Chapter 206: The Search
They rode for hours, directionless and traveling with no concrete end goal except for finding the mages. Their only plan was to hit each village that they came across and hope that they started off on the right foot.
Irene’s best idea was to at least go to the village where they first found them. It would make their lives so much easier if they simply receded to where they once were.
It just so happened that the township where they found the mages once before was the very same one Samson once lived in. That place was memorable to Irene for many different reasons by that point.
Upon arriving, the three apprentices witnessed rebuilding efforts even over a year later. It was slowly taking time to heal.
Irene hoped that she would see that in the Duke’s Tower eventually. Even if they couldn’t be there now, they would be back one day and make it better than it was before.
Since time was of the essence and the urge to get back to the ancient wall where the camps were set up had already struck, they hurried through the village, seeking the reeve.
Luckily, the man was close to his home because winterization efforts that year were slow. After all, no knights were going there to help them.
When the reeve saw the teenagers, he seemed somewhat relieved. His initial thought was that they were there to help, but he saw their serious expressions and the way they moved with purpose to find him. He knew immediately it was not the case.
"What can I do for you, apprentices?" the reeve asked, standing from where he had been sitting on a bench in front of his house. "I don’t suppose you’re here for winterization efforts. After the passing of His Grace, Sir Gunnar was insistent that things would slow for a while while Tenetium finds how to reorganize itself while His Majesty finds us a worthy replacement."