Rainbow’s question was answered a few moments after he asked it, but not by someone he wanted to hear right now. “Darmae shall live. And the rest of you shall die,” came the loud, booming voice from the Great Oak. Suddenly, a giant shadowy snake the size of a small house rose from where Darmae was. The creature had to be Scer’Pi’Kenes, empowered by whatever dark magic he had been using. “You can run, but I will find you!” the elderly gnome declared, slithering out of of the room.

Rainbow had acted quickly, casting a great illusion as soon as he heard Scer begin to speak. The rablin was surprised it had been as effective as it was, but if the group didn’t take advantage of the reprieve his magic provided, it would all be for nothing. “That won’t trick him forever. We should go,” Rainbow said as he moved to grab the dagger Mason had poisoned.

From a distance, Caleb and his friends could hear the old gnome. “What!?!?” he exclaimed, angry at being tricked. By this time, he had met up with his army, who were accompanying him back into the Great Oak. There would be no time to run.

After a momentary facepalm for his negligence, Rainbow went back to Darmae and quickly slit the woman’s throat with the tip of the dagger. Caleb might complain to him about it later, but the rablin knew that this woman was a threat and they needed her out of the picture. Scer and his army would be hard enough to take care of; they didn’t need the extra work. Even as Rainbow watched the old woman succumb to the poison, he made sure there was still enough poison for her gnome conspirator as well.

John, walking towards the entrance to the Thorn City Chambers, heard a weak voice. “S...set me down...by Byures.” It was Mason, seemingly barely conscious. The junior Nieve, surprised that the man even had the energy to be alert, nodded and did so. He was grateful to be free of the burden, and now he could fight without worry. He held his swords and went to the entrance of the Chambers, ready to fight. This would be the best way to prevent their opponents from sneaking up on Byures or Mason.

Rainbow, running over to Caleb, was the next one to hear the Councilman speak. “Rablin, come here,” Mason asked, “I need your power.” The rablin gave Caleb his dagger, then went over to the man, who held Rainbow’s small right hand with his own. Treling then put his left hand on Byure’s green, scaly skin and chanted under his breath; the rablin immediately noticed his own mana start to drain while the alligatorman looked visible relieved.

“You’re saving him?” Rainbow asked. He had been skeptical at first, but apparently the results spoke for themselves. This question earned the Councilman Caleb’s attention, and he had looked in time to see Mason nod with a smile. The rablin wondered to himself how skilled this young man could be, while the young boy wiped a tear from his eye and was simply happy his alligatorman friend would be okay. Knowing this, Caleb followed John to the entrance, with  Roger and Sara soon joining him; the latter had her daggers out, ready for combat, while the former was thinking about the situation.

“Caleb, you should stand behind us. That dagger is likely our best shot at taking out that black serpent,” Roger quietly suggested. Caleb nodded, seeing the logic in the doctor’s plan, and stood behind him with his dagger ready. The four waited at the entrance, mentally preparing themselves for combat. But before anyone on either side could strike, they all heard a rumble from the Great Oak, the beginning of a positive effect of Rainbow’s spell...