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The Tales of the Scarlet Suns - Ch 12: Tales of the Eastern Kingdoms

Life back in Ampwick had been easy during the first two weeks with Chae and Naphalee returning to their workplaces and Irving together with Tavia leading the new improvements that had to be done to Ampwick to protect it against the menaces of the demonic kind. Truth be told, during the ceremony to lay the former owner of the mead hall to his final rest, Irving had felt the unease from the four newcomers to his little army, mostly from Lorna the rat who felt most of them looking at her in a troubled way, something Irving had quickly talked them out of.

While Lorna and Ambidexa had taken well to their new life in the village, Zahrah and Cassise didn't have it as easy, given they had been made to tell the villagers about their backgrounds and this which led to most young men pestering them with behaving like slave traders, which raised a slight discomfort for the duo. But Irving had been told about it and punished the men in an appropiate way, by stripping them naked and putting them in chains for a week to teach them how it was for Zahrah and Cassise, giving the girls some more respect from anyone who had to experience their lives.

Cassise had something more pressing on her mind, a growing worry that didn't want to leave her and as she sat with the others at the dinner table, she decided to open up about the facts. With the last of her food going down her throat, Cassise cleared her throat to get the attention of the others, "If it could be possible, I would like to return home again to where I came from. I still have my loyal duty to the queen to carry out. I am nowhere from nowhere around here. I am from the city of Babrycg, the city of grace at the eastern coast of the Diamond Sea in the east."

Irving was about to speak when Cassise stopped him, "Does anyone have a map of the east?" Irving looked at Cassise for a bit before realizing that he didn't know if they had a map or not over the eastern part of Glinocyre, "I really got no idea. I wasn't much for studying the area. Maybe someone knows."

They all decided to ask around in the village for anyone who had a map, but no one had the whole map of Glinocyre. It was when they arrived back at their home when suddenly a shadow approached them, "You looking for a map of Glinocyre? I do not have a whole map, but I do have this." The shadow reached over what seemed to be a piece of a map cut out of a larger one. Irving felt a bit unsure about the mysterious person, but noticed them putting the map down before turning to walk off with the tail between the legs, "No need to pay me. As long as you know where you are going, I am more than happy to assist."

Irving looked in confusion before seeing how Chae had picked up the map and handing it to Cassise, who looked it over and headed inside before sitting down, "This map is enough, because we got it marked out here." Cassise placed a finger on the location of Babrycg, almost at the eastern part of the map before tracing her finger to where they are, almost at the western edge of the map, "And we are here."

Everyone looked at the distance between the locations before Cassise began to trace, "First we would need to head east until we reach Tini Woods, then keep on traveling east to the Landry River before crossing into the Uscah Waste and southeast. From there we got to make our way through the passages and valley of Grim Mountains and Troll Claws and then into Rotted Wood before we head north to Neawold..."

They got interrupted by Zahrah placing her hand on the map, "My place of birth." They all looked at her before she rubbed her head, "Sorry, just a bit homesick when seeing it." Cassise knew the feeling and looked back at the map, "From there we head to the east to the Aneth Forest and cross the canal of the Dragon Sea to arrive at the Ebonheart Vale and then through into Centaur Woods before we head south into the Desolation of Susaba. Almost near the southeast from there, we can take inland walk down to Orien, my birthplace. From there we can cross the Dragon Sea, the Shallow Sea and finally arrive at the Diamond Sea and land at the harbor of Babrycg."

Most tried to even keep up with her explanation before Irving asked, "We have been meaning to ask you, but how did you end up in Babrycg?" Cassise's face turned a pale color before she admitted, "I fled from Orien after murdering my father." The room was quiet and Cassise stood up and nodded, "Now if you excuse me, I gonna get ready to sleep." No one stopped her, but Irving wished he had because when no one had looked, it was feeling like his sword was reacting to the map and three spots lit up on the map, each marked with a different color, "Look. Some locations are marked here." Each leaned in to read carefully, "Byham, Caford and Babrycg. They are seeming to be graves of the elemental lords."

Zahrah looked over the cities and then remembered her teachings, "Byham is built around a massive tree said to being as old as time itself. Its endless growth was a sign of a rich soil said to grow anything and I mean anything. Babrycg is an artistic kingdom's capital city, with many proud water tamers and craftsmen specializing in watersmithing meant to infuse water affinity into weapons. Caford is the birthplace of the blue fire that could burn you with heat or cold, depending on what temperature your body is, and this is an ancient art they wish to hide away so it won't be misused by anyone. All those locations make since to host an elemental lord's weapon."

Everyone could understand this too, but it wasn't that long before the others were yawning too and Irving smiled, "Mmm, guess we all should have ourselves some sleep. See you all in the morning so we can prepare for our next journey." With that, everyone went to sleep, unknowing of the shadow that lurked outside their window, smiling before it left them alone, "The events are set in motion. Now it is just to wait until they arrive." With one fluid motion the shadow tossed its cloak off and disappeared into the night without a trace.

To be continued in chapter 13: Journey to the East.