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Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Chapter 10: The Mission

Lyndis watched the red dragon and human paladin fly off towards their camp. The sound of their joyous cheering was infectious to say the least. She found herself smiling warmly as she turned on a heel and set her sights instead back to the mischievous kobold. Passing through the busy streets and letting out a sigh as heavy door creaked beneath her palms. She found herself lost within the rowdy sounds of tavern folk.

Weaving and avoiding jostling folks the agile half-elf made her way back to her stool. The one that had remained empty in her absence. The bartender eyed her with a sly grin, giving her a quick wave and asking if she wanted any more. She nodded of course, tossing the man a few coins before sliding into that worn seat, resting her arms on the wooden bar top. When the ice-cold drink was thrust into her hands she sighed at the skin prickling sensation and enjoyed the pleasing tunes being by the kobold band. She sipped away at the tongue tingling frost wine, delighting as her senses dulled and fuzziness filled her head. Lyndis sighed it was like every weight that had rested on her shoulder melt away. Each sip helped her forget about the previous night. The screams that echoed in the air, the sound of blades clashing, and the dull thuds of arrows sinking into flesh.

Amber eyes watched the laughing people like a pleased hawk. There was a gnome now dancing away on a table, getting cheered on by his fellows. The red-faced man with a square chin had his arms crossed and had almost kicked several tankards to the ground in his joyous outburst. Wolven were playing cards with a burly looking human male. His reddened face dominated by a broad smile as he slammed his cards onto the table with a cheer, followed by wolven groans of disappointment. She giggled at that, wondering how she would fair at the game with another pleasing sip of the drink when her eyes fell to someone else within the crowd.

The man was watching her from a table on the opposite side of the room. His chestnut brown tunic lit up warmly by the lantern light hanging above him. He held a steel tankard to his luscious lips, mahogany eyes locked on her like a predator. He set the container down with a thud and a gasp, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. The man flashed her a smile, running a hand through his wavy brown hair to move it aside, revealing a pair of half-pointed ears.

She rolled her eyes at the display. Every tavern needed to have one of these types of people it seemed, no matter where she went. She raised a brow as the man stood up and made his way through the tavern right towards her. His chest swelled with each powerful stride, as if he was ready to conquer her. To bad for him she already had her heart sworn to another. What an ill surprise for this half-elf. To have the green dragon slide in his eyes eating her up. His forelimbs curled around her as he gave the man a smug grin. It made her heart flutter just thinking about it.

"Ello darling." The man grinned, sliding next to her and propping his head up with his palm. "Haven't seen ya round these parts before. Did ya just come into town to brighten my day?"

"New actually. Came in with the dragon and the other townsfolk." She gave the man a narrowed stare, one as sharp as Merlia's arrows. She eyed the man's brown slacks, wrapped up with an onyx belt buckle and boots. He had no weapon to be found, or coin-purse tied to his waist. "What should I call you...Mr?" She waved her hand, watching the man just chuckle away.

"You may call me Sir Reginald Hemsturth the third." He spoke proudly making sure to announciate each syllable, pride gleamed in his eyes as he showed off his near pristine teeth. The half-elf could practically see herself in the reflection they were so clean. "And what shall I call the half-elven beauty before me? Sweet cheeks?"

Flames licked at her vision, her blood simmering with her next long breath. "No." She clenched her left hand into a fist, shaking as she fought off the words. She held the intense glare for a moment or two, almost as if she did so the man would burst into flames. Of course, he didn't but she saw something about him that caught her eye. Something she hadn't seen through his smug smile and words. The man had a slight shimmer about his head, right where his hair met his forehead. Combined that with the lack of weapon or coin purse, suspicion soon rose up within her like the tide. She tilted her head slightly forward at an odd angle, and the man's eyes turned to a glossy black. "You of course may call me Lyndis." She plucked out a copper piece, rolling the square object in her palm before tossing it at the man. The metal passed right through the shimmering man, almost as if he was never there at all.

"If you want to talk to me. You'll have to do it face to face." She crossed her arms as the man's body grew transparent and he looked at her with widened eyes. "Not with some half-baked illusion that isn't a complete tosser. Might need some work as well. Eyes were all funny."

The man cursed in some language she did not know, sounding like hisses and growls and reminded her of when Arcturus and Veledar would chat away in the same manner. He through his arms up, rolling his eyes. "Fine woman. I thought this was going to go differently, but we have to do it this way."

Lyndis' instincts tugged at her, muscles priming to spring for her rapier. But then the man faded away, a small scaled kobold standing right behind where he had been. She had her hazel eyes staring up at her, scales near shining in the light they were polished so well. They were of a dark gold, mixed with splashes of dirt brown here and there. The kobolds arms were crossed, tail swaying behind her slowly and covered with little sections of segmented brown leather to protect it. She wore dull sections of worn hide, numerous daggers and other things strapped to her waist and chest. Potions, pouches, what looked like some rope. She even had a pack strapped to her with a little bedroll attached to the bottom. This little lizard looked to be a strapping adventurer ready for their first quest.

"Is this better half-elf?" The kobolds voice came not as fair or soft as Feku's, but sterner and matter of fact laced with irritation. Her claw tipped foot tapped the wooden floor impatiently.

"Perhaps." Lyndis shrugged, grabbing another copper coin and tossing it at the kobold. The metal piece struck the lizard on the snout, making her recoil and rub that spot with her claws.

"Ow!" The kobold hissed, eyes clenching shut as gasps soon filled the air. "What'd you do that for! I already got rid of the illusion! You just go tossing coins at random people? That some sort of half-human custom?"

Embarrassment teased at Lyndis' cheeks, red hot blood coming to them as she knelt down to offer her apologies. "Thought you might have been a fake. You know, bloody just did that to me didn't ya?"

"Girl has a point Vishta." A green scaled kobold laughed from a near-by chair, nursing a large wooden mug. He was adorned in the same leathers as the gold one, but sections containing small covers of dull grey chain mail. "Perhaps better if you no try and trick with fake man."

"I'd like to see you try better than Talos. Girl's can't be approached like a mug of ale." The gold one flashed the kobold named Talos an icy stare. One that the green scaled lizard shrugged off with a sip of his tankard.

