"Don't mess around!" Stone said, staring at Hubble and Wade, his beard trembling, and his angry eyes turned to Robert, "I can hear these two guys clearly by the lake! This is going to kill all the goblins of Candela! We're going to have to get out of here! Where are we going?"

All the people fell silent uneasy. Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their heads to look at Robert, with the exception of Rodrith.

The young mage was wiping the cup with a white cloth without even raising his head, as if deaf to the matter.

Robert sighed and scratched his beard. "The High Priest of Vero is already ugly, we can now be sure of that.

They used the rogue goblins to control the place, and if they let him get the crystal staff, it would definitely be used for personal gain.

We've been searching for the gods for years, and now that we've finally had results, I'm not going to give it up to that liar.

Lena said she believes Haven's top followers should still be interested in the truth. Perhaps, they can tell us the origin of this crystal wand and its true power. Wade, show me the map. ”

The Kanders poured a bunch of things out of their bags and made a mess before they found the map.

"We're located here, on the west shore of the Crystal Lake," Robert continued. "The Carolian Mountains to the north and south branch form the Villo Valley boundary. There is no road on either side, except for Gatway Avenue in the south of Willow!"

"Eighty percent of the place is guarded by the goblins," Stone muttered. "There are some trails to the northeast—"

"But you'll have to cross the lake!" said Hubble, fearfully.

"Yes," continued Robert's composure on his face—"we have to cross the lake." But these roads lead to the Great Plains, and I don't think you'll want to go there. He looked at the Scarlet Moon and the River Breeze. "The path to the west is clearly the only way to go through Sentinel Peak and Shadow Valley to Haven. ”

Stone frowned. "What if the High Seekers there are just as shameless as the Willow Voters?"

"Then we will continue south to Quelinastie. ”

"Eternal Night Forest?" the river wind glared angrily. "Elven territory? No! It's off-limits to humans! Besides, the road is hidden. ”

A faint, wheezing voice interrupted the discussion. As Rodrith spoke, everyone turned their heads to look at him. "I know there's a way. ”

His voice was faint but mocking, his golden eyes twinkling in the morning light. "The road through the Dark Forest leads directly to Quilingnasti. ”

"Dark Forest?" Calamon repeated carefully. "No! Robert!" the warrior shook his head. "I'd rather fight a monster alive every day - but death doesn't count!"

"Dead?" Wade asked quickly. "Calamon, tell me—"

"Wade, shut up!" Stone interrupted. "The Dark Forest is a crazy proposition. None of those who dared to go in survived. Do you want to sacrifice the crystal staff?

"Wait a minute!" Robert said suddenly. Everyone fell silent, even Stone stopped talking.

The knight looked at Robert's calm, thoughtful face, with years of experience and knowledge of adventure hidden in his eyes.

The knight often wondered why he was willing to accept Robert's leadership, and he was just a half-elf mongrel.

He has no noble blood, and the armor he wears is nothing special, let alone a shield engraved with a glorious insignia. But Stone still followed him, and no one respected him more than Robert.

This life was a mystery for the knight, and he had no other reason to explain it than to live by the rules of the knighthood.

"Honor is my fate. The code of honor was stricter than anyone in Candela, and the code of knighthood became a truth that no one could break for seven hundred years.

But Stone secretly worries about whether one day, when the final battle comes, the knights' code will encounter unexplained problems.

He knew that when that day came, Robert would be by his side, fixing the whole crumbling values. Because Stone simply obeys the rules of chivalry, and Robert leads by example.

Robert's words brought the knight back to reality, "We must remind you that this crystal staff is not the property of any of us. If you had to say that the scepter belonged to anyone - Scarlet Moon was the rightful owner. We are no more qualified to have it than the High Priest of Willow. Robert turned to look at the woman. "Ma'am, what is your opinion?"

Scarlet Moon looked at Robert and Stone, then at the river breeze. "You know what I think. He said coldly. "But you—the chief's daughter. He stood up and, ignoring her pleading gaze, walked out.

"What does he mean?" asked Robert.

"He wants me to leave you and bring the Crystal Staff to Haven. Scarlet Moon whispered. "He said you would increase our danger and that we ourselves would be safer. ”

"Increased danger to you?!" Hubble couldn't help but erupt. "We're not going to stay here, and I'm not going to nearly drown, if not, if not—" The dwarf was speechless.

