Chapter 79
When I came back to an awareness, I found Raven once again curled up next to me in her cat form, watching the room. I stroked her head and then stood. Opening the curtains, I saw that it was still daylight out, but the sun was getting lowlate afternoon, time for us to be on the road.
There was also a small pile of goods in the corner, mostly foodstuffs and other traveling supplies that Maxwell had acquired over the course of the day. I stored them away in our bag of holding before tying it around my waist. Raven transformed back into her cat form.
Here, try this ring on. I tossed her one of the vitality rings. It might be a little big.
Raven caught the ring and slipped it onto her index finger, which was far too big, then she put it on her thumb and it fit well enough. I promised myself we would find an enchanter. There was a subtle change in her, its hard to put descriptions in how you can see ones vitality increasing. She didnt gain muscle, or mass, but she just seemed more alive.
Before I headed downstairs, I slipped on the two spell storage rings, and felt the connection like Damien said I would. But they were far too loose. Even on my thumbs they were too loose. Unfortunately, I could not just string them around my neck, they wouldnt have worked. Determined to fiddle with it later, I slipped them into the storage bag and headed downstairs.
The ritualist had been resummoned by Jones to help recast the ritual that would confuse the map. By the time we were done, I felt like I might be able to replicate it on my own, but I wasnt certain how effective I would be. Or if it would be worth it. Id been right when I saw the dot flickering in the city meaning the ritual was failing. The ritualist apologized, saying hed underestimated the power of the spell tracking me and that there was not a lot else we could do.
Maxwell was sitting near the hearth strumming a tune on his guitar, and I headed over to him.
We have horses in the stable, Maxwell said. I paid extra to get creatures that have been bred for night travel. I got a few other looks with that request, but people are typically understanding in the circles I run. He glanced at the storage bag, and I nodded at his unasked question about the goods.
Well, I guess theres no point in wasting time, lets get going. We said our goodbyes to Jones and made our way to the stables.
Three horses waited for us. One was a dark, bay mare, the smallest of the horses. That ones Ravens, her name is River, Maxwell said. Its a good thing we got the money we did. I was able to get the best I could. I made sure all of the horses have been desensitized to monsters and other nonhuman creatures.
This ones mine, his name is Granite. Maxwell gestured at a dark brown stallion. And of course, that ones yours, his name is Shadow.
I wouldve rolled my eyes if I couldve. The horse he had got to me was a pure black stallion, and fit perfectly with me being a Lich. The only thing that wouldve made more sense is if the horse were a zombie. Which actually wasnt a bad thought, but I doubted guards would let me enter town with it.
All of the tackle was high-quality, made of a dark material that wasnt fancy, but was durable and would last.
Raven stared hesitantly at the horse. Im not sure about this. How do you ride one?
I looked at Maxwell. Neither of us had even thought about that. Of course Raven wouldnt know how to ride a horse. I was no expert myself, but both in game and back on Earth I had ridden horses, so at least I understood the basics. In fact, now that I was undead, I doubted I would even get saddle sore.
Hop on and just copy what we do, Maxwell said. Im sure itll come to you fairly quick.
We mounted our horses and rode them out of the stable onto the streets. We made our way north, and I kept an eye on Raven. while she seemed uncomfortable, she was doing okay. She was highly agile and athletic so I had no doubt shed learn the skill.
Nobody stopped us on our way to the gate, and already the streets were dying down with the sun setting. The gates would be closing soon, so we picked up the pace to make it in time. The guards gave us funny looks as we left, but no one questioned us, their concern was people entering not leaving.
As we rode into the fading night, Raven became more comfortable on the back of River. Soon her body was moving with the horse as it trotted along the road, the ease at which she picked it up made me jealous. I remember long hours of suffering in a saddle as we moved from destination to destination. Id learned the skill eventually, but itd taken a lot of pain.
The time in the city had bought us a lead I was certain. Even if they realize wed tricked the map, our pursuers had spent at least a day traveling in the wrong direction. And when they came to the city, the powerful priesthood would detect the monster lurking below. That would no doubt distract them for a day at least to root out and destroy it. But before long they would be on us again. Realistically, we had a few days head start.
I hoped to get far enough ahead that the pursuit would become pointless. The goal was to escape this kingdom via a ship on the coast.
When we were first out of the city, I channeled a small amount of death energy into each of the intelligence rings, I felt something shift in them. Then when I put them on my finger, I could feel a connection. But once again they were too loose.
Maxwell saw me fiddling with them. Thats a problem I hadnt thought about you having, he chuckled. I gave Maxwell the other vitality ring and he slipped it onto a finger, it fit him quite well.
If I allow them to be affected by the illusion they fit just fine, I grumbled. But the problem is if I ever have to dispel the illusion, theyll suddenly become loose.
Maxwell hummed, leaning back in his saddle. I might have a solution. I bought some lightweight cord for supplies, you never know if we might need that kind of stuff, maybe you could wrap your finger to give the ring something to be on.
Thats not a bad idea. I reached into the bag of holding and looked around until I found the cord he was talking about. I tried wrapping it myself, but between having to use one hand at a time in riding a horse it proved impossible.
If you wait till we stop for the night, or the day, depending how you look on it, Maxwell said, Ill do it for you.
I grunted in agreement and stowed the rings and cord back in the bag, and pulled out the tracking map. It was a cloudless sky, and the stars were bright, there was no moon though, but that didnt matter, darkness was my friend.
I studied the map and saw Maxwell studying the treasure map along with another map I did not recognize. Raven was practicing a new spell and had shrouded herself and her horse in shadows and moved ahead. Her constant need for scouting gave us assurance and allowed her to practice her magic.
You know this treasure location is really not far off this main road, Maxwell muttered. It really might be worth the diversion.
As the map updated, I saw that the dots indicating those chasing us were converging on the city, even though the dot indicating me now showed me far to the east. It would take them a while to realize wed left. Judging by the last experience, we had about a day and a half before the flickering showed us in our actual location. We might as well stop and see whats there, treasure is almost always worth the risk after all.
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