day 8 14098

The Monk chucked. “I heard you guys were here to and was wondering if I would see you. It has been a long time child, to long.”

Kell smiled. “I must be getting soft got to watch these bad habits I am devolving. They might just get me killed.” Kell closed the distance between them. “How is the crop of students? Any as much of a trail to you as I was? And just how fare is it that you know I am here but not a hint of you reaches me? He could have dropped a hint.”

“Not bad, they will shape up. But no I don’t think any could give me as many gray hairs as you did. As to the others, well he didn’t tell me, the others with did. Mercs do not blind in as well as monks do in a monastery. So what is it that brings you here? No Jones did not tell me, any more than he would tell you I was here.”

Kell lost her smile. “We have been having trouble with a cult no one seems to know anything about.” She went on to tell them about the run ins up to the last battle. Then she stopped and took a breath. “I faced a mage that had to much power.” She focused on the table. “I am a bit rusty, so I can not promise this will be as clean as it should be.” With that the battle played itself out on the table in front of them. Starting with the illusion being found and ending with the mages death. “The other mage was in bed for two days and week for the week after. Though it helped once one of the others showed him how to make the nod power bind with his. It was strange, he could use it, but not keep it. I have been trying to come up with some other explanation. But all I can come up with is that he has access to a storehouse. That is scary. Here is a better image of the symbol. A copy of the first drawing Robert made.” She looked up, hoping for something to tell her that she was wrong.

“That was clean as I could ask. Have you thought of Wisdom? It might be the only place to look.”

Kell nodded. “ Know, and am expecting to end up there. But I want more to go on then a vague mention of some trouble in Amerdaen seventy or eighty years that involved a snake cult that may not even be related. I know I am whining but that is all we have found in two years.”’

The monk looked at her. “Well I do not know if it is related but I can get some books dumped on someone to give you a better time frame for the stuff in Amerdea, but I need something in return. Though this is the first I have heard of a snake cult involved.”

Kell nodded. “A vender in Aber is where we heard it. Her information has all ways been solid, if her good a bit shady. Bree is looking for anther mage or two, have your guys ware the medal and I will vouch for them, Rob will back me. Though I hope we don’t run into anything you need to be told of. I would love to never see that again.” She pointed at the drawing “But that is not likely. They seem to enjoy show up where we are.”

The monk nodded. “They will show up at the door in about two weeks and will ask for you. Is that enough time?” Kell nodded. “Good then lets do this. You take right and I will take left. Anything with a snake, or something snake like gets sent to the table.” They kept at it until the warning gong for diner pulled caused them to stop.

They had made it though roughly have the selves and had a nice stack on the table. Kell said. “I don’t want to, but if I am not at dinner there will be trouble.”

The monk nodded. “Same for me. Meet you here in the morning, and I will bring some others to go though the selves so we can start on the books.”

“Sounds good.” She started to the door she had came in by, then changed direction and moved to a self. The monk raised an eyebrow. “I need to change, and this will let out closer to my rooms. See you in the morning.”

The monk said. “I don’t think that is used much, so be careful.” He went to a different door and left.  Kell moved a red book half way out and tipped a blue vase then walked though the shelf and into a dusty hall. She was soon back to her room. She changed shirts and then made her way to the dinning hall. Getting there just in time.

Robert looked at her. “Do you enjoy your walk?”

Kell looked at him. “I ran into an old friend and we spent the day sorting though books on various religions separating out anything to do with snakes or snake like objects. We still have more to go though. Then will have to sort again to see is anything fits. Happy?” She took a bite. “Oh and he thinks he can get us a couple more battle trained mages.”

Bree looked up at that. “You sure they will know what they are doing? Catch?”

Kell nodded. “My friend knows mercenary companies and won’t send anyone who isn’t what he says he is As to the other, well they will be reporting back to someone if any encounters they have with the cult. But we will here any findings made. Seemed fair to me. The more eyes the better.” Bree nodded and the talk turned to other things.

After the meal Robert fowled Kell to her room and then said. “Do I get to know the rest of it?”

Kell sighed and took out the same necklace she had showed the monk in the archives. “The mages will be in Her service and wearing their medallions openly. They will ask for me. It is our old teach that they will be reporting to. Will that do big brother?” Then she added. “He says that we are likely going to have to go to Wisdom before we find anything. The best way is to go as scholars. So?”