Robert grabbed his hand, "That's enough." He scratched his beard. "You'll be safer with us, will you accept my help?"

"I do," Scarlet Moon replied in a low voice. "At least for the time being. ”

"Okay. Robert said. "Wade, you know how to get around, you're our guide. Remember, we're not here for a picnic!"

"Yes. The Kander said he slung the large bag he carried with him around his waist and shoulders. As he passed Scarlet Moon's side, he thoughtfully patted her hand and walked out of the cave. The others quickly gathered their bags and quickly followed.

"It's going to rain again," Hubble muttered as he looked at the low-hanging rain clouds. "I should have stayed in Willow. He began to move forward, muttering to himself as he adjusted the position of the tomahawk on his back.

Robert shook his head with a smile as he waited for Scarlet Moon and River Breeze. At least some things never change, and dwarves are one of them.

River Breeze slung Scarlet Moon and his backpack on his shoulder, "I hid the boat this morning," he regained his expressionless mask today. "Just in case we're going to need it again. ”

"Good idea," said Robert, "thanks—"

"Please go ahead," the river breeze gestured, "and I'll be behind in order to erase our footprints." ”

Robert would like to thank this plainman again. But River Breeze had turned his head and started his work. Walking up the path, the half-elf couldn't help but shake his head.

He heard Scarlet Moon behind him whisper a question in their language, and River Wind replied simply and rudely. Robert heard Scarlet Moon sigh, and then all words were drowned out by the rustle of the river wind obscuring the footprints.

The verdant greenery of the Valle de Velo actually contains the pulse of life. The dense trees are lined with shrubs and climbing plants, and the ground is interspersed with annoying vines.

If passers-by are not careful, the vines will quickly cling to the victim's ankle until the innocent victim is captured by the predators roaming the valley.

While these meat eaters enjoy their dinner, the vines also have access to the nutrients they need to sustain their lives – blood.

It took them nearly an hour to clear a road to Haven Avenue. Everyone was tired, thirsty, and wounded, and the straight dirt road leading to Haven was an exhilarating sight.

It wasn't until they set foot on the dirt road and began to rest that they found that the whole forest was as quiet as if someone had covered their mouths. Although they managed to reach the smooth avenue, no one wanted to leave the shelter of the bushes rashly.

"Do you think it's safe?" Calamon peered through the gap between the trees.

"Safe or not, it's our only option," Robert interjected. "Unless you know how to fly, or you want to go back to the forest.

It had just taken just over an hour to walk a few hundred yards, and at this rate, we would probably be at the next fork in the road next week. ”

The big man blushed and confessed, "I didn't mean that-"

"I'm sorry," Robert sighed. He also jumped to the end of the road, which was surrounded by trees like a dark promenade. "I don't like that as much as you do. ”

"Shall we go our separate or shall we go together?" Ston coldly interrupted what he considered a pointless conversation.

"Let's act together," Robert replied. Then he added, "But someone has to go and investigate first—"

"Leave it to me, Robert!" Wade said as he slipped out from under Robert's elbow and volunteered. "No one would be suspicious of a Kander traveling alone. ”

Robert frowned, Wade was right—no one would doubt him. Every Kander is an adventurous person by nature, wandering around the Candela in search of thrilling business.

But Wade has a bad habit of easily forgetting what his original mission was whenever he encounters something interesting. ”

"All right!" said Robert, at last. "But, Wade Pavolt, the tricks are bright and smart. Don't run around, and most importantly," Robert looked him straight in the eye - "don't hit other people's ideas. ”

"Unless that guy is a baker. Calamon added.

Wade giggled and squeezed out of the bushes and onto the dirt road. The Hopark's staff in his hand poked holes one by one in the dirt, and the bag he was carrying jumped up and down. The mouth sings the travel song of the Kande.

What you really love in your heart is a ship that sails the seas

It is moored in our harbor. We clean the deck for her, hoist the sails for her,

and he cleaned the window rails on both sides for her;

Our beacon shines for her,

Our bay is warm, and we drive her into the bay—

It doesn't matter if you're in a storm or calm and calm.

Sailors stand on the harbor,

One by one, row by row station,

Like a dwarf who longs for gold,

Or centaurs in pursuit of spirits.

It was all the sailors who loved her deeply,

She flocked everywhere.

