Gogmurt followed through on his word, clearing Thistletop of any goblins. Razvan, Corita, and Kennick watched a small crowd of goblins and their remaining animals crossing the bridge with the druid ensuring that it wouldn't collapse on them. Unsure of if they could completely trust the goblins, the adventurers decided that they would cross the bridge one at a time so that if the goblins did try to betray them by cutting the bridge, only one of them would be in immediate danger. Razvan crossed across the bridge first with Corita following after him. Kennick was the last to cross, and although he was left alone on the hedge maze until then, the goblins knew better than to try to attack him.

With it becoming apparent that the goblins weren't going to attack them at the moment, the trio split up to cautiously explore the upper levels of Thistletop. They discovered two sets of stairs leading down to the lower levels, but knowing that Nualia and her allies were waiting below, they held off on heading downstairs until they had finished looking around. The goblins were quick to evacuate Thistletop and Razvan hoped that they may have left something behind that they could use against their enemies.

Razvan found himself in Thistletop's throne room and could make out the signs of battle. Stained blood marked the floor and there were scorch marks across the pillars around the room. He chuckled to himself, seeing that even against the odds, Draul and Mariel were able to fight their way to Ripnugget and defeat him. It was while looking through the room that Razvan spotted a small blade by the wall near the throne. He picked up the fallen sword and examined it. The sword was longer than the daggers he typically wielded but it was light and well made with a bone-shaped hilt. Razvan knew that the blade was made for a goblin but noticed the faint runes across the metal blade.

With a shrug, Razvan gave the blade a few practice swings before nodding in approval. He didn't care much for the grisly design but understood that magical weapons were useful. There was no telling what kind of creature Malfeshnekor was but Razvan figured that simple daggers wouldn't be enough to defeat whatever it was if it came down to a fight. It may not have been as stylish as Corita's magical sword but it would serve him well enough in a fight once he found a sheath to keep it in.

Fortunately, the armory was attached to the throne room and he was able to find a sheath for his new sword. Razvan made his wayout of the armory toward the throne room's exit when he spotted Corita entering the room with a wave.

"Hey, Razvan," Corita greeted with a smile. "Is that one of the goblins' swords?"

"I think so, and I'm pretty sure it's magical too," Razvan answered, spinning his new sword by the hilt. "Have you and Kennick found anything?"

"I did find their treasury but I don't think that the goblins would want us to rob them," Corita said with a shrug. "Still, they wouldn't mind if I snagged two healing potions."

"Good thinking," Razvan nodded. "We're going to need every advantage we can get until we can find Draul and Mariel."

"Unless Kennick has found them, they must be in the lower levels," Corita told Razvan. "I haven't seen Kennick since we split up."

"He shouldn't have gone too far," Razvan said. "Let's look for him together. I think it's time we head deeper into Thistletop."

Razvan and Corita left the throne room, searching the remaining hallways and chambers for Kennick. It only took a pair a minute or so before they found Kennick after stepping through a door leading to an open-air courtyard. The goblins didn't bother tending to the grass of the courtyard and there were blood stains across the hard clumps of earth. Kennick stood across from a wooden outbuilding placed in one of the courtyard's corners, facing off against a large horse with dark fur. Razvan didn't know a lot about horses but he could see that the beast was angry and violent by looking in its eyes.

Corita gasped and Razvan quickly grabbed her wrist in an attempt to keep her from running off. He could see that Kennick was trying to calm down the horse, keeping his hands raised yet pointed towards the animal. The last thing Kennick needed was for someone to upset the horse and send it into a rage. Slowly, the coldborn approached the beast and Razvan could see that the horse was calming down. Whether it was because of Kennick's training in the stables or because he still bore his animalistic features the rogue couldn't tell. Finally, Kennick rubbed his hand across the horse's neck and it let out a low and deep neigh of approval.

"The goblins kept this horse locked up," Kennick revealed quietly, turning to face Razvan and Corita. "We'll need to bring him back to Sandpoint after we're done."

