"You asked for me to see you."
Arinath gave a short bow towards the king, however not once did his emerald eyes lose sight of him. The king looked up from his desk. There were pieces of parchment spread all across, not just the desk but the whole room. The two were in the royal quarters of the palace. More specifically, the king's private study.
"Its getting worse. Quicker than we expected as well. More and more reports from within the taint barrier."
The king picked up a pile of documents and offered them to the Archmage before pointing to a chair, indicating for him to sit. Taking a few of the documents, Arinath sat placing the walking stick like device next to him, leaning against the chair. He thumbed through the pieces of parchment, pausing now and then to read a few lines.
"I told you that the barrier could only do so much, this was bound to happen. Those enchantments would have done nothing if we had not have helped. It would be just a wall surrounding one quarter of your kingdom for no reason."
The king glanced at the archmage again and saw him wiggling his nose and concentrating hard on the end of it. He sighed before standing up and walking towards the door.
"Come, i need to get out of here and get some fresh air." The king pushed the study door open and walked out, Arinath followed quickly after.
"Oh goodie. Let's go for a walk. Makes it so much easier for those assassins to make another attempt on your life. Only right to give them a fair chance hey?"
The king rolled his eyes as they walked down the corridor. The many candles casting multiple shadows over the walls. They turned a corner and walked through another door which took them out into the night air.
"They last tried it two weeks ago. It would break the routine of what they have been doing. Got two more weeks to go before I have to worry again."
Arinath tapped his cane like device against the tiles as they walked. His head stayed perfectly still but his eyes darted all over the place.
"Hence why it would be better to strike now since you won't be expecting it. Surprise and if it fails then gets you to worry more which then leads to mistakes."
They climbed a flight of stairs and then started to walk along the battlements. The city far below.
"Sometimes i really wonder who's side you are on." the king glanced at the archmage to find him smiling. They stopped and leant on the small wall looking out over the city and beyond. The wind howled and whistled as passed through the gaps in the stone walls.
"They must be more we can do. There has to be. We need more time at the very least."
The king turned to look at the archmage. He was wearing the same robes as he alwaysed did. They waved in the breeze and revealed the leather book and golden chain. It did not budge, not even when the wind picked up and was causing the robes to flutter behind him. The mage turned to meet his gaze.
"You, no we, we? Yeah we, we are doing a lot already. There is naught much I can think to do which could help. You've increased the intake of mages and knights. We are in very good contact with the Carthstad paladins, one of the few groups of people who can be helpful and smart. Rare to find that these days you know. They either think they know it all, and really don't, or they just don't know anything or enough to be helpful..."
As he said this, the king watched the mage edge slowly closer to the edge of the wall. He rested his hand gently on the mages shoulder and guided him back slightly and shook his head. He felt something move and start to slide off. As his other hand went up to grab whatever it was, he realised he had left the ceremonial crown on.
Gods, he had put that on two days ago now. Had he really been up that long? Then again it felt like years since he had last slept. Didn't have time though. To much to do and even if he did have time, what he knew kept him up any way.
"... to be honest. Yeah dislike them a lot. I can only stand some of your mages as well. Twats most of them. There where one or two taking the quest I wish to keep my eye on this time though. Might give me some entertainment. That's what we need you know."
Arinath abruptly shut up. The king glanced at him. It was a bad sign when that happened. Once he was talking there was very little which could get him to stop. The mage was squinting slightly and turning slowly around.
"I think we should head back to your study. Quickly."
The king did not need to be told twice by Arinath. If he thought that there was a good reason to go then there generally was. As the two ran back down the stairs from the battlements there was a chorus of ear piercing squarks. There was a sudden uproar as guards started yelling to each other. Bells sounded with a few screams to follow.
"Told you, did i not tell you?" Yelled the mage over all the ruckus. The king gritted his teeth. He hated it when Arinath was right sometimes. They got to the bottom of the stairs and ran into the upper courtyard to find several guards engaged with what appeared to have once been a hippogriff. With out warning another swooped down and landed in front of them.
The king barely had chance to duck as it swung with its front legs at them. He could smell the rot. Skin and feathers were blackened and covered in a sort of goo. Patches had peeled away to reveal bone. The king felt himself be dragged backwards, and saw himself slide past Arinath who was now holding what ever he called that thing, up like a sword.
"Run Jayden, i'll deal with this."
The king scrambled up and ran through another door into the castle and slammed it shut. He then turned and sprinted off. He didn't stop running until he reached his study again where he found four guards stood there waiting for him. All with red over there armour. One stepped forwards with a look of concern and frustration on his face.
"Are you alright sir? You shouldn't go off on your own! Anything could happen!"
Jayden leant against the wall as he caught his breath. The crown was still in his off hand and he started to fiddle with it.
"Im fine sean. Also i wasn't on my own."
The captain of the guard seemed to breath a sigh of relief. Although one of his eyebrows raised as he started to ask who he had been with.
"I was with Arinath."
Arinath pointed his umbrella directly at the hippogriff. He could smell the taint on the poor creature. He hated having to do this, yet there was no other way. The hippogriff charged forward and leapt at the archmage only to let out a shriek of pain and surprise. The umbrella had smashed into the side of its head with unhuman like strength. The hit altered it's path and causing it to go flying into the wall behind where it had started. His free hand was performing very quick movements and gestures as he swung the umbrella back around to point straight at the hippogriff.
Four glowing red rocks erupted from the end of the umbrella. Two flew towards the hippogriff he had just flung into the wall, and the other two at the one the guards were facing. A fiery red trail was left in their wake as the balls of rock hurtled towards the creatures. Three hit there mark and exploded as they did so. The last exploded just above however it was to far away to do any damage. Nether creature had enough time to howl in pain as they collapsed to the floor. Dead. The rest of their skin and feathers dissolved into a black goo, there bones blackened and turned to dust.
"May you find peace on the winds."
The archmage bowed his head as he spoke, he then turned to see the two guards who were still conscious dragging away their fallen comrades to go get attended to. There were more squarks and howls of pain coming from over the castle. He tutted and set off running muttering something about how he wasn't going to be the one tidying up.
Markus and Garry were sat opposite each other, both waiting for their breakfast to be served. They had woken up to find Julia already dressed and running out the door yelling something about finding out information. The two sat in silence for they were both listening in on what was being said around them. Everyone seemed to be talking about what had happened that night in Salos. The castle had been attacked they said. By undead some said. Beasts said others. None attacked the city though. Only the castle.
The two snapped back as their breakfast was laid out in front of them. They both said thank you and dug in, however never looked happy. Undead beasts inside the taint barrier was not good. Attacking the city was even worse.