Loopshard

Ellen and Julie were both eerily silent on the return trip to Redbeard’s airship. There hadn’t been any rewards for slaying Rasal left behind in the mess of its corpse, which was probably for the best, since none of them wanted to stick around.

Adam and Lasse had worked for about half an hour to eradicate the parasites left behind by the dragon’s corpse, and they’d almost missed some, since a few had been quick to scurry away into the trees. Without Lasse’s boons from Messimer, they might not have found them all.

The other two had returned to the airship on their own, seeming thoroughly out of it. Adam was surprised just how much they’d been affected by the encounter with Rasal, but understood that his own accumulated experience in the Trials had significantly inoculated him from the traumatising elements it featured. And Rasal had certainly been a step-up from any of the previous encounters, even accounting for the monstrosities in Alepheria’s Tower.

When they returned to Jabari and Cathy, the pair gave them a worried look, but Adam could tell they were glad to have stayed behind.

We were lucky that Lasse only sustained an injury. We could’ve easily lost someone.

“We have eliminated Rasal and all the parasites he carried,” Adam told the Drakes’ captain.

Redbeard clapped Adam on the shoulder. “Good work, lad! I am mighty glad I found you lot.”

“If you wouldn’t mind, can you bring us to the Golden Fortress’ stronghold,” Adam requested.

“Certainly, y’all just follow behind us in your ship and we’ll take you there,” Redbeard said. “Also, I have some treasure that you are welcome to, as thanks for your aid.”