Chapter 205
Our slow friend is named Steve, and Steve burnt the grilled cheese sandwiches.
Seeing that he is seriously lacking in domestic skills, the Dragons and I decided to have some mercy on ourselves and cook for the group. Both of them are aspiring Mystic Cooks, a common trade for the Green Priestesses once they’ve gotten to be a few centuries old.
To say the Lycans are delighted us an understatement. Most of their cooking skills are not much better than Steve’s, so they packed extra dry rations to avoid the risk of starvation. At home they live in the pack house, with a hundred more of their Kin and every meal made by the Omegas in the pack. Learning to cook for themselves just wasn’t a priority.
If they’re traveling they usually bring someone who can cook with them, but they forgot this time in their excitement. Or so they say. I personally think they’re hoping us thee Priestesses will cook for them all the time.
As we cook, we have formulated a plan though. Lycans are very food motivated, since we’re cooking it should be easy to get them to do all the hard and dirty work. We’ll do the research, and I’ll head into the cavern as requested by the Avatar, but they can do all the heavy lifting and clearing blocked corridors.
The cavern is supposed to be just the other side is this mountain, pointing east towards where the moon rises. Their research says it can only be found during the three days surrounding the equinox when the Moon is up, so we’ve got a very limited period of time to find it and get inside. I chose to meditate until it’s time to move out, getting well rested for what is likely to be a number of long nights.
We head out just before sunset, so we can be in the right area when the moon begins to rise, all spread out in a search pattern. My assigned grid starts near a large flat cliff and I can feel the magic even before the moon begins to rise. Good to know that peculiar ability didn’t fade with all the changes I’ve been through. With a bit of effort I can even pick out the design of the runes inscribed on the rock, though it still feels solid.
When the moonlight hits the rock face the runes glow and reveal a message. Follow the Valley Sixty Kilometers North. Simple enough.
Only one problem, when I call them over, nobody else can read the message. The Dragons can’t even see it, they only see the magical runes on the wall and think this might be the spot.
As I run up the valley I can see markers along the river bank pointing me onwards, making it almost impossible to get lost. The trail ends at another cliff, and I can see the magic in a small circle halfway up that must be the opening. As agreed I take the lead, jumping up and in, to reveal a carved out cavern, and John jumps in beside me with a Lycan at either shoulder.
But the entry isn’t that wide and they both hit the rock face and scramble for traction before sliding down. Guess they can’t see the flow of magic. Both Priestesses jump through without any problem, grabbing my hand to help them across the barrier one after the other.
The cavern is magnificent, an entire abandoned Sect has been dug into the ground here. At least, I assume it’s abandoned. I don’t smell anyone, or see any movement as I look down over the compound.