[center][b]~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~[/b][/center]

It was still relatively early in the evening. The bar had not begun to wind down for the evening. Mugs of ale chimed against the wooden table tops as they were emptied. Spoons clattered against bowls. Boisterous laughter reverberated through the rafters. Various noises common to this type of establishment echoed off the walls. They were cheerful, amicable at worst but even those who struggled to handle their alcohol were enjoying a joyous occasion. 

But then the room fell silent, or so it would seem. As Xander’s thoughts coalesced into words, he felt as though all eyes had fallen upon him. He felt as though everyone was looking to him for the answer to a question that scholars had been pondering for centuries. It was a question that he did not have the answer to, only a passing fancy taken from an excerpt in a book written in a language known only to a few all across the Midlands, north or south. But he would not give it to them willingly. 

Xander took a mouthful of ale, puffing his cheeks outs like a rodent before forcing the liquid down his throat in one painful gulp. It was a gulp too big for his adolescent throat. The pain was apparent in his clenched eyes that blinked furiously as he wavered his head from one side to the other. 

[b]“You’re not from around here, are you? North Midlands, the Glandrather… it doesn’t matter[/b]", Xander began as he scanned the room to be sure his delusions were just that. [b]"I have - a plan.”[/b]

He was just shy of being a teenager. He was alone. He had only one reason to go back to Pyre and only one reason to continue forward. Which was bigger? Spend what little time she may have had in this world and watch his sister die or struggle with the fear of losing her while trying to save her with the only lead he had. 

[b]“I’m going to the Capital.”[/b] Xander began, as that is where his plan would either end or continue. [b]“My sister is sick. She got it from those things that creep around the wood, carrying the darkness.”[/b] Xander took another drink before setting his empty mug down on the table between them. He leaned in closer to the new acquaintance, [b]“Before I left Pyre, Maestra Luna showed m a book. It was old. Put together in a way I’ve never seen before.”[/b] Xander turned away for only a second to ensure that no one had wandered to close. [b]“Her translation said with a potion, the darkness can be stopped.”[/b]

With his free hand, his right hand the boy reached into his belt and pulled out a piece of parchment. On either side were multiple drawings related to two separate plants. Each side depicted representations of their leaves, roots, flowers, and last known locations at least according to the translation now written in the common tongue. Xander offered it to Rio with no inclination or concern as to whether or not he would be able to make heads or tails of it. 

[b]“The Maestra thought the Great Athenaeum in Orthreloth would have more information. It was the only direction she could give me.”[/b]

[center][b]~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~[/b][/center]