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Chapter 26: Suntail's Search

The morrow arrived swifter than Skywing could have fathomed, given the gravity of their impending quest. Following the morning repast, he and his compatriots adorned themselves in formidable armor, ensorcelled their spells, and steeled their nerves to confront the crimson behemoth that had abducted Arcturus and cast a menacing shadow over the realm. Aligned side by side, their armor gleaming resplendently in the afternoon sun, they stood poised for the imminent clash.

Summoning the arcane forces required meticulous commands throughout the morning, rallying an assemblage of soldiers from across the city—human and gryphon alike—standing at the ready with talons and energy crossbows. The air resonated with palpable anticipation, the low hum of energy crossbows preventing any semblance of silence. Above them, metallic constructs, animated by mana stones, stood sentinel, their motionless forms exuding an unwavering loyalty, poised for the command to plunge into the impending fray.

Suntail, clad in leather armor, led the march toward the abode, with Skywing at her flank. In an authoritative tone, she rapped on the door, announcing her presence. Gus and his wife greeted them, instantly dashing hopes of Arcturus's presence.

“What do you mean he isn't here?" Skywing asked with a cutting chirp, his head cocked. Had the inquisitor gotten it wrong somehow?

“It's to be expected." Suntail asserted coldly, observing the color drain from the humans' faces as they faced the arrayed soldiers.

"He and his friends came by. It was good to see him smiling and uplifted, as if he were back to normal after all these years," Gus explained. "Didn't think much of it, but I assume you're here for him?"

“Your friend needs to be taken in for questioning." Suntail stated with a fluff of her wings, “I can't go much further than that, it's a matter of kingdom security."

He gestured to the stable, “Feel free to look around. Only funny thing was that he brought a dragon around."

“You knew about the dragon?" Skywing gasped, “Why didn't you say anything about it?"

Gus laughed, "Fella was nice, once you saw through the personality. Charming, funny, even made Mary here split her sides. Sorry to see him go, honestly."

Suntail squawked indignantly, warning about the potential dangers of dragons. Gus, unfazed, shrugged.

"Is there a law that says I need to? I don't recall anything about it."

“You put your family in great danger. Who knows what damage that dragon could have- “

“Oh, I know what you mean!" Laughed the guard, “His tail had a mind of his own."

Eyes narrowed, Suntail clearly wasn't buying this innocent excuse, “We're going to search ever bit of this house- “

“Don't forget the stable." Gus gestured, “That's where they stayed, you know, because account of the size. I'll help as much as you like."

“Did you know where they were going?" Her brow rose.

“Don't think I caught it no." Gus rubbed the back of his neck with a laugh, “I'd tell ya if I did though. Best I can say is that they were off on some adventure. I mean, it must have been some adventure right, they had a dragon!"

Dragging Skywing away, Suntail kept her composure ordering one after the other to start tearing the house and the stables apart. “Take the man and his wife in for questioning." She turned to them with a cruel gaze, “We will sift through their stories for truth."

Knowing the lengths she would go, Skywing's ears splayed, “Madame, they have a child- “

“Many people have children."

“They appear to not have known anything." He hissed, “I beg of you to take this lightly."

“I will take it as far as I must." Insisted Suntail, clacking her beak, “How hard I have to pierce with my talons is entirely up to them."

The Drenedar princess and now Lumarian citizens? Skywing's resolve wavered as both humans were led away, showing no resistance as the guards took custody. To all appearances, they seemed oblivious, merely aiding a friend for the night.

For four hours, Suntail orchestrated a relentless upheaval, with books strewn, tables overturned, and walls scrutinized for concealed passages. Spells unraveled magical illusions, eyes pressed to the floors in a meticulous search for secret doors or escape routes. The once-intact house fell victim to violation, its floor reduced to scattered debris and worn planks.

“How are you holding up sir?" Powerfeather found Skywing, the man wiggling his mustache, “Unfortunate your comrade isn't here."

“That it is." He stared off into the bustling streets, ignoring the groups of onlookers that had gathered to see why the guards were currently mobilized. Already he'd had to squawk away several groups of gryphons that were now high on the perches, keeping their distance, just far enough away he couldn't protest. “I thought it would be over."

“But it's close to it." Grunted the man, “Trail's not dead, it's just different. Watch, this Suntail, she'll get us sorted, just you watch."

His tail flicked with unease, as the Inquisitor made her way through the house, around it and then through the stables. Though she maintained an aura of calm, never letting it show that she was irritated, Skywing could see it in her eyes, the calculations that must be going on this very moment on where exactly Arcturus had gone. She was going to stop at nothing until the knight was found, captured and brought before her in chains.

