Armand and the others began freeing the citizens who were stuck in Elle’s spell. Henry was still unconscious but wrapped in some chains that Amanda found. Elle provided healing to any that were gravely injured. She grew a bush on a trampled patch of lawn outside of the town hall. Instructions were given out to bring anyone that had minor injuries over. A little girl with a dirty bow in her hair came over to Elle. She was sitting on a flat rock focusing on the plant. The little girl reached up to hold Elle’s hand.

“This is a plant from my home. It’s called the Kakiat Forrest.” Elle explained.

“The home of the elves?” Asked the little girl.

“Yes, that is correct. Don’t interrupt.” Elle said with a smile.

“We call it a Syrup Bush. The pollen emits a low level of healing magic. Anyone sitting around this bush will start to feel better over time. Can you help me gather all the hurt people?” Elle asked her getting an excited nod. The little girl ran off looking for the injured.

“Is that true? Syrup Bush.” Armand asked coming to sit next to Elle.

“It is. We often use the sap from the tree to make simple healing poultices. I can’t help but feel responsible for all this. Armand, we raised Mulvaria from Obscurity. Maybe if we didn’t chase those thieves…” Elle trailed off.

“Nonsense. You know what was happening down in those caves. They would have released the ten hells on the world. It would be so much worse. What’s really bothering you?” Armand asked.

“At some point Deacon is going to make it to Kakiat Forest. I can’t imagine what horrible thing will befall my people to need the champion. It’s not even trouble that follows him. This was happening before he even got here. What is happening to the world? Can’t you feel that something is wrong?” Elle asked.

“Hopefully, we can find Ruby before this gets worse.” Armand answered.

“Worse? She has found a way to control hundreds of people. We need to report all of this to the Griffin King. We need to send messages to all the other kingdoms and warn them. This problem is bigger than our team and Deacon’s.” Elle said with a tiny hint of fear in her voice.

“Ok, let’s focus on the here and now. Look the locals are coming out of the Town Hall. I will go over and speak with this mayor Deacon met with. Wish me luck.” Armand said as he got up and straightened his gear.

The townhall doors opened and the mayor Fallsworth strode out sword in hand. Behind him were his two inept guards. Behind them followed the rest of the people holed up inside. Different groups of people from began colliding and hugging. Many tearful reunions began. Armand made his way toward the mayor.

“Mayor Fallsworth?” Asked Armand.

“Yes, who are you? Why are all these criminals lying around in front of the Town Hall?” Fallsworth asked with rapid fire questions.

“These are the injured people we freed from mind control.” Armand said shocked at the man’s tone and demeanor.

“Mind control you say? Seems more like a rebellious faction of our citizenry. There is a stiff penalty for treason. Now stand aside while I administer justice.” Said Fallsworth.

“Mr. Mayor please, it’s obvious they didn’t know what they were doing. Greetings, I’m Farmer Ed. Are you one of Mr. Deacon’s people?” Ed asked.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Armand Desentes. I’m part of the Griffin Kingdoms Cardinal Unit. Excuse me for a moment. Did you just say administer justice?” Armand asked the mayor.

“Yes. Rebels should be put to the sword.” Said Fallsworth stalking over to the injured on the ground.

“Absolutely not!” Armand yelled interposing himself between the mayor and the injured. At this point the two guards stepped forward while Fallsworth sneered at him. Typhus appeared behind one putting subtle pressure to his back with his knife while Elle sighted down her bow at the other.

“What is this?!” Fallsworth screamed.

“You intend to slay injured victims of someone else crime?!” Armand stood there seething with anger.

“Criminals. I will not be intimidated in my own city.” Fallsworth said shrinking back. Suddenly two knights showed up on horseback from the eastern entrance to the city. One of the knights rode over to the two men and lifted his visor.

“Lord Desentes, the Cardinal Unit is requested back at the procession with the champion. Once we saw the pillar of bright light, it was decided that you might need to be checked up on. Repairs are complete but we do not know how long the bridge will hold. Something about substandard materials. The Minister of the Interior would have your reply. What the hell happened here?” Asked the knight mid speech.

“Lord Desentes? The Minister of the Interior?” Asked the shocked mayor.

“Father, we need to punish the one that humiliated me. Where is he?” Said Brandon Fallsworth before being kicked to the ground by one of the knights.

“Your betters are speaking. Hold your tongue.” Was all he said

“Unnecessary use of force, sir.” Armand said to the knight with nod.

“My apologies. Your answer? I will take it to the minister, and he can have some Inquisitors come and sort out this lot.” Said the knight giving Armand a wink only he could see.

