His companion, the woman who had just been with her in courtesy, was covered in fur so tightly that he couldn't see any clues.

She and her companions didn't give Stone another glance as they passed, the woman holding a cane embellished with feathers in a savage style, and the man carrying a weathered backpack.

The two men found a place near the fireplace, sat down, curled up in their cloaks, and whispered to each other.

"I saw them wandering down the road next to town," Stone said, "and the woman looked exhausted, and the man wasn't much better."

I brought them here and told them where to find food and where to stay. They are a very proud people, and most of them would normally refuse my help.

But they were tired and thirsty, and they were lost. And"—Stone lowered his voice—"During this time, there are some things that appear on the road that you don't want to face alone at night. ”

"We've met some of the guys you refer to, like they're looking for a cane or something," Robert said solemnly. Describes what happened to Toude.

Although Stone was amused by the battle, he still shook his head slowly. "There's a seeker's guard out there who asks me about the cane," he said, "it's made of sapprite, isn't it?"

Calamon nodded, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder. "We were stopped by a guard who tried to detain Rodrith's cane, and if you believe their word – they said 'this is for further investigation. Then I showed my sword, and after thinking twice, they did not dare to make a move. ”

Rodris moved his arm out of his brother's reach, a mocking smile on his face.

"What would have happened if they did take your cane away?" Robert asked Rodrith.

The mage looked at him from the shadows of the brim of his hat, his golden eyes glinting. "They will die a terrible death," the mage whispered, "and not by my brother's sword!"

The half-elf suddenly felt a chill. The mage's whispers were more intimidating than his brother's loud boasting.

"I wonder what kind of mystery this cane hides that would make these goblins go to the trouble of killing it?" Robert said thoughtfully.

"There's worse," Stone said quietly, his friends all gathered around. "It is said that a large army is gathering in the north. It's an army of strange creatures - not humans, in short. It is said that the war is about to start. ”

"For what?" asked Robert, "I've heard that before." ”

"Me too," Callamon said, "and, in fact, I've heard—"

The conversation continued, and Wade yawned and turned to look elsewhere. Tired of these boring topics, the Kanders began to look for new and interesting things in the inn.

His eyes fell on the old man, who was still telling the story to the child by the fire, and Wade noticed that his audience was growing—the two savages were listening with relish.

To his surprise, the woman removed his hood and the light of the fire shone on her face and hair. The Kander looked at it in amazement, and the woman's face was like a marble statue, pure, elegant, and with a hint of indifference.

But what really caught his eye was her long hair. Wade had never seen such beautiful hair before, especially on the mostly dark-skinned black-haired plainman—no jeweler could create the same beauty with gold or silver thread.

The woman's blonde hair radiated a dazzling glow in the firelight.

There was also a man who was listening intently to the old man's story. Dressed in the suitor's noble brown robes, he sat at a small round table and drank warm red wine. Several empty glasses had been placed beside him, and even under the watchful eye of the Kande, he ordered another one.

"He's Handrick," Lena whispered beside her friends. "That is, the Great Priest. ”

The man glared at Lena again, screaming. She quickly squeezed to his side. He yelled at her, complaining about bad service or something. Lena seemed to want to talk back, but she bit her lip and said nothing.

The old man's story came to an end. The little boy sighed, his eyes flashed with curiosity, and said, "Old man, are all the stories you said about the ancient true gods true?"

Wade frowned at the sight of the Kander, obviously hoping that he would not bother the old man.

Wade touched Robert's arm and nodded in the direction of the archpriest, indicating that he might be in trouble.

Everyone turned their heads, and they watched quietly, intimidated by the beauty of the plain woman.

The old man's voice visibly drowned out the rest of the room's conversation. "Son, it's true. The old man stared at the woman and her tall guard. "You can ask these two guys. They have a similar story. ”

"Do you have a story too?" the child turned his head eagerly, "can you tell me?"

When the woman noticed that Robert and his party were watching her, she immediately ducked back into the shadows with a wary look on her face.

The man leaned closer to her, his hand grasping the weapon to protect her. He glared at the group, especially Karamon, who was covered in weapons.

"Nervous bastard. Calamon grunted, his hand moving toward the hilt of his sword.

"I can see why," said Stone, "it's uncomfortable to be a personal bodyguard for such a beautiful woman." I could tell from their conversation that the woman seemed to be a nobleman of the clan, and that the man had to protect her, but judging from the fact that they were looking at each other, the relationship did not seem so simple. ”

The woman gestured and refused, "I'm sorry," and the group had to concentrate to hear her, "I don't know how to tell stories, I don't have that talent." "She speaks Mandarin, but with a very strong accent.