Everyone is looking forward to it

Be able to live and die with her.

Robert couldn't help but smile until he couldn't hear Wade's singing before leading everyone out on the road. Everyone walked out of the woods trembling like actors facing many bad audiences. To them, every pair of Candela's eyes seemed to be staring at them.

The dense shade under the flaming foliage allowed visibility to be less than a few feet, and Stone walked alone at the front of the group, and Robert knew that although he was striding with his head held high, he was struggling fiercely. Calamon and Rodrith followed. Robert looked at the young mage with concern, worried about whether his physical strength would last.

Rodrith was a little unsteady when he first stepped out of the woods, but now it seems to be perfectly normal. He held his staff in one hand and an open book in the other. Robert was at first wondering what kind of book it was, but then he realized that it was a spell book that every mage would have.

Memorizing these powerful spells every day is the destiny of all mages. Once these magical spells are cast, they disappear from your mind.

Each spell consumes part of the caster's physical and mental power until the mage is exhausted and the mage has to rest completely before he can cast them again.

Hubble hurried to Calamon's side. The two began to argue in a whisper about the boating accident ten years ago.

"Just because you want to catch fish empty-handed!" muttered Hubble in disgust.

Robert followed, walking side by side with the two Plainsmen. He turned his attention to Crimson Moon and noticed that in the blurred light, the lines on her face looked far more mature than her actual age, twenty-nine.

"Our love didn't go well. As they walked side by side, Scarlet Moon confessed to him. "River Breeze and I have been in love for many years, but the traditions of our people dictate that a warrior must perform earth-shattering feats before he is eligible to marry the chief's daughter.

That's an even bigger obstacle for us. Riverwind's family had been banished from the tribe years ago for refusing to worship their ancestors, and his grandfather had sacrificed to the ancient gods that existed before the Cataclysm—though no evidence could be found to back him up. ”

"My father didn't want me to commit to marriage, so he gave River Wind the impossible task of finding sure proof of the existence of the true God.

Of course, my father didn't believe the evidence at all, and he only hoped that River Breeze would die in this long and aimless search, or that I would be empathetic during this time. She smiled as she looked at the tall warrior beside her, but his face was expressionless, his gaze staring straight into the distance.

She smiled, sighed, and continued to whisper her story.

"The river breeze was gone for years, and my life became meaningless, and I always thought that I might die because of it. But just a week ago, he returned, with only half a life left and a terrible high fever. He staggered into my tent and fell at my feet, burning horribly.

He had the crystal staff in his hand, and we tried to break his hand away, but he wouldn't let go even though he was unconscious. ”

In the midst of a high fever he groaned about a dark place, a black-winged god of death in a long-abandoned city. Then he fell into a frenzy of fear, and the servants were forced to tie him to the bed.

Then he had a dream in which a woman glowed with blue light. He said that the woman had healed him in that city and had given him the crystal staff.

When he thought of this woman, his emotions calmed down, and the high fever subsided. ”

"Two days ago—" She stopped, was it really only two days? It felt like a lifetime. She continued, "He gave the crystal staff to my father and told him that it was given to him by an unknown goddess. My father looked at the crystal staff, 'Crimson Moon, take it up—command it to show its powers—anything!'

But nothing happened. He threw it back to River Wind, accused him of being a liar, and ordered the people to stone him to death as punishment for his deception!"

Scarlet Moon's face turned pale, and River Breeze's face was clouded.

"The tribesmen tied him up and dragged him to the wall of remorse," her voice was now only a little louder than her breath. "They started throwing stones at him. He looked at me with love in his eyes, and shouted that even death would not separate us.

I couldn't bear the pain of having to live alone from now on, so I ran to him, and the stone fell down on us—" Crimson Moon put her hand on her forehead, as if enduring the pain of her memory, and Robert noticed a scar on her smooth leather that had not yet healed.

Then there was a blinding glow. By the time River Wind and I could see clearly, we were already on the road outside Verlo.

The crystal wand glowed blue, then dimmed, and became what you see it now. After that, we decided to go to Haven and find the Wise Man to answer all the questions about the Crystal Staff. ”

"River Breeze," Robert asked, puzzled, "how much do you remember about this abandoned city, and where is it?" River Breeze didn't answer, he looked at Robert out of the corner of his eye, his thoughts clearly drifting into the distance. Then he turned to face the dark woods.