“Inquisitors? No, no. Everything here is fine. This is all just some misunderstanding. I’ll make sure the wounded are tended too. Thank you, Lord Desentes, for preventing me from making a terrible mistake. You two, find some blankets and bring some fresh water here. We have injured that need treating.” Fallsworth said pulling a one eighty and barking orders to his people.

“I’ll make sure everything gets put back in order. Don’t you worry.” Said Farmer Ed with a smirk.

“Should he falter as we leave, send word to me in the capital. I’ll put things right.” Armand told Ed.

“Sure thing. Lots of people to help. Safe journeys.” Ed replied before moving off to help others.

“I assume this is a, what did Dwellers call it, a Deactastrophe?” Asked the knight when after the locals had left.

“No, this was a problem before he got here. Speak of the devil.” Armand said as Deacon and Tantus came around a corner into the clearing. They appeared to be having a heated conversation.

“I said I was sorry. Maybe if you could produce a magical communications device, I wouldn’t have to make split second decisions and hope for the best. Your words.” Deacon said.

“Like a crystal that connects to another crystal enabling two-way communication. It already exists. Maybe spend some of your wealth on some.” Tantus shot back.

“Woah, woah. What’s all this?” Typhus asked jogging up to the two.

“I pissed him off somehow. We just got back from picking up Alfred.” Deacon said.

“I’m not angry. I just wish he wouldn’t run off in a nightmare situation. We had a plan.” Tantus said to Typhus.

“Well, lad. Out in the field a plan rarely survives contact with the enemy.” Typhus replied.

“You think he’d be happy. I didn’t just kill everyone in sight.” Deacon said crossing his arms.

“I need a minute.” Tantus said walking over to the area set up for the injured. Armand finished talking to the knights who turned their horses and went back down the road. Armand then walked over to where Deacon and Typhus were talking.

“We have to go.” Armand said.

“But this mayor guy is an absolute tool. We have to do something about him.” Deacon said looking around and seeing the two goons helping people on stretchers and the mayor giving out blankets. He even noticed Farmer Ed waiving at him. Deacon waived back.

“No, I’ve taken care of that. The only thing is we need to deal with Henry.” Armand said.

“He’s still alive?” Deacon asked assuming a ready stance.

“We have him tied up. Amanda said he’ll be out for a few more hours.” Replied Armand

“Oh good.” Deacon said but internally he worried about leaving Amanda to guard him. He still had his suspicions about how she was acting. They managed to borrow a wheelbarrow from Farmer Ed and loaded the sleeping Mulvarian up. Deacon did the lion share of the lifting. He even offered to pull it.

“Remind you of old times?” He asked Amanda who just gave him a look of disgust. Twenty minutes away from the road they saw flashes of light and heard screaming. Deacon picked up the pace and Elle turned into an owl and flew ahead. Once they broke the tree line, they could see Ralph and Lord Pentecost squaring off against a horned beast with six arms ending in black claws. It had no legs and a thick bulbous body covered in black and red chitinous material. It had a long snout about three feet wide filled with razor sharp teeth. It kept snapping at Ralph who was expertly deflecting it with his sword. Behind the battle were two wounded Deep Dwellers and several knights on the ground. Beneath the creature lay the bottom of half of Deep Dweller. It must have just snapped him in half.

Deacon dropped the wheelbarrow and raced over before being stopped by Armand. He pointed at the creature that kept swinging its front two arms side to side, like it was trying to swat away flies. Lord Pentecost held a shield of energy up in front of him with his right hand and kept moving his left in a circle pattern. Ralph for his part slashed out with Hallowed Blade. The strike was true severing two of its arms on one side. The creature bellowed into the air as its blood spurted on the ground. It tried to ram its black horns into Ralph, but Lord Pentecost blocked it with his energy shield. It bounced off giving Ralph another opportunity which he gladly accepted. He danced forward and struck out again. This time the hallowed energy slid through the creatures right side carapace above the shoulder. That must have done serious damage as the energy from the blade lanced through it from shoulder to back. It flopped to ground whining. Ralph stepped over to it and slammed his sword through its head.

The next sound was the breaking of chains as Henry woke up. The chain links snapped, and he stood to his feet. He dove at Deacon arms wide. In all the confusion of the moment Deacon was unprepared for an assault from behind. Then Amanda was there. She pulled out knife that was familiar to Deacon. The knife had a transparent appearance swirling with Nether energy. She plunged the knife into Henry’s chest before he could squeeze the life out of Deacon. The knife itself was not impeded by Henry’s armor. It slipped right through and into his heart. The big warriors arms went slack, and he slumped to the ground around Deacon’s feet.

“Amanda. Did you accept a Vendetta quest for Elder Ruby?” Deacon asked starring into her eyes.