Re: Chapter 2: Passages and Professors
Dunter follows Bunny off to where the bodies of the slain drakes had been disposed. He shuffles beside her and she can clearly tell that the old fey is much more nimble and strong than it lets on. Once they had completed the walk to the draconic bodies, Dunter grunted once before taking a knife from his belt and cutting into the soft underbelly of the creatures. He removed his cap and rinsed it in the blood of each drake in an almost ritualistic manner, "I said this would end with me washing my cap in their blood." This grisly work was done within only a few minutes. He turned to Bunny, "Now, unless yer itching to get to that party they want to make fer ya, we can talk more about these demons."
The bag Dunter carried was set on the ground and opened; paradoxically, a spear was pulled out. "Cold Iron. Magic." He said, showing Bunny the sharp tip of the spearhead. "Yours, in thanks for getting rid of the drakes. Especially if yer plannin' on spitting a demon with it." He closed the bag up, "I have more of course. I collect tools of bloodletting, especially the ones that demons fear. But you'll need to trade me for em' if you want em'."
To answer Zassil, the sprites fluttered out from their hiding place amidst the drake eggs. "[Language unknown: Comleshou?]" said one. "[Language unknown: Llar?]" said the other. The flew to where the dracil stood at the entrance to the barrow and peeked out once more at the goings on outside. Music was already starting up as a small group of the grigs formed a tiny band, and the table had been laden with a sylvan feast. The sprites were clearly torn. "[Language unknown: Man ithios rat ieca os?] one said while the other simultaneously said "[Language unknown: Miut ashiom io be?]" The little winged sprites seemed both excited and apprehensive about joining the party. "[Language unknown: Aiome ta ee enain i encmanain i hamema ons sa?]" They asked Zassil. Maybe all their time with the drakes made them feel more comfortable around draconic people.
"When these Corrupters were here, most of the woodland people hid from them." The male faun answered Lissa's question, "I believe only Dunter showed interest in stalking them the way he does. Many would have wanted to drive them from the woods, but our people would never be able to stand up to an army of evil such as we saw." The female faun followed with an answer to Lissa's next question, "The drakes had made this place their home for a number of years, as your people measure time. Two decades perhaps? Sometimes it becomes difficult to tell. But the occupants of the barrows themselves were never a concern to us. We know that there has always been undead living down there, but they are under the protection of a goddess." She shrugged, "There was nothing we could do, but they never bothered us either."
"Come now, enjoy this feast in your honor." The fauns gestured towards the table, "Allow us to thank you for the help you have given us so freely. We wouldn't dream of asking our guests to help prepare, only that you fill yourselves with merriment and lighten your hearts."
As the professor allowed himself to be led tot he table, he stopped next to Lissabytta, "The tomb of Markul? The greatest conqueror of our continent's history?" The old man sounded very excited, "I never would have imagined it to be here, in these woods. We will have to be absolutely certain before trying to advertise such a find."