[i][/i][i][/i][i][/i][h2][center][b][color=ed1c24]Novak[/color][/b][/center][/h2]
[i][color=ed1c24]They were supposed to kill her on sight?[/color][/i]  This was a development that Novak didn't anticipate.  He didn't realize before that the Hag was the enemy of the hunters.  But if she and the old man were both voices of the Illuminator, why would they be opposed?

More importantly, Soyala came up again.  He already knew that she was their leader, and the one that believed that Lazhira was eroding the seal.  Now it was mentioned that she was the one who was in regular communication with the Illuminator, and she used this influence to direct them away from worrying about their directive to kill the Hag, and rather to recover the orbs- the very orbs that the Hag seemed to interested in retrieving.

Novak's eyes widened at the realization.

[color=ed1c24][i]This Soyala...she's working for the Hag.[/i][/color]  She's manipulating the hunters for the Hag instead of the Old Man.  [i][color=ed1c24]Or...what if she is the Hag?[/color][/i]

[color=ed1c24]"Curious...the hag revealed to myself, Lazhira, and Narkissa that she is looking for the orb.  If you ask either of them, they can confirm this."[/color] Novak spoke.  [color=ed1c24]"And it is she, who who claims to speak for the Illuminator, or at least his Old Man aspect, told you to not worry about the hag and focus on the orbs?  She is the one who has directed you to target Lazhira as the possible culprit behind breaking the seal, correct?  When I get the chance, I think it'd be...illuminating to speak to Soyala myself."[/color]

[color=ed1c24]"But first,"[/color] Novak resumed, [color=ed1c24]"I would be grateful if you would show us the seal.  Like I said, we too wish to see it preserved.  And...I'm sorry for your friend," he said, looking at the headless corpse.  "My companion did what she had to do to protect me, and I am very grateful, but I was hoping it would not end like...this."[/color]

[@VitaVitaAR][@Rune_Alchemist]