Septimïe wasn't at all sure where she stood with the changed, icy Irveska. "I 'ave 'eard of Endora, but I 'ave never been 'zaire. Met a few people talking about 'ow some silly goose took over, declared 'erself queen." She shrugged. "It ees 'ardly 'north'."

She hesitated. "Zis trip 'as been unsatisfying. Eef I could... I vould prefer to go vis you, Irveska."

"Oh I give up..." Davlin moaned into his hands. "Why did you think I even went there? I was looking for a challenge and all I got for my trouble is to be ridiculed and told I am arrogant for trying to do what I set out to do."

He was in his own world of hurt, unconnected to whatever the silly goose was happening around him.

"If you knew that those... things were there from the start, then I hardly have to explain myself to you, Davlin..." Irveska somehow managed an upbeat scowl. "I want to crush that bastard, don't get me wrong... But I'm looking at the bigger picture. Here and now, we would just have been another pointless death."

The refined girl didn't want to admit it out loud, but now that she finally had a clear goal and a clear sky ahead, Irveska was quite close to actually feeling good about herself. It was starting to feel like the old days...

"...Grila... Septimie..." Her voice took on an almost unheard-of soft edge. She looked downwards and let her firey red hair hide her emmotions, but taking one of their hands in each of her own, the sentiment was obvious. "Thank you. Really. This is my idea, so I'll always put my life on the line before your own."

Septimïe nodded, and smiled. "I 'sink... from 'vhat I ga'zer... I owe my life to you. 'Sank you."

"I'll go as well," Davlin sighed, unfurling his wings from his body so he could get up to stand next to Grila. His small gnomish size dwarfed by the giant women. "But mainly because I don't want that country going to shit when Rane is removed."

Irveska placed her forehead on Septimie's broad chest breifly, before turning away and looking at Davlin, still with a koy smile displayed on her face.

"I'll tell you what... We need to get rid of this treasure anyway." The woman remarked, deciding to throw the cleric a bone. "So we'll stop off wherever you want first, kid."

"Violet Plataeu or any Dwarf Fortress would be my first choice for obvious reasons, but Grila may not be overly popular there." Davlin said with a sad smile, "If we wanted to stop off on the way Sigmar would be ideal but the Cuthburtians are only slightly better than The Enemy, so lets not do anything major there."

He thought for a moment. "Arcturium is best, we might be able to get a teleport"

And so you all headed back to Ashfield.

You got so far to the city's gates before the guards stopped you.

One of them spoke to you. Both of them looked confused.

"Excuse me uh, sir, madams. But, uh, you are, um, aware that there is a Goblin following you?"

"I wouldn't touch her things," Davlin replied chirpily. "She does bite, but otherwise she is our bodyguard."

He gave a thumbs up to Grila

"She ees not following us, she ees accompanying us." Septimïe growled.

A messenger emerged from behind the gate, whispered some things to the guard.
"Uh... okay. Sorry for the mix-up. You can bring... her(?) inside. His Lordship would like to speak with you apparently. There's a carriage waiting for you."

***

When you got inside the sleek black carriage, His lordship, Niccolò Alighieri, the Duke Ashfield, was seated and waiting for you. He was a handsome man apparently in his mid or late 40's, and dressed in a plain black cassock. He was tall and thin, but exuded a presence that, despite his friendly smile, carried more than a hint of intimidation behind it.

His voice was certainly friendly enough. "Please, be seated. I was not informed my city would have the honor of receiving such a notable priest of the Sparkling Wit such as yourself, Mr. Groundsprung, but I must say that it is a not unwelcome surprise!" He gave a friendly smile. "As for your lovely friends, even the young Goblin, I assure you that they are equally welcome. I do not believe a man such as yourself would be likely to keep company with troublemakers."

Another smile. "But I forget myself. I am Niccolò Alighieri, the Duke of this fine city. It has been my privilege and my joy to serve it as Duke for some time now. Tell me, though, Mr. Groundsprung, what brings you here? In what way may I or my city be of assistance to you?"

Grila was somewhat confused and awed by it all.

Septimïe eyed Alighieri mistrustfully. She didn't like this man, who reeked of wealth and power. She didn't like men at the best of times. Powerful men were far worse; their natural sense of entitlement was merely twisted and made overpowering by the proof of their own importance that power provided.

She did not like the way the Duke only addressed Davlin. She did not like the false flattery- lovely, indeed. Grila was lovely. Irveska was incandescent. Septimïe was not.

She moved one hand to the hilt of her Greatsword.

She did not like this man.

The instant Septie's hand touched her greatsword's hilt, the Duke gave her one of his friendly, disarming, smiles.

Most people probably would not have noticed such a subtle movement on her part.
Duke Alighieri was not most people.

The small gnome grimaced.

"I appreciate the excellent reception we have received, but I hope I'm truly not that renown." He said with a smile, "if it gets much worse I might be forced to settle down on the Violet Plataea. But regardless, we are here to sell a few things we gathered on a recent expedition to Leoric and maybe get a teleport up to the lovely realm of Rane, or at least towards Sigmar."

The Duke raised an eyebrow. "Endora? I do not mean to pry, Mr. Groundsprung, so please forgive me if I offend, but what business could a man of the gods such as yourself possibly have in such a place?"

"Regardless, however, I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to put myself and, by extension, my city at your service. I shall instruct the mages of the university to grant you access to their talents, in regards to teleportation, free of charge. I shall gladly burden that expense."