[i][/i][i][/i][h2][center][b][color=ed1c24]Novak[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
[i][/i]"The Hag told me that Lazhira indeed didn't steal it," Novak confirmed to them.  "She seemed to think that Lazhira intended to, however, and was quite adamant that the girl not be allowed to obtain it.  I'm not sure what that means but it's clear she's involved in this whole affair somehow."  Novak left out the part where he had been tasked with finding the orb.  It would likely get out eventually since Lazhira and Narkissa also witnessed the deal he had made, but he didn't want to make potential trouble by revealing it at the moment.

[color=ed1c24][i]Perhaps I'm not too different from Lazhira in some regards,[/i][/color] he mused.

There was a lot to consider from the hunters' words.  They believed that the orb was one of two keys to the seal, and with those keys, they could fix the seal.  From the sound of things, though, the hunters didn't sound like they had a plan.  Or perhaps they did have a plan, and didn't want to share it with Novak and Nobunaga.  Still, perhaps it was possible to coax some more relevant information out of them.

[color=ed1c24]All this time they seemed to think that Lazhira was the one who took the orb.  That implies they don't know who the real thieves were, nor where it now resides, so no point in asking them that,[/color] Novak reasoned.  [color=ed1c24][i]Perhaps, however, they might know something about the Hag's motivations...
[/i][/color]

[color=ed1c24]"There's another thing.  The hag...she wants the orb, too."[/color] he spoke with some hesitation.  [color=ed1c24]"You have any idea why?[/color]

[@Rune_Alchemist][@VitaVitaAR]