Chapter 27 – Epilogue

  Olivia

  One month later

  Olivia rose from her bed, now lovingly accessorized with sheets and a pillow! Every morning for the past month had been increasingly comfortable.

  Not the least of which, of course, was her new ability to sleep in a nightrobe. She’d never take pajamas for granted again!

  She’d kept the armor, of course. It saved her a few times! It waited on an armor stand in the corner, repaired and polished, for Olivia to get her day started.

  Okay – sword, pouch, keyring? Time for work!

  Demi awaited her afront the adventuring guild. Huh, must be something special today.

  “Good morning, Olivia,” Demi said.

  “Good morning, Lady Delacroix!” Olivia replied. “Something going on today?”

  Demi nodded and began to walk away from the guild, toward the city’s center. Olivia followed.

  “Radavan and Camillia have summoned me regarding the Violas,” Demi explained.

  “Oh, things are getting serious with that,” Olivia remarked.

  “Indeed,” Demi said, “thankfully Dotour has provided increased protection for my lands back home.”

  Olivia walked with her, still managing to feel a little out of her depth.

  “Aren’t you wanting a more experienced bodyguard, what with people coming after you now?” Olivia asked. “I’m glad you hired me, but-”

  “This whole thing is above the scope of the guild,” Demi interrupted. “It must remain between us.”

  It was hard to believe; despite how much sense it made.

  Still, how could she not be excited? She’d been getting the best training in catpuera, an exotic weapon fighting technique; visited the fancy noble places; and made enough money to buy nice things now!

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  They approached the Dotour estate, where castlegard escorted them deep inside to a windowless room with a large table in the center, surrounded by chairs. Stretched out over the table lay a map of Spirea and scattered on top where countless documents and sealed letters. Camillia and Radavan awaited them, and soon, they were shut in together, all standing around the table.

  There were probably so many anti-spying enchantments in this room.

  “Good morning, both of you,” Radavan welcomed them.

  “Good morning, Lord Dotour,” Demi replied, bowing along with Olivia.

  They exchanged other pleasantries before sitting, while Olivia stood with arms crossed by the door. That’s what a tough bodyguard would do here!

  “Now, let me get the shock out of the way,” Radavan said. “My plan involves sending you personally, Lady Delacroix.”

  Demi, indeed, appeared shocked.

  “Do you not have others?” Demi was incredulous. “Morgana’s spellcraft or not, I’m no-”

  “In fact I do have others,” Radavan said, easing back in his chair. “There’s Olivia here. And a couple more. I think four of you is a good number – with Camillia’s support, of course. All capable adventurers.”

  Olivia’s ears flattened. Um – this sounded like field work? Already?

  “I- who will run the guild?” Demi protested.

  “Stephan,” Camillia said, shooting an annoyed look at Radavan. “What he’s failing to tell you is the matter requires a cleric well-versed in the older traditions. The Violas seem to be engaging in experiments with draconic magic. We need to know exactly what they’re doing with that dragonquartz and what it means to the Florentines.”

  Demi drummed her fingers on the table.

  “Would a magister perhaps-” Demi began.

  “One of the others is a magister!” Radavan interrupted. “A gnome, Magister Jezza Belle-Birdsong-Puddlegum, I believe it all was.”

  Olivia’s tail flicked!

  “Oh Jezza!” Olivia chimed before she could stop herself. The nobles glanced at her, Radavan amused, Demi less so. She covered her mouth.

  “Yes, she’s quite popular,” Radavan chuckled. “I’ll see to collecting her personally. It might take some days to convince that one. In the meantime, Camillia, who was that fighter captain you wanted?”

  “Djanara,” Camillia replied, “a Makoshi wolf-folk. She’s due to arrive back in port tomorrow.”

  Radavan smiled an easy smile, regarding the both of them once more.

  “If you’d like out, Lady Delacroix,” Radavan said. “Now is the time to say so.”

  Demi sat in a long silence.

  She rested her hands in her lap.

  Finally, she sighed and addressed Olivia: “what do you think?”

  Olivia considered things. Then, thought about going on a super-secret adventure alongside people like Jezza and Demi.

  “I wanna do it!” Olivia said, perhaps too enthusiastically.

  Demi chuckled despite herself.

  “I knew she would say that,” Demi said. “Very well. What needs be done?”

  Unbeknownst to half of them, plans began for the wizard, the fighter, the rogue, and the cleric to undertake the most important adventure Terria has ever seen.

  Where the Wizard Went

  The End

  But the Draconic Enlightenment has only just begun...