Chapter Seventeen: How to Trap an Ermine

Donovan tried to provide himself with a sense of mild comfort, as he began to whistle while riding up the road on the back of Holly. He tried to stay calm, while his heart raced and his pulse quickened. The forest...it was too silent, he thought, as he looked about despising how Dylan, wherever she was, seemed to have this innate ability to entirely disappear or remain unseen like she was a spectre, or as if she was a predator who could claim any environment as her own, natural domain. Ugh...the marten shivered at the thought of this, as he continued to keep a careful eye out. Issuing a gentle, "Yeel," to Holly. The deer at this command, slowed from a trot to a casual walk. A pace Donovan found then made it easier for him to scan the surrounding cypress swamps of Solmani marsh, while riding down this main road that they bordered. The ferns, ficuses, and cypresses which were clustered together and which were scattered throughout, all casting long and fluid shadows, which thus made it hard to discern what of it was created by nature, and what of it, were the shadows of a spy and assassin shuffling about. The ermine Dylan, consort to Ghulius Gutgore, the spy who never failed, and the woman whom every man in Mintara sought to have the heart of; now watched from amidst this maze of light and murky darkness as Donovan scanned the swamps in search of her. A sight, Dylan realized, that then left her curious as to how he had found her, or even what it was he wanted. She thought, she'd been careful to avoid detection. That of all people, it would not be Donovan, who would be the one to sniff her out. For while she admitted, he'd shown he was clever, bold, and quite selfless, back on the Hoarfrost's Halberd. Traits in him, she did somewhat admire, she never would've thought of him as being present-minded enough, to be aware to her surroundings. Maybe...she misjudged him? Maybe, the naivete was an act?

The ermine place her thumb against the edge of her chin, and rubbed her index finger beneath it. "Hmm..." she murmured, suddenly quite interested in seeing what it was this weasel acquaintance of hers wanted. In any case, he didn't seem to have a weapon on him. So if something was up, she at least had the advantage there, she thought, as she lifted one leg of her trousers, to check for a stiletto she kept in her boot.

The ermine smiled, seeing it was still there. "Good," she murmured, before stepping out from the shadows. "At least I didn't lose it, in the case that I should need it." The ermine feeling she was prepared for most any situation, then called out firmly, "Donovan!" A call to which Donovan had to respond, by giving the command for Holly to turn around, as the ermine had snuck up behind him. How typical, he thought, rolling his eyes. She would have to show up without warning in the one place his eyes couldn't see.

Oh well.

The marten sighed and rode up to the ermine.

"Dylan," he stated cordially. "I've been looking for you. Well...not you in particular. Colin and I were riding out this way, after getting a tip on where to find the tomb and treasure of Aloysius St. Abbot. He heard a noise, and thought we were being followed. He thought I would be the best person to check it. I insisted to him, it was probably just an animal, but he was sure it was you. Some nonsense about how you're spying on us for Gutgore, would you believe that? Ha!"

"M-Me?" Dylan laughed, the fact that Donovan was out here looking for her, suddenly making quite a bit more sense, than it had before. Blast that Colin and his divine gifts as a minor visionary. She'd forgotten he was much more sensitive to disturbances, even the most minute ones, than most people were. Dells, at least, she had the advantage of the fact, that Donovan didn't seem nearly as alert to the true nature of things, as his cleric companion. Probably best to work with that, the ermine thought, and just play along. Dylan then continued off her prior statement saying, "N-No, I wasn't spying. Actually, quite the opposite. I've been looking for an opportunity to join you. I thought a lot you see, about what happened back there at the Hoarfrost's Halberd."

"Oh?"

"Yes." Dylan nodded emphatically. "I regret, aiding a beast like Gutgore," she said moving closer to wrap her arms around Donovan's neck, and to brush her tail against the back of his waist. "When I took his offer," she whispered. "To sail away with him, I thought I was going to be given the world. I thought I would be freed from the mundane life I knew, and that I would be trading it for a life of riches, of adventure, and of endless reward for my loyalty to a great and powerful man."

