Terran had many things to do, in his absence tasks had built up and it was time for him to get around to finally completing these tasks, after all the reason he hadn't already been sent to the light was because his time in Albion was not done. However, since his soul slowley mended itself, things felt different, things had changed and he could feel it in his bones.
Before leaving Harwich, Terran decided to meet with the two people he knew he could trust, the two people who strived harder than anyone to bring him back to his former self after the Red Dragon Priest had drained his soul so many months ago. He called a meeting with his cousin and leader of the Brohn House Spellguard, Adelaide and her husband and honorary Spellguard, Mhorador.
Adelaide and Mhorador updated Terran on what had been happening recently, about their marriage, about the 10 colleges of magic and their corresponding colours/towers, about the Vaagan and the Zoni, about what Lord Vultran had said about his soul and especially about the Mal'Rashi.
"So there's a possibility there's another Terran out there?" He replied whilst sipping on a tankard of water. "Well I have another theory than that, or that I may have regained the second part of my soul somehow. What if the second half of my soul has regenerated but within the Red Dragon Priest that stole it from me in the first place? That means he might wield the same magic as I have and that would be worrying, especially if he needs it to open the gate he needed to open back then."
Terran finished his tankard and placed it on the table before continuing. "In any case, we need to know for sure. We need to do some kind of divination, and I know the perfect place we can do said divination... Vultran's Tower, which he just so happened to have gifted me."
"There's also a chance that you have a mirror soul Terran, we can't rule that out. Unfortunately, we don't know much about mirror souls. We've never really studied them. As far as we know, each know what the other knows and without looking at the soul there is no way to differentiate between the two. I do, however, know someone who can differenciate and she's been dying to see you again."
Adelaide grinned as she sipped her cup of tea, feeling the warmth flow through her.
"I'm sure you know who I mean. Though I agree that Lord Vultran's tower would be a good place. Perhaps we could travel there via Romsford where she is probably waiting with her Uncle."
Terran raised an eyebrow to Adelaide as he refilled his tankard with water. "I'm assuming you mean Elizabeth whom I've heard so much about through the leylines?" He asked her inquisitively. "I must confess I have never met my so-called niece. Well this is most intriguing. It may take us several days out of our way, however, it's on the way to Chingford and I could do with stopping there for a short while to check up on my family house, though I do worry about this possible other soul. If it possesses my abilities it's possible that it may be used to attempt taking over the Jade Tower, and that's something I don't want to happen, especially if those forces are working against us."
Terran looked to his side, briefly at Mhorador as if to try and conjure up some idea on the correct choice to make in this matter.
"On the other hand..." He continued. "For you to mention Elizabeth coupled with the mystery surrounding her, prehaps we may learn more venturing to Romford that may help push us in the right direction, though we must make haste if we are to stand a chance of beating our enemies to the punch."
Terran raised his tankard and grinned before drinking the tankard dry in one go.
"Mystery surrounding Elizabeth? What do you mean? I hope there's not more rumours floating about. Whatever we decide it's best we move now rather than later. We can decide about the details on the way. Unless you'd like to travel via my tower?"
Terran stood up and nodded to Adelaide. "Absolutely." He replied. "Let us make haste to Romford and meet with Elizabeth, but then we make our way to Vultran's tower. Let's go."
"I'm not sure if you'd prefer to ride with one of us or on your own horse. Both mine and Mhorador's are stabled here. Though you walked here didn't you? Then perhaps you could fly?"
Adelaide paid the innkeeper for the stabling and drinks and thanked him for his help before taking a ley crystal from her bag. "First of all, however, it would be polite to call ahead and let them know we're on our way. Don't you?"
After paying for the drinks he had consumed as well as stable use, Mhorador stood and made his way to the door of the tavern without saying a single word. Noticing that his wife had drawn a ley crystal from her bag, he thought better of it to remind her that the object was far from necessary for those versed in the magical arts.
Opening the door, he raised the hoods of both the black robe and cloak he wore to keep the rain that had begun to descend and made his way to the enterance of the tavern stables, arriving in enough time to find Adelaide getting into the saddle of her horse.
In the corner of the stables he found his own horse standing there quietly waiting for the return of it's rider. Fisrtly, he checked to ensure all his gear was safely harnessed to the barding the horse was encased in then lead the steed outside of the stables before proceeding to get into the saddle, feeling a small amount of his own power flowing into the horse as he did. Once mounted up, he turned around to face both Adelaide and Terran, both rider and mount sharing the same unnatural blue glow in their eyes as if the two were the same entity. Looking at both of them he spoke with an unnerving echo to his words
"We can get to Romsford by the end of the day at full gallop"
Turning his mount around, the spoke again to both of the spellguards behind him
"Try and keep up, there is no knowing what is hiding in the forests of Romsford these days"
His steed reared, letting out an unholy cry as it did, before moving at speed towards the main gates of Harwich.
