The Sorcerer and the Witch-King's Heir

The rain didn't let up until it was almost morning. The sleep-deprived survey team set about collecting their waterlogged and ruined belongings, and trudged up the ridge. There was a brief debate about going back to the inn, but nobody wanted to this trip to take any longer than necessary and one unexpected rainstorm seemed like a ridiculous reason to call off the whole expedition. Around mid-morning they reached a clear area where the pale autumn sunlight could reach them directly. They spread out their things to dry, started another fire, and ate what could be salvaged of their provisions while grumbling about what they were going to do when they ran out of food. One of the guardsmen offered to hunt, and there was a general agreement that a nap might be a good idea while he did that, since no one had got any sleep the night before. Karina was just about to fall asleep, when Tobias boots appeared in her vision. "I'm sorry to disturb you senator,: he said, "but the hunters found something. We think you should come see." Dutifully, Karina got up, donned her still-damp cloak, and followed him into the forest. He led them to a clearing a little way down the hill where the remains of a small campfire were clearly visible. There was some abandoned gear scattered around: a broken dagger, an empty vial, half a loaf of break and a water skin. There were also the bodies of nearly a dozen wolves, larger than anything Karina had ever seen in her life, some gutted, some burned, and some scorched to nothing more than charred bones and a little hair. But the worst thing, by far, was the trees. Every tree around the entire scene was lightning scarred, broken and burned, branches hanging at awkward angles. "Sorcery," Amaya whispered. Daryl swore violently, then glanced, embarrassed, at Karina. "Sorry, mother," he apologized. She waved it away, turning to focus instead on Amaya. "Sorcery?" she repeated. Amaya waved a hand at their surroundings. "That storm we saw last night. It wasn't natural, springing up like that out of a clear sky. And all the lightning was directed here. Lightning-callers are only known among the sorcerers. None of the druids can do anything like that." "But all the sorcerers are dead," Daryl said stupidly. "Not all of them," Karina corrected. "Most died, yes, after their bindings were broken. But not all of them." "Then where are they?" he demanded. "We should be keeping tabs on them! They're dangerous!" "No one knows," Tobias interjected. "The druids assumed responsibility for their rehabilitation and they never updated parliament. We all assumed, as you did, that they were dead." "They can't do magic," Amaya said. "Not after the breaking. If this is a sorcerer...it must be one who escaped the war." "First a lost heir, and now this," Karina mused. "This is getting more complicated by the hour." "It is more important than ever that we find the crown first," Tobias said firmly. "Before whoever these people get to it." "You think they're looking for it?" Daryl asked anxiously. "Why else would they be on our path? I'd say they've got about six hours start on us. If we pack up now and follow them, we could catch up with them before they reach it." "There is still the matter of food," Karina pointed out. "We can't walk for two days on an empty stomach." "Let's stick to the original plan, but move up the time table," Daryl said. "Let the guardsmen hunt, then we'll walk as long as we can tonight, and get an early start in the morning. We can leave the groom and the pony behind if we need to move faster, let them catch up once the site is secured." "Agreed," said Amaya, and Karina nodded. Tobias sighed. "As you wish, senators," he said. "I'll walk you back to camp."