>>5735815What you told Ewald is even true, if not necessarily the specific situation he probably assumes you mean. The matter f the chimera-plague is in his hands, and those of the stubbornly-faithful Holy Order of Hawksong. The matter of the missing Prince of Hawksong, though… That is yours to rectify.
Your return to the matter of Rufos and his family means another trek across town, of course—and as with your journey to the Paladins’ complex, the taciturn nature of the deeds to be done preclude the convenience of a carriage or cart. It is nightfall by the time you arrive at your arranged meeting point, outside the naval fortress complex. This is no impediment to you, of course, with your natural darkvision… And it may even be a boon for what is to come.
>16You are relieved when the dark-skinned half-human emerges from the darkness to greet you with his usual grin and a bow of his head, though Oluwadamialre’s smile quickly fades when you address him.
“We can draw no nearer?” you ask, for the fortress is still a ways away.
He shakes his head, then shrugs.
“We can scale the iron fence around the fort,” he says, “but there are patrols within that space—regular soldiery, but sufficient that I could not linger on that side. Within, there is a second, higher wall of stone, and then a narrow, guarded bridge into the fort itself. I spied upon those within from atop the second wall, but could not get closer without killing or incapacitating the bridge-guard. Besides... There is a Paladin with them. I was wary that he might have magic to detect and ensnare me if I drew closer, or attempted to enter the fort itself.”
You curse internally. Damned Paladins! No wonder you were created to oppose them n particular—they are trouble at every turn! However, you suppose you knew to expect as much from what your patron deity told you.
“They are all still there, though?” you ask.
The Archer nods.
“What else have you learned?” you ask.
“It is only a suspicion,” Olu begins, “but I believe the Prince and his family mean to leave the city by ship, should they not receive word from the other Paladins as to your status."
“As to whether I’ve been captured or slain, you mean.”
Olu nods, and explains that he saw a vessel approach the seaside fort, and presumably it docked there; it is hidden now by the old coastal castle, but Olu did not see it leave.
