The adventurers had set out from the Monastery of Saint Vardishal the next day, the route becoming familiar to the group. When they grew closer to the outskirts of Kelmarane, the group took a quiet approach in case the gnolls had sentries to look out for intruders. The corpse of the giant mamba remained where they left it but the fallen gnolls had been moved elsewhere. Melkia was quick to note the tracks around the roads as signs of increased patrols but they were able to make it to the wharfmaster's manor without encountering one of the patrols. Zalerian thought that it would make a perfect base to plan their next move given the view it had across the river.

From the balcony, Zalerian didn't see any sign of activity across the bridge. The wheel of the roofless mill turned with the flow of the river while the tannery was completely silent. Each of the buildings contained some of the gnoll's more powerful allies. Zalerian wasn't sure what to expect from the peryton or the harpy but knew they had to be dangerous if Felliped, an experienced Pathfinder, didn't try to escape from Kelmarane. They had the element of surprise against their foes as even if the gnolls warned the peryton and harpy, they likely weren't expecting a coordinated attack against them. Still, combat was chaotic and it would take only one mistake for their enemy to make a killing blow.

Still, Zalerian was determined to go through with the fight and he knew most of his companions were as well. If they could remove the threat of the harpy and peryton, they could convince Almah to provide information regarding the battle market and authorize an attack to rescue the Lions of Senara. This was their chance to prove themselves as capable enough for the task. He nodded to himself, believing that the patrols were more focused on the battle market than the outlying buildings, and made his way downstairs to rejoin his friends.

Although the group believed the manor was from the gnoll's attention, Zalerian noted that the adventurers kept silent. Melkia kept guard by the front entrance, her bow out with an arrow nocked in case of danger. Arguk sat nearby along with Trax, who was kept quiet with the gnoll stroking his mane. Emra and Belash stood by the stairs, waiting for Zalerain, while Teshak sat across from Arguk. Teshak and Arguk stood up when they heard Zalerian approaching with the sorcerer's hand reaching to the pommel of Tempest. The group gathered around except for Melkia, who listened in but kept her post by the entrance.

"The way across the bridge is clear," Zalerian told his companions. "There aren't any gnoll patrols that I can see but I also wasn't able to spot the peryton or harpy."

"Then we shouldn't wait too long," Emra said. "The quicker we strike, the less likely we'll run into any gnoll patrols."

"You know, I don't actually know what it is we're fighting," Belash admitted. "Gnolls, sure, but I haven't heard of a peryton or harpy until Felliped told us about them."

"Perytons are rare so I wouldn't blame you,," Arguk told the half-orc. "One of my old masters tried to keep one as a pet. It's a deadly beast with the body of a stag, the wings of a hawk, and the face of a wolf. Naturally, trying to keep such a monster didn't go well for that particular master."

"And the harpy?" Belash asked.

"Some sort of bird woman," Melkia answered with a shrug as she kept her place by the door. "They're feral creatures. It's no surprise that one would end up working with gnolls."

"So we're going against two flying creatures," Teshak noted. "Between Melkia's bow and my sorcery, it shouldn't be too much of an issue."

"The peryton will have to get close to us if it wants its next meal so the rest of us will find a time to fight," Arguk said, tapping the pommels of his scimitars. "I can't speak for the harpy but I'm sure we'll find a way to win against them as well."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Zalerian asked, taking a step toward the manor's exit. "Let's get going!"

Melkia led the way out of the manor with the others following behind her. Zalerian took a glance to his right after stepping outside, on the lookout for any gnoll patrols. Fortunately, he didn't spot any patrols coming in their direction and turned to the left, heading toward the left, taking the road a short distance to walk across the stone bridge leading to the mill and tannery. With the mill by the river and the tannery across the road from it, the adventurers had a chance to make a real difference in the fight to take Kelmarane back. Zalerian took one last look back into town, and with no gnolls in sight, he readied himself for combat.