"One thing at a time, Kennick," Razvan told him and let go of Corita's wrist. "Have you found anything else?"

Kennick shook his head. "There's a cat behind you."

"A cat?" Razvan and Corita asked at the same time.

The two adventurers turned around to see that Kennick wasn't joking around. The dark-furred cat looked up at the two expectantly, tilting its head at the pair.

Corita gasped. "It's Luxford!"

"You're right," Razvan nodded quickly. "I'm not sure how familiars work but do you think that he might know where Mariel and Draul are?"

The cat turned around, swished his tail, and made his way inside the stockade and down a hallway.

"I say that counts as a yes," Corita said, smiling. "What are we waiting for? Come on!"

Corita was the first to chase after Luxford with Razvan and Kennick following behind her. Razvan could see that the familiar was heading toward one of the sets of stairs they found, confirming that Draul and Mariel had been taken to the lower levels. He wasn't sure what else would be waiting for them below but he was glad that he and his companions had a lead to find their missing friends. They were determined to save Draul and Mariel no matter what obstacles were in their way.

Draul thought that it was fortunate he was an early riser when he woke up after a night of sleep. He couldn't see the outside, but being a follower of Sarenrae, he had conditioned himself over the past few years to wake up at sunrise. He took a glance outside of his cell to see that Mariel was curled up in the cot the cells had and Orik sat on a wooden chair, snoring loudly. Draul kept quiet, glad that his captors thought he and Mariel weren't big enough of a threat to warrant a change in guard shifts. Escape wasn't an option yet but there was nothing stopping him from silently testing each of the bars to see if one of them was loose. He was thankful that Orik had untied his and Mariel's hands since they couldn't get out of the cell, allowing him to examine the bars thoroughly.

Unfortunately, Draul's luck during the morning came to an end when he determined that the cell bars were secured and wouldn't be broken easily. He glanced toward Mariel and shook his head, deciding against waking her up. It was possible that he would have woken up Orik as well, making it impossible to see if Mariel's cell was as secure as his. It would have been nice to have a way to get out of the cell but it was too much to hope for. Without much else to do, Draul knelt down to offer his prayers to the Dawnflower and went back to waiting for whatever happened next.

Draul hadn't bothered to keep track of how much time passed when the door leading to the chapel he was taken to opened. Orik woke up and quickly rushed to his feet to stand at guard as Tsuto walked into the room, carrying two flasks. The noise was enough to wake Mariel up as well, although she was slower to get up from her cot and let out a tired yawn. Draul crossed his arms and watched Tsuto approach the cell doors, holding the flasks out for the prisoners to reach through the space between the bars.

"Drink up," Tsuto told them firmly. "Nualia doesn't want either of you to die of thirst before she sacrifices you."

"How considerate of her," Mariel rolled her eyes as she finally stood up from her cot. "I would certainly hate to disappoint the woman who wants to kill me."

"Just take the flask and keep quiet," Tsuto warned Mariel.

Draul and Mariel each took one of the flasks, but while the wizard remained quiet, Draul wasn't going to let an opportunity to talk with one of his captors pass. He took a sip from the refreshing water his flask held and locked eyes with Tsuto.

"It's not too late to turn away from this madness," Draul told Tsuto. "I know you went through a lot but the abuse you suffered doesn't mean you have to lash back at the world."

"Save your words," Tsuto shook his head. "I heard what you had to say yesterday. I'm no fool. Even if it weren't for my love, I wouldn't consider your offer of redemption."

"And why's that?" Draul questioned.

"Are you that much of a fool?" Tsuto said with a scowl. "I killed my father. He had it coming for a long time but Sandpoint isn't going to forgive patricide just because you say I can be saved. There is no future for me that isn't by Nualia's side."

"Your crimes are great but anyone can be saved if they are willing to work for it," Draul assured Tsuto. "Your crimes may be great but it's still possible to find redemption, even if it takes years. It's never too late."

