Chapter 2: Out of the Frying Pan

Day 2

The night passes peacefully. There is a moment during the second watch, when Viani hears a distant screech of a barn owl that almost makes her wake the others, but then when it doesn't repeat or get any louder, cooler heads prevail and everyone gets a full rest. Though undoubtedly the events of the day just past encourage some interesting dreams...

Waking early the next morning, as the sun starts to rise over the hills to the northwest toward the family estates, your group prepares for the journey quickly, with Yelnar growing increasingly nervous the longer it takes. But other than a few irritable exchanges between the non-morning people, you are well on the road by the time the sun is fully up.

The road is well-packed dirt, wide enough where it's closer to town that two carts could pass side by side. As it starts to rise slowly into the low hills, it narrows some but is still easy to travel. It is remarkably peaceful out here. Tall grasses wave in the morning breeze, the light frost starting to melt into dew. Above, large birds -- hawks, perhaps -- wheel and soar and dive in the clear blue sky. There is plenty of evidence of animal life around, rustling grasses, a squirrel in the trees, the occasional squeak of a rodent. The hills are lightly forested with deciduous trees just starting to leaf out, but you're aware that there are very few places to hide, should the need arise. On the other hand, you'd likely see anyone coming from a mile away, so it's not likely you'd be surprised either.

It is now the time of the morning that you believe Athisa was referring to during your conversation through the disk last night. It would be easy enough to walk and talk at the same time, should you wish to do so.

"Ah, Krav, my boy... I knew I could count on you," comes Athisa's voice. Again, now that Krav's called your attention to the difference between her normal tone and how she spoke last night, you can tell that she's at least a little more relaxed now.

Still, she gets right down to business. "We have little time, so I will keep this brief. First, that symbol you mentioned last night likely relates to the followers of a man named Garand Disos. The triangle seems to be a crude letter D, and from the little I have been able to glean, those rings are given to his lieutenants and other leaders in his band. These are dangerous people, with a dangerous goal, regarding the destruction of magic in the world. And I fear he has sympathizers within the School. Questions about Disos are not answered openly, and shut many doors that were once open wide. My movements are being watched -- not carefully, not yet -- but there are tensions within the halls that were not there before."

There's a long, silent pause, before Athisa can be heard laughing. "This must be one of the frog people you spoke of last night." She answers politely, "Well met, friend Froak of the Pondhopper tribe. I do hope that I get to meet you in person one day."

She moves back to business again. "I need you to gather whatever information you can about this organization. And if you can, who they might be working with inside the School. I will learn what I can and pass this information along to you when it's possible. If you contact me and I use the phrase 'hectic day' or 'Second Bell' in my first sentence, then you will know someone's listening in. I am sorry, my friends. I... was never good at the politics of this job, and I fear I am ill-suited for the espionage game. I wish you had a more accomplished contact, but we -- you and I -- will do our best, yes?"