Robert nodded. “I have thought about it. That is what I was taking to Bree about. Thing is most will want non resident, independent of me.”

Kell said. “We will see when the time comes. It might be that something can be done.”

Robert nodded. “I just wanted you to know. See you latter and good luck.” With that he left.

Kell turned to the other two. “So did you find anything after I left? I saw your choices for tonight, interesting you both have went further back in time.”

Athions said. “Well there were things wrong in the logs of the others to. But we got side tracked trying to figure out why eastern Sudano had a floods Whale eastern Maercer was loosening crops for lack of water. All other times there weather has been fairly alike. I think Max took over the logbooks. He will be better with all those numbers anyway.”

Kell fowerd. “You think the weather is related?”

Athions nodded. “It is the same time frame so worth looking into.” Kell let herself be lead to a chair and accepted the glass of wine from Rick. “As to the history. We want to know more about it, and who knows there might be more clues further back that might be easier to find.”

Kell nodded and reached for a book setting on the table. “Well go get them and see if they are as good reading as you had hoped.” So they passed the evening, making the odd comment about what they were reading.

The next morning after breakfast Kell walked the others to the branching of the hallway. “ I am going to look in a different place for a couple of days. You two should know the way to the library by know. I will see you at supper.” You could see the question in their eyes, but the just nodded and left. She watched them go then turned the other way and was soon back in the room with the table of waiting books. The monk was all ready at work. She took the other chair and set to it. That was the pattern for the next week. A few books made there way in to pockets but nothing earth shattering was found “Well at lest we know it must be eastern and at lest older than fifity years ago.” Kell said turning her last book so he could see it there was a secth that looked a lot like the one they were hunting, and under it was a single line that read. Seen on rock east of Sunhalow, withered likely Somno. “He is wrong about Smono but it gives me a place to start in Wisdom you find anything?”

He shook his head. “Nothing any more telling then you did. Only mine points a bit further east, but same time frame.”

She stood. “Well I had best show my face in the library or they might think I am in trouble, again.” She walked over to the door she used.

He said. “And I had best be checking on my charges before they think they live her. So you are still good at finding trouble?”

Kell laughed. “Well they think I am. But in truth they just worry to much.” She went to open the door but instead pulled out a small black book. She went to put it back, but the symbol on the cover made her put it in her pocket instead. She then opened the door and left.

She didn’t think about that book again until she was takeing a break in the library the next morning. She took it out and studied the cover. She knew that design from someplace, but could not think of where. She opened it, and found a pitcher that again she was sure she had seen before. She turned the next page and looked at the writing. She was able to recognize the langue and a few of the words. “Anth” She stopped and turn back to the front page and ran her finger along the seam. She then carefully undid it and pulled out a folded paper.  Carefully she unfolded to reveal a map. Up in the north eastern side was the symbol they had been looking for.

Having came at his name Anth read over her shoulder. “Hear lies the dean of the snake priest tread with care. They are sickness.”

Kell said. “Rick go get Bree. Anth take a look at the rest of the book. I think it is all in your homes langue.” She got out pen and paper and set about making a copy of the map.

Rick came in with Bree “What is it?”

Kell said We found them, or where they were. Here.” She pointed at the map. “Rick get to work on anther copy I want at lest five. Anth Translate the map, then you can get back to the book.”

Anther man stepped up. “I can copy that map faster just lay the paper there.” Kell looked up to see a man who carried himself like a fight. There was a chain with a medal around his neck. She nodded and laid out eight sheets of paper.

“Thanks. Anth go ahead and translate that copy, we can right that much on the others.” As she was taking copies of the map started appearing on the blank pages.

Bree blink. “I haven’t seen that spell done on unprepared paper before. The copies will last? And where did you find the map Kell do you have an age on it?”

The man said. “It will last, but I can only do one sheet at a time. For a book it is faster to use the treated papers. Or write by hand. If you are Kell then it is you I am seeking. My companion and I were told to look you up and you might have work for us.”

 Kell said. “More like I could put you in touch with the person, but I don’t think I need to. Bree what do you say?”