There was a brief silence in the carriage, while what Altria said sunk in for a mont. How could she think that? From what Serin and Rosa said, things were looking bad for us. I wouldn't be surprised if we were going to be classed as terrorists, by the ti we arrived back in Dunshelm.
"What do you an Altria?" Asked Serin.
"Well, you two said the rumours were that my mother had already left the capital and that there was so movent among the human and wolfkin forces, right?"
"Yes…"
"Well, I have a suspicion that my mother has sothing planned. I expect when Theo tells us what they spoke about in secret, that will be confird."
"I don't know, she didn't ntion anything about that." I said, not understanding Altria's train of thought.
"She wouldn't have told you her plans. Sorry Theo, she's very good at sucking people in. Just tell us what she told you and I'll be able to gather the rest from there."
"Okay."
I ran through the entire conversation I had with Olentri just as Altria had asked to. I explained how she had given the okay for her contact to retrieve the relic and had provided the ans for it to be swapped. I detailed how she had told that she would make sure, that in the case we were found out, I would be the one that took the bla.
"I knew that she was planning sothing! No wonder she asked you to keep it a secret from ." Altria said as soon as I had finished recounting the conversation.
"I don't understand though. It hasn't gone the way that she wanted. I was the one that suspicion should have fallen on, not you and definitely not her."
"I think that was only one of the outcos she had planned for. She probably suspected all along that the elves might make a move like this. The whole thing was probably just a move to see how they would react in this instance. Of course, if it had just been discovered and events didn't blow up like this, she would have made you take the fall. She used you for her own ends Theo."
"I'm sorry Altria, but I still don't have a clue what you're talking about."
"I'm not following this either Altria. Please can you tell us what you think is going on?" Asked Serin.
"Well, I think she wanted to see what their reaction would be. Rember I said before Theo, about my grandfather?"
"You said he ntioned so strange things when he was very old, but that everyone thought he was just senile."
"Yes… But my mother always had so suspicion after that. After everything that happened, I think a lot of her worries will have been confird. It's no wonder that she had already left the Capital, she already had a plan in motion in case sothing like this happened."
"What exactly was she suspicious of? What did your grandfather say?" Asked Serin.
"That the high king was able to enact so kind of control over summoners… My grandfather had a recuring delusion, at least that was what they thought at the ti. He said that those that had the shard implanted for long enough were able to fall under the control of the high king, Lillia's father. He also said that all the mbers that signed the alliance all experienced mory loss, due to a form of contract magic. It was only when he reached his advanced years that so of it ca back to him. No one had heard anything like this from the other mbers, so everyone just thought he was losing his mind…" Explained Altria.
"But after what happened with Lillia, it doesn't seem that crazy." I noted.
"No, it doesn't."
"But if your mother has pulled her forces, we might be safe in Dunshelm, but not for long. It could an war once again amongst the races." Serin said, clearly worried.
"Maybe, but I don't think my mother would have risked this if she thought that was a possibility. With the alliance forces as stretched as they are, I doubt they could afford to open a new front. Not if they were supported by the humans and the wolfkin." Answered Altria.
"Your mother really though that far ahead?" Asked Serin.
"I wouldn't be surprised if she had."
"I just, I really thought she was only helping out because she was worried about you. Worried about what might happen if we were found out." I said with everything that Altria ntioned still sinking in.
"She is… I don't appreciate the way that she's gone about it, but she obviously thought we would make it out of the trouble it created sohow. Think about it, if what my grandfather was rambling on about was true, then maybe Lillia wasn't acting of her own free will back there… If that's the case, how long until sothing like that can happen to ? I've had the shard implanted just like her. If she thinks it's true, then it isn't that surprising."
"But you haven't had it inside you for as long as Lillia though?"
"Nowhere near as long no… But we don't know how long it takes. Then again, we don't even know if this is actually happening. We shouldn't panic yet.
"We should speak with Liz as soon as we return to Dunshelm. She might know sothing."
"Liz? You an the woman from the potion shop?"
"Yes."
"Why would she know anything about this?"
"I don't know why, but she seems to know a lot about the relics and the summoning. More than she would let on to . I spoke to her when I wanted to look into what we were told by the demon woman. She gave so ideas of what to look for."
"Is that why you wanted to look up our history, when you ca to my house?" Asked Serin.
"Yes… At least she gave an idea of the specific areas to research."
"Why wouldn't she tell you more?"
"When I first t her, she told so of the specifics of my situation here. I slipped up and told Lillia. Since then, she hasn't been as eager to share information with . Co to think of it, she always been a little concerned about Lillia. I wonder if she really does know sothing about this."
"I think you're right. We should speak to her once we're back."
"I want to tell her what I heard from Celine too. I think it will be useful if she can et her."
"Celine?"
"The succubus."
"She's given you information?"
"Yes… That's the reason why I first decided to spare her. It seed like she could tell us sothing important."
"So that's why…"
"Why else would I have?"
"Because she's a s-succubus. You know." Serin said now looking a little embarrassed.
"I know she is."
"She thought you were keeping her as so sort of sex slave or sothing. You know, plenty of n have let them suck the life right out of them because it's that enjoyable." Explained Altria.
"That's not what I ant! I was just worried that she might have you under her control sohow. I didn't think you would be doing sothing like that." Serin said, trying to clarify quickly.
"Well, he has been feeding her…" Added Altria.
"Really?" Asked Serin turning to once again.
"I have… She has to eat sohow and because of the effects of "purification" she no longer seems to be able to hunt. Not that I would want her too. I can't let her starve and you aren't exactly one to talk Altria!"
"I wasn't thinking straight back then!"
"Well, I defiantly can imagine Altria getting involved in sothing like that. It isn't a surprise, but Theo you should really be careful. She is a demon after all." Serin said seemingly concerned.
"What do you an it isn't a surprise?" Asked Altria.
"Just you like that sort of thing. You are always initiating or joining in without complaint."
"You haven't been that much different since Theo got here, have you?"
"Okay you two, I don't think this is what we should be discussing right now…" I said intervening before things got carried away. "I understand you're concerned Serin, but I think you should et Celine yourself and make your own judgnts about her."
"Yes, you're right, I will. As soon as it is safe to do so, please ask her to co out. Perhaps when we make camp for the evening."
"I will, if we find soone suitably out of the way that is."
"Don't worry, I think I know just the place." Rosa called over from the driver's seat.
After that we rode through the day. We passed by a couple of small towns, but we didn't stop. We were still too close to the capital and too far away from the lands where Altria's mother held so sway. We couldn't risk being picked up. The only stop we made was a short one in the day, to rest, feed and water the horses briefly before we set on again. Fortunately, the only traffic we saw was coming from the other way and not from the capital.
The sun had already set before we stopped for the night. Rosa was insistent we continued until we reached where she planned to stop. She was sure it would be the safest place to spend the night. Finally, as we were losing the last of the dusk light we slowed and turned into a very rough looking track from the main road. It was fortunate it had been dry lately as the horses were slow to pull us along the trail as it was. In the wet it would have been almost impossible.
After about fifteen minutes of following the track, we stopped at a small clearing to the side of the road. Rosa pulled the carriage behind the treeline, so we weren't visible from the track. Even if we had a fire here it wouldn't be visible from the main road. It seed we were right to follow Rosa's instruction.
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