[center][h1][b]Reign:[/b] [color=yellow]Kingdom Come[/color][/h1][/center]
[h2][center]Chapter 3 - Strange Tidings [/center][/h2]
[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/i6fLcHF.pngp[/img][/center]
The calm and stillness prevailed over the second half of the night. The three companions sat nearby the dying embers and waited until sunrise. Marque stared off into the dark. His thoughts drifting from the Hermit to the part he played in his abduction. 

Bastian offered comforting words to Marque but they fell on deaf ears. Bastian tended to Martydom's injuries. He cleaned and dressed them as best as he could with the supplies he had. Afterward, he placed his hands on them for about a minute. Who was to say his gift couldn't work on animals as well?

Lorenzo petted his hound and supported him throughout the rest of the night. How could he sleep at a time like this? His friend was hurt and needed his master by his side. 

Col slept like the log his companions sat on. Already having taken the first watch and doing the brunt of the fighting, he was exhausted. Even still, his dreams were filled with dark figures and shadows. He tossed and turned in the Wood. Merlin tried his best to sleep near his master's side. The events had shaken him greatly. Distant howls bellowed in the dark.

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/i6fLcHF.pngp[/img][/center]
The night passed by and gave way to the morning. The sun broke through the trees lighting the path before them. [i]Something[/i] called to each one of them. It [i]drew[/i] them further. They felt like turning back would deprive them each of what they sought. Whether that be a man, a dream, or purpose. They had to follow the path ahead. Despite the danger.

The group ate and drank some of their provisions. Then they packed their belongings and headed deeper into the Glittering Wood. Lorenzo rode atop Merlin with Col steering the reigns. Martyrdom walked alongside. Bastian and Marque followed behind. There was a somber feeling in the air since the night before. The Hermit, who once sang songs of joy had been dragged into the night. His fate looked grim.

This hung on the party's shoulders. Even still they moved on. Lorenzo tracked the movements of the group before them without much trouble. There were dozens of footprints, hoofprints and dog tracks to follow. They travelled for a few hours eventually reaching a trickling stream.[hider=Stream][center][img]https://www.wallpaperink.co.uk/gallery/shutterstock/Forest-Wall-Murals/Autumn_Forest_River.jpg?w=620[/img][/center][/hider] The stream promised fresh water for their weary souls. None of them slept much last night and the sleep Col did get was wrought with terrible nightmares. As man and beast drank from the stream they felt a little stronger. A little more energy flowing through them. Martyrdom seemed to recover much of his pep as he indulged himself. He barked happily. Then everyone filled their waterskins by the stream.

As they prepared to leave, something caught Marque's eye. On one of the rocks was a fairly small symbol he was very familiar with.[hider=Symbol][img]https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/04/14/3BD7BEE600000578-4087416-Alongside_the_engravings_was_a_key_carved_into_the_bedrock_pictu-a-36_1483539170439.jpg[/img][/hider] He immediately recognized it as the key Gardevoir wore around his neck. To Marque's knowledge, he never took it off and was hyper vigilant about who he allowed to see it. Gardevoir had explained to him at one point that his key is what inspired him to open his theater. Gardevoir wanted to unlock the [i]emotion[/i] of Milborne. Marque always thought he was being figurative.

Seeing it now snapped him out of his stupor. His mind was sharp and alert once more. Upon closer inspection, the symbol did not look like a new image. It seemed [i]old[/i]. [i]Hundreds of years[/i] old. 

Then Marque felt a great stirring in his soul. A whirlwind of emotion hit him suddenly. [i]Pain, wrath, terror and hopelessness.[/i] His knees buckled under the fear. He perceived that nearby behind a blanket of trees was where the emotions originated from. He didn't know how he knew this, but he [i]knew[/i] that he knew. 

The tracks perceived to move in that very direction. 

[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/i6fLcHF.pngp[/img][/center]
[h3][center][b][color=skyblue]Marque de Bourdeaux[/color][/b][/center][/h3]
[i][b]1. Continue forward unchanged pushing into the fear.[/b][/i]

[i][b]2. Inform the others what you sense.[/b][/i]

[i][b]3. Something else.[/b][/i]