"Says you." Talos slipped off his chair, armor jingling softly. He wiped off a claw on his armor, sloshing his frothy drink as he strode over with a bounce in his claws. "Name Talos." The lizard stuck out his claw, "Mind if I drank your company?"

"Of course I don't mind. Just don't go calling me darling or sweet cheeks." She laughed, shaking the kobold's hand. "Names Lyndis Kuixion. Pleasure to meet you Talos."

The kobold grinned, flashing Vishta his teeth as flames lingered within her inky pools.

"Fine Talos, made your point. You don't have to go flashing me your tail about it." Vishta sighed, letting her arms fall and leaving one suspended in the air. "Names Vishta, and I have some information for you lady Lyndis. If you're interested in it of course."

Now that was a little better. She warmly fit her hand into the kobold's and shook it softly."Let's share a drink first." She patted the table, the little kobolds scurrying up to sit in chairs beside her. Talos plunked his mug on the bar-top, sighing as he took in the flavor that seemed to be making him wiggle something awful.

"Now warmblood speaking my language!" He beamed, throwing his head back and nearly guzzling the tankard worth of ale in a single slurping go.

"Language of a drunkard?" Vishta groaned, righting her back and snapping her head to Lyndis. After she had ordered a small goblet of wine. Her claw caressed her snout where the coin had hit, grumbling to herself.

Guilt battered at her defenses with each stroke of Vishta's claws against her scales. "Still hurt?" She winced, "Didn't think it twas that hard of a toss."

"Toss it softer next time." The kobold hissed, "You throw like my friend here. Like an utter barbarian." Small talon tapped wood as a sneer crossed her scaled lips. Ignoring the drink that was placed right beside her.

"What did ya bleedin want then? Would have worked better for ya if you didn't start with a bloody illusion. Kind of puts on the wrong image of yerself no?" Her brow rose, watching the kobold sigh and take a sip of her drink.

"It's worked before." She grumbled into the tankard. "An easier method of getting information across than approaching our targets. Safer that way for us too." She gestured to herself and her companion, who had ordered a second drink and was happily guzzling it away with swaying tail.

"Targets?" He hairs on the back of her neck rose, eyes locking onto the little lizard's weapons. Tiny they may be, but it did not take much to cut through skin. "Sounds like your bloody assassins or something." She made sure to sound cool like the statement didn't make her want to grab her weapon to defend herself.

"Not assassins!" The lizard blurted, drawing the stares of several patrons as they munched away on food. Vishta squirmed in her seat, eyes widened. "Terrible when you put it that way." She held up her claw. "And don't say it was my words. I know they were what slithered out of my maw. What I meant to say was that we have people we have to meet up with. Targets to share information."

"Information?" She cocked her head, sipping some remaining frost wine. "What kind are we talking bout. And why me?" She could feel her instincts nagging at her, begging for answers. "And who exactly are you?"

"I already explained my name." Vishta nodded, finger running along the rim of her tankard. "Who I work for is a different story all together. Me and my..." She flashed Talos a stare as he burped loudly and banged his chest.

"What?" The green kobold laughed, pounding his chest. "They got good drinks."

"Acquaintance." She hissed, "Work for the K.I.N. Or as you would say in the long tongue. The kobold information network."

"Not very original name is it." She chuckled. "Kind of to the point. What do you exactly do?"

"Information of course. Things you need to find out we get them. People you need to know, we find out. Princesses that are walking around with a red dragon on a quest? We know that too."

"How.." She froze, setting the drink on the table.

"Oh, please Lyndis, it's not rather hard to spot if they knew you before. A simple change of clothes and cutting of the hair isn't really going to hide your identity." She chuckled softly. "I thought you liked to blend in and hide in the shadows?"

"That I do, but it seemed to work so I went with it." She eyed the Kobolds little grin, one that seemed to convey she knew more than what she was letting on. "So what else do you know about us if you're so well informed. Do you work for my father?"

"Oh heavens no." Vishta laughed as if that was absurd. "We work for kobolds, but no real reason to explain that for now. If we want, you to know about it we'll let you know."

"Uh-huh." She placed her hand on the table firmly, leaning towards the kobold's snout. "So, what's actually going on with my country. Where are the Pegasus knights? My family's armies? Why are orcs and undead running amok with no one to stop them?" Her voice started to rise as the days of unanswered questions lapped at her heart and brought them forth in a fist clenching rage.

Vishta pulled her head back, nervously tapping the chair with her tail. Her eyes darted back and forth from the tavern patrons to the angry half-elf before her. "So, you do care about what happens to these people. Unlike the parents of yours that left them to die." She leaned in, regaining her composure with a heavy breath. "Not here though. We will need somewhere private to discuss in detail what's going on. No need to start a panic after all. Today is a joyous day filled with.." She waved to the drink chugging Talos, her voice lowering into a near snarl. "Debauchery."

"Private?" She chuckled, remembering how the hobgoblin had ambushed her back in Entis. "No dice scaly. I will not be going anywhere on my bloody own. I've seen how these things go. You put on the sweet act, get yet bloody friend their drunker than our dwarf and then ya lead me to ya bloody hideout where you got seven or eight of ya waiting to gank me. Going to have to try harder than that to fool me."

"What? No!" Her snout wrinkled, "It's honestly just the two of us. Why would we want to hurt someone that has the same interest as us?"

"And what interest is that?"

"To have your and my people be safe. You and your companions seem to be going about doing that." The kobold chuckled, eyeing Lyndis up and down. "Helping that town and bringing them here with little fuss? That speaks highly of your character princess. One that has me and the rest my kin intrigued."

"Hmmph." She crossed her arms, eyeing Vishta with suspicion. "What about the other of my friends? Or the many other people in this world that show the same qualities?"

"That is true that your friends have this same thing, but they lack one very important detail you have." The kobold held up her hand, finger raised. "You actually have the ability one day to have power. One that will shape the very nation of Drenedar if I recall correctly. "

"Right." She snorted, the kobolds words running off her like rain. "So, about this information. If you won't tell me here what's going on, lets go back to my camp. Should be no problem trusting_me_ if your eyes have been on us so well since the start. How does that sound? Fair to you?" She smirked, crossing her arms and enjoying her small victory.