** * * * * * *

Hours later, he found himself once more before the Inquisitor, this time back at her office. The search had proved fruitless; if Arcturus had used a secret way to escape, she and all her forces had failed to find it. Attempts at magical scrying had turned up fruitless; something was shielding them.

When he entered, she was relaxing, waiting patiently as Azzik was pouring her a cup of tea. Evidently, the little lizard was telling her a charming story about how he and Feku had found a kitten and nursed it back to health.

“Did you learn anything from the couple?" He levied the inquisitor with a sharp gaze, “I do hope you didn't use that thing."

“Of course, I didn't." She scoffed, “Simple charm and talking. They spilled every bit of their encounter with the dragon. How funny he was, how comical. The way they go on about it, this dragon must not be as prideful as I imagined, or at least not to the degree that I anticipated."

That was reassuring.

“That brings us back to the only resource that we do have." She drummed her talons across her desk, nearly knocking over her cup of tea. “We will have to probe deeper into Lyndis, find out what she was hiding from us."

“I thought she needed time to recover?" His head tilted, a sense of cold creeping in. He'd known this gryphon had more lurking beneath the surface, waiting to slice.

“She would." Suntail said without emotion, “But time moves against us, Arcturus and that dragon move now. I require to know precisely what that will be. Gus mentioned Arcturus had gone to see a mage. I fear it might be what we suspect all along. That Rothdell moves against us, I fear what will happen when they do. You know very well what magical terrors they can unleash."

His heart skipped a beat, up until now, he was hoping those two conspiracies were unrelated. “It could be any mage, we're not certain that it's- “

“A dragon shows up at our doorstep wanting revenge, just as Rothdell is using its spies against us? I don't think that's a coincidence to draw the conclusion the beast is working for them." She gave an indignant squawk before sipping her tea, “I'll give him this, by the account of him, he is a bumbling fool. What an amusing trick."

“And the princess?"

“Yes, we shall have to risk her well being in the pursuit of our safety." Suntail sighed, “There is no other way. I can't afford to fall behind again."

“You don't mean possibly risking killing her?" He squawked as Azzik's eyes widened.

Interrogating her was one thing, but subjecting her to that thing again with risk of death? “She's done nothing wrong to warrant such an action. I object, as much as I can inquisitor." He snarled, ruffling his feathers, “I won't let you."

Fear never entered her face, “Is that so? Did you peruse the recent file of the attack for Carter? Where a red dragon, two green ones and a group of adventurers attack our forces? Did you know what I found most interesting about the report?"

“And what would that be?"

“That among the adventurers that were slaughtering good men and woman, there was Lyndis, the dwarf and Arcturus himself. I assume the dragons are Emerald Lady's children." Death lurked in her gaze as her voice grew tight, “Now commander, I'd like to hear your opinion on that now. What punishment should be fitting for her, one who holds our people's safety with such little regard. Would you deny the families of the lost justice? At least let Lyndis' death help our people find safety. If she were anyone else there would be no question."

He didn't answer, “Let me see the report." She slid the parchment across the table. There it was, plain as day, written along the page. With it were detailed reports by eyewitnesses who had seen the entire thing. Was this all a fabrication to keep him on her side? Peering up, he saw the conviction there, the self-righteousness of her spirit and doubted himself.

“If she is as strong willed as you claim, I imagine she will survive the process." Suntail took back the paperwork, “It's alright Skywing, I understand your shock. I need to know what plan she's involved with, especially if Emerald Lady is caught up in the mix. First yourself and then her, she is plotting something against us, I will stop her."

“Careful Suntail." He said softly, “Trifling with her won't end well."

“She hasn't tussled with me." She gestured with a wing, “Come to me again when I call for you. When the trail is hot once more, I expect you and your team to spring into action."

“Many have said that before crossing Emerald Lady's plots." He chirped bitterly, eyes travelling to Azzik, “I'd think about this before we end Lyndis' life, what happened to make her and her group attack that fort, kill its people? I think something else might be at work- “

“Or that she and her ilk are liars? You ignore the truth staring you in the face."

“Perhaps." He growled, “But I am not wrong, who knows, you could be playing into Emerald Lady's paws at this very moment."

Her brow rose as the air silenced, tension rose, “Is there something you left out of your reports about her?"

“Nothing."

“Watch commander, you shall see that I was right in this, mark my words. Lyndis and these mages are at the heart of Emerald Lady's schemes. Now go, return to your squad, wait for my word."

Bitterly he swelled that wretched pill as he turned to leave, nearly striking Azzik in the face with his tail. Hopefully the company of his squad, good spirits and food would mask the unease lingering in his paws. Deep down he knew she was right; he didn't have the stomach for this kind of work. Though with every step a fear began to feaster within, a fear that when he and Arcturus met once more, would the man even recognize his feathers?