The trip into Ralendor had passed, however slowly, without incident despite the wet and cold. Kessrah and Skandranon had been grounded for several days due to the sheets of icy rain that managed to find each and every seam in the waxed rain-tarps that the two were wearing. Every now and then a drop would make its way to the end of the hood protecting Kessrah's head and fall onto her beak, causing her to curse the weather most venomously. The front claws and back paws of the Gryphon were in no way designed to be sloshing through the muddy road, and after a day's worth of walking, the pair were coated in mud and filth; no wonder they weren't in the best of spirits.
Another drop fell, followed by another torrent of swears from Kessrah. Skandranon eyed her warily as he controlled his own complaints.
"You know," Kessrah hissed. "We have been on the road for three days in this muck, and have made almost no progress! Why if I had to walk everywhere..."
"You would get some boots made?" Skandranon joked.
Kessrah only grumbled in response.
"Well," Skandranon ventured, desperately trying to raise his own mood. "'With Midwinter showers comes Springtime flowers.' "
When Kessrah growled some rather rude suggestions for things that Skan could do with the flowers, he laughed politely and gave up any more attempts at making conversation.
After half a day more of unpleasant walking, Skandranon and Kessrah could make out the huge white stonewalls of the city through the fog, and as they approached a young man came out of the gates to welcome them.
Skandranon recognized a faint mental tickle as the man magically screened him.
"Ahh," the man said. "Skandranon and Kessrah I see! Captain Lornrie is waiting to speak to you." In response to their bewildered glances the man smiled and replied; "Your tale precedes you I think. Just follow the main streets to the tower."
Before they knew it, Skandranon and Kessrah had made their way through the strangely empty city and were within the walls of Mage Urtho's great tower. Although they had seen the tower a few times before from a great distance, they had certainly never dreamed of being inside it. The only people who entered were either politicians or high-up military commanders, and the two tried their best to hide what cowed country bumpkins they really were.
No sooner had they then a freckle-faced youngster appeared and began guiding them through the tangle of stairs and corridors. He stopped in front of two large wooden doors and asked them to wait outside. After only a few moments in which Skan and Kessrah hastily preen the road muck off their feathers, they were ushered inside.
"Enter!" The captain yelled coldly. "I heave heard of what you two have done, and you shall be commended for it, but right now I need to know the facts."
Kessrah nodded while Skandranon watched the Captain expressionlessly.
They were half a candlemark into reporting to the captain just where, when, and how they intercepted the Makarr, when they heard a knock at the door. A tall man in flowing white robes walked into the room. Although he had the wrinkles and long white hair of age, he moved with such fluidity that it seemed almost as if he were floating. Skandranon gazed at him quickly in mage site, only to be blinded by the radiating white mage-energy that flowed out of him. Before he had time to put two and two together, the Captain lifted his head up from his maps and shot out of his chair as if a bee had stung him.
"Urtho, sir." He saluted.
Kessrah and Skandranon only stared dumbly at the man as he asked the captain to sit, and then froze when he turned and smiled at them.
"Children, come here and let me see just what a good job Belkahn and Nall have done with you two featherballs!"
Since Urtho was the creator of the Gryphon species, the term of children was not insulting, but endearing to the two Gryphons, who instantly warmed up to him. Skandranon's natural confidence took over, and he took great strides up to Urtho, and tipped in a bow before him. Kessrah took two steps foreword and did the same.
"Now, now, enough of that." He told them. "I hear you have done something amazing, and that you two ran into some trouble up North, correct?"
"Yes," Kessrah stated as she took a few more steps forward. "I guess you could call it that."
The conversation carried on for another half a candlemark as all information possible was gleaned from the short encounter.
"So you are positive that there was no other troop activity nearby?" The Captain asked dubiously as he leaned over the table.
"To be honest, Sir," Kessrah replied, "we scouted no further North then that; we got out of there." The captain raised his eyebrows at her. "But there was nothing that indicated further troops, Sir."
"Understandably you scouted no further." Urtho added as he shot a glance at the Captain. "So, you two must have been exhausted, you were forced to camp in the Pelagiris, correct?" They nodded. "Anything further happen?"
"Well, I scried out two deer and, well... used mind-magic to trick them closer." Skandranon looked fairly embarrassed.
"Nothing to be ashamed of, as long as you don't become lazy making a habit of it." Urtho answered. "You are fortunate to have a teacher like Nall who teaches you how to use your Mage-powers so beneficially."
"Personally I think he would have rather that Nall was teaching him how to make things set fire," Kessrah laughed. "How do you know our teachers anyway?"
"Used to be well-known mercenaries, before the two started having nestlings. Belkahn and Nall opted to go up North and start a school; as many of my best have come from them, I became acquainted. Now, is that the end of it? You got up at first light and headed home?"
"Actually, there was something strange in the forest..." Kessrah said. "They seemed to have followed the deer, but then they didn't eat what we buried. If fact... it was clear that they were quite intelligent."
Skandranon agreed, "...yes, they seemed to have been examining us."
Urtho's face became troubled. "Could you give a physical description?"
Kessrah thought for a moment, then said; "They were long and thin, dark, and fairly large. It was hard to make out any more details though; they were very quick."
"Wyrsa then." Urtho murmured. "A Mage-construct, but not of my own making. Probably of some renegade wizard from the West." He leaned in closer to them. "Be careful of them when you are in the Pelagiris, they are very intelligent, and deadly. One is equal in speed and ferocity to 10 men, and they travel in large packs. A cross between a running dog and a snake; enlarged to the size of a calf. They have rows of razor sharp, poisonous teeth the length of my hand, and they track magic."
"They must have picked up on my Mage work and followed it to our camp." Skandranon thought aloud. "But what would they want with it?"
"They can feed on it." Urtho said gravely. "They can feed on both magic and flesh as you can feed on both gristle and fat; the fat is much more nourishing."
:Ahem: The captain coughed. "Urtho Sir, what are we to do with this situation?"
"How many troops can you spare to send there? Perhaps a small group?"
"No Sir," he replied gravely. "My whole Blue Wing is in the Eastern Pass, so are the Whites and the Yellows. The SilverHawks are still in the city, but they are being deployed as backup in a few days. "
"Marr is trying to push through the Mountain Pass on the Easter Boarder?" Skandranon asked.
"Yes, but we are fighting him back..." Urtho thought for a moment as he rose from his chair. "I am afraid we wont be able to deploy any more Gryphons to fly back with you- you two will have to investigate further on your own; and with Nall and Belkahn that's 4. Send word if you find anything, but by the sound of it those 8 Makarr were not a part of a larger force." Urtho wished them luck and swept out of the room.
Captain Lornrie got up to escort Skandranon and Kessrah from the room, and saw the disappointment and concern that showed even through their great excitement at meeting Urtho. "Be happy that he is sending you back at all." He said. "We need everyone that we can get right now, and with two that have proven to be such good fighters, I would abandon this investigation altogether and ship you two to the front lines. Good day."