The next morning the 3 men were fit again. Neither Cyrus nor Alfyn nor Ophilia had noticed that Olberic and Clara had disappeared for about an hour. Cyrus led the group to the market where he negotiated with the horse dealer. He could be a real cutthroat when he was having a bad day.

"Cyrus ... not seen for a long time. You look like you want to go somewhere.", The horse dealer said with a mischievous grin.

"Yes, that's why I need a horse," said Cyrus.

The horse dealer, irritated, counted the people who had obviously come with Cyrus.

"A horse for 5 people? Isn't that not enough. I could give each of you a horse at a generous discount."

Cyrus waved: "We only need one."

"Just as you think. That makes 5000 gold coins," said the horse dealer.

"What ?! That's rude!" Alfyn burst out.

"I wonder if the horse dealer in Flamesgrace offers cheaper prices ..." Olberic mumbled, clearly audible for the seller. The salesman winced: "Ok ... Ok ... you won! 1000 leaves and we are quitt!"

"It's better.", Cyrus said and laughed happily. With this ruse, Cyrus could even freely choose a horse. He took a beautiful, strong, black stallion which he immediately saddled and attached the bags of the group to him. Then Olberic helped Clara into the saddle and they then led the horse west onto the road that led to Flamesgrace. At some point the road turned north. The way to Flammhuld was not long, but there were also many monsters lurking here. The monsters wanted to storm the city, but couldn't because of the protective shield built by the clergy. So the monsters hovered around in front of the city, waiting for an opportunity to penetrate the protective shield. When they saw the group approaching, the monsters turned their aggression against the travelers.

"Okay, ready to fight?" Asked Olberic, drawing his sword.

"Clara, you stay behind us.", Said the knight to Clara, who was still on the horse. Cyrus had led the horse behind him by the reins, but now let go of them to join Olberic. Alfyn and Ophilia also rushed to his side and faced the 50 monsters that they attacked in groups of five. There seemed to be no end to it and the monsters seemed to only want to do one thing with their attacks: To get the people in Flamesgrace to help the travelers and to give up the protective shield.

Clara watched as Olberic single-handedly mowed down a whole group of enemies with his sword with a sweeping blow. Alfyn attacked with an ax and Cyrus and Ophilia hurled powerful magic attacks at the enemy. But no sooner had a group been defeated than a new one moved in, it seemed to never end. Clara watched the fighting more and more concerned. When the last rearguard approached with 8 enemies, Olberic and Cyrus were already at the end of their strength. Ophilia and Alfyn tried to support them with their healing powers, but the enemies had so many shields that it took forever to break them before they could really harm the monsters. Then Clara had an idea, Olberic had packed such magical stones in her bag. He had said at the time: "They will be useful one day."

So Clara fished one of these magical stones out of her pocket and took the reins in her hand. With a slight jerk on them and a slight nudge with her foot on the horse's stomach, it neighed and trotted slowly forward towards the battlefield. Olberic heard the horse neigh and then out of the corner of his eye saw the horse move ahead. At first he thought he was just imagining it, but it really was. Clara steered the horse in their direction.

"Clara, what are you doing ?!" he cursed.

Then he saw Clara draw back and then she threw something at the opponents. It was a fire soul stone. He did considerable damage to the enemy and broke their shields. Olberic shouldered his sword and charged forward to hit the enemy with a sweeping blow. Then Cyrus and Ophilia finished them off with their magic attacks. With that, the group had wiped out all the monsters that had besieged the city. Clara brought the horse to a stop next to Olberic and said: "Sometimes it pays not to listen to instructions," she said.

Olberic put his sword away and then turned to Clara. He looked at her very angrily: "Don't do that again! They could have killed you! Don't forget what I said to you the evening before we left?"

Alfyn stepped up to the horse, took the reins, and led it into town. Arrived at the inn, the 5 checked in first and then Clara provided the horse with a pair of carrots.

As she was feeding the horse, she suddenly felt a touch on her shoulder. She looked around and saw Olberic standing behind her.

"You really worried me earlier," he said calmly.

"Sorry.", Clara said, "But it looked like you were in trouble. I just had to help you."

"I know. But you mustn't forget that I want us all to survive this journey alive.", Olberic said worriedly, "I'll do anything for that. Just don't make it too difficult for me to protect you."

With that he kissed her briefly on the cheek, carefully making sure that the horse covered him.

"Thank you.", She breathed back and patted his hand briefly before she grabbed a brush and groomed the horse.

Olberic crossed his arms with a smile and then turned away from her to return to the inn.

"Oh, Sir Olberic?" She called after him. He stopped and turned: "Yes?"

"Watch your mead consumption this time, okay?"

Olberic laughed softly: "Yes, my lady."

When Clara returned to the inn, the others were already discussing where to go next. After still snow or after S'warkii.

"I think the translation is more important," said Cyrus.

"But Haanit may be able to tell us something about the beasts that attacked us," said Ophilia.

"But translation has priority!" Said Alfyn.

"If we argue, it won't get us anywhere. Oh, Clara, you're there. Let's let her decide," said Olberic.

"Right. After all, the whole trip is about her.", Alfyn said.

"W-what? I should decide?" Asked Clara, confused.

All nodded their heads in agreement. Clara thought about it and then glanced at the map that Olberic had spread out in front of him.

"Hm ... why don't we go west to your girlfriend and then to Duskborrow? That makes more sense if we go west first and then north than the other way around. Then it's a detour.", Said Clara. Cyrus and Alfyn gave up, grumbling, and so it was decided to set off for the west the next day to find the huntress Haanit and then to go to Slumber Hill. Alfyn went to the shops to replenish the group's supplies. Clara went to Flamesgrace Cathedral with Ophilia and told her something about Aelfric the Flame Bringer.

Cyrus had buried himself sulking in a book, while Olberic straddled his feet a little in the city and wanted to see if he could possibly find out a little more about the monster attacks from the residents here.