The First Pilgrimage quest became the new Super High Priority for the realm. The necessary people were immediately slated to be moved in the night at the nearest opportunity for quicker transfer in the morning. Orswyth was instructed to devise a sermon and figure out the blessing target.

  Though it was mostly for priests by all appearances, she took a gander at the [Service Blessing] effect to understand it:

  A very long-term buff. Sure, why not? It begs me to make more Consecrated locales. They’d be targets, so I have to be mindful of that. Dominion are still in this region like little rats waiting for an opportunity to bite. Desirable for Puck in Merrington, though. That church over there for sure. Such a wide-reach, long-term buff is priceless for low-level soldiers.

  She planned to make it one of her first orders of business after hitting the FE maximum since it would help to sink it back down.

  As Sammy delegated, designed, and deliberated, the time ticked down closer to the operation. She was looking forward to the old matter being dealt with for good. Her [Mirrors] connection remained a dirty little secret. It needed to stay that way as long as possible, though she also knew it would not be forever.

  I wonder how Azure’s doing? But nope! Not checking in. I promised not to. I trust her. It’s just a mission and she can more than handle herself…

  ??············???···········??

  Under the forest canopy deep in the Dramines of the West, Azure and the rest of the small party marched through the night. An apparent necessity to their task in that place, as the fae were entirely absent from the forest, and perhaps even the material world, during the day.

  When Jeeves and the realm as a whole had set up the attempt to seek them out to make contact directly, Azure had not initially planned on going. But when the interface with Redberry’s realm produced their ambassador, an elven druid and new Pantheon Priest with the alias Aodhan Fleeting Moss, he had insisted Azure come along as a sister representative. In addition to their duo, they brought two Angels in Raphael and Seraphiel, Airmid the Cat Sith, the Faerie Dragon Arduinna, and the Siren Thelxie. Deliberately, there were no humans, which was presumed to be part of why prior contact failed.

  I doubt anyone has ventured this far, regardless.

  Starting from the ruins, Azure followed signs of a path noted by her keen tracking abilities and wilderness expertise, honed to perfection by her recent experiences in Ozra’s challenge visions. The druid Aodhan offered no comment, leaving it to her. Azure was sure it was some sort of test. From the moment they met, she felt she was being scrutinized and judged.

  Aodhan was a tall, imposing figure. Beautiful, in truth, with long, straight, platinum hair, vibrant green eyes, and an imperious, self-possessed aura. Of particular note were bony antlers out of his forehead, a sign of age and prestige among druids. Their ways were secretive, but Azure had always heard only archdruids had them. Nonetheless, he did not introduce himself that way. In fact, he’d only said, “You may call me Aodhan. Let us proceed. Are you skilled enough to lead?” A judgey eyebrow quirked upward on that too-pretty face spoke of what he thought the answer was.

  You’re damn right I am, you pointy-eared dandy. Just watch me.

  The Siren Thelxie was consistently stealing glances at the gorgeous elf and biting her lip. In a short amount of time, she started trying to flirt. She got nowhere, of course. Or did not seem to, anyway. Who ever knew, with elves?

  Especially this brand of elf. This is no tribal Yuran. He’s of that rarest of rare cultures hidden completely from the world. No physical address, no true public name. Survivors. Autochthons of the north, once an endless forest. Permanently a lost folk untethered from their homeland. Redberry’s lover was one, I believe.

  “Everyone aside from Aodhan, shut up,” Azure commanded in a growl at one point. “I want absolute silence. You can communicate in mental spaces if necessary.”

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  To this, Aodhan nodded sagely, possibly in approval.

  Points scored? Ugh, why do I care?! It doesn’t matter what he thinks.

  Everyone was reasonably capable of stealth, though it was doubtful they’d avoid notice if they stumbled into fae territory. The Angels were in Pegasus form utilizing levitation to avoid tromping around or beating their massive wings too much. Arduinna was in the form of a falcon keeping an eye on their flanks for threats.

  Azure came upon a sudden split in the path, which gave her some pause. Both routes had a lot of traffic signs. She got down on her belly to look as close as possible.

  “What are your findings?” Aodhan queried in her mind. “Do you need assistance?”

  Azure sat up to look over at the robed elf, standing nearby with his arms behind his back, face expressionless as he studied her. Azure replied, “It isn’t obvious what takes us in the direction of a community. Let me make my own deduction. Then I’ll get your second opinion.”

