Author's Notes: I forgot to mention in the previous chapter! This is (somewhat) based on a run I started where Temenos is the protagonist as opposed to Osvald.

Chapter 2: Cape Cold

The hunch that Temenos mentioned had to do with a theologian that the pontiff had apparently met with shortly before his death. Crick thought it was about as good a lead as any; if only because he did not have any suspects himself.

This Lucian had come from the western shore, so Canalbrine was their ultimate destination. To get there from Flamechurch, one would have to make their way to New Delsta. There, they could catch a ship on the Anchorage and they would be in Canalbrine within a few days.

A simple enough route, in the grand scheme of things.

As they walked through the Eastern Flamechurch Pass, Temenos spoke up; "Now that I think about it...perhaps we should make a detour into New Delsta before we head for the Anchorage."

"New Delsta...as in the city?" Crick questioned. "Um, Temenos...that's a little out of the way. If we want to find our culprit, we must-"

"By the time we reach the Brightlands, we'll likely need to stop somewhere for supplies," Temenos interjected. "Besides, all manner of thieves and brigands lurk the streets at night. If the pontiff's death was truly a murder, it's possible that our culprit went there to lay low until the matter blows over. At the very least, someone could have heard something."

"But isn't New Delsta one of the largest cities in the eastern continent?"

"The odds that we'll find something there are rather slim, but that does not mean they are nonexistent."

"What if someone's not-?"

Crick cut himself off when he realized; Temenos didn't really need to answer that for him, did he? Somehow, the way he smiled and held his staff in his hands was answer enough. The sight caused Crick to shudder internally; he had been floored when Temenos had suggested interrogating people for answers. Yes, he was aware that Temenos was an Inquisitor. And while it was true that they couldn't have accessed the church were it not for Temenos' interrogation of Vados...the fact remained!

As the two went on their way, Crick took a moment to say a quick prayer.

Gods, please forgive us...

By sunset, it had become painfully obvious. Crick could not deny it any longer...

They were lost.

Actually, no. Crick just wished it was that simple. At least then they would still be in the Crestlands, or even the Brightlands.

Crick never liked the cold very much, so the snowflakes dancing along his line of vision seemed to taunt him on this night. They were in the Winterlands, meaning they had gone the exact opposite direction of New Delsta.

What was worse was that Crick knew this was his fault; he had been the one to insist that he navigate and lead the way. He may be newly anointed, but that was all the more reason to take his duties as a knight seriously. Especially if he was to protect Temenos the best he could; he had to be alert and ready for anything that might jump out at them. How could he do that if he did not lead the way?

But for this to happen? What a humiliating start to a journey!

Crick found it hard to even look at Temenos...completely out of embarrassment. He was almost certain that he could hear familiar chuckles coming from behind him, and he could feel his ears burning. At least he could blame it on the cold this time around.

"Crick," Temenos practically sang. Crick could just picture the amused smile on his face - just as amused as when he offered to guide Crick to Flamechurch's cathedral. "I don't mean to alarm you, but I think we've made a wrong turn."

Exasperated, Crick turned around. "Yes, I'm aware. And why didn't you say anything? You had to have noticed we were heading towards the Winterlands!"

"Why, indeed." Temenos shrugged, the carefree smile on his face. He had opened his mouth to say something further, but then his eyes flickered and a strange expression showed on his face. He pushed past Crick and knelt in front of what seemed like a giant brown rock...or was it some kind of animal? It made no movements, except for a subtle rise and fall that looked suspiciously like-!

"Is...Is that a person?!" Crick exclaimed as he crouched next to Temenos. As gently as he could, Crick dusted some snow off the unconscious man as Temenos placed two fingers on his neck. It was almost unnerving how quickly his expression had become so serious, but given the gravity of the situation...

"He's alive," Temenos said, pulling Crick from his thoughts. "So it's best not to let him sleep here. Quickly, we'll have to pull him out."

"I'll do it," Crick responded. Just as Crick was about to pull him up, the man jolted awake with a grunt. He quickly stood, and Crick nearly lost his balance. He muttered a quick prayer of thanks; both for the fact that the man regained consciousness and that Crick had avoided further humiliation.

"Where am I?" the man questioned (and it seemed he was asking this of himself rather than either Crick or Temenos). He looked around himself, and eventually his gaze settled on the cleric and the knight. This next question was aimed at the two of them; "Was I unconscious?"

"That you were." Temenos crossed his arms and looked up at the man - who Crick had realized just then was much, much taller than either of them. Despite that, Temenos showed no signs of being intimidated as he scolded, "There are better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know. You're fortunate that we happened upon you when we did. The Sacred Flame must have guided us to you, et cetera and so forth."