The mill was the closest building to the adventurers and they made their way cautiously to the front door. Belash took the lead and grabbed the door's handles. Zalerian took up position to the left of Belash with Emra stepping up to stand right of the half-orc. The others stayed behind the group, waiting to follow them into the mill. With everyone's weapons out and nodding that they were ready, Belash pushed the doors to the mill open and the adventurers charged inside, ready to fight whatever foe was waiting for them.

Zalerian recognized the peryton from Arguk's description when the large beast rose up from its nest and howled loudly. The peryton extended its dark wings out and dragged its hooves across the floor before taking flight. Its antlers glistened in the sunlight that poured in from the large hole in the ceiling and the peryton dove down to the adventurers. Belash stood his ground, using his greataxe to keep the peryton's teeth from biting down but the antlers proved to be sharper than anyone expected. He yelped out in pain when the peryton stabbed one of its antlers into his shoulders. The peryton pulled back from Belash to stomp its large hooves down on the others but Zalerian and Emra were quick enough to roll away from the attack without being struck.

The adventurers were quick to surround the peryton after it landed from its initial flight, surrounding the monster to attack it from multiple angles. Melkia took aim with her bow, but when Teshak charged into melee, her shot went wild as she cursed at him to fall back. Teshak pressed on and jabbed Tempest into the peryton's side, right beneath its wing. Arguk focused on the fight instead of his companions, slashing his scimitar to cut off one of the peryton's back legs. The peryton struggled to stand up and Emra weaved her way over to it. She swung her scimitar at its neck, cutting into his veins. The peryton lurched forward and collapsed to the ground, letting out a whimper before the beast grew still. Zalerian dropped his combat stance and sighed in relief, glad that the peryton had been killed.

"That wasn't so bad," Belash chuckled.

"You're bleeding, Belash," Melkia pointed out.

"The peryton didn't get its antlers that deep," Belash assured his friends and stepped towards the peryton's nest. "I wonder if there's anything valuable in here. I think I can see a few trinkets along with the wood."

"Likely from the unfortunate souls that crossed paths with the peryton," Arguk said with a nod. "There's no harm in looking. It's not like anyone else will be putting those items to use."

"Let's not take too long though," Emra told the group. "The peryton's howl may have warned the harpy and the gnolls may have heard it as well."

Zalerian glanced toward the door cautiously while Belash searched through the nest as quickly as he could. Fortunately, even though they weren't staying for long, it became clear that the gnolls either didn't hear the peryton's howl or that they weren't able to attack the adventurers in time. They were far from the battle market so it was possible that the gnolls weren't close enough to hear the peryton. The harpy was another matter altogether, and with how close the tannery was to the mill, the harpy knew something was happening. They wouldn't have the element of surprise against the harpy like they did with the peryton but they were in good shape. Even Belash wasn't bleeding too terribly from his injury.

Eventually, Belash stepped away from the nest with the only items of note being a ring and a sword with runes engraved across the blade. Teshak offered to check to see if both items were magical after they returned to the Monastery of Saint Vardishal. Until then, Belash kept the sword strapped by his side and pocketed the ring. With little else to do in the mill, the group made their way back outside and crossed over to the other side of the road toward the tannery. There wasn't any sign of the harpy, meaning that she was likely waiting for them or she had fled from the area.

The adventurers charged through the front door of the tannery in the same formation as they had with the mill. Immediately, Zalerian winced at the noxious smell of the cauldrons spread throughout the large room. He took a glance in the direction of one of the cauldrons, taking note of the bones floating in the dark green liquid. He turned away from the cauldron with a frown and looked around for the harpy. There were signs that something had lived in the tannery based on the scraps of meat scattered on the floor but they didn't spot the harpy immediately.

"So the giant bird failed to eat you," a voice called out from above in the rafters. "Perhaps we could cut a deal?"

Melkia aimed her bow up toward the ceiling and the other adventurers glanced up to see the harpy. She was a woman with brown feathers covering her arms and legs with sharp talons on her hands and feet. Her hair was short and slicked back and her wings were curled inward. She wore a leather breastplate that covered her chest, and while her eyes were cruel, she smiled in a genuine manner. Zalerian could see how she could be considered attractive, but with the harpy not caring for her personal hygiene, her dirt-covered face was far from appealing to him.