"Heh. Is that so?" Donovan smirked at this display of feigned affection put on by Dylan. It was really quite good, he thought, and might even have been something he would've fallen for, had it not been for the fact that he had prior experience with the ermine. He knew, despite his own infatuation with her physical beauty and with her powerful intellect, that the way she was presenting herself to him, was in direct accordance with the way Colin expected her to react. This pattern of using her beauty to seduce, and to try and lower the guard of Donovan...it was a technique the marten had been warned of, by Colin. A technique, he'd been told was her signature, and was something many others had fallen to. A warning, Donovan was now grateful for. Because had the case not been so, he probably would not have seen this coming. He would've likely succumbed he knew, to the pleasure she provided through this attention. And he knew, he would fallen for her deadly trap, which was to believe the illusion she tried to perpetuate, that she was an alluring, provocative, and tender creature. An act, Donovan was aware, that distracted those who fell for it, from the person she really was. A cold, calculating, selfish creature who would betray at a moment's notice. A creature who never served anyone without a means to serve herself, and who was someone who needed to have their every checked for the poisons of duplicity.

This was Dylan Frostwood.

This was her nature, and was the personality Donovan kept in mind, as he continued to listen to her reasoning for following them. Her response to his last question being,

"Yes, that is most certainly so. But..." she added, pulling closer to Donovan, "I see now, that Gutgore is not a man. He judges strength, based only on a physical scale. He thinks brute force is the answer to everything. He does not understand, it is not those who have the most gold, who run the world, Donovan. It is those who are visionaries. Those of us who have great intellect, and who see the world not as it is, but who look to the past, who wish to preserve the history and lessons of that time, as a way to cultivate a better present and future. People...like you. And me." She whispered, running a finger through his blonde hair. Donovan in response shivered, as he found she was making it very hard, to resist her advances.

The marten, needing a breather backed away.

"I...ahem...appreciate the compliments," he murmured. "But you still need to explain, why I should trust you. I mean...even if I am to believe you've turned on Gutgore, you still were the one who willingly translated that stone for him. Y-You've aided and abetted him, in hindering us, at every turn. Why, if you can give any reason, should I trust you now?"

Dylan gave a half-turned smile, as she stepped closer to Donovan once more. "You don't," she whispered. "That's what's going to make this fun, isn't it?"

Donovan gulped and nodded. "I...If you say so," he said, not sure whether to fully believe the story the ermine had given him or not. "In any case...Get on," he said nodding toward the back end of Holly. We have some riding to do. We have to catch up with the others.

"Okay...wait. Others? I thought it was just you and Colin?"

Donovan shook his head. "No," he said. "Did I forget to mention that? We picked up two others, who joined our party."

"What!? I mean...what, really? How...wonderful. Who are they?"

"Lady Gemma Digpath and Lady Kysandra Wasserfjord. Do you know them?"

Dylan's eyes went wide and she gasped slightly, glad that she was in back, and that Donovan could not see her. "Kn-Know them?" she replied, trying to sound calm and composed. The ermine then quickly adding afterward, "I mean, I suppose I know them, in a way. I-I know of them, at least..." she stated quietly, trying hard to not let on how frustrated she really was about this fact that once more, the plan had gone awry. That while originally, she'd intended to deal with just Colin and Donovan. She now would also have to contend with the legends known as Gemma of the Greataxe and Kysandra the Archer's Thread, as well.

The ermine sighed. It seemed, she thought to herself, this was just something she'd have to work around. The same as she had on a multitude of other tasks, it was no use worrying about it. All she could do now, is act the part she'd been given by Gutgore and then improvise the rest, with the hopes that no one caught on. The ermine apparently totally unaware that as she rode in with Donovan on the back of Holly, that the company of these four whom she was to join, were already wise to her act. For starting with Colin, they each played their part perfectly. The prairie dog in his stitched cloth robes, now had his hood up as Donovan and Dylan rode up. One could see above, The skies were still pierced and dashed with rays of pale sunlight. However at the same time, gentle rains had started to come down. These droplets from the heavens, which clung to the prairie dog's braided beard, as if clinging to short cords of hemp rope. The marmot as he played with one of these cords, smiled at Donovan whilst leaning against his staff for support.

