Eodem: A Rifle and Sword Adventure (Complete)

Chapter 65: Rangers vs Rangers

"Ser Huguet?" a cloaked woman pushed herself before their path. She knelt down honorably as the Elven Prince and the Legionary Marshall gave pause. "The Begging Hermit seeks a sip from the Winemaker." She spoke fruitily. It was a Spy Code, that the Roguish Organization known as the Crows speak unique to them to identify themselves to higher echelon clients, the client being Ser Huguet as he had passed mention to Valorion several days ago.

"Tolios had blessed you with a safe journey Mita?" Huguet affirmed the woman's presence before turning to the Elf. "Prince Valorion, this is the fabled Crow Master herself, Mita." Huguet introduced the Master Rogue to him.

"I have come to bring both exciting and grim news." Mita bowed.

"Take off your cloak, have some hot food Crow Master." Huguet gave of the hospitality that was the sanctious last bastion of the Empire to the Crow.

"I... must humbly decline for I bring you urgent tidings, that and I have in my possession, an artifact of power that once belonged to the Invaders." The Crow pulled back, not wanting to bare herself upon her Masters so publicly.

"You have a Demonic Artifact?!" Prince Valorion exclaimed.

Just the two words of 'Demonic' and 'Artifact' was enough to cause the hounds and nearby guards patrolling the

"You should be all at ease, for the Artifact I possess is inert. But worthy of study." Mita reassured everyone present. "Milord, if you may, can you show me to the Fortress's Arcaneum so I may hand over my artifact to the Scholars? I can explain all I have discovered from my travels amongst the desolated lands of our former home." she proposed.

"Are we really going to have one of their own cursed items taint this sacred bastion?" Valorion argued.

"We need to know our enemy milord! How they keep defeating us no matter what we throw at them." Huguet countered the Elf. "The Crows are the best spies in my country and are bound by contract to my liege, Emperor Uldin. I have every reason to trust them, especially their leader." He nodded to the Crow Master.

"You there! I want you to to Summon forth Sellyine to come to the Arcaneum at once." Valorion ordered one of his bodyguards.

Proceeding in due haste the three masters jogged forth to the Arcaneum where remnants of the Imperial College and a plethora of Arcane Materials saved from the fallen College of Magi or of the local archive were kept. Huguet gathered the attention of all learned people to his beck and call as they gathered over a large study desk situated in the middle of the table of the latest discovery on their race to find a way to defeat the Demon's before it is too late.

The Crow Master rummaged through her belongings hidden under her thick black cloak and brought forth to the table a small package wrapped in linen. She unfurled the parcel carefully less she upsets the artifact in question as the Scholars held their breath.

"Behold, the Weapon that the Demons used to destroy us all." She revealed Samantha's Pistol that she had managed to whisk away from the Share-Holder that very week before.

"A weapon? You have managed to loot one of their Metal Wands?" Huguet pointed.

"It is not a wand. But in fact, like my Dwarfen Handbow to be exact." Mita corrected him. "Load it with some bolts, point at wherever you want to kill, and then shoot it out."

"Like the Cipazlish Crossbows the Sting-Eye's shoot out from?" Findrum raised.

Mita nodded, confirming his guess.

"As in, this weapon of theirs that has been slaughtering our men isn't of Magic? Some kind of Crossbow? Preposterous!" Faithleann, the Chosen One exclaimed disbelievingly.