"Half-elf Robert," he finally spoke. "Is that your name?"

"It's the name humans have given me," Robert replied. "My true elven name is long and hard to pronounce for humans. ”

River Wind frowned. "Why?" he asked, "why do humans call you half-elf instead of half-human?"

The question was like a head-on punch, and he could almost see himself fall to the ground. He had to be forced to calm himself to endure the breath. He knew that River Wind must have his reason for asking this question, and he didn't really want to insult him. Robert realized that it was a test. He carefully chooses the words he uses.

"From a human point of view, a half-elf represents nothing more than half elven blood in the body, while a half-human represents incompleteness. ”

River Breeze thought for a moment, finally nodded, and began to answer Robert's question.

"I traveled aimlessly for many years," he replied. "I often don't know where I am. I guide the way through the moon, the sun, and the stars. My last journey was like a nightmare. He was silent for a while.

When he spoke again, it was as if he was far away. "It was a city that was once glorious, with white buildings and white marble columns. But it was as if a pair of huge hands had thrown it off the cliff. The city is very old, and it is very sinister inside. ”

"Death on black wings. Robert whispered.

"It is like a god who has appeared in the darkness, and other evil creatures worship it, and they keep screaming and howling. "The plain man's tanned skin turned pale.

In the cold wind of the early morning, there were big beads of sweat, "I can't go on." Scarlet Moon stroked his arm, and the nervous look on his face quickly faded.

"In the midst of such dark fear, a woman gave you this crystal staff?" Robert asked.

"She healed me," River Breeze said simply. "I was dying. ”

Robert looked at the crystal staff that Scarlet Moon was holding. On the surface, it was just an inconspicuous ordinary wooden staff, with strange carvings on the top and a favorite feather of the savages entwined around it.

But it once glowed blue! He had seen its miracles with his own eyes. Was it a gift from the old gods—to help them, and to appear at this moment, or was it the embodiment of evil? He knew nothing about these savages.

Robert rang out Rodrith to claim that only a well-hearted person could touch the cane. He shook his head, it sounded like a good thing, and he tried to believe it......

Robert was lost in thought, and he felt Crimson Moon tap him on the shoulder. Looking up to see Calamon and Stone gesturing to him, the half-elf suddenly realized that he and the Plainsman were far behind. He began to run forward.

"What's going on?"

Stone pointed, "Our scout is back. ”

Wade ran from the front, waving his hands as he ran.

"Hide in the woods!" Robert ordered. Everyone quickly ducked into the woods to the south - only Stone didn't make any move.

"Stone!" Robert grabbed the knight's arm. Stone slammed the half-elf apart.

"I will not hide my head and tail!" said the knight coldly.

"Stone!" Robert began, trying to suppress his rising rage. He endured the vitriolic accusations, knowing in his heart that doing so would cause irreparable harm. He could only purse his lips. Wait patiently for the Kanders to return.

Wade finally ran back, his bag jumping non-stop. "Priest!" he shouted. "A group of priests, there are eight!"

Stone let out a disdainful voice. "I thought they were goblin combat troops! I'm sure we could easily get rid of them. ”

"It's hard to say. Wade said skeptically. "I've seen all kinds of priests on Candela, but I've never seen this one. He lowered his head and looked intently at the ground, as if thinking about something. Then he looked up at Robert, his brown eyes with a rare seriousness.

"Do you remember what Lena told in Willow about the strange people who stayed with Handrick all day? That's what those pastors look like! And, Robert, they give me a very ominous feeling. The Khanders shrugged. "They're going to be here right away. ”

Robert looked at Stone, and the knight raised an eyebrow. Both men knew very well that the Kanders had never known what fear was, but they were sensitive to the nature of other creatures.

Nothing in Robert's memory would give Wade a "sense of foreboding" — and he, like Wade, had been to many unimaginably dangerous places.

"Here they are. Robert said. He, along with Stone and Wade, retreated into the shadows of the woods on the left, watching the group of priests slowly approach.

Robert couldn't tell the details of what he was wearing because of the distance, but he could tell that they were walking very slowly, dragging a small trailer.

"Maybe you should ask them for directions, stone. Robert whispered. "We need to know more about the road ahead. Be careful. ”

"I'll be careful. Stone smiled and said, "I won't send you to death senselessly!"

[.]