Disappointment replaces the longing on the child's face. The old man patted him on the back, looked the woman in the eye, and said, "But you are a good singer—the chief's daughter, sing a song to this child! A five-stringed instrument appeared out of thin air in the old man's hand. He handed the harp into the hands of the woman who was looking at him in amazement.

"You...... How do you know who I am?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter. The old man smiled kindly. "Chief's daughter, sing us a song!"

The woman took the ukulele with a trembling hand, and her partner seemed to want to stop it, but she didn't hear it.

Her eyes stared straight into the old man's black eyes. Slowly, as if hypnotized, her hands began to slowly pluck the strings.

The melancholy tune spread throughout the bar, the conversation gradually stopped, and everyone was watching her. But she didn't feel the slightest, she now sang only for the old man.

Summer is scorching,

In the endless steppe,

A child of a poor family,

Taken by a princess named Scarlet Moon

Her father was the head of a family,

Let the love between the two be so long.

Summer is scorching –

In the endless steppe,

The grassland undulates with waves,

The sky is glowing with gray light,

The chief commanded the river wind,

Travel to the far east.

The dawn is about to depart,

It's all about finding great magic.

The grassland undulates with waves,

The sky glows with gray.

Autumn has arrived.

Oh, the river breeze, where are you going?

I sat alone by the embankment,

Watching the rising sun,

Ascending lonely from the distant mountains.

The steppe gradually withered,

The summer winds cease,

He finally returned,

There is an endless dark dwelling in his eyes

He carried a blue cane,

Shining like a glacier:

The steppes began to wither,

The summer winds cease.

grassland ultramarine wilting,

Withered yellow like a flame.

The chief scoffed at the riverwind's claims.

He commanded the people to take up the rocks,

Throw at the young warrior,

grassland ultramarine wilting,

Withered yellow like a flame.

The grasslands are withering,

Autumn has arrived.

The girl stands beside her lover,

Let the rocks pass through the ears,

The cane bursts with blue light

The two disappeared

The grasslands withered

Autumn has arrived......

When she finished playing the last note, the whole inn fell silent. She took a deep breath, handed the ukulele back to the old man, and ducked back into the shadows.

"Thank you, dear. The old man said with a smile.

"Old man, can I listen to the story now? The child asked innocently.

"Absolutely. The old man replied, and sat back in his chair. "Once upon a time, once upon a time...... The great god Paladin—"

"Paladin?" interrupted the child, "I have never heard of a god called Paladin. ”

A disdainful snort came from the direction where the High Priest was sitting. Robert looked at Hendrick, his face flushed with anger. But the old man didn't seem to notice.

"Paladine is one of the ancient true gods, child. It's been a long time since anyone has worshipped him. ”

"Why did he leave?" the child asked.

"He hasn't left!" replied the old man, smiling sadly. "The people abandoned him after the cataclysm. Humanity blames the gods for the devastation caused by the cataclysm, but it does not reflect on itself. Have you ever heard the Dragon's Prayer?"

"Oh, yes!" replied the boy eagerly. "I love stories about dragons, even though my father said they didn't exist. But I believe they exist, and I hope to see them one day!"

The old man's face suddenly became old and sad. He gently stroked the boy's hair. "My child, be careful what you wish. He whispered.

"Where's the story—" the child thought again.

"Oh! Once upon a time, Paladin heard the prayer of a brave knight, whose name was Shuma—"

"Shuma from the Dragon's Prayer?"

"Yes, that's him. Shuma got lost in the forest, and he walked and went until he was completely desperate because he felt like he could never go back. He prayed to Paladin for guidance, and a white elk immediately appeared in front of his eyes. ”

"Did Shuma kill him with an arrow?"

"At first he really wanted to do it, but he couldn't do it. He couldn't have poisoned such a beautiful animal. The elk jumped away. Then he looked back at him, as if waiting for something. He followed the elk day and night until it led him back to his homeland. So he thanked the gods, Paladin—"

"Shit!" a voice shouted, followed by the sound of a chair retreating.

Robert put the glass down and looked up. Everyone was silent and looked at the drunken Grand Priest.

"Bullshit!" the archpriest staggered and pointed at the old man. "Infidel, corrupt our young man, old man, I will put you on trial in court!"

The Seeker stepped back, then stepped forward, looking around proudly, though his speech was a little slurred, but he still gave orders.

"Call the guards!" he made an exaggerated gesture, "and tell them to arrest this man and that woman who sings strange songs." She's obviously a witch! I'm going to confiscate her cane!"

The seeker slanted towards the woman, who looked at him with disdain. Watch him clumsily try to take the cane.

"No!" said the woman named Jin Yue coldly. "It's mine, you can't take it. ”

"Witch!" the seeker snorted disdainfully, "I'm the High Priest, and I can take anything. ”

He tried to take the cane again. The woman's tall guard stood up, "The chief's daughter said you can't take this cane!" he pushed the high priest away.

