The Progress got off to a confused, late start the morning after the disappearance of Ser Andro Valador. His revelation as the man behind the murder of the physician Ser Petral, and the likely cause of the assassination attempts on the Earl, had the entourage in a great turmoil.

Lady Milosia, the fled man’s wife, was in a state of near collapse after her questioning by a deeply furious Earl Darhelim. But Vulk and Mariala were able to independently assure him that she was innocent of her husband’s treason and other crimes., and she was eventually put to bed in lady Lania’s wagon, with a sleeping draught.

Lady Lania herself continued to show almost miraculous improvement as Drake carried on with her treatment. The Earl, while grief-stricken at the violent death of his trusted friend and physician, was relieved that the man had thought to keep the balorium-infused potions near to his patient. He spent much of the traveling time to Zutlin Manor in her wagon, holding her hand.

On nearing their destination, however, the Earl was all business. Zutlin Manor was the family home of his wife’s people, governed by her oldest brother Ser Kiros Valador as vassal to the Earl. Lord Clarin, shaken by one brother-in-law’s betrayal, was disinclined to assume the loyalty of the other. The Progress’ arrival was more like a military occupation, with the Wyvern Guard, supplemented by the Hand of Vengeance, taking quick control of the house and grounds.

Ser Kiros, at first confused and outraged, quickly paled when his noble brother-in-law explained to him the treason of the knight’s younger brother. The outrage that had turned to fear and consternation returned in full as he realized what his brother’s murder of her physician might have meant for their sister’s fate.

“My lord, I am innocent of any knowledge of my brother’s actions or plans,” he declared when the full story had been laid out. “I publicly disavow him here and now – he is cast out from the clan, named outlaw and traitor!

“Furthermore, I submit myself to whatever examination my liege requires to be certain of my and my family’s continued loyalty.”

Saying that, he slipped a silver chain with a crystal amulet over his head and handed it to a servant, drawing a gasp from the crowd watching this fraught meeting. Giving up his protection against arcane mental intrusion was a strong indicator in itself of his innocence, but it didn’t stop the Earl from nodding to Ser Vulk (and casting a second, more subtle glance at Mariala).

In full cantor’s regalia, as a representative of the Church of the Eldar, Vulk invoked the blessing of Kasira and of Agara and proceeded to question Ser Kiros in the light of the Immortal’s power and justice. Off to the side, Mariala used her own arcane abilities to gauge the truthfulness of the now stoic knight as he responded.

When it was over she nodded fractionally to Vulk, who turned to the Earl and loudly addressed both him and the crowd.

“My Lord, in the light of Truth granted to me by my Immortal patroness, I declare that Ser Kiros has spoken the truth in these matters, and has held back nothing.”

The tension in the Great Hall of the manor house, where this meeting had taken place, was immediately broken as everyone present released a collective sigh of relief. The Earl visibly relaxed, and moved to embrace his brother-in-law.

“Let us take this to more private chambers, Kiros,” he said.

As the party settled down for the three or four days they would be staying at Zultin, the Hand of Fortune, as Drake had taken to calling their group of adventuresome friends, gathered to more closely go through the possessions that Ser Andro had left behind, looking for some clue as to his whereabouts.

But no amount of study or arcane tinkering brought to light any indication as to the direction the disgraced and outlawed knight had taken. In the end they returned his belongings to his wive, who remained in shock. She responded to Mariala’s efforts to comfort her badly, turning her face away in embarrassment and motioning her away violently.

♦ ♦ ♦

The next morning Mariala and Drake accompanied The Earl, Ser Kiros and a number of courtiers as Lady Lania, still ensconced in her wagon, made the short journey to Rivona Abbey, the Maran retreat famed for its healing mineral waters and the skill of it’s cantors. The Earl was bringing her there originally to pray for a miracle.

“But the miracle came upon us unexpected,” he said that morning as Drake administered the next to last dose of the potion he and Ser Petral had developed. “It seems the gods sent you and your friends in my family’s hour of greatest need… you may be sure I shan’t forget that!”