"I don't think anyone from Sandpoint would share that sentiment," Tsuto pointed out harshly. "No one cared about me. They only saw me as a bastard."

"Ameiko might say otherwise."

"Don't say her name," Tsuto warned Draul with a glare.

"You could have killed her at any time when she was your prisoner and yet you kept her alive anyways," Draul continued on. "Have you brought up Ameiko at all to Nualia or are you fine with your lover killing your sister, who I think may still be worried for you despite everything you've done?"

Tsuto's brow furrowed in anger but he glanced away from Draul, unable to look at the paladin any longer. As Draul suspected, despite the anger Tsuto felt for Lonjiku and the rest of Sandpoint, there was a part of him that still cared about his half-sister. If there was a chance that Draul could convince Tsuto to stand down by reminding him of his remaining family, he would take that chance. He knew that the half-elf wouldn't be convinced by such arguments so soon but it would get him thinking about his position. With the sacrifice days away, Draul had plenty of time to convince Tsuto that redemption wasn't out of reach.

Finally, Tsuto turned around and made his way toward the chapel. Orik quickly spoke up.

"Tsuto, before you leave, have you heard anything about someone…"

Orik's words trailed off as Tsuto slammed the door shut behind him.

"...taking over the next shift for me?" Orik finished with a sigh.

"Are you trying to get us killed?" Mariel asked Draul, her voice quiet yet harsh.

"We're going to die either way," Draul shrugged. "Unless you have an idea to get out of here, I'm sticking with my plan."

Mariel opened her mouth to respond, but after glancing in Orik's direction, she kept silent. Draul took the message clear and took a step away from her. Mariel was smart and likely had her own ideas on how to escape from captivity. Draul was curious as to what his friend had in mind but knew that she wouldn't be willing to share what she had in mind as long as Orik was in the room. For now, he would have to settle for waiting for whatever came next.

With little else to do, Orik took out his sword and shield and started to practice fighting. Draul watched him swing his blade and raise his shield in a repetitive manner. He could recognize that Orik was a trained warrior and considered his odds of escape. Even if he had his greatclub or another weapon, Draul wasn't sure if he could best Orik in a duel by himself and there wasn't telling if Mariel would be capable of casting spells. The paladin believed that if they were going to escape, they would need to find a way to get the mercenary on their side.

Draul turned away from Orik when he heard Mariel gasp. The mercenary didn't hear her, too caught up in his training, and Draul wondered what was on her mind. He caught a glimpse of surprise across her face before she stepped closer to the bars separating her from him. Draul stepped toward the bars as well, figuring that whatever was going on with Mariel was important enough that she wanted to talk about it even with Orik in the room.

"We may be able to get out of here shortly," Mariel whispered to Draul. "I feel a change in Luxford."

"Luxford?" Draul blinked in surprise. "I didn't realize that your familiar had managed to slip away."

"They do have a tendency of going unnoticed," Mariel nodded in agreement. "I've been in touch with him. We may not be able to share words but we can share emotions. Since we've been captured, I felt that Luxford was anxious, likely out of worry that the goblins would find him and make him into his next meal. Now, that anxiety has been replaced by relief."

"Relief?" Draul questioned. "Do you think he could have made it off the island?"

"I don't think so given that our connection is limited by distance," Mariel shook her head. "It could mean that help is on the way."

"Who could help us?" Draul asked.

"I'm not certain, but at the very least, I sense that Luxford is also determined," Mariel said. "Whoever it is that he's found, I have no doubt that he'll lead them to us. If we want to ensure our escape, we'll need to find a way to distract our guard."

Draul nodded along with the plan, glancing back in Orik's direction. The mercenary remained oblivious to their conversation, but with his sword and shield out, he'll be ready for any intruders. Mariel's plan to distract Draul so that the saviors Luxford found could ambush him, ensuring his defeat. It wouldn't be too difficult for Draul to get his attention, and from there, it was a matter of keeping him talking so that whoever was coming would be able to make it to them.