"I suppose that will work. Better than this rowdy place, besides...Talos won't get drunk like a buffoon there."

"Not buffoon! I'm kobold Vishta, get right." Talos burped. "How you forget?"

"I didn't" She placed a claw to her snout, sighing as she shook her head and clenched her eyes. 'But yes princess. That sounds lovely."

"Excellent, then we will make haste. I'm sure Shandalar or the others would _love_to have your thoughts grace their ears." She slid her tankard to the end of the bar, giving the bartender a wink and goodbye before striding out into the street with her two kobolds right in tow. Vishta seemed to gracefully make her way through the people, not wanting to be touched if she didn't want them to. Talos on the other hand was stumbling away, hardly able to stand as he burped away happily in a near daze. His path was wavy, like the many lines drawn on paper for water.

"So..What can you tell me about the Siigonis?" She asked softly as they passed a series of carts clacking on by over the cobblestone. "Why are they not here? I thought there might be some of them out here." She looked around, once more not finding a single tall lizard to grace her sight. It was something she had laughed off with Arc, but it truly tugged at her curiosity.

"They travelled back to their lands actually. Fully separated themselves from Drenedar."

"What!" She stopped suddenly, as if someone had bound her in a spell. It only lasted for a moment before she whirled around, disbelief ringing in her voice. "That can't be true..What focken happened?"

"They got rather upset when your family gave their land away. Considered it an insult to their honor and the spirits they did. Most if not all the lizards across the kingdom went to either their marshes to the west or to the north. The one where the benevolent overlord dragon lived."

Lyndis ran her hands through her hair as they resumed their walking. All of them pick up and leave like that? Give away all their sacred land? How could her parents do something such as this? The worry hung in her mind like a thick cloud. One that tugged at her heart and made each step a tad harder than the last. "So, are they at war with us now too?" She imagined spears being thrust upwards as guttarl cried in draconic hisses cried for vengeance." What _else_has gone wrong in my absence from the country?"

"Not war yet if our information is correct." The kobold sighed, a silent anger swelling up in her eyes. "Though we can't get an operative in there as of late. It's rather frustrating to not have information that's recent."

"Operative?" She laughed. "I didn't think you kobolds were so serious minded on things.

"We can be deadly serious half-elf. Did you think we were all blundering idiots chasing after candles?" Vishta held a hand to her chest, looking away with a small snort. "I almost consider that an insult. Rather racist of you if you ask me. Hardly fitting of the future queen of Drenedar."

"I don't plan on being queen you little spy. Didn't mean anything by it anyway. I'm actually friends with a kobold if you know so much about us." She guided the pair to the side as a group of wolven passed by, howling into the air and reeking of booze.

"Your family took their cesession quite well honestly. Usually this sort of thing is marred with problems and deaths. Could even start a civil war if you ask me. Happened several times in kobold history, nasty business that. Blood and scales everywhere. Didn't know who you could turn to."

"So, the Siigonis left." She sighed, wondering where her guide growing up had gone if this was true. "Did the wolven leave? Anyone else? Who else have my parents upset?"

"Nothing like that has happened. Not yet." Vistha's words ceased as her snout followed a patch of joyful kobolds all chatting away. Like little chirping birds they sat on worn brown boxes in front of a shop for armor. Her snout wrinkled, a look of disgust lingering in her eyes. "Lets just get this over with. Then I can remove myself from this place. Utterly repugnant if you ask me."

Lyndis' brow rose, "Don't care for the festivities?" She chuckled, watching the kobold's stare fixate to her instead.

"Course I don't. And that's just what graces your sight now. Just you wait. When the sun sets all the kobolds happily scampering about here will be celebrating the harvest in a different way with a totally different type of seed."

"They going to get breedin!" Talos giggled, letting out a harsh laugh.

"Oh." Lyndis held a hand to her mouth, a smile coming to her lips. "Don't like all the scales bumping?"

"Of course, you'd see it that way." Vishta's eyes rolled with a sigh, "I understand we need to do that to propagate. But we don't have to lose our minds doing it. Just look around at all the hoodlums that are going to be humping like rabbits. At least we have the decency to not be humping in front of the humans."

"Wait...what?" She picked up the pace, she needed to hear that again. "That happened before?"

"Yush! You should seen how angry town got! Called us lewd lizard buggar they did!" Grinned Talos, thumbing his chest. "Was good night too! Mate have clutch of four!"

"See what I have to deal with?" Vishta snorted.

"People that know how ta fun?" The green kobold nudged her, raising a brow as she pushed him away.

"Drop it Talos. We talked about this before." She shifted an eye to Lyndis. "But, yes our people have gotten out of hand before."

"Well if ya ask me." Lyndis shrugged, "You sound like some sort of prude." She glanced away from Vishta's inky pools that were giving her an icy stare. One that chilled even the air.

"That is certainly your opinion to have." Vista clenched a claw, her snout curling into a snarl.

"Oh, it certainly is miss gold scales. Nothing better than relaxing with some mates. Kickin your boots back, and if you're both consenting. Whose to say you can't bump hips for the fun of it?" She gave Vishta a smirk, nearly jumping in surprise as Talos let out a harsh, sudden laugh.

"See? This half-human is speaking my language!" Talos' pleased noise started to shift into playful growls as he admired Lyndis head to boot. He shook his head and bounded to keep pace as Vishta picked up hers. It was as if she were trying to get this chat over with as quickly as possible.

"You two can spend a times length about bumbing uglies after we trade information." Vishta groaned, her scaled legs only moving even more quickly as they passed people through the streed.

Lyndis easily kept pace despite the quickened Kobold, admiring her vigilant eyes that kept scanning the crowd. She noted that without telling her, the little lizard seemed to be guided as if by an invisible wire back to their camp. It looked like she had indeed been watching the entire time, or at least when they had entered Roselake. "So...Vishta. Tell me about yourself." She thumbed back to Talos, who had begun to stumble after them. The booze from earlier making his limbs sluggish to respond as his claws fell heavily to the stone with harsh steps. His eyes glossing over as a dumb smile spread to his snout. "I want to get ta know You and Talos here a tad better."

"Nothing much to tell really. Or at least nothing that is vital for your pointed ears to hear." She rounded a corner, passing an orange painted shop with open doors and various bright candies sparkling in the sunlight.