  “Very well.” Not a hint of approval or disapproval.

  There was nothing so obvious as footprints, but the wear and tear of a common path by big sapients was unavoidable. Extra discarded seed husks or the seeds of fruits, tiny bits of fabric here or there, and more than anything, the indentation of great mass over time, over the ground and the smallest of weeds.

  From the direction they originally came, more traffic seemed to angle to the more northern path. Dusting off her hands, Azure stood and whispered, “North, I think. It is more central when considering both other paths.”

  Aodhan met her eyes in the dark. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then he suddenly nodded in approval. “Correct.”

  Azure fought off the impulse to roll her eyes and they continued on.

  Gradually, the surrounding terrain deepened in the thickness of trees and aggregate foliage. Moreover, things got ‘darker’ in a subtle way that had nothing to do with light. Shadows deepened, the quiet seemed to sharpen, and what sounds did reach them, of insects, owl hoots, and other vaguer noises, had an echoing quality. In short, it got spooky.

  I’d say we’re on the right track.

  On they trundled through a thickening, creepy forest in the night on the ghost of a path. And then the path abruptly ended.

  “Uh, now what?” Seraphiel asked, her horse head twitching in agitation as it swung around.

  Their ‘path’ going back also ended within their line of sight. At some point, it had simply changed, or grown over. “Seriously?!” Azure exclaimed with her hands going to her hips. “Did no one keep an eye on our surroundings?”

  Falcon Arduinna squawked apologetically from a nearby tree. “I thought I was seeing things! My eyes were briefly blocked by leaves, then SHA-BAM! This nonsense. Even most of the foliage changed species. Glad I was close, or this might’ve separated us.”

  Azure frowned as she eyed the differences. Immediately ahead, the plants were consistent with before, but they gradually warped on their flanks and changed entirely to their rear.

  When she looked to Aodhan, he was just standing there calmly without reaction, as usual. Despite little given away in trying to read him, to Azure’s mind, it was the aura of ‘Well, are you going to do something, supposed guide?’

  Just as she was opening her mouth, she caught movement and whipped around, hand on her dagger’s hilt.

  Out from the trees and foliage, the gleam of big round, amber eyes at a high height. Nearly silent in movement despite tremendous size, leaves did rustle as a great head came into view. It was a gigantic black-furred bear with a white-etched rune on its forehead. Something about nobility and honor.

  “Trespassers,” a deep, masculine voice resonated from the general surroundings, “foreign fae-kin, do we dare to trespass in your realms? Has there not been peace? You are granted one warning by agreements bound in ancient blood. Journey the way you came and never return.”

  Before Azure could react, Aodhan replied saucily, “Or what?”

  What the fuck?!

  The bear turned his faintly glowing eyes on Aodhan and stared. “Elf of the Mediums Betwixt, you cannot enter without invitation. Invitation that will never be conveyed. Nor can you enter with them.”

  “They are merely escorts that can wait beyond, oh studious sentry. We will wait here as you convey our desire for a treaty with your betters. You require an invitation? We request one.”

  The bear appeared flummoxed. “Request an invitation? That is absurd.”

  “No, it isn’t. And even if it is, it might amuse your betters in the right way. So, I must insist.”

  The bear stared at him for a long moment. “Who is we? Who do you hope to treaty alongside?”

  “You know who.”

  The bear swept its big eyes over to Azure and stared indefinitely.

  Azure collected herself and cleared her throat, placing a hand to her chest. “I am-”

  “Names aren’t desired,” the bear interrupted. “Nor necessary. You are an… irregularity. You will not be allowed entrance.”

  “I must insist,” Aodhan replied with a bored sigh. “Either we go together or not at all. Be sure to relate that.”

  The bear eyed him once more, then turned to the others beyond Azure. “They will leave. Now.”

  Aodhan met Azure’s eyes and nodded slightly, at which point Azure turned and said, “Go ahead, everyone. Wait on the, uh, non-creepy side, I guess?”

  The bear growled for some reason. “The path will guide them.”

  Raphael also growled — which was decidedly odd from an equine. “I don’t like this, Madame. Not one bit.”

  “If there’s trouble,” Seraphiel added significantly on the mental channel, “we’re obligated to call for cavalry.”

  “It’ll be fine, you all,” Azure insisted, waving a hand. “You heard as well as I did. Treaty. Everything will be peaceful! Guaranteed.”

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