"So..."Colin muttered, before he nodded to Donovan, in in his usual slow, subtle fashion. "Ah' see yeh' took it upon yer' self tah' bring the self-servin' sneakin' wench back here. Ah' thought Ah' told yeh' just tah' confirm whether or not someone was followin' us. Wanna tell me, why yeh' brought this Incarceran-spawned slinker, back to our company?" The prairie dog as he spoke, doing a superb job of imitating disgust and irritation in the accent of his words. An act, Donovan played off just as well, as he replied,

"Oh, don't be so negative, Colin. Dylan gave me the whole story. She said she regrets ever joining up with Gutgore. She told me she was young and naive, when she first did. She wanted a change of pace. A chance for adventure and to discover herself, just like I did. She thought Gutgore intended to give her the world. She realizes now that he never intends to fulfill any promise unless it's a promise to himself."

"And yeh' believe her!?"

"I...Well I think she deserves a chance, yes. She did after all, almost fully decrypt the stone. More at least, from what I can tell, than your order has been able to in centuries."

Colin growled. "Yeh' best watch yer' tongue, lad." He snarled. "I'd remind yeh', tah' respect that which yeh' don't understand or know much about."

The prairie dog paused. "As fer' Dylan decrypting the stone though..." he added, "Even if she started this whole mess...Ah' will give you her decryption skills are impressive. And considerin' we can't have mah' daughter here...I suppose it is better tah' have three scholars, rather than two, isn't it?" Donovan in response smiled, and nodded in agreement. A subtle act, to further cement Dylan's faith that all of this was for real, and that they had truly been taken in by her act.

"Well," stated Dylan clapping her hands together, the act put on by Donovan and Colin having done its job. She, now fully convinced, that they had no clue of her true intentions. "I just...want to say, I'm so grateful for you letting me join you, and to prove that I want to change. I suppose, with this little matter settled, it's best that we be off then?"

Colin nodded. "Aye, most likely," he responded. "We're just waiting for Kysandra to return. She and Gemma had a little bout before you joined us, and she needed a moment to collect herself. Right Gemma?" Colin inquired as he turned to what must've been the most muscular female groundhog that Dylan had ever seen. Her eyes going wide, as not even the legends did justice, to this groundhog who was clad in polished plate armor and who had paws which looked as if they could punch through boulders. The ermine remained silent and awestruck, as Gemma simply nodded in response to Colin's observant comment. The ground in her Scandinavian-like accent replied with great composure, "Ah, yes. This is true, Colin. I do not expect it will take Kysandra too much longer, before we are on our way again. She just, needs a moment to organize her thoughts, so to speak. I'm afraid my recent conversation with her, may have touched on a topic that would've been better left alone."

"How so?"

"Well..." Gemma suddenly paused as she was about to begin providing her detailed explanation. She smiled slightly as she turned after having caught a glimpse of Kysandra, who was headed back up the road to join the rest of the party. The otter noblewoman, using her psychic abilities to create a projection of an ornate, frilled parasol which she held at an angle over her shoulder. The rains which were like teardrops of cool liquid diamond that fell steadily from above, then splashed off this focused projection of energy, and dispersed out. The otter beneath the parasol, then remaining content and dry. The same really, as if it were a physical umbrella she was holding and not just a powerful projection of the mind.

In any case, it was hard not to think of Kysandra as a shining example of poise, grace and elegant beauty, as she returned to the company of what were now her four other colleagues in this party. Donovan, who was mounted and ready to ride with Dylan. Colin, who still stood with his hood raised for protection against the rain, and who still leaned against his staff for support. And of course, Gemma. The groundhog whose smile Kysandra softly and somewhat concernedly reciprocated, as she once again joined the party's number.

"Hey..." Kysandra asked Gemma, as Colin motioned for the otter to mount up with him, the otter in return, raising her pointer finger to gently indicate it would be just a minute, before she followed his instruction. She then turned her attention back to Gemma and asked, "...Are you okay? You seemed a little nervous just now. Like...it was a great relief to see me return to the group, or something along those lines."