The man didn't push hard, but it was enough to completely unbalance the drunken archpriest. He frantically waved his arms, trying to steady himself. The priest took a few steps forward—seemingly overhead—and he accidentally stepped on his robe and plunged headlong into the raging flames.

Flames suddenly erupted, and there was a stench of burnt flesh. The blood-freezing screams of the Grand Priest stunned the audience, and he stood up with his whole body on fire and ran around the tavern!

Robert and the others were so frightened by the surprise that they didn't move. Only Wade dared to rush forward, trying to help the miserable fellow.

But the archpriest was waving his hands helplessly, trying to extinguish the flames that had devoured his body and clothes, and the dwarf Kanders seemed to be of little help.

"And then!" the old man snatched the cane from the barbarian's hand and handed it to the Kande. "Take him down, and then we can try to put out the flames on him. ”

Wade took the cane. With a wave of all his strength, he hit the abdomen of the great priest. The guy fell to the ground instantly. There were exclamations from the crowd. Wade gripped his cane and opened his mouth wide to stare at the sight in front of him.

The flames were extinguished immediately. The man's robe still looked intact. His skin looked undamaged, and he sat up, a look of awe and fear on his face.

He looked at his hands and robe, and there was no sign of burns. There was not even a trace of smoke on the clothes.

"It was this thing that healed him!" the old man declared loudly. "It's this cane—look!"

Wade looked at the cane in his hand. It's made of blue crystal, and it's shining blue!

The old man began to shout, "Call the guards, catch this guy, catch the two barbarians! and their friends! I saw these men come in with this knight!" he pointed to Stone.

"What?" Robert jumped, "Old fellow, are you crazy?"

"Call the guards!" the word had already begun to spread, "did you see—the blue crystal staff? We've finally found it! Now they'll let us go." Inform the guards!"

The Grand Priest struggled to his feet, and his face changed drastically. The Plains Woman and her companion stood up, a look of alarm and fear on their faces.

"Damn witch!" Hendrick's voice trembled with rage. "You heal me with evil spells! I will cleanse my flesh with flames, and you will cleanse your soul with flames!" As soon as he finished speaking, before the others could stop him, he actually put his hand into the flames!

Although his face was in pain, he did not cry out. Then, with his blackened hands clenched and a look of martyrdom on his face, the Grand Priest stepped past the crowd and walked out of the inn.

"You need to get out of here!" Lena ran out of breath to warn them. "The whole town is looking for the blue staff! The cloaked men warn the High Priest that if they knew someone was hiding it, they would destroy Verlo. The townsfolk will hand you over to the guards!"

"But this crystal staff is not ours!" protested Robert. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the old man sit back in his seat with a satisfied smile on his face. He blinked and smiled at Robert.

"Do you think they'll believe it?" said Lena, waving vigorously. "Look over there!"

Robert looked around, and everyone was staring at them viciously at the moment. Some clutched the glass in their hand, while others put their hand on the hilt of their sword. The shouting from below turned his attention back to his friend.

"The guards have arrived. Lena said.

Robert immediately stood up. "We had to get out of the kitchen. ”

"That's right. She nodded. "These people don't think about it for a while. But you have to hurry. They will soon be able to completely surround the place. ”

Years of separation have not caused these friends to lose the tacit understanding of facing threats together. Calamon had put on his shiny helmet, drew his sword, put on his backpack, and began to help his brother get to his feet.

Rodrith grabbed his cane and began to leave his position. Hubble held his tomahawk in his hand and frowned at the onlookers. None of them seemed willing to attack these heavily armed adventurers. Only Stone calmly continued to drink the ale.

"Stone!" Robert said nervously. "We need to get out of here!"

"Escape?!" the knight immediately had a look of disbelief. "You're letting me escape from this rabble?"

"Yes. Robert was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered that the honor of this knight did not allow him to escape any danger, and it seemed that he had to find a way to convince him.

"That guy is a fanatic, Stone, and he might burn us all alive by a pillar of fire!" and—he thought suddenly—"we have to protect this lady!"

"Of course, and the lady!" Stone immediately stood up and walked over to the plain woman. "Ma'am, I'm willing to serve you~" He nodded politely, the knight didn't want to show panic on any occasion.

"Looks like we're all in trouble. Your cane has put us all in extreme danger – especially you. We are familiar with the area: we were born and raised here.

And you, as far as I know, are just outsiders. It is our pleasure to keep you and your heroic friends safe. ”

"Hurry up!" Lena tugged at Robert's arm. Calamon and Rodrith were already standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

"Get the Kanders here. Robert told her.