As they ate together in silence, Lily wondered at the implications of this. They soon rejoined the others as they began to mount and continue on their way. It was with a refreshed sense of purpose that they took to the road again. Some optimistically hoped that the enemy had withdrawn with the light of day.

But by late afternoon, an advance scout waited for Belloc and Celedhan. At a point further along they came to a small, empty stone house that had been used as a way-station along the road. Two more advance scouts waited here. They spoke briefly with Belloc and Celedhan before returning to their positions up the road. The wizard and the elf dismounted and entered the house while the others waited outside.

At a low call from Celedhan, Grol the dwarf joined those inside. They stood in front of a small fireplace. There, in the ashes, lay an opaque stone, a pale blue sphere the breadth of a man's hand in diameter.

"Can you tell us the nature of this stone?" Celedhan asked the dwarf, who picked the thing up in wonder.

Looking at it more closely, Belloc said, "Were it not for its size, I would say it's a warlock's staff-stone. But I have never seen one so large, nor have I seen one unmounted from its stave, if indeed it was ever affixed to one."




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