As expected, nobody's overjoyed with Aloth's revelation - Pallegina looks like she's seriously considering actually killing him, while Sagani and Eder take it in stride and Kana starts bombarding him with questions of all kinds.
Once Aloth finally bribes the rabid historian with some sentences of Hylspeak written for him, Cera tells them about the vision she got last night of a massive army coming through the White March and crushing the entire Dyrwood. That certainly gets everyone's attention, and they quickly agree to head straight back to Stalwart at once after letting Lord Harond know Aelys isn't coming back. As expected, the man is furious until Cera hints that she knows exactly what was going on and why they were really traveling - he quickly pays her and leaves.
They head for Caed Nua on the way to the White March, and are met with none other than Kolsc - Lord Raedric's cousin, and the guy that is trying to overthrow him. His child was indeed Hollowborn, as the entire town was so afraid of, and it seems to have pushed him over the edge of what sanity he had left. He's been sending out more guards, having them search the town for anyone he thinks is worshipping Eothas in secret.
Eder snorts and says "He might be a little embarrassed about all that if he hears the Leaden Key is behind the Legacy."
Kolsc says "If what you say is true, all the more reason to stop Raedric before he destroys all of Gilded Vale. The Legacy is no fault of the people's, and his sanity has snapped like a twig after his son's Hollowbirth. Ygrid, his wife, I've heard is no more. And his son, though Hollowborn, was alive - no longer though."
Cera grimaces and says "Wonderful, really. Anything else about the clearly insane Lord Raedric we should know about?"
"Yes, as it happens. He annexed the lands west of the keep some years ago, Magran's Fork and the Black Meadow. He never made any indication that he'd put it to any kind of use however. I've talked with the Duc of Defiance Bay, and he assures me that it is apparently legally yours as the Gathbin Family claim was never released until recently - released to you, due to the current lord's pride and arrogance I believe."
Cera smiles thinly and says "Yes, that about covers it. And before you ask, yes, we'll figure out some way of stopping Raedric. However, there's another threat to the Dyrwood, and it's not the Legacy - an army marching from the White March and destroying the entire area. Defiance Bay, Caed Nua, all of it gone."
He pales, and immediately, earnestly, says "Yes, of course, Please, find a way to stop that army! In the meantime, we'll evacuate what's left of Gilded Vale out of the town, do you have any suggestions for where they may stay?"
Cera immediately says "Why not here? I've been restoring the place, after all. Why not let the innocents under his increasingly unstable rule shelter here?"
"That…that would be…I can't begin to tell you how much that would help! The town was never very big to begin with, and now there aren't that many people left from them, Tautanu, Aufra, and Trumbel and his family mostly, so they won't take up much room or be any inconvenience to the guards…" Kolsc seems dumbstruck by Cera's act of kindness, and says "I'll get the rest of the people together, bring them here. And, oh yes, the Duc wrote this treaty up. It officially recognizes you as the Roadwarden of Caed Nua. It also proposes that you take possession of the Black Meadow, leaving Magran's Fork in the Thayn of Gilded Vale's care once I become the Thayn."
He pulls out a rolled up parchment, and Cera agreeably says "Half and half, fair enough. As soon as we're back from the White March and the Dyrwood is safe, I'll find a way to deal with Raedric."
"I may have a way for you to get inside fairly easily - the sewers. I grew up in the Hold, know it well. There's an old gate in the side of the wall, has always been loose and rusty. It leads to the sewers that run underneath the place. There's an entrance that'll put you near the throne room, where you can deal with Raedric somehow. Likely with bloodshed, I'd imagine. Once he's gone though, the mercenaries guarding the hold will have no reason to fight - they have no real loyalty to Raedric after all. His local support was hung when he started the hangings in earnest, hanging people if they so much as looked at the ruined temple, for instance. Or for watching the sun rise. He'd cure Gilded Vale of the Legacy by ensuring there's none left to be afflicted by it." Kolsc shakes his head in despair, but doesn't say anything else.
Cera says "Get all the remaining villagers to Caed Nua as soon as possible, Kolsc. Once we stop this mystery army, we'll stop Raedric."
Eder nods, saying "Man's gone too far. Time's long since passed that he either stop the hangings or stop ruling."
Kolsc nods, and says "We are fortunate to have a Roadwarden who understands responsibility. And kindness. Again, I thank you on behalf of what's left of Gilded Vale."
Cera signs the document, which was completely forgotten about, and then everyone gets ready to leave again while Cera confers with the Steward - who will immediately start preparing to have the land returned to them, which will take quite some preparation apparently. Soldiers to hire in order to defend the lands, etc. There's also the matter of taxes to collect - at least the keep will have a source of income other than what they can sell after nearly dying in fights once Raedric is dealt with.
Cera starts on the restoration of the hedge maze, which is somehow supposed to protect that corner of the keep grounds - Eder jokingly points out the fact that if they can't figure out to keep turning left then they weren't going to be much trouble anyway.
After that, they start making their way to Stalwart.
AN: Alright! Next chapter is here! And we're into WM2! How exactly are they going to stop the mystery army - and Raedric? Keep reading! PS. starting summer classes now, updates on all stories will lengthen - sorry, but its a requirement to graduate. Anyway, enjoy the story!