Lyndis sighed at the fruity flavors that teased at her nostrils, drawing silent curses to the shop owner as they passed. "Untrue actually. I would rather feel more comfortable with any information that you can share about yourself. Lets me know I can trust you. Otherwise you could be some bleedin arse out to get me." She patted herself on the back at the comment as Vishta's steps began to slow, and the kobold's mouth snapped shut. Silence fell between them as the kobold suddenly stopped in her tacks, a glimmer of hesitation spreading over her muzzle.

Vishta's claws found her waist as he eyes drifted to her feet. Her shoulders trembled and shook as the stern kolbold let out a heavy exhale and twitched her tail behind her. "Fine princess." Her voice came, laced with a hint of irritation. The kobold waved, turned around on her heel and resumed her path towards the camp. "Names Vishta as you already know. I already told you who I work for."

"Not exactly really. You mentioned the K.I.N, but you didn't say what country. But I'd also like to know about you as a person. Not you as an operative." She tapped her ear as they walked. Ideas swirling around in her head about how to get it through to this quickly pacing kobold. "Put it this way. You telling me about yourself lets me know you're a real bleedin person. Not some fake story told to butter me up. Let's me trust you. The fact if you've been watching us is creepy, and already makes my focken skin crawl. So why should I even trust you?"

"Because she's an ass!" Talos blurted out, getting an intense glare as Vishta's snout snapped to him. Her eyes brimming with fire. "What?" The stumbling Kobold put a claw to his chest, appearing to make himself look regaler. Like a small noble strutting along in wavy lines. "I was trying to be honest with the half-human here. Make it so that she trusts you instead of glaring boobies at you."

"What?" She had to stop and chuckle as Talos cocked his head. He wore a confused expression on his snout.

"That's words, right? When warmblood females get angry they glare their boobies at you." He pointed to her chest. That's why they have those eyes.

"It's daggers Talos!" Vishta smacked down his claw, letting out grumbling hisses. "They stare daggers! Not boobies! And those "eyes are nipples! They are used to feed their young!"

"Oh."Talos' face drooped, his face scales blushing as he slunk after her.. Lyndis found it hard to not giggle and tap the lizard on the shoulder.

"Don't worry Talos, found it rather funny. Imagine.." She snickered, her shoulders bouncing. "Glaring boobies...Wouldn't really get the message across though." She nudged him softly before cocking her head to Vishta, "And the nipples are for more than just for feeding young you know. They are also for touching and kissing, groping, and sometimes when they big enough fucken!'."

"Enough with the mammal's mummeries and their salacious functions!" Vishta threw up her claws. "You want to generate some trust? Then here." The kobold spun around, crossing her claws against her leather clad chest, her eyes narrowed as she gave Lyndis a sharp glare."I work for the kingdom of Mal Vriide. It resides right below the surface to the west of Treragon." She undid her arms, holding up a claw. "The K.I.N looks out for our kingdom's interests and by that extension to tensions on the surface. The war with Lumara for instance is most concerning, as is the rising undead within a few months' time." She rose an accusing claw to Lyndis thrusting a talon at her chest. "And why _your_parents seem unwilling or _un-wanting_to protect their once people."

"How...um..long has your kingdom been around?" She winced, already scolding herself for her ignorance. Never had she been told of them. Not in a single thick tome during her youth. The thought made her a tad uneasy and warry of the unknown. Like this was some sort of trick being pulled over her ears. Her stomach churned as she met Vishta's fierce spheres. She could already see the flames that began to swirl around in those inky pools. "My family never spoke of you or your kingdom."

"Not surprising." Vishta rolled her eyes, avoiding a puddle of murky brown water on the street. "You people never consider us kobolds worth anything anyway. Always the vermin, the rapidly producing lizards. The route of somebody's problem that needs to be fixed."

"That's not um..All the bloody time."

"Oh yea? You've never heard of my people being taken advantage of or kicked around? I think they even refer to our villages or towns as nests or dens. As if we were some untamed animal instead of a thriving populace of sentient beings."

Lyndis' teeth found her lip, remembering Merlia's words on the subject. How kobolds would spread without warning if left unchecked. "Okay, you got me alright? But mark my words lizard, if I did know about your people I'd have scolded others for such blatant disregard for you! It's one thing I pride myself on!"

"Hmmpf. Perhaps, but words are merely words at the present time." Vishta leaped over a small hole in the street, several of the stones missing, leaving a valley of dirt in their absence. "But I bet the real reason we were never mentioned was because my king never approached your parents. Or perhaps they never wanted to talk about us. But regardless we've been there the entire time. Always beneath the ground, waiting, listening, watching the world progress above." She sighed her scales rippling as if a cold wind had bit at her hide. "Surprised that none of you bothered to come exploring and tell tales of or sprawling cities. Once again, more of your warm blood thinking yourselves better than us."

"Not true!" Lyndis' arm lashed out like a cobra, snagging the kobold by the arm. Her mind grasped for answers, anything to convince this little lizard she wasn't one of those people she was making her out to be. "We have always treated the others with respect. Drenedar is a great big happy family of many races and cultures!" She groaned internally as she sounded like a salesman trying to sell a tasty potion or treat.

"Then explain the situation with the Siigonis?" The kobold's words came harshly as Vishta grabbed her hand with warm claws. "Did any elven settlement lose their honored homeland? How about the wolven." Vishta rose a ridge. "Did any of their packs have their home forests sworn to their enemies?" The kobold's tail swayed ever so slowly across her feet as she moved Lyndis' hand away with an amused snort. "Or human farmlands? It seems as though all your country cares about is warmbloods."

"Then how do you explain this countryside?" She shot back, countering Vishta's smug smile. "The village we helped, the town we're in. Clearly mostly human and wolven. They were just as abandoned as those people you claim were."

"That might be so. But scattered settlements and cities do not equal sacred ground." The kobold dusted off her leather chest, making sure not a speck of dust was still on it. "The Siigonis lost one of their sacred marshes...And they took it hard. You don't see many humans, wolven, or elves loosing any sacred land to them."

