Embers in the Dust

Frostgarden Wayside was easily understood as a district of importance in the city, with its buildings that seemed to shine, the streets that were cleared of snow every morning, and its closeness to Berkton Academy. Nedist Vale was very different. The snow piled up a few inches, there were no benches or magic lamps at the street corners, and everything looked just a little run down. Mr. Muffins wondered if the reasoning was because it started as a large grouping of nicer homes that turned into businesses, before changing into more modest homes. This wasn’t as great of a place, and the city might have just seen it as a burden to inconvenience themselves to take care of it. Or maybe they just assumed those that lived there would take better care of the place, and no one was bothered enough to care. Either way, the party, accompanied by their new Drakewarden guard.

They passed various businesses and Mr. Muffins tried to keep track of them as he went by. He could smell the bakery at the corner, hear the butcher yelling out orders, and he even paused for a moment as they passed a funeral home, where a family was grieving just inside the open doors of the building. They only had to go a few blocks into the district, but he was finding it difficult to remember the names of all the businesses he passed, due to their multitude.

Outside of an alley, Sam stopped. To the right was a grouping of homes, smaller places, that were connected by their side walls, as well as stairs that took them to a second floor balcony, where other homes were set on top of the first ones. To the left was a two story building with a singular large, stained-glass window on the second floor and four smaller, normal windows on the first floor that were closed, a set of blinds keeping people from seeing inside. Above the front door was a large sign that read ‘Scorched Ale’ with a small depiction of a drinking glass on either side of the lettering.

“Right in here.” Sam pointed as she spoke. “They ran in through this alley, then turned left into the tavern and disappeared through the wall.”

Above them, Mr. Muffins could see Sam’s drake crouched over the top of the building, looking down at a spot in the middle of the wall. They all walked forward, giving Leaf some space as he pulled out his spellbook and started chanting an incantation. With the guard next to him, and the others walking around, he became curious about her noticeable fidgeting.

“Have you done much fieldwork before?”

“Some. Normally accompanied with other Drakewardens or a Dragon Keeper though. I don’t usually go out of my way to search for clues like this.”

“It seems like there was magic here on the wall, in which the guild members were able to go through it, and end up somewhere else.” Leaf stated, clearly finished with his spell as the irises of his eyes were glowing green.

“Could they have just gone through the wall to the other side?” Myla asked.

“It’s possible, but we’d have to go in there and see for ourselves.”

Myla turned and made her way to the front of the building, followed by Lyla and Rhokhishi. Sam stepped in front of them, holding her hand up.

“We need clearance from the warden to do that.”

“Clearance?” Lyla asked.

“You’re not suggesting we search a place unlawfully?” Sam questioned.

Mr. Muffins could see the lockpick already in Myla’s hand. Assuming she tried the door already, and didn’t mention it yet, he decided to try and help by becoming a distraction.

“No, not at all.” He answered, grabbing the guard’s shoulder and giving a slight pull to bring her attention to him.

“But the door-”

“Is unlocked.” Myla interrupted.

Without a sound, she pushed the door slightly open, and he could see the lockpick go up her sleeve and disappear. Sam started walking towards the door, confused, but Mr. Muffins held up his hand and placed it on her shoulder again.

“Look, why don’t we do this from two ways? You stay about here with Rhokhishi and Leaf, keeping him safe, and we’ll go in and ask some harmless questions?”

Before giving the guard a chance to say anything, Rhokhishi stepped forward and Mr. Muffins stepped through the doorway and closed the door quietly behind him. As he turned around, he pulled some ash from his bag and placed it in front of the twins.

Our connection is up, Myla stated. That way we can stay in contact.

Here, this will help.

Mr. Muffins showed the twins the ash in his hand and they nodded, carefully, he blow it up over the three of them, and as it fell slowly, he watched as they left his sight, becoming invisible.