Castor slipped the coins inside his jacket quickly. "The person you wish to find is on the outskirts of the city, just before entering the Burning Woods. Take the Barren Road north until you see a deer trail on your right. Follow it to the Burning Woods. But before getting there, you'll come to a cottage with a stable. A woman named Naomi will answer the door. Ask for the blacksmith, and you'll find who you're looking for."
Siegfried thanked the surly man, who ignored him and began reading his parchment again. Lucius wanted to say something, but Siegfried gestured for them to leave. They walked toward the front door of the Crimson Eagle, but Lucius stopped suddenly, recalling something significant.
"Lumiath," Lucius burst out. "Siegfried, we need to find the D'aryan seer, remember? I had completely forgotten."
Siegfried smirked, "I had not forgotten about the exile, brother."
"Oh really? Well, thank you for reminding me," Lucius said with a slight grimace. "So did Father reveal to you where he is in this city like that Castor fellow?"
"No, I am unsure of his whereabouts."
Lucius crossed his arms and glanced around the room, looking for someone who might help them find the D'aryan outcast, but his heart sank when he surveyed the drunken rabble in the room. Before he could make a snide remark about the patrons of The Crimson Eagle, he noticed Eldred polishing some glasses behind the counter.
"What is it, Lucius?" Siegfried asked.
Lucius shot him a quick smile and walked up to the elven bartender. "Hello again, Eldred."
"Hello," Eldred smiled and picked up another glass to polish.
"Tell me, Eldred. Do you know of an elf residing in Sylvania by the name of Lumiath?" Lucius leaned on the counter, eagerly awaiting the elf's response.
"Lumiath? Oh yes, I have heard of him. Many of the locals speak of him frequently, mostly rumors or hearsay. But as I understand it, he lives in seclusion and rarely leaves his home."
"Do you know where he lives in the city?" Siegfried asked.
"He lives in the Scarlet Quarter. It's the northeastern corner of the city where the affluent citizens reside. I believe his residence is in the loft above an alchemist shop called Greimane's," Eldred answered as he finished polishing the last glass.
"Excellent," Lucius said triumphantly. "Thank you for your help, Eldred."
"Of course, my dear sirs. Now, could I interest either of you in some ale or honey mead?" Eldred extended an open palm toward the liquor cabinet behind him.
"Tomorrow, perhaps, my friend," Siegfried replied. "It is late and we really should retire for the evening."
"Tomorrow it shall be, then," Eldred bowed his head and both Siegfried and Lucius bowed in return. Lucius then handed the bartender a silver coin for his trouble, and the two brothers made their way out of The Crimson Eagle.
It was dark outside and the stars were shining like blue diamonds above them. Torches on the guard posts of the city wall flickered in the chill breeze outside. They treaded back to Griffin's Head, neither one saying anything. Lucius felt the weariness of the day's traveling all of a sudden, and he eagerly awaited lying in his soft bed at the inn. Siegfried, however, was still alert as ever and walking with the same grace and stride since the morning.
"So would it be best if we sought out Lumiath in the morning?" Lucius broke the silence between them.
"Yes, that would be wise. I doubt he'll be eager to have visitors, but if what Father says is true, the seer should be willing to give audience to fellow exiles of Evingrad." The elf searched the streets for life as he talked, but not a soul stirred in the quiet city.
"Well, I'm eager to hear what he has to say about the prophecy and the Requiem Sword, so I hope he'll acquiesce to a meeting."
"I hope that as well, brother," Siegfried replied.
"That Castor fellow we met tonight, he could really use an education in manners," Lucius abruptly changed the subject.
"I've rarely met a blacksmith who
Siegfried thanked the surly man, who ignored him and began reading his parchment again. Lucius wanted to say something, but Siegfried gestured for them to leave. They walked toward the front door of the Crimson Eagle, but Lucius stopped suddenly, recalling something significant.
"Lumiath," Lucius burst out. "Siegfried, we need to find the D'aryan seer, remember? I had completely forgotten."
Siegfried smirked, "I had not forgotten about the exile, brother."
"Oh really? Well, thank you for reminding me," Lucius said with a slight grimace. "So did Father reveal to you where he is in this city like that Castor fellow?"
"No, I am unsure of his whereabouts."
Lucius crossed his arms and glanced around the room, looking for someone who might help them find the D'aryan outcast, but his heart sank when he surveyed the drunken rabble in the room. Before he could make a snide remark about the patrons of The Crimson Eagle, he noticed Eldred polishing some glasses behind the counter.
"What is it, Lucius?" Siegfried asked.
Lucius shot him a quick smile and walked up to the elven bartender. "Hello again, Eldred."
"Hello," Eldred smiled and picked up another glass to polish.
"Tell me, Eldred. Do you know of an elf residing in Sylvania by the name of Lumiath?" Lucius leaned on the counter, eagerly awaiting the elf's response.
"Lumiath? Oh yes, I have heard of him. Many of the locals speak of him frequently, mostly rumors or hearsay. But as I understand it, he lives in seclusion and rarely leaves his home."
"Do you know where he lives in the city?" Siegfried asked.
"He lives in the Scarlet Quarter. It's the northeastern corner of the city where the affluent citizens reside. I believe his residence is in the loft above an alchemist shop called Greimane's," Eldred answered as he finished polishing the last glass.
"Excellent," Lucius said triumphantly. "Thank you for your help, Eldred."
"Of course, my dear sirs. Now, could I interest either of you in some ale or honey mead?" Eldred extended an open palm toward the liquor cabinet behind him.
"Tomorrow, perhaps, my friend," Siegfried replied. "It is late and we really should retire for the evening."
"Tomorrow it shall be, then," Eldred bowed his head and both Siegfried and Lucius bowed in return. Lucius then handed the bartender a silver coin for his trouble, and the two brothers made their way out of The Crimson Eagle.
It was dark outside and the stars were shining like blue diamonds above them. Torches on the guard posts of the city wall flickered in the chill breeze outside. They treaded back to Griffin's Head, neither one saying anything. Lucius felt the weariness of the day's traveling all of a sudden, and he eagerly awaited lying in his soft bed at the inn. Siegfried, however, was still alert as ever and walking with the same grace and stride since the morning.
"So would it be best if we sought out Lumiath in the morning?" Lucius broke the silence between them.
"Yes, that would be wise. I doubt he'll be eager to have visitors, but if what Father says is true, the seer should be willing to give audience to fellow exiles of Evingrad." The elf searched the streets for life as he talked, but not a soul stirred in the quiet city.
"Well, I'm eager to hear what he has to say about the prophecy and the Requiem Sword, so I hope he'll acquiesce to a meeting."
"I hope that as well, brother," Siegfried replied.
"That Castor fellow we met tonight, he could really use an education in manners," Lucius abruptly changed the subject.
"I've rarely met a blacksmith who
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