She rolled her eyes as irritation prickled at her skin. It was if the little lizard wasn't even trying to give her any inch on the subject. "Then why even search me out then if you have such a bleedin hatred for warmbloods? Doesn't make a bit of sense."

"I don't hate warmbloods." Vishta shifted her stance. She looked away almost, a sense of uneasiness settling in the air.

"She likes you!" Talos blurted out, nearly falling over but catching himself at the last moment with a giggle. "Almost fell on my ass!"

"Like me?" Lyndis rose a brow, thankful for any other topic to grace her ears. "Do I need to be worried that she's growin sweet on me? I've heard of love at first sight, but if you ask me this would kind of be ridiculous!" She clasped the drunken lizard on his shoulders, laughing as he held his claws against her for support.

"All I know wuz she was talking bout you before we approa-"

Vishta sprung forward to silence the drunkard by pressing his jaw together with a claw. The female's scales were a darker shade of gold than they had been before, and if Lyndis didn't know any better she would swear the lizard was blushing. "Enough out of you Talos. Clearly, you've had too much to drink if _that_is flowing from your lips now. Surprised you can even walk after us and haven't asked the princess yet to carry you."

"Me too!" He burped, holding a claw to his chest. "Speaking of which." He rose his snout, his eyes seeming to swell as he looked up at Lyndis. They were devilishly innocent, enough to sneak past her defenses as his voice lowered into a sweet coo. "Would you mind carrying a drunk kobold miss? I won't throw on ya."

She laughed at the absurdity of it, and carefully picked up the now grinning lizard. He wasn't too heavy to be honest, and his arms instantly wrapped around her neck like a scaly scarf. He was warm to say the least, not surprising with the amount of booze coursing through his veins. "You might be more booze than lizard now Talos. How'd you even take all that?"

"Years!" The lizard hiccupped, wiggling his tail. "Of practice!"

"Clearly you need some more, or at least remember to eat some bloody things."

"True! Course do without world spinning thank you." He he groaned, clenching at her, scales trembling beneath her touch. "No thought dragon milk this strong."

"Oh good god." She laughed, patting the wiggling kobold's back. "You literally tried our most intoxicating drink you foolish scaled thing. Might want to go see our dwarven ranger. Might teach you a thing or two of holding your drink."

"Don't encourage him!" Vishta tapped Lyndis leg, motioning for her to follow. "Satisfied now Talos? Now the princess is carrying you like some little lost pup through the streets. How can you not be so mortified?"

"Because pretty half-human holding me!" He grinned, Lyndis gave him a glare.

"This better not have been a ploy lizard. I'll drop you faster than you can say focken hell."

He nodded, head sagging back as he laughed. "Oh no, not kidding. No ploys...Just enjoy moment." He snapped his jaw to Vishta. "Not like miss bossy claws!"

"Just come on! Before we lose the day, and this was all for nothing." Vishta hissed, and Lyndis followed with a chuckle.

The kobold made great time after that through the cobblestone streets. They passed carts and joyous people that seemed to be on every corner. Each one earned a stare from Vishta but she didn't stop to make conversation and Lyndis figured they needed to waste less time anyway. It was not long till the familiar clearing before the temple came into view. The great bronze painted wood shining in the sun like a gleaming treasure. The roof's statues of gryphons stood on either end, like great guardians over the collection of carts and tired people. Humans waved and offered greeting as they passed by, some even holding out food and other things to the rogue that had helped them through the previous night. Lyndis thanked them in kind but refused their offerings. She was on a mission after all and was glad when Shandalar came into view.

The wizard was sitting cross legged before a worn cart that bore the dents and slashes from the undead horde. Bits of shattered bone were still jabbed into the dark wood, almost as if studs within leather armor. Her pack was resting by her side, atop a dark green sheet that been laid on the grass. Along with that was Arcturus' armor and shield, Merlia's bow, and even her own leathers that rested in the warm sun's rays. Shandalar held her spell book on her lap, hand on her chin as her eyes traced the pages. It looked as if even during their relaxing time the elf simply could not.

"Hey!" She laughed, sliding over with the kobolds, watching as the elf's eyes scanned her from head to toe, then focused on the kobold held within her hands and the other by her side. "I know, I know. Long Story. But these two have some vital information about the country. Wanted them here so that we could talk to them and not get kidnapped by some hobgoblin's thugs."

"Quite. Otherwise we might have to go get another pompous dragon and his cohorts to find you." Shanalar's voice came sternly, closing her book with a thump. Her eyes locked onto Vishta, a firey glare spreading through the air. "Vishta." The wizard hissed.

"Shandalar." Vishta replied, ice curling around her words. "Nice to see you again. How are the kids?"

"Wait a minute." Lyndis set down Talos with widened eyes. "You two know each other?"

"We have met before over the years. Often the K.I.N. traded information to me for various favors." The wizard placed her book within her pack, eyes not leaving the golden lizard. "We...have been in some disagreement over things."

"That's an understatement." Vishta's arms crossed, a growl on her lips.

"Care to elaborate what has you two bloody staring at each other like you're the focken enemy?" She settled down, leaning up against the wooden cart. "

"No." Both Kobold and Elf snapped back to her almost as if in unison.

"Fine, fine, you keep your bloody secrets." She held up her hands rolling her eyes. "Course I'm just going to picture that you two had a secret romance or something."

"Does your mind always go to that place?' Shandalar sighed with a furred brow, casting her a withering glance. "Like some sort of uncouth gutter runner?"

"What can I say?" She smirked, giving the elf a wink." We got a bleedin gryphon and a dragon. Me thinks it might be them that rubbed off on me."

"Rubbed off." Talos giggled, collapsing onto the ground with a burp. "She said Off."

'Thank you Talos" Vishta's voice cracked, fury swirling in her eyes as she settled down. She took a breath, raising and lowering her claws, her anger subsiding in a deep exhale. "If we can skip the pleasantries and accusations of Shandalar and I falling for each other and splitting up over a disagreement and go back to the matter of information giving."

"Oh really? Sound's like you got quite the story to tell."

"There isn't really Lyndis, I'd stop going along this line of questions. You're starting to sound like the red dragon." Shandalar waved dismissively, setting her eyes onto the lizard. The wizard's stare softned before her eyes, the elf sighed as he hands graced her lap. "Go ahead Vish. We're all ears."

