as she pat her cousin soothingly. She was kind of embarrassed with them all hugging and crying, good to know she was loved at least. Then again, her ribs might not be able to take so much love at the same time.
Lucera was a little choked up seeing the cousins reunite, it really had been scary when the tunnel collapsed. Then they thought the whole mountain was going to blow up beneath their feet… she might take the day off tomorrow. At least the others looked like they had already returned. The Seibel delegation was all sitting at the tables while the necromancer was pacing behind their crown prince.
Zane hesitated, Young Song was still brushing Lord Caius out. "Lay them out under the tree line. Make them as comfortable as possible." Zane ordered as they all filed in. "When you're done let's break out the ale. I don't know about the rest of you, but I could use a drink." Zane added brushing his disheveled hair out of face.
Rommel grinned as a chorus of cheers erupted. Now the men had a bounce in their step. The five wagons were led in, then the women carefully carried out. They laid all the women, some were crying, some were asleep, the furthest along in their pregnancy had been moved to the far end so doctors and mages could take a look at them. "Let's get some soup on for the women." Rommel called as a few of the guards were glancing eagerly at tents.
"That won't be necessary." Ashton informed lightly as he set the smaller of the brushes down. Everyone had stopped as if they were paralyzed, then most slowly turned to face him. Ashton patted the tail as he started to walk over.