501 Pathfinder Returns (1/2)

The group watched as Raine roasted a small deer over an opened flame next to the river. Alfie and Edi were both wearing [Thine Enemy] rings and were chatting amiably while the Fir'Dhassi cooked.

”What race are you?” Alfie asked Raine as she basted the meat with herbs she had gathered. Since she was cooking, Nix had given her one of the rings to wear. Her pointed ears had drawn the archer's attention.

”I'm a Fir'Dhassi, from Inuit.” Raine was used to the stares of both men and women. ”If Nix and I get married one day, all of Oasis will unite under his banner.”

Nix coughed loudly from his place in the water, he was standing kneedeep in the clear stream while trying to catch one of the silverfish with his bare hands. ”Oi... Don't go deciding things by yourself!”

”Right... Sorry, Nix” Raine's expression said that she didn't take his words to heart. ”Some of the cuts are done, who wants it rare?”

Nix shook his head. ”No red for me.”

Pon nodded in agreement. ”Same for me, burn mine.”

Alfie and Edie bore a strong resemblance to each other. They were both on the short side with dark hair and eyes. Alfie smiled a lot while his sister seemed to guard her expressions more carefully. Rain used a sharp knife to dish them both large cuts of the meat she was preparing.

”Bone Fortress is a seed world. Where is it located?” Nix looked up from his task in the river, his understanding of seed worlds was that they must be attached to something.

Alfie closed her eyes, savoring the first bite for a long moment before answering. ”The Bone Fortress is attached to the armory in Eidengal.”

[Whisper: Pon to Nix] Didn't Gideon's last report from that eye thingie say that Khione mentioned Eidelgal?

[Whisper: Nix to Pon] Yes. Hopefully, those plans are delayed since she unexpectedly got her ass kicked.

Pon laughed loudly, causing everyone to look at him. The old man shrugged slightly. ”Sorry... Was remembering something funny.”

Raine stirred the glowing embers with the end of a blackened stick. ”My rank says, Bishop. What does that mean?”

”It does?” Alfie licked one of his fingers, not worrying at all about manners. ”It's a court rank within Bone Fortress. The strongest fighters of Bone Fortress fall into two categories, Royal and Dark Court. Bishop is a rare rank within one of those courts.”

Nix finally decided to give up on catching silverfish and waded toward the riverbank. ”Chiba holds the Bishop rank also. What does the Emperor rank mean?”

Edi shrugged slightly while scooting closer to the fire. The feeling of warmth was welcomed after so long as an undead. ”Only Tautius has held that rank here. Had he still been here, we would have never lost the Fortress.”

Edi's bare feet were nearly resting in the glowing embers of the dying campfire. ”We should keep the rings secret.”

Nix nodded slightly and accepted a hand from Raine who pulled him to his feet. ”Semmi probably already has it planned out.”

Alfie grinned at the mention of the blonde officer. ”Semmi is very beautiful.”

Nix laughed at Pon's sour expression as Raine led him away from the group. ”On that, we can agree.” He followed her deeper into the woods, enjoying the quiet solace of the evening. ”Where we going?”

”I found this a few days ago. Could you heat it up a bit?” Raine stopped at the edge of a small pool and started undressing.

Nix watched until she entered the water and then knelt on the rocks. ”Say when.” His extended hand glowed with emerald flame and submerged into the water.

Raine waited for several seconds while the small pool heated up. ”That's fine, Nix. Please join me.”

***********

Gideon listened to the brief while observing the four people sitting around him. Three dragons and a salamander, the last of which had requested his presence at Nix's ranch. Shae reported everything she knew about the Bone Fortress. Their Solomon key was once again inactive, no one else could be sent through at this time. ”Nix wants me to take my team and find this coven?”

Shae nodded. Nix specifically told her to seek out Gideon and give him this assignment. The Pathfinder team had accepted multiple missions from the Inferno leader in the past. ”There isn't much to go on. Our only clue is that it is someplace cold.”

/Pathfinder: Gideon: Everyone meet up at the Gemini Temple. We'll discuss the mission there.

/Pathfinder: Paco: On my way.

/Pathfinder: Roto: Am already there.

/Pathfinder: Jiggs: Is this a loot mission? Because I need some new shit.

/Pathfinder: Nebs: Waiting on you, Gid!

******************

[Author's Reminder]

Pathfinder is a team from the Salamander Guild that Nix uses on occasion for special missions.

Gideon: Assassin (Salamander Guild Leader, a rl female named Mai)

Paco: Tank

Nebula (Nebs): Heals (Nebs has been working in Ionova for some time.)