The cantor’s of Rivona had been told of their noble patient’s dire condition, and had prepared accordingly, their best rooms and most skilled healers being set aside for the invalid lady. They were clearly surprised to she her sitting up and interacting with those around her. The Earl took the Abbess aside, along with Drake, and explained the nature of the treatment that Ser Petral had been pursuing, with Drake explaining about the Balorium.

The Abbess was impressed, and once the Earl made clear that he had no intention of revoking the gifts he had promised the abbey, even pleased. She soon drew Drake aside, along with her top healers, to discuss in detail the nature of Ser Petral’s Torazin and Drake’s Balorium; they seemed little concerned with the fact that both used arcane, rather than holy, magics to achieve their results.

“Whatever works,” shrugged one elderly cantor-physician when Drake mentioned this. “That’s our motto, at least in practice.”

♦ ♦ ♦

As the party was preparing to return for the evening to Zultin Manor, and the Earl was taking leave of his wife, she suddenly reached out and grasped his hand, however weak the grip.

“Stay my lord,” she whispered, smiling up at him.

The astonished Earl immediately returned to his chair beside her, and bent to speak quietly to her. If anyone present noticed a sheen to his eyes, they discreetly failed to mention it. It was quickly decided that Lord Clarin would spend the night at the Abbey, while all but his immediate guard returned to the manor.

Drake offered to stay as well, to administer the last dose of the healing elixir in the morning, while Mariala was tasked with seeing that Maid Carissa made it safely back to Zultin. Even in his joy at his wife’s improving condition, he did not forget the (inappropriate, to his mind) fascination his daughter had with becoming a cantor of Mara; he wished to ensure she spent no more time than was needful in the presence of the Maran healers.

While the Lady Lania was being settled into her convalescence at Rivona, Devrik, Vulk and Erol joined Colith and the Hand of Vengeance, as well as elements of the Wyvern Guard, in riding out in all directions to seek news of the renegade Ser Andro. Vulk rode north with Colith and some of the Hand, Devrik joined Ser Kovar, Captain of the Wyvern Guard, as he and his men rode south, while Erol joined Marik and another contingent of Hand mercs to the east. Cris was dispatched with the Wyvern Guards that searched west.

It was to the south, on the road to Dorinsel Keep, that some news of the fleeing nobleman was finally heard. A farmer reported that he had woken at sunrise two mornings past to find a well-dressed man just leading a horse from the farmer’s barn. It was obvious the man had spent the night, without so much as a by-your-leave, in the barn; but when the farmer tried to speak to him the man leapt on his steed and almost rode the peasant down in his haste to escape.

While he didn’t see the face clearly, there was little doubt from the description of both horse and clothes that it was Ser Andro. Devrik said nothing, but he smiled quietly to himself. The night before he had cast the Flames of Xydona in the tent he shared with Raven and Black Hawk, and by those visions he had been certain that the traitor had fled towards Dorinsel. That was why he had volunteered for this particular scouting party.

♦ ♦ ♦

By the next afternoon, the 25th of Emblio, the group was together once again, gathered in Vulk’s tent outside the manor house’s walls. Using the slips of Mariala’s magic parchment, the members of the Hand of Fortune had been summoned from their various tasks. The Earl had been made aware of the news of his traitorous brother-in-law’s sighting, and had sent Ser Kovar and his party on to pursue the trail.

But he had agreed that the Hand of Fortune should pursue their own course in seeking out the runaway knight.

“You have proven your worth,” he told Vulk that morning. “You may be… Unconventional… but you get results.

“With my wife safely installed and recovering in Rivona Abbey, and the threat to my own person apparently removed, I task you now, if you are willing, to track down Andro, by whatever means at your disposal. I want him alive, most assuredly I do. And not only for the information on his accomplices he will be made to part with…

“I know you have your own agenda, concerning the Constable of Dür, and I continue to share that concern. But the evidence of peculation my agents have already gathered is enough to disgrace him and see him removed from office, once I present it to his liege. But this matter of Andro touches my honor deeply.

“Will you pursue my renegade brother-in-law? If so, I will pledge all my resources to finding evidence of capital charges against Dür, once Andro is caught.”