The kobold's face brightened at Shandalar's words, shifting her weight as her scales turned a darker shade. "So, what would you exactly like to know about the situation. I'd have rather not started panic out there."

"Tell me everything." Lyndis leaned forward, anticipation on the tip of her tongue. "Why my parents have no army to keep everything in check. What happened with Lumara? Why the undead are roaming around the country like they own the place, and why for the ever living fock did we surrender?"

Vishta's tail tip twitched, a moment of hesitation crossing her snout before letting out a heavy sigh."Each of those is hard and complicated to answer. I'm afraid. I don't have all of them for you." Before Lyndis could express her disappointment and clenching fists, Vishta held up a claw to silence her. "Though I will try to answer them the best I can." She nodded, taking a deep breath. One that rippled her scales and made her tail thump softly against the grass. "Your parents surrendered to Lumara months ago. Why that is eludes us for the present time as we have yet to get a kobold into the castle. Security has been tight now a days. It seems things were going swimming as wars go. Lumara was too busy with Rothdell to really push fully into your lands. Victories were mounting on each front."

"Then what happens?" Feku slipped in, happy green scales shimmering in the light as her eyes lingered on her kin. "oooo!" She happily clacked her claws together, scampering over to Talos with a wide grin. She nestled down beside him her tail wiggling away in delight.

"I was getting to that." Vishta snapped, her glare to Feku looking as if she could set the very air aflame. "As I was saying. Something happened that made your family suddenly pull all the army back. Reposition all their forces across the country. Then they surrendered soon after to the force that they were clearly winning against." She started drumming her talons across her arms with tiny little clacks. "Its' most perplexing to say the least."

Lyndis' heart thumped against her chest like a drum as her words sank into her mind. Like a storm it battered against her will and begged to drag her down into the void. She pushed the feeling down with a clench of her fists. "So, they bloody surrendered to them. Then what focken happen?"

"They gave up this section of land to Lumara. Far as we could tell. The airboat toating nation has been going from hamlet, village and town. First, they were instructing people to get off their land. Some disagreed with this. Especially those that wanted to keep up the fight. So, they joined a group calling itself the sapphire guardians.

"Where have I heard that name before?" Lyndis crossed her arms, leaning back into the cart with a sigh. It was on the tip of her tongue she just knew it in her gut. Like a phantom coin just waiting to be snatched. "What were they doing to the villages that refused?"

"Offering protection in exchange for loyalty. Now that Drenedar had pulled their forces from the land. Those places had no armies to call upon to aid their militia. Lumara offered weapons, training, and various others things to help the.. um." There was a moment of hesitation that crossed her eyes before she sighed.The lizard held up her claws, closing her fingers in and out. "Impoverished people."

"Heard that one before." She growled, her brows furrowing as her fist turned white from the clenching. It almost visibly shook as she pictured the "Hospitality." That Lumara had shown her people in the past. This was how they started its conquering of one's peoples. Offer knowledge, weapons, prizes. Slowly bit by bit until you took their sweet things until you were them and slaving away for their empire. She had seen camps upon camps that were no more than slave labor to fuel the ravenous magic crystal wielders. "Next comes slavery and death. Liking these Sapphire guardians even more if you focken ask me." She thumbed her chest with a grin. "Might want to get them a bleeding medal to hang around their necks."

"Indeed, they did start off resisting the Lumarians. They even were doing a fine job." Vishta's lingered for a moment as if trying to find the words. "Tthat was _unti_l the conflict awoke something from the early days of the Swirling Storm. For that's when the undead started to emerge from their crypts. Rise from the grave with clasping claws, and set their sights on the living."

"Vast numbers? Where the hell did they bleedin come from?" She tossed out a hand with a lingering snort of skepticism. "Where did they come from, and how did no one notice?"

"Everywhere." Vishta said her voice flat, her eyes falling to the ground. "They seemed to sprout from the earth like weeds. They descended on outlying hamlets and towns like a plague of locuts. With every death only adding to their ranks. Bit by bit they are devouring the lands. Things have begun to look so dire that the Sapphire Guardians went to Struport and enlisted the aid of the Swirling Storm."

"I was going to say. How could he leave this one out." She sighed, wiping her brow with a hand. Her skin was hot, enough that it prickled at her skin and made her head ache. If the guardians had felt the ned to get that dragon who had been hiding to help them. Things had to be in an even worse shape than she could have possibly imagined. "How about the Siigonis?" Her heart squeezed as she grasped for an answer. "How do they fair against the undead?"

The kobold nodded, explaining that none had been spotted near the marshes. The lizards had been more than a match for them, or the undead were more interested in gracing their blades and teeth with the taste of warm blood. "Sadly despite the dragon's aid, the guardians have been routinely pushed back. K.I.N fears that without the Drenedarian army to back them up it like they will be crushed beneath the undeath's heels. That's why for instance that Roselake finally gave into Lumara's influence." Vishta gestured to the surrounding buildings with spread arms. "They needed weapons and supplies to hold off the horde."

Lyndis froze, a chill piercing her heart as her bones turned to ice. "Say that again?" Her hairs stood on the back of her neck as the words didn't seem real. She snapped her head to the happy people striding through the streets with joyous cries of delight. "Can't be true. Look at all of them!" She pointed to the crowds.

"May not look like it right now but come tomorrow there will be banners of rampant gryphons from every store front and on every pole." Vishta nodded, watching Lyndis' eyes with a flicker of empathy. "Nothing we can do about it now."

"No...So that means...." The half-elves voice trailed off as her eyes lingered on the happy faces of her people. It felt like a vice had taken hold of her heart and began to squeeze tight. She sat back, running a hand through her hair. "That we delivered...A whole damned town worth of people right into whats going to be a Lumarian work camp." Her eyes shot to Shandalar as her mind tumbled away from her. The elf looked back to her with that stern-ness that she always bore, a calmness that none could break.

Of course, she wouldn't care. Only the mission matters to her.

She shifted to Vishta, a silent begging to the gods that this was false. That some Loki inspired joke was being played on her at this moment. But she found no shelter, no comfort, only the hard stare of truth in those lizard's eyes. "You lie." She tapped Feku on her shoulder, the little lizard stopping her rapid conversation of hisses with Talos.