"Et cetera...?" Crick questioned. Temenos didn't answer to that. The nameless man took a moment to look the two travelers over - for some reason he seemed to focus a little more on Crick than Temenos. If he didn't know any better, Crick would have thought that the man seemed almost skittish at the sight of him. Perhaps he was wondering what a Sanctum Knight was doing here, of all places.

"You saved me there," the man surmised. Before Temenos and Crick could answer, he continued, "My name is Osvald. I'm a scholar. You two must be...travelers."

A scholar named Osvald...something about that rang a small bell in the back of Crick's mind, but he couldn't place his finger on where he could have heard it before. Temenos raised a hand over his heart.

"My name is Temenos." And he waved the same hand in Crick's direction. "And this little lamb is my bodyguard, Crick."

"Little la-! Temenos, again?!" Crick hissed. Was Temenos just insulting him at this point? Because Crick honestly couldn't be sure sometimes. At least he could blame his reddening face on the cold. Still, Crick straightened himself out as best he could and gave a small salute. "Anyway...my name is indeed Crick."

"And...you're a Sanctum Knight, are you?" Osvald questioned. Yet again, he seemed almost wary of Crick. How strange that Osvald should be so skittish, when he looked like he could throw Crick over his shoulder with very little effort.

"Newly anointed," Crick admitted. "But yes, I am."

"Hm." Strangely, Osvald seemed to relax. He became silent again, and his expression seemed similar to Temenos when he got deep in thought about something. After a moment, the scholar spoke up again; "I'm looking for someone. I'm sure you two have your own reasons for traveling, so what do you say we help each other out for a bit?"

That was certainly unexpected, and absolutely out of the question. Crick hadn't wanted to drag anyone into their investigation - who was to say that their culprit wouldn't go after Osvald? No, he couldn't risk a civilian's life like that!

"My apologies, but I cannot allow it," Crick responded. "The Insquisitor and I are on a very important mission, I don't think-"

"Would that not be all the more reason to bring me along? My magic is sure to be of use to you," Osvald insisted. Crick found himself admitting that he had a point. Scholars had access to magic that he or Temenos would not, from what he knew. With that in mind, Crick found it a bit hard to say no when Osvald was towering over him like this...but he would not falter! What kind of knight would he be if he just let civilians get involved like this?!

That was when Temenos interjected, "You are absolutely right, Osvald. It would be an honor to have you accompany us."

"Temenos!" Crick protested. Before he could protest further, Temenos gently placed a hand on Crick's arm and gave him a stern look. That should not have silenced Crick the way it did.

"My apologies," Temenos addressed the scholar - the same polite smile he gave to just about everybody. "Would you excuse us for a moment?"

Osvald nodded, crossing his arms. "Just...don't take too much time. I don't want to be in this snow longer than I have to."

"Many thanks." Temenos then led Crick over a few feet from where Osvald stood - close enough so that they could still see him, but too far away for Osvald to hear anything they said.

"Temenos, why?" Crick demanded. To be safe, he kept his voice hushed. "We could be putting him in danger if he came with us-!"

"Strength in numbers, dear Crick. A scholar like Osvald would be an invaluable ally to have."

"Strength in-?! He may be a scholar, but he's still a civilian!"

"True...but he did offer to come with us, and who are we to refuse? 'The Sacred Flame lights the way for all.'"

Crick didn't answer right away. That was a good point. It wasn't like Temenos tried to strong-arm Osvald into joining their adventure.

"Still...how can we be sure he's a scholar like he says?" Crick questioned. It was a last-ditch effort, but truly...it was concerning that he was lying in the snow with such a ragged cloak. "I've never met a scholar with such an outfit, have you?"

Temenos pursed his lips. Had he not thought about that before? That would have honestly surprised the knight; Temenos was clearly an intelligent man, and yet such a simple detail could pass him by? Or had he simply not gotten a better look at what Osvald was wearing?

The two looked over at Osvald. He hadn't moved in those few minutes, but there was a fireball in his hand now. The man's face remained as unreadable as ever...which made him seem a little more menacing, given the time of night. Was he using the fire magic to warm himself, or to shed light on their surroundings?

Crick inhaled through his nose; even he knew that the magic Osvald utilized was a trademark for scholars. It looked as though he was telling the truth...which meant he saw no reason to not let Osvald come along.

"The truth lies in the flame," Temenos commented, a satisfied smile on his face. "Besides, would it not be more dangerous to leave him here to fend for himself?"

Now Crick had to admit defeat.

As the two returned to Osvald's side, Crick couldn't shake off the feeling that they could be making a mistake of some capacity. He could only hope that he would be proven wrong with time.

By the Flame, he truly hoped that he would not regret this.