"Hold your shot, Melkia," Arguk suggested. "I say we hear her out."

"We came here to kill her," Melkia pointed out, not taking her eyes off the harpy.

"I know better than to fight you," the harpy said, holding up one of her talons up in a peaceful gesture. "You are here to deal with the gnolls. It would be my pleasure to help you deal with my lover's servants."

"Melkia, lower your bow," Emra told the huntress firmly. "I agree with Arguk on this. If she had wanted to fight, she could have ambushed us.

"You can't be serious," Melkia sighed, and when she noticed Zalerian and the others nodding in agreement with Emra and Arguk, she lowered her bow. "Fine, but if she stabs us in the back, that's on you, not me."

"As long as you keep your end of our bargain, so will I," the harpy assured the adventurers and grinned. "If you bring me the head of the mamba that lives across the bridge for my stew and promise that I can stay in this building after you've driven away the gnolls, I shall give you the advantage you need over the gnolls."

"The mamba?" Belash questioned. "Didn't we-"

"I'm sure we can deal with the mamba," Teshak interrupted Belash and silenced the warrior with a glance. "It won't be an issue at all."

"And I'm certain Lady Almah would be open to having you stay in the tannery if you help us," Arguk said with a nod. "She is very reasonable."

"Not that we need to worry about this deal," Melkia said, glaring at the harpy. "Do you really think she'll betray her so-called lover just because we give her a snake's head?"

"He is cruel to me," the harpy said, batting her crusty eyebrows before turning to look at Zalerian. "I'm sure that one of his killers would be a kinder lover to me."

"Uh, you're not really my type," Zalerian told the harpy and awkwardly rubbed the back of his head.

"I would certainly hope so," Emra said quickly.

The harpy gasped. "Do you not find me beautiful?!"

"He's simply nervous," Arguk said with a smile. "Your beauty has left him tongue tied."

"You're certainly more charming than the other gnolls," the harpy said, turning to look at Arguk. "I am Undrella, and you are?"

"Arguk. It's a pleasure to meet you, but I should get that mamba's head for you."

"Of course. Try not to take too long, Arguk."

With the deal struck, the adventurers made their way out of the tannery. Zalerian sighed in relief once he was out of sight of Undrella. He had been caught off guard by her advances and was grateful that Arguk stepped in to save him from her flirtations. He thought it was a compliment that she singled him out of the group but also couldn't see himself with a harpy. Zalerian, recalling how fast Emra spoke up in his defense, glanced in her direction. She looked back at him with a smile and Zalerian wondered when would be a good time to talk with her. If she was jealous of Undrella, it could mean that she was attracted to him as he was to her.

Arguk called for Belash to join him in collecting the mamba's head in case they ran into trouble. The two left along with Trax, sneaking across the bridge in case of gnoll patrols. The other adventurers stepped away from the tannery although Melkia kept glancing in the building's direction. Zalerian wondered if the huntress was onto something regarding Undrella trying to stab the group in the back, but for now, thought best not to bring it up. The adventurers remained silent with Teshak sitting down with Tempest in his hands while Emra kept guard in case a gnoll patrol came their way from outside of town.

The only gnoll that came their way was Arguk, who crossed the bridge along with Belash and Trax. Arguk carried the mamba's bloody head in his hands and he nodded toward his companions. Once the group reunited, they made their way back to the tannery. Unbrella had climbed down from the rafters and looked in awe at the mamba's head. Even though she was more vulnerable to the group, Zalerian felt it would be wrong to be the ones to attack her after her deal. Arguk handed her the mamba's head and she plopped it into one of her brewing cauldrons. It was good that she hadn't found out that the mamba had been dead for a day already.

"I hope that you enjoy your stew, Undrella, but my companions and I have to get back to the fight," Arguk told her with a smile.

"Of course," Undrella stepped toward Arguk, not caring for his personal space, and offered him two keys. "Here. One is for the battle market and the other is for the cells inside the battle market."

"Huh?!" Zalerian gasped along with Emra and Belash. "This is… this is incredible! We can save the Lions of Senara today!"

