>>5402401You flash a signal to Theo. He recognizes it as the sign you typically give him when you’d like the Berserker to refrain from killing something. Acknowledging your request with a nod, he takes a wide pose and braces himself for whatever is walking towards the group. All remain silent and still as the footsteps inch nearer and nearer. On edge, you find yourself grabbing the hilt of your spear. Finally, after what feels like an eternity of long anticipated waiting, someone breaks through the barrier of light Elias set up. It’s…
“Oh, there you guys are!”
Clay is quickly grabbed by Theo and shoved onto the floor, where the hulking man keeps him pinned to the ground, axe in one hand ready to chop down.
>“You?! Did you follow us all the way from Derdriu?”The blonde’s face is shoved into the dirt, causing him some fair amount of trouble in answering you. He somehow manages to look up and answer. “I thought it would be a surprise!”
“Oh, you got us good, alright.” Theo snarls from atop him. “Shall I cut him loose, Blair?”
“W-wait! I was just following your orders!”
>“I don’t recall telling you to follow us.”“Actually…that’s exactly what you DID say.” Clay says. “You said to follow you wherever you go, and that you wouldn’t fill me in on any of your missions, and to fight whoever you told me to fight! Now, can you please get this brute off me?!”
You look towards Sebastian, who was present when you first met Clay.
“I…recall you saying something of the sort. Though this is a rather literal interpretation of your orders…”
“It’s not like we can just send him back, Blair.” Elizabeth chimes in. “He won’t make it through this fog. And he seems like he meant well.”
Clay struggles to crane his neck towards the cleric. “The fair maiden is correct! I’m here now, allow me to help you in battle against whatever foe would assail you in this unholy place!”
>You groan audibly. What a fine start this was off too. “Consider this your trial, then. Get off him, Theo. We’ve wasted enough time here as is. Let’s get moving.”After Clay is integrated into the group, you all once again begins following Elias’ lead. The party walks in a loose formation, staying within the circle of light that Elias had summoned earlier. You understand now why you were told to only bring a handful of men and to leave any of your mounts behind. The circle is rather tight, and even just a few more additions would have meant some people might be walking outside the circle’s influence. You’d have liked to have Beathan with you, but in this fog, it was far too dangerous to fly anyway.
>“How long until we reach Arcadia?” You ask Elias. The mage has been following the guidance of the wisp that Elias had summoned earlier. Every so often, the wisp would make a turn in direction, and Elias, as well as your party, would follow. 