However, Draul felt conflicted over Mariel's plan. He understood that Nualia needed to be stopped and that the best way to do so was if he could get out of the cell. However, he also understood that Orik was only a mercenary trying to do his job, and as far as the paladin knew, he didn't have anything to do with the attacks on Sandpoint other than his association with Nualia. When Draul was first accepted as a paladin, he made a promise to himself to shed as little blood as possible, only relying on violence when it was necessary. Just as he had been saved from his past, he would continue to do so with his enemy.

"Help is coming, Orik," Draul announced loudly.

Mariel's eyes went wide and she brought her hands to her face. Orik stumbled with a thrust of his sword and he turned to face the cells with a frown.

"What do you mean by that?" Orik asked.

"Draul, what are you doing?" Mariel asked through gritted teeth.

The paladin ignored Mariel for the time, trusting his instincts as he spoke. "Mariel's familiar hid when we were captured, and apparently, he's found someone that isn't a goblin. They're likely on their way to the cells to free us."

"That can't be," Orik shook his head with a frown. "Even if someone made it past that maze, they'd have to deal with Bruthazmus."

"And if these heroes killed Bruthazmus, do you think you stand a chance against them?" Draul pointed out.

"Maybe," Orik answered noncommittally and shrugged.

"You don't have to fight," Draul told Orik in a reassuring manner. "If you stand down, I promise on my honor as a paladin that I will speak to whoever is coming and ensure that they spare your life."

"And what will happen to me if they fail to stop Nualia?" Orik argued grimly.

"If you know that you'll be punished severely for failure, why do you keep working for her?" Draul asked, crossing his arms. "Can't you see that the path you're on will only lead to ruin?"

Orik sighed. "If I had known what this job would have led to, I wouldn't have taken it. You know, I actually visited Sandpoint several months ago. It's a nice town. The Rusty Dragon was probably one of the best taverns I've been to."

"It's not too late for you to make a difference," Draul told Orik. "I know I thought you weren't a decent man but perhaps I was wrong. You don't have to be a part of Nualia's group any longer."

"I hate to say it, but there's nothing I can do," Orik said. "I don't know if whoever's coming will be enough to save the day, and if I abandon my post, I won't be able to fight my way out of Thistletop. I have to stick around if I want to live."

Draul nodded slowly. "I understand, Orik. I won't push for you to sacrifice your life, but know that if you do choose to surrender in the coming battle, I will still try to convince whoever it is you're fighting to spare your life."

"I appreciate that," Orik nodded. "I might not deserve it but I appreciate it."

"Perhaps you should let Nualia know that there are intruders," Mariel suggested. "It would be a shame if whoever is coming for us was able to take her by surprise."

"And it would be a shame if I brought her here only to find empty cells," Orik said, smirking. "I'll make my final stand here, no matter what comes my way."

Orik stood to face the other door that led into the prison banging his sword against his shield. It was reasonable to assume that help for either side wouldn't come from the door that led to the chapel. Draul wished that his words were more convincing but he understood Orik's motivation better now. The money he received for his work wasn't his sole reason for sticking with Nualia but fear, believing that he wouldn't be enough to escape from the goblins on his own. Mariel had tried to get him to leave them to their saviors but Orik wasn't going to abandon his post. While they were enemies, Draul had to admire the mercenary's conviction. If Orik survived whatever happened, the paladin would do what he could to try to lead him on the right path.

The door flew open and Draul gasped in surprise. Leading the charge into the prison was Kennick in his coldborn form with Razvan and Corita at his sides, each armed with their blades. He hadn't considered the possibility that his friends had survived the fall and was impressed not only by their survival but that they had chosen to come back for their captive friends. Draul was amazed with how far they had come from fighting the goblins that assaulted Sandpoint and looked forward to seeing how they handled their fight against Orik. The mercenary looked at the trio as he took up a defensive stance.

"Draul! Mariel!" Corita called out, noticing the prisoners.

