As they descended into the valley below, Telhari looked over the field lands and began searching for any change.

“That river near the cave supplies these fields with water,” Telhari told them as he pointed into the distance. “The poison from the Basilisk was seeping from the cave into the river. It flowed down the mountain, seeped into the soil, and killed the crops.”

“Are they gonna be alright now that it’s dead?”

“It will take some time, but the fields should go back to normal now that the source of the poison is gone.”

Eventually, the trio reached the main dirt road that ran between the fields. It winded between the hills that sprawled out before them and passed near to the collection of houses where the farmers stayed.

Telhari was now back to near-full strength; and even while carrying the Basilisk head, he still moved with relative silence. However, Ellis and Marybeth were jogging to keep up with his long strides, and they made no attempt at subtlety. Consequently, the sound of their boots and belt buckles made a small commotion as they approached the wooden fence of an adjacent farmhouse. Drawn to the noise, an old man poked his head around the corner of a nearby barn and walked closer to the road to see who was approaching.

Not him again.

The man waved his hand at Telhari and began to walk toward them.

Let us speak quickly then…

Suddenly, the man broke into a run, continuing to wave his hand.

What is he so excited for?

The man continued, picking up pace and heading straight towards Telhari.

Is he… attacking!?

Telhari stopped and drew back his right foot, assuming a defensive stance. He shifted the weight of the Basilisk head and prepared to draw his blade.

“Sir, what is—”

“YOU LITTLE BASTARD!”

The man bolted past Telhari and grabbed Ellis by the collar and held him up.

“Agh!”

“I got you now, you little SHIT! Steal my horse, will you!? I’ll wring yer neck!”

He started to shake Ellis back and forth. Ellis struggled, throwing his weight around in an attempt to break free. Unable to hold him up any longer, the man lowered him to the ground, but kept a tight hold around his shirt.

“Quit strugglin’! I’ll make it quick!”

“Help! Telhari! He’s gone mad!”

“Please, sir,” Mary pleaded with a saccharine tone, “We can explain—”

“You, too! Come here!”

The old man freed one hand from Ellis and reached out to grab Marybeth. 

She squealed, jumping to the side to avoid him.

“Get back here!”

The old man kept one hand around Ellis’ collar, pulling him along as he chased after Marybeth. She tried to calm him down, but he continued to grab at her. Together, the three of them moved around each other —the old man grabbing at Marybeth, Marybeth dodging, Ellis trying to break free— as if trapped in some ludicrous dance.

Telhari looked on in disbelief at the sight before him.

“Excuse me…Sir?” he called out. “Excuse me!”

Telhari came upon them just as the man had managed to catch Mary. He held them both in place with his forearms; he wore a look of wild victory.

“Gotcha now!”

“Sir…May I ask what these children have done wrong?”

“What!?”

The old man turned toward Telhari. After taking a few breaths, a look of understanding came across his face.

“Oh…Wait a minute. You’re their Uncle, ain’t you?”

Telhari’s eye twitched again.

“…Yes.”

The old man frowned down at the two children he held between his arms. He then shoved them both forward and slapped his hands together.

“I tell you what! You better have a word with yer niece and nephew, there. If I was a younger man, I’d have cracked ‘em upside their heads!”

Telhari looked curiously at Ellis and Marybeth. They wore their guilt all over their faces.

“What exactly is it that they’ve done?”

“This lot stole my horse from the market and ran off with it!”

“Is that true?” Telhari asked them.

“Well, yeah…” Mary admitted.

“But we only took it so we could get to the cave before you!” Ellis chimed in. “We was gonna give it back after we— oh…”

Ellis’ voice faded.

Telhari watched him bite his lip.

“Ellis. Where is the horse?”

“We…kind of lost it.”

“You lost it?”

“Well, it wasn’t our fault!” Mary added, coming to the rescue. “You see, we tried to take it all the way to the cave, but it wouldn’t go. Probably cause of the poison in the air. So, we tied him to a tree and we was gonna come back for him, but we had to stay and watch over you while you was recovering.”

Telhari raised his eyebrow at her.

She continued.

“But when we finally went back to check on it, he must have chewed through the rope cause he was gone…” She looked over at the old man. Her eyes began to glisten. “Please sir, we was only trying to save our—”

“Shove it!” He shouted, cutting her off. “Only reason I ain’t wringing both your scrawny little necks right now is cause Gregor had caught the beast grazing out back in his field yesterday morning.”

“Oh.” She smiled. “Then I spose there’s nothin’ to be angry about?”

“Mary. Both you and Ellis owe this man an apology.”

“We owe him a kick in the gut after chasing us down like that—”

“Ellis,” Telhari said with a stern voice as he crossed his arms. “Apologize.”

Ellis shoved his hand in his pockets and stuck out his chin. Mary broke first.

“I’m sorry sir. We was wrong to have taken your horse.”

She waited for Ellis to jump in. When he didn’t, she kicked his foot and shot him a look.

“Ow! Um…We’re sorry for stealing the horse from you, sir. We’re very sorry.”

The old man looked down his nose at the two of them, clearly unsatisfied. Finally, Telhari decided to step in.

“Please. If any damage has befallen your property as a result, let me know the cost and I will pay it in full.”

The old man sighed.

“No harm done in that regard…” He had more to say, but he stopped as he looked at Telhari. “Fella, I think you’re bleeding!?” He pointed to the ground at Telhari’s feet. There was indeed a pool of blood gathering in the dirt, but it wasn’t Telhari’s.

“What? Oh, no this is…”

“We killed a Basilisk!” Ellis said. “Wanna see it!?”

Ellis turned to grab the sack from Telhari.

“Ellis, enough…He doesn’t need to see it.”

“What the hell are you on about? It’s a legend, that. No such thing as a basil—”

Before he could even finish, the knot Telhari had tied was undone by Ellis’ tugging, and the head of the basilisk plopped onto the dirt.

“WAHHHHHH!”

At the sight of the creature’s head, the man fell down and crawled backwards. Overcome with fright, he jumped to his feet and took off, continuing to cry out as he bolted down the road.

Well…that’s one way to get rid of him.

“Are you happy now, Ellis?” Mark asked him.

He gave her a cheeky grin.

Telhari bent down and covered the head once again, tying the knot extra tight this time.

“What am I going to do with you two…”

“Hey! Ellis is the one who scared him!”

“Yeah, but you thought it was funny.”

She tried to stifle a smile.

“No I don’t.”

The two shared a laugh as they continued down the road toward the city.

Once inside the city, they managed to make their way with minimal issues by keeping off the main roads, save for the occasional passerby who gawked at the blood-stained sack Telhari was carrying. Their contract had been signed and ordered by the Lord of Malendar’s Edge, and it was to him that they must go to receive their reward. After little more than an hour had passed, the trio finally reached their destination. Rising above them was the stone wall that guarded the governor’s office and, beyond it, the Lord’s keep.

Telhari made eye contact with the watchman guarding the gate.

“Halt.” The man then thrust the blunt end of his polearm into the ground. “What business do you have with the Marquess?”

Telhari fished around his breast pocked with his free hand and pulled out the old parchment.

“We’ve come to collect our reward from Lord Thistletwat.”

The man read the parchment to himself, then glanced at the blood-stained sack. He shifted uncomfortably.

“That’s the wolves?”

Telhari sighed.

“Not quite…”