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lands of Indelsis or Jade unless he wanted a lot of attention, west held no towns to plague with the misery only a Triple Sign would wish to give. Nordek was in a northeastern path and beyond that continuing northeast lay the town of Barda. Good as any as a next step. If it proved fruitless to search there, she would try the surrounding areas then the western Freelands.
    Barda lay on the outskirts of the inlet called the Azure Ribbon. The inlet was named such due of the weaving passage it took as it cut into Demaria as well as its deep vibrant shade of blue. Its water was always fresh due to its proximity to the Forever Storms, a sea tempest that never let up or died out, which resided at the mouth of the river in the Korest Ocean. Barda was well known for its market, boasting a wide variety of fish caught as they were swept into the Ribbon by the Storms.
    Most of the people there were involved in the fish trade- either fisherman, merchants peddling the prepared fish or those selling items to catch fish with or to cook fish in.
    Easy prey for a rogue mage…
    The team had witnessed such before. A madman wholly bent on his own superiority, terrorizing village after village for his own twisted pleasures. It was not a new concept, not something totally unheard of. The world was still young, still developing, slowly taking steps out of its imposed darkness to stand in the sun. Born into darkness, it would take many an Elf’s lifetime for light to equal out in the world of Selnaria. Only a small portion of the world was considered habitable by the beings that lived there. It was a tough road to follow but the path was only waiting to be paved.
    Barda was very still for the fisherpeople of the Azure Ribbon rose with the sun and turned in when the GoldenSphere fell into the Aaram Ocean in the west. Kcrie searched the sources of water in the town for life signsreflected upon their surfaces. Beyond late night moongazers sneaking out to hold hands with a sweetheart at the boat port and the occasional flash of a yawning local, Barda was asleep.
    Kcrie sighed and blank her straining eyes. Such were the limitations of her current form. She began to check the perimeters of the surrounding lands. She started with the inlet near the town and then headed into forested hills that lay beyond the foot of the Krintal Mountains. It did not take long from there for an image to appear that snatched her complete attention like a striking viper.
    Kneeling at the side of a tiny stream was the snow-haired Elfkin the team was sent to find. He scooped up the cold water and splashed it onto his face. Rivulets ran down his neck to soak the surprisingly pristine white shirt he wore. Seemingly oblivious to the cold, his piercing eyes peered off intently into the distance. He rose and stalked out of her view.
    Quickly, the Asrai noted the whereabouts in correlation to Barda by backtracking to the town. Jumping from waterspot to waterspot, she came to the conclusion of a distance no greater than five to eight miles.
    Kcrie dropped the spell, the water merging back within her body. Her words roused her companions fully from their slumber. “I have found the one you are searching for.”
    “And? Where is he and how far?” Serrtin asked, sitting up and leaning forward.
    “No more than eight miles from the town of Barda in an area of many trees at the foot of mountains.”
    “This is indeed good news! We’ll be in Barda in a spare few days.” Agemeer said with an unconscious shake of his bushy tail.
    “Yes. Let’s head to the town first to pick up some more supplies. We’ll stay the night there and head out at first light. We’ll begin our search fresh. He’ll have some distance on us but we’ll make up for it.” Serrtin said with an unabashed yawn. The Yarcka immediately stretched out upon the ground. Slumber would find her quickly for a Yarcka could sleep anywhere at any time.
    Feeling like she had to say something, Aya spoke up. “Um, good work,