"It's good to see you all," Draul said, smiling.

"What's with this man?" Razvan asked the captives, not taking his eyes off of the mercenary.

"He's an enemy," Kennick grunted.

"That he is," Mariel nodded to confirm Kennick's suspicions. "You'll have to defeat him to save us."

Orik stood his ground, banging his sword and shield together to taunt the adventurers. Kennick growled at him as he and his companions fanned out, bracing themselves for combat. It was Corita who made the first move, advancing on Orik with an overhand swing of her sword. Orik raised his shield to block the bard's blade and his defenses held against her strength. Razvan followed Corita's attack, wielding a dagger and a new shortsword that Draul recognized as Ripnugget's old weapon. Orik saw him coming and raised his sword to parry the weapons aside. Razvan backed away when the mercenary thrusted forward with his sword before turning to swipe at Corita. The young bard gasped in pain, having overextended herself enough that Orik was able to land a cut against her forearm. She fell back, holding onto her sword with one hand.

While Orik was more experienced in combat compared to the adventurers he fought, experience could only do so much against when a warrior was outnumbered. Razvan stepped forward as if to attack and Orik turned to have his shield face the rogue. This left him open to Kennick, who had been waiting for an opportunity to get through the mercenary's defenses. The barbarian practically pounced onto Orik, and while he kept one of the coldborn's claws back with a swing of his sword, his sword arm was then bitten. The mercenary grimaced in pain and tried to back away only for Kennick to rake his claws across his chest, cutting through his armor. It was then that the mercenary slammed his shield against the coldborn to push him back.

With her injured hand, Corita pulled out a familiar rod of metal with a twisted fork. Draul recognized it as the wand they found when exploring the quasit's lair beneath Sandpoint. She pointed the wand toward Orik and a surge of electricity blasted toward the mercenary. Orik's armor did little to protect him from the magical electricity and he screamed out in pain. He remained standing only for Razvan to roll toward his side. Orik lowered his shield to block his attack, expecting for the rogue to attack low, but instead, Razvan stood up, thrusting with his shortsword as he did so. His feint allowed him to cut through Orik's armor, stabbing into the same spot Kennick had torn through with his claws.

Razvan pulled his dagger out and Orik looked around the room desperately. He had been pushed towards the wall of the chamber by his opponents with little chance to escape. His experience allowed him to hold out against Kennick's might, Corita's improvisation, and Razvan's cunning, but it wouldn't be enough to win the battle. He dropped his sword to the ground and raised a hand up in the air.

"I know when I'm beaten," Orik admitted, his tone cracking with fear. "Please, have mercy."

"Spare his life," Draul told his companions, his tone commanding despite being locked inside a cell.

"Are you sure?" Razvan glanced over his shoulder back at the paladin.

"He's working with the goblins that attacked Sandpoint," Kennick noted coldly.

"He's only a mercenary," Draul explained. "He had no role in the battle where we first met. We'll take him prisoner."

"While I would normally think we're in no position to take prisoners, we happen to be in a prison," Mariel said with a shrug. "For now, it may be best to listen to Draul. We could question him about what else awaits us in Thistletop."

"It's one thing to cut down someone in battle but I don't think it's right to kill a man that surrenders," Corita lowered her sword and wand. "Let's take him prisoner."

Razvan turned to face Kennick. "Stand down, Kennick. He may be working for Nualia but we won't kill him if he isn't going to fight."

Kennick growled toward Orik, but after hearing his companions agree to spare the man, took a step away from the mercenary. Orik sighed in relief, unstrapping his shield from his arm so that he could hold his hands up in the air. Draul smiled widely, glad that Orik listened to his advice, but was more excited that the friends he thought dead were still alive. They had a lot of catching up to do and there was still more danger waiting for them within Thistletop but he had a good feeling that whatever came next, they would be able to stop Nualia's plan and keep Sandpoint safe.

A/N: And with that, the adventurers have been reunited for the final stretch of the story.

Until next time.