"Whats ya need miss?" The green scaled kobold smiled.

"Can you go get Asterion? See if he has a zone of truth spell prepared? I" She sighed, practically feeling her mood darkened and threaten to fall off a cliff. "I need to know if this is real."

"I'm one hundred percent telling the truth you know." Vishta's words were calm and cool as Feku scampered with a nod out of view. "But I'll play along to do this spell if it eases the mind. Hard pill to swallow I know. But we can't have everything become undone." She gestured to Shandalar with a wave. "Be more like Shandalar here. Despite our...past I have always respected her calmness in the face of troubles. Isn't that right?" She leaned back, looking to the collected Elf with a stern look.

"Quite." Was the wizard's snappy reply, "Never was keen on losing one's head."

"Easy for you two to spout that!" Lyndis felt her blood began to simmer, "Those are not your people we're talking about. You." She snapped to Vishta with clenched teeth. "How would you bleedin feel if it were kobolds that were being sent to labor camps right now. That they were going to suffer because of you?" She jabbed a finger into the kobold's chest, getting an icy glare stared right into her eyes.

"Truthfully?"

"Of course, Lizard, that's what we're bloody talkin about."

"I would be beside myself with worry with what happened. My scales would tremble at would happen and I'd feel a rising anger at my own ignorance and foolishness."

"Exactly! It's like your lookin into my soul!." She smirked, savoring the bittersweer taste of victory.

"But." Vishta held up a claw as she frowned. "I'd take comfort in the fact my mission could possibly save even more lives." The kobold sighed, shoulders visibly rising and falling. "If it makes you feel any better, Lumara has not been converting towns or anything else that surrenders into labor camps this time around. They seemed to leave just a token force where they go and distribute some of their weaponry to the populace. They get wall cannons, energy crossbows, I even saw one such town get a magical construct to protect them. I'd honestly think their main concern is the people. They clearly don't want to rule over a pile of corpses. Nor have the man power to leave a sustaining force."

"Interesting." Shandalar finally spoke, placing a finger to her chin. "You might be onto something. The question now becomes if Lumara doesn't have the man power to handle an occupation. Why is the Drenedarian army not making trouble for them? Why do they sit on their lands watching as their people are consumed from every angle?" The elf's eyes narrowed as she began to rub her chin in deep thought. Even her ears had started to twitch as she pondered. A moment passed between the group in silent contemplation before Shandalar folded her arms with a nod. "I'd deduce that Lumara has something on the royal family or the nation. Some sort of blackmail that could produce this outcome."

"K.I.N agrees with that." Vishta nodded, plunging a scaled hand into her pack and rifling around. "One of the reason's I'm here is to find out what _exactly_is."

"How'd you expect to do that during the festival? Bloody walk up and ask them?" Lyndis laughed, nerves still tingling as the realization settled in her mind like a damp fog. When Feku emerged with Asterion by the wrist and pulling the surprised bull closer she almost told them to not bother with the spell.

"I heard you were in need of me?" The bull snorted, eyes shifting to the extra kobolds sitting before him. "With the kobolds here?"

"Yes! Yes!" Feku bounced on her feet. Lady Lyndis neededz a spell cast on them. Tome of truth is what she said."

"Zone of truth." He nodded, slinging around his large spell book he had aroundhisr side. "I don't usually prepare that one during my meditation. I will need to cast it in it's entirety." He thumbed the page before closing it with a thud. "Good, it doesn't require much." He shifted over to his pack, pulling out a thin bar of silver and holding it firmly within his palms.

"Thanks for doing this." She sighed, "hope we weren't disrupting anything important of yours.

"He was just knitting!" Feku hugged the bull's leg. "A hat for me when the weather gets cold!"

The bull just snorted, gently prying the kobold with the vice like grip from him. "Are you going to be telling everyone?"

"But you love knitting! You talk all abouts it during trip!"

Lyndis stifled a giggle, getting a glare from the stern warrior. Enough that she coughed it down with a clenched fist. "Anyway, thanks again."

"No need." He snorted, placing the bar in Vishta's lap when Feku gestured to her with a claw. "You're the one we need it cast on?"

"Evidently. I already told your friend here that it was a waste of time. But if she feels the need to validate her fears then by all means continue with your spellcasting." Vishta waved dismissively with a sigh.

"Driken doe vahzened" Asterion bellowed, touching the silver bar after a series of forceful hand gestures and stomps. It looked as though he was trying to pound the ground in with his hooves more than cast a spell to help. Before she could utter her sarcastic jab a faint shimmering mist sprung into the air around the calm kobold. It hung around her snout and slowly sunk into her scales with a heavy sigh.

"Go ahead and ask your questions half-human. The spell has indeed worked."

Lyndis looked to Asterion who only nodded. "I would have felt if she resisted the charm. Now I must warn you that she cannot lie, but if she truly believes something she can say that too."

"Great, now you tell me." Lyndis grumbled, "So if someone say enchanted her to say that she would still spout her nonsense?"

"Precisely."

"Very well." She rolled her eyes, leaning forward to lock eyes with the stern-faced lizard. "Is the town owned by Lumara?"

"Yes it is." Vishta replied emotionless without skipping a beat. Not even a glimmer of hesitation had been in her eyes. "Are you satisfied princess?"

"We could ask her many other question-" Asterion began, but Lyndis rose a hand to silence him.

"Nah, that's a good answer for me. Not the bleeding one I wanted o course. But it will have to do for now." She pushed herself up with a groan, stretching her arms towards the sky as a breeze rustled their clothes and kissed at her cheeks. "So why come and offer us that information?"

"Excuse me?" Vishta tilted her head to the side.

"You know what I'm talkin about. You came to share that information with us for a reason. I can see it in your eyes. All it does it let me know what's going on. Answers I've been wanting to know for awhile now." She leaned down with a piercing gaze, locking eyes with the little lizard. "So, what are you really after?"

"Nothing harmful I assure you. It was as I said. We are here to find out why or what the Lumarian's have on your family that is preventing them from quickly swooping down with their pegasi and clearing the undead with their explosive tipped lances and mighty cannons." She held up one of claws, looking as if to inspect her talons and appear disinterested. "If you're really interested I might have a job for you."