"Oh?" Gemma's cheeks turned a light red. "Yeah," she replied walking with Kysandra over to Ivy, where Colin was waiting. "I'll admit...I was concerned it was my fault you took off like that. I mean..." the groundhog rubbed the back of her head, as Kysandra tilted her head, listening intently. "I...I felt awful I even mentioned the issue of Lexyana and Corian. I know that's personal and I just..."

"...You care."

"Huh!?" Gemma's cheeks reddened and was surprised by Kysandra, who at this moment gently had taken into her paws which were small and delicate by comparison, the large, furry paws of Gemma. Paws which probably when splayed out, could at least equal the size of a dinner plate. Gemma seeing her situation, then snorted. "N-No!" she exclaimed, trying to act tough, to recover. "I...I mean, I do care about you, yes. We'd be absolutely nowhere, without an asset like you to protect our rears, when the time comes. E-Even I don't have eyes in the back of my head. I need you...I mean, we need you, to cover our rears, okay? I mean, yes I care. I just...ugh! Can we get going please? I mean, don't we have somewhere to be!? Like, a lost grotto or something!?" Kysandra as Gemma marched off, then looked to Colin, and then over to Dylan and Donovan. The four of them taking a moment to chuckle in good humor, before Kysandra sighed and stated, "You know...she's not wrong. We probably ought to get going. Otherwise who knows what those Anaton Covenant fanatics might do to Cousin Glori, if they haven't done anything already."

Colin got a solemn look on his face. "Aye..." he murmured, agreeing with Kysandra's evaluation, but not wanting to resign himself to a belief that there was no hope whatsoever, of saving Gloriana before worst came to worst. For he after all, had promised Mariana, he'd bring her mother back safely. A promise he fully intended to keep by any means necessary, as he gritted his teeth and slightly tightened his hold on Ivy's reins.

"Kysandra..." Colin quietly addressed the otter who now sat behind him. " Ah've got a request, if yeh' don't mind mah askin'. Ah' know, that it was thanks to yer' Archer's thread ability, that we were able to follow Gloriana and her captors this far. Ah' just...well stop me if it's too much but do yeh' think.."

"I could use it one more time, to see if cousin Glori is still safe?"

Kysandra nodded slightly.

"I'd be glad to," she replied, after finishing Colin's thought. The otter as she closed her eyes. Then once again cleared her mind and repeated the technique which she'd performed back in the sister cities of Port Columbine and Ravenmist Glen. The otter, once more focused only on the psychic imprints which may have been left behind by her cousin, or which seemed to be tied to her or her captors. An image of what had happened in the past hour, slowly coming into focus, like when one tunes a radio or a television set. Kysandra eventually got a clear picture, and was able to watch the events in her mind like a short movie, as she then relayed frame by frame to Colin and the others, words of, "Hmm...yes. From what I'm seeing, it seems Gloriana is still fine. I'm getting psychic remnants that are showing me she was led about five miles further up the road, before she was taken off to the side by her captors. They stopped and passed behind as curtain of willow branches...wait. There's something Gloriana saw, after passing behind the branches. She looked back...She saw she was walking down and old stone path. It looks worn, untended. Probably hasn't been used in ages..."

Kysandra opened her eyes. "That's it," she stated softly. "There's no more. Was it enough?"

Colin nodded. "Aye," he assured her. "Growth of willows, old worn path. It would have been better, if we had more detail. But aye, ah' think ah' can guess where they might be, based on the little bit of information gleamed from that one short vision."

"You can?"

Colin turned to Donovan who had made this inquiry and nodded with a smile. "Aye," he replied. "Ah' may not be able to say much from the curtain of willow branches alone. But the stone path? Well, tah' me that's a clue that the Anaton Covenant have done more than stumble upon some ruins which they then have decided tah' turn into a base of operations. Nay, ah' think they've actually unearthed one of the old early attempts at settlement by the otters. The Solmani Empire records show, that there are actually quite a few, that the Otters tried to establish in this area, before giving up on almost all of them, in favor of one permanent settlement that fit all of their needs. Solmani Marsh.