Adelaide sighed heavily and quickly spoke a message into the crystal. Much quicker and easier than connecting straight to the ley network. Making sure Terran was ready she started to walk her horse to the gate
The stable boy was sure he heard her muttering something that sounded like "show off" followed by a few choice words as she went out into the rain
Mhorador rode to the main gates before it occurred to him that neither Adelaide nor Terran were anywhere to be seen. Bringing his mount to a halt just within the boundaries of the gate, he then turned just enough to comfortably see back towards the direction in which he had just rode, his eyes looking out for signs of one or both Spellguards.
As he sat waiting, he muttered to himself about how long it took Adelaide to get ready for anything and everything
Eventually Adelaide and Terran caught up and the three rode quickly to Romsford
Early the next morning the three arrived at the gates of Romsford. All the guards knew them and simply waved them past.
"Now, does Emes still live in the same house?"
As they entered through the Eastern gate into Romsford, Mhorador cursed to himself about how this rotation of guards were apparently unable to carry out his orders properly. He distinctly re-called giving all of his militia the same orders for when they were on guard duty which was to question anyone and everyone who sought entry into the city and so the thought crossed his mind that perhaps these guards saw themselves as above and beyond his authority. Making a note of their faces in his mind he decided he would deal with them later.
Although the morning sun concealed a great deal of the gothic looking architecture in shadow, the gargolye statues that crouched over the corners of the buildings designated as the guild houses as well as the church building and central library could be seen in their full glory.
Romsford was unusually quiet for this time in the morning. Normally the market square, although more rectangluar in appearance, would already be bustling with trade as the citizens went about their daily lives however there was only the sound of militia patrols going about their rounds.
Deciding to ascertain the reason for the silence, Mhorador approached one of the patrols still mounted on his dark steed which caused a wave of unease and panic to spread amongst the militia he had flagged over. Looking down to the leader of the patrol he posed his question, his voice still tinged with an unsettling echo and his eyes still radiating their unnatural glow
"Why is the city quiet at this time? Where are the traders who would normally be out? What is going on!"
Looking like she had seen some form of ghost, the leader pf the patrol hesitantly answered
"M...m....my...lord....erm......the.....citizens.....are.....afraid to....come...out of.....their homes. They....say that....things....are stalking....the....streets, garbbed in......blacks and dark grays. They....are looking for....something..or maybe....someone!"
Mhorador took a moment to ponder this and dismissed the patrol to continue their normal duties. Turning around, he headed back to where Aldelaide and Terran were waiting
"Emez's residence lies on the western side of the market, near where the remains of the former guild houses are now. You two can go on ahead there if you wish to but there is something I must deal with, the city is as quiet as a graveyard right now and I don't lke the feel of it"
He pointed in the general direction of where he remembered Emez's residence to be before proceeding to ride in the direction of his manor house. There was something else at work here which he wanted to get to the bottom of.
Adelaide nodded, concern in her eyes as she looked at Mhorador. Keeping it from her face she smiled at Terran
"We should go to Emez' house now. Hopefully Mhorador will be finished by the time we get back. We'll see you at the manor then Mhorador?"
Recieving an affirmative before Mhorador briskly walked away, Adelaide gestured to Terran to follow her and they walked to Emez' house
Mhorador rode towards his manor house, taking care not to ride as recklessly as he did in Harwitch. As he moved through the streets he noticed that the citizens of the city were begining to emerge from their homes to conduct their normal business which put him a little more at ease but did not shake his determination to find out why they were scared.
As he rode, he noticed a figure walking in the opposite direction and his face turned paler then it had ever been. The figure was definately female with a slender build concealed under ash grey robes and jet black half-plate armour. Although mostly concealed under the hood of a deep purple cloak, the figure gave Mhorador a sense of cold alluring beauty. Her attire was completed with an ash grey tabard with a black sword emblem, the tip of the blade pointing to the ground.
Stopping in his tracks, he turned to catch a second look at the figure but by that time she had already gone.
Taking a few moments to consider what he had just seen, he shook his head and and carried on to his destination.
Arriving at his manor house, he raised his left hand and placed it on the middle of the gate, uttering words that he had no clue what they meant but knew they would allow him entry to the grounds. At the conclusion of his incant, the gate glowed with a scarlet inner light, allowing Mhorador to open them and pass.
Concealed from the shadows of the alleyway, the figure observed as Mhorador entered his manor house, a look of uncertainty about her face as if unsure what she had seen. After a few moments to contemplate, she slipped away into the darkness of the alley, convinced of her conclusion.