"I knew it!" Lyndis laughed, thrusting a finger to the lizard. "The information was to paint a pretty grisly picture so we'd help you! That the heartstrings you pulled at would force our hands on the subject."

"What is the task?" Shandalar spoke up, cutting Lyndis off with her harsh voice.

"Really? What about not stopping to help every poor soul that comes this way?" She turned to the elf with blood pumping and narrowed eyes.

"This is different. You and your friends stopped to help a town of people. This is an operative looking for a way to hamper an advantage Lumara has over your people. If we could help in anyway it will throw the nation off its balance. Perhaps even tip the end goal in my own people's favor."

Words caught in her throat as her fire dwindled. The elf was right in her tactical logical way. It was infuriating to say the least, but Lyndis lowered her hand. She looked to her other friends, not seeing any lingering words or looks of dissent. If anything they looked to be nodding along and agreeing with the elves assessment. "Fine. I can see when I been outvoted. Tell us the offer kobold. Though make it sweet."

"Ah yea but of course." Vishta pulled out a roll of manilla parchment, unfolding it and holding it taught before them. On the surface was a scribbled language with harsh lines and jagged angles, clearly in the kobold version of draconic. Though the longer Lyndis stared at the inky lines she could make out shapes. One was clearly the town, the other a flying object that must have been an airship. "Tonight, an Airship is going to be touching down on the outside of Roselake. There they will be unloading supplies and weapons to the worried guards and mayor. They will be also be preforming a prisoner exchange."

"Prisoners?" Lyndis growled, mind already drifting to the darkened rooms and bloody stone she had recalled in previous places were her people had been captured. "Not going to stay that for long. They are going to be turned into mana stones. I can guarantee that."

"Regardless." Vishta waved off the comment as if it were a mild concern. "The mission isn't about freeing the prisoners. The ship would be too populated and heavily armed for any resistance from your part. What we're looking for is the ship's manifest. Places it has visited and people it's picked up or dropped off. We want to sift through all their information and pick apart the most damning. With it K.I.N believes we can figure out what they have and tip the war in your people's favor."

"Figures. You plop a plan in our bleedin lap when we're down several of our party." She sighed, looking to the sky and hoping that perhaps Veledar was flying back with the paladin for some forgotten bauble. Of course, he didn't and she was left gazing away at the rolling clouds. "Paladin and dragon are off on a date, gryphon and ranger are drunk off their gourd and drowning In prostitutes." She crossed her arms, looking back to the collected group, putting on a stronger face. "You know If we had the dragon we could have just destroyed or taken the ship."

"I wouldn't harm any of the Lumarians if I were you. Would be terrible idea when you think about it. Would put your people in jeopardy if you do."

"How can you say that?" Lyndis tossed her an angry glare. "When they are going to take advantage of us. When we have the power why not just fend them off?"

"Are you going to stay here and protect the town from the undead? Cause that's what the Lumarians are doing whether you like it or not. It is them and their weapons that are giving the undeath pause. Not the rifles and strong will of the sapphire guardians. Your people's safety is actually better in the hands of the foe you despise."

The rogue paced back and force, her blood boiling as she pictured the floating ships of her foes. Crimson stains splattered on stone sprung to her mind, and the smell of inhuman conditions battered against her mind. "Focken damn't" Lyndis she cursed in a hiss, biting her lip as she stomped a few yards away. Her hands curled into fists. She squeezed them tight, knuckles looking to be covered in a sheet of snow. Of course, she was right, even Shandalar was nodding in agreement as the vile words buzzed around inside her head like a wasp. She strode back over, steps coming heavily as her mind already began to work over the plan. "So, we sneak in and take it from these blighters then. Take the first step in finally ridding ourselves from them. The singular moment where we turned it around and we fought back against the undead. But you mark my words." She thrust her finger towards the kobold for her own sake. "The second we have this taken care of, I will beseech my father to take back every work camp that Lumara has forced upon us. And see them driven from our lands with their focken tail between their legs."

"That would be something to add to the mission entry. But yes. I can even offer you a reward to sweeten the deal if you would like. Though it sounds like your already on board. Sad that misery and death brings out peoples more nobler traits at times." The kobold patted her pack confidently, her lips curling into a smile. "One of you I'm sure you will love.

"What kind of reward could that be? We have plenty of coin and things from our little venture into the hideout of the many eyed, and not to mention the vault of Entis. So you might have to redefine your definition of something we would like."

"How about a bag full of diamonds?" Vishta pulled from her pack a small palm sized brown sack. It had small symbols in the shapes of white waves knitted into its fabric that looked like fresh snow. She looked up to Asterion, her grin only getting bigger. "I know one of you was searching for more of these." She held out one of her palms, opening the small bag and dumping out one of the sparkling gems. It glinted in the sun as Asterion strode over, picking the small item up and holding it mere inches from his eye. The minotaur raised a brow, his eyes glimmering with need as he rolled it through his fingers.

"Lyndis." The bull shot her a look, one that pleaded his desire.

She nodded. The diamonds where what he needed for his redemption. How could she turn down something like that? On the other hand, she also got to help her people. "You got yourself a deal Vishta, one ship's manifest for one bag of diamonds. So, when does this bloated thing touch down anyway?"

The kobold's eyes brightened as she quickly pushed the bag back into her pack. "Hours from now. Good deal after dusk. You have plenty of time to gather some supplies and prepare your spells for whatever it is you need to do."

"Shandalar you in?" She turned her head, relieved when the calm faced wizard gave her a slight nod.

"Course makes the mind wander." Lyndis laughed, nudging Vishta with a smile. "Whatever would you have done if we we're not here. It doesn't seem like you're better off at fighting things.

"Its why she gots me!" Talos hiccupped, "I was assigned to her cause I'm good at...good..Beating...good at beating.."

"Meat?" Feku asked with a cocked head, "I think that's the phrase."

"Yes!" Talos clasped his claws together. "I'm good at beating my foes meat!"

Lyndis chuckled at the drunk words, even more so when Vishta groaned and placed her snout into her claws. No doubt muttering a few curses that could only be heard by her little ears. "Don't fret your self too much Vishta. We'll have that manifest no bleedin problem."

"That's what I'm counting on."

*******

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