The soldier smiled more brightly at Trisfelt’s recognition of the correct term. “Not many on this continent recognize the Rod of Tiernon; I’m pleased to see we haven’t been completely forgotten.” He nodded politely to the children. “I’m sorry to bother you, but my sergeant has requested that I ask you a few questions. If you don’t mind.”
“No, I’d be happy to oblige.” Trisfelt didn’t mind, especially as the soldier was being so nice about it. Very strange, really. Were these fellows so polite to everyone?
“Have you by any chance seen any unusual looking travelers along this road?”
“Unusual? You mean aside from the gentleman on the flying horse?”
The soldier smiled again, “Sir Talarius, Knight Rampant. Certainly our greatest knight and perhaps, Tiernon willing, the greatest knight in all of Astlan. He is most impressive, isn’t he?” The children nodded in fascination. “I find myself gawking at him all the time,” the young soldier said to the children.
“So nothing else?” the soldier asked.
“No,” Trisfelt shook his head, trying to remember. “Maybe if you’d describe what you’re looking for?”
The young soldier looked at the children for a moment, indecisive, then got off his horse. Tying its reins lightly to a wheel, he then walked a ways ahead of the wagon and gestured for Trisfelt to join him. Trisfelt, puzzled, complied.
“Sorry,” the incredibly polite soldier said, “but I didn’t want to alarm the children. I shouldn’t be telling you, but you look like a learned individual.”
Trisfelt nodded, “I have some knowledge of things mystical.”
The soldier nodded. “Well, specifically, we are looking for a party of wizards.”
“Wizards?”
“Wizards and demons actually.” The soldier nodded in confirmation. “We are following a party of wizards with demons along the road. That’s what I mean by unusual.”
“No. I have seen no such thing. What have they done?”
The soldier shook his head, “Not so much what they’ve done, what they’re doing.”
“Which is?” Trisfelt was beginning to feel alarmed; he glanced back at the children worriedly.
“Well, I shouldn’t tell you this. But,” the young soldier frowned, “I have several brothers and sisters their age.” He pointed to the wagon. “Where are you headed to?’
“Freehold.” Trisfelt answered truthfully.
“Don’t.” The soldier said, suddenly nervous.
“What do you mean don’t? What’s wrong with Freehold?” Trisfelt was suddenly very concerned.
The soldier looked around to see if anyone was listening. “You are a wizard, yes?”
“A thaumaturge,” Trisfelt admitted, while not dressed formally, his clothes did give him away, and there seemed no point in denying the obvious.
The soldier nodded, “We are following the minions of an Archaedemon.”
“A what!” Trisfelt said loudly. Shocked was more than how he felt. “A fifth order demon?” He quickly did a small Lie detection spell.
The soldier just nodded seriously. “It seems one has broken through from the Abyss and is headed towards Freehold. It has several other demons and wizard allies, or slaves, with it. We think it is going to raise a horde there.”
Trisfelt was stunned. This was unimaginable. “I... I... find this hard to believe, why would an archdemon be doing that?”
The soldier shrugged, “I don’t know. I’m just a corporal; they don’t tell me everything. But our people have had both Visions and physical sightings of the Archaedemon.” Trisfelt was turning pale. They’d had physical sightings of an archdemon? That would certainly more than explain the presence of the Rod on the continent. One of the things that the Knights of Tiernon were famous for was hunting beings of evil: undead, dragons, demons. Trisfelt rubbed his forehead. The soldier looked on sympathetically. “I’m only telling you this because I don’t want to see the children harmed, and because you are a wizard and so will understand. I don’t think it’s too good an idea to spread this around at the moment, it would certainly cause panic.” Trisfelt could only agree.
“Thank you for telling me.” Whatever the case, his spell told him that the soldier was telling the truth as he knew it. The soldier nodded seriously and walked back to his horse. As he waved bye to the children, riding back to join the now departed Rod, Trisfelt climbed slowly into the driver’s seat. He’d have to contact Lenamare on this.
“A what?” Jehenna shouted. Lenamare made hushing noises at her. He’d caught her in a side passageway, on her way to take her evening bath. They’d stepped into an unused alcove; fortunately, at this time in the evening, the entire hallway was relatively untrafficked.
“You heard me. An archdemon.” Lenamare was staring intently into her eyes.
“This can’t be right.” Jehenna was as close to nervous as she ever let anyone see. She rubbed her forehead a couple of times. “How sure is Trisfelt?” She asked, angrily.
“He says he’s convinced that the soldier believed it to be the truth. At the very least, even if there is no archdemon entourage on its way, we’ll soon have to put up with the Rod of Tiernon.”