Donovan ran a paw through his hair.

"So then, you think this is one of those abandoned attempts by the otters at starting an empire?"

Colin nodded. "'Twould make sense," he murmured. "The Covenant remember, is all about purifyin' the empire. They believe the Pentarchy and those who follow the words of the current government, are tainted in thought and action. They belief that they have strayed from the teachings of the prophet twins and that what is required is to tear it down, and to start over from the beginning. What better place tah' do that, then to make your base of operations, the proverbial stone that was rejected? A cult that speaks of tearin' down, and rebuildin' better, makin' their base, at the site of an attempt which was meant to be somethin' glorious, but was abandoned because it was deemed flawed..."

Colin chuckled. "It would be the ultimate example in waxin' poetic," he said, as he yelled 'Hike!' to Ivy, to get her to go. An action Donovan reciprocated with Holly, as Dylan clung tight to his waist and and Kysandra to Colin's. For they both were surprised by the jolt, and needed a second to adjust to the pace at which they were moving. A rapid rate of speed, which Gemma seemed to have no issue keeping up with. The otter and ermine, as they glanced over their shoulders, were then amazed to see that though the groundhog wore heavy metal armor, she barely even broke a sweat as she jogged after them on foot. An accomplishment which was probably due in part to her muscular, athletic build. As well as to the fact, that Groundhogs were just generally built for endurance activities. This brisk five mile then run proving to be an easy feat for her, as she stopped along with the others in front of the curtain of willow branches described by Kysandra. The groundhog while waiting for everyone to dismount, simply stood in awe of these great arboreal falls, until Colin approached and gently parted them with his staff. The prairie dog intent on seeing what it was they would be dealing with, past this intrepid point.

It would be only a few seconds, before Colin popped his head back through this curtain. "Alright," he murmured, nodding to the others who waited for him in the rain, to follow through. "Ah' checked. 'Tis all clear. Ah' suspect the Covenant didn't expect anyone to find this place. Prob'ly thought by hidin' it in plain sight, that it was camouflaged well enough, and that they didn't have to place guards. Rather, if they did, that might make it look more conspicuous, than it does otherwise. In any case, we're clear fer' now. Just stay on your guard, the lot of yeh'. I suspect further down this path...they'll start comin' out of the woodwork like roaches."

"Hmm..." A solemn silence fell, as Gemma murmured pensively to herself at these words. The groundhog swiftly drawing forth her greataxe so that it was at the ready if she needed it. She then looked around, to see Donovan had as well drawn forth a weapon. The axe, he'd used to beat Kysandra and Gemma at the axe-throwing competition. When he'd gotten a chance to swipe it, she did not know. But all the same, she was glad he had it, and that it seemed he knew how to wield it. As there was likely going to be no chance for someone to give him a quick lesson, should things get rough and wild.

Gemma, cast her glance now to Kysandra. The otter, seeming to have terse look on her face, but armed with no weapon at all, aside from the silver bow, slung over her shoulder. A sight which actually did not surprise Gemma. For Kysa, as the groundhog referred to her, really had no need to immediately arm herself amidst the threat that Colin had warned them all about. She was after all, Kysandra, the Archer's Thread. A woman who far exceeded her outer qualities of poise, grace and refinement. She was a living weapon. An otter whose abilities probably made her more deadly than anyone else here. It was a fact, that even Gemma couldn't deny being a little intimidated by. For as she continued to gaze upon Kysandra for a moment, she then found it fascinating the way the otter could appear so serene and so composed. An appearance which Gemma knew, thus totally contradicted all that raw power which was surging just beneath the surface.

"Dells...Kysandra Wasserfjord..." the groundhog thought as she shook her head, sighed, and turned her attention over to Dylan. "You are an enigma within an enigma." The groundhog with a chuckle, then noted that Dylan was ready for what might be to come as well. The ermine, armed with a dagger, the groundhog kept special watch on her, knowing that since she could not entirely be trusted, that there was an off chance, she might use it on them, as well as she might use it on the cultists. Great. As if they didn't have enough to worry about already. The groundhog sighed once more, and refocused her attention on the task ahead of them.