"And cut off the head of the gnoll's leader," Melkia nodded, finally coming along to the plan. "That'll make our job to take Kelmarane back all the easier."

"You should be careful about the leader," Undrella warned the group, tracing Arguk's cheek with one of her talons. "Kardswaan was my old lover and the gnolls couldn't fight back against the might of a genie two months ago. That's why he leads them now."

"A genie?!" Zalerian gasped again, thinking back to how Kardswaan was one of the Templars of the Five Winds.

"Kardswaan," Teshak muttered quietly to himself.

"He hasn't been the same since he walked through that magically-sealed door in the crypt," Undrella sighed and backed away from Arguk. "Still, show him no mercy, for he won't show you any."

"I don't think we're ready to take on a genie," Emra said, shaking her head. "Still, I cannot think about leaving the Lions of Senara behind when we've come so close to saving them."

"I can," Melkia shrugged. "Gnolls I can handle without issue. Monsters don't scare me but genies are something else with the way they can bend reality. What can we do against one?"

"Maybe we could help him?" Zalerian suggested. "It does seem like something in the crypt changed him. That might be the way to stop him."

"Of course!" Emra nodded in agreement. "If it was magic that turned him to evil, we can save him!"

"That's beyond our skills," Melkia shook her head. "We don't have a plan to deal with Kardswaan."

"Then we will deal with him another day," Arguk spoke up. "Might I suggest that we sneak into the battle market to free the Lions of Senara. We'll fight Kardswaan another day and focus on rescuing the prisoners. It's not like Kardswaan is fighting on the frontlines"

"I like the plan," Belash nodded. "Still, while this genie won't be a problem for now, the gnolls will."

"Some of us could distract the gnolls by attacking one of their patrols," Emra suggested. "That would give whoever wants to sneak in can do so without worrying about fighting all of the gnolls."

"A wonderful idea," Arguk said. "Trax and I shall be part of the group that heads into the battle market after the Lions of Senara. We should be able to blend in at first glance though I worry that we'll stand out as strangers to the gnolls."

"I can't believe we're doing this," Melkia sighed and shook her head. "I know when I'm outvoted. I'll ambush one of the patrols so I can stay away from this genie. Teshak, you'll join me."

"No," Teshak said, glancing down at Tempest. "I want to go to the battle market with Arguk."

"It's too dangerous," Melkia snapped at the sorcerer.

"Then I'll come along with them," Belash offered. "I'd like to fight during the ambush, but if anything happens in the battle market, I can fight off the gnolls and keep everyone safe."

"I think that settles the battle market group," Zalerian said and turned to Emra. "Care to ambush a gnoll patrol?"

"Of course," Emra answered with a smile. "I wasn't one for sneaking around anyways. We'll stand our ground against the gnoll patrol."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Teshak asked and stepped toward the door. "Let's go."

Zalerian looked towards Teshak, growing worried over his behavior. He was starting to believe it wasn't a coincidence that the sorcerer, who presumably wielded the dagger of one of the Templars of the Five Winds, wanted to go to the battle market that another Templar of the Five Winds controlled. He hoped that the group heading into the battle market didn't run into too much trouble, and after some thought, made a decision. When they made it back to the Monastery of Saint Vardishal, he would let the rest of his companions know of what he discovered about the Templars of the Five Winds. It would help decide on how best to fight Kardswaan and decide on if Teshak truly was possessed by Vardishal.

For now, Zalerian couldn't worry about Kardswaan. He had his own fight to worry about although he wasn't too worried. He had fought off one of the gnoll patrols with his friends before, and even though there were half of them to fight another, he was still confident in their odds. He enjoyed fighting alongside Emra, and while Melkia wasn't the best to get along with, there was no denying her skill with the bow. Zalerian hoped that the distraction would work and that they could return to the Monastery of Saint Vardishal with the rest of the Lions of Senara.

A/N: While I've been working on Burnt Offerings and Seven Days to the Grave, I haven't forgotten about Howl of the Carrion King. I'm looking forward to the next couple of chapters and hope to get another chapter or two up between now and the weekend, but we'll see if that happens.

Until next time.