Chapter 10
As they approached, they could see Vorel trying to get past the Opal lake magistrates, who were countering Vorel's every move. Unfortunately, Vorel himself was not very strong, but he could take some level of pounding.
"Shou' we 'elp… it?" asked Parten, looking curiously at the strange being in front of him
"Maybe, it might be our only way in. alright, I'll see what I can do." Said Jace
Jace walked up to the two Vedalken and Vorel. They both stopped to see what was going on.
"Halt, you need written permission to enters this area, as we were just telling this, thing here."
"I am NOT a THING! I am a human merfolk. How many times must I tell you idiots this?" replied Vorel in an angry tone
Jace turned to Vorel
"Vorel, if I help you get through here, will you give me your word you won't attack me?" asked Jace
Vorel thought about it for a moment
"Fine, I'll even give you a little power boost too." Vorel replied
Vorel raised his hands and blue and green mana flowed from them into Jace, who suddenly felt twice as powerful as he did just before.
"Now, about that permission," said Jace to the Vedalken, his eyes and hands glowing intensely
"Thank you Beleren, it is a shame you had to work with the Izzet, we would have been happy to have you." Said Vorel as he and Jace entered the maze.
"I appreciate the offer, but I would have preferred to keep the same number of limbs-"
"You still would have had four limbs."
"-and still have them look like this."
"Well, we could have always changed them again if you weren't happy. I used to hurl rocks and eat scraps of meat burned over a fire. Look at what I've become and tell me Simic does not hold infinite possibility."
"I never said it didn't I just didn't want to be quite so much a part of it. Did you know Zarek tried to force me to help them?"
"I wouldn't be surprised really."
"Yes, we escaped and here we are. So, thanks again, good luck." Jace started to walk down what he knew was the right way
"Good luck to you too," Vorel called back "goblin-head" he whispered behind his back. Vorel produced a scroll with the map readout on it. In a past life, Vorel was a very successful scroll thief and the scroll he had just stolen, was definitely one he was going to keep.
"Why were ya so frien'ly wi' tha' one?" asked Parten when they were a good distance away
"I wanted to make sure he got this." Said Jace, producing the exact same map that was just stolen
"The map? Why would ya-" started Parten
"No, this is a fake, it leads through a huge winding section full of creatures of all kinds. I think Vorel is going to enjoy himself there."
"Bu' where's the real one then?"
"You don't think I'd carry it around that obviously, do you? It's right here." Jace revealed a small device that resembled a squashed, bronzed orange with blue lights.
"It's a miniature map generator; I thought that in case it gets dark, this would be more useful instead of a scroll."
"Nice."