They were now at the end of the old forgotten stone path. Before them, as predicted, was the site of what appeared to be an old, ruined, and unfinished city. The architecture not far along at all, it appeared that whoever built it, had given up on it very early on in its construction. A fact Colin and the others took note of, as they were led by the prairie dog onto what at one time, might have been a great courtyard. That is, if the city ever been fully completed. Colin who kept his staff at the ready, and who looked about for any sign of cultists or Gloriana. Then seemed to express a bittersweet expression on his face. Partly glad, that the cultists weren't here for the moment. But also distressed, that they had shown the sense to keep Gloriana out of plain sight.

"Balan's Way," the prairie dog murmured, followed by a heavy sigh. "It seems that as could be expected, this is not going to be easy. Aright, aright. Here's what we're gonna' do. We're gonna split into groups. Donovan, you're with me. We're gonna search the courtyard and the main complex. Gemma, Kysandra. Ah'm puttin' you two together. Yer' gonna search what would've been the residential district. Dylan...yer' tah' guard this entrance. Let us know if you see any of the covenant comin' our way. If they catch us off guard, we will have very little time to prepare a countermeasure, so yer' role as guard is essential, got that?"

The ermine nodded. "Of course," she replied, doing a superb job at expressing false dedication to this task. For she of course, had little to no interest in the safety of the other four. And did in fact, ponder about how if the members of this Anaton Covenant showed up, they might then be used as a tool to distract her colleagues while she looked around for the tomb and treasure that Gutgore had sent her to find.

Hmm. It was an option which Dylan deeply considered, as she kept up her act for now. The ermine as she came out of the daze of her thoughts, then was surprised to see that Colin was standing before her and was waiting to hand her a small blue crystal. One which she quickly took from him, before he then moved to the others, giving them blue crystal as well. And also, once these crystals were handed out, kept one for himself. The prairie dog, once this was done, turned to the others to explain his actions saying, "Aright. Now that we've come to an agreement on what we are tah' do, yeh' may be wonderin' what these crystals I gave yeh' are for. These, are what are called spritefire crystals. Don't ask me how they're made. Ah' myself, don't really know the full aspects of how mah' order conjures these things up. We have different branches, and those in the alchemist's branch are a group ah' never really gave myself much of a chance tah' understand. All ah' know is, their crystals come in useful, in times like these. They're designed as a sort of a primitive signal system. All yeh' have to do, is throw the crystal on the ground tah' smash it, and it will release a flare, the color of the crystal. Ah've given you each one tah' use, in the case that you should find Gloriana. Set one off, the others will come running, Okay?"

Everyone else nodded. "Okay," they said in unison, fully on board with this plan. The only one with concerns, seeming to be Donovan, as he raised his hand and asked, "Uh, Colin? I hate to be the one to point out any issues. But um...while I think this is a great plan, you said the Covenant could show up? Uh, what if they don't show up through the same entrance we arrived in? What if they have other entrances to this hideout, or could in fact, be hiding out in this complex already, waiting to ambush any and all intruders?"

Colin stroked his beard. "Hmm..." he murmured. " 'Tis a good point, lad. Just because we don't see them, doesn't mean they aren't here. And Ah' admit, you're right. Just because we have Dylan guarding one entrance, doesn't mean the Covenant couldn't show up through another entrance at a different point in the ruins. Alright. Here's what we'll do. Blue crystals, will be if you find Gloriana. Red..." he passed out a new set of crystals to everyone. "...is if you run into the covenant. Either way, do not hesitate, tah' use them. Yeh' understand? Ah' don't want someone gettin' seriously hurt, because they decided tah' be a hero."

The others of the party nodded. They understood. No unnecessary risks. No heroics. The task was simple. Either if they found Gloriana or ran into trouble along the way, send up the corresponding flare, and in either case, help would arrive.

Good.

Now to see this through.