5.  Gathering a group.

​

  Ysen'theiril set about instructing Imelwain.  He was far from ready, as far as she was concerned, to take on the Smalgor.  'Did you fulfill the second task?'

  'Yes, although I need to go and gather them.'  Evadel rubbed her wooden leg.  'I will see you tomorrow, by the bridge nearby?'

  'That should work.'  Ysen's feathers stood on end, and she deftly dodged a spark.  Imelwain redoubled his efforts, and yet got nothing more as a result.  'I would like longer, but we do not have it.'

  'Well, tomorrow then.'  Evadel waved, repeatedly, as she left the theater.  The staff responded adeptly, and went from wanting to ask her about this, that, and the oher thing to just letting her leave.  She wished everything else would go so smoothly.

  She wandered through the theater, still thinking as she went.  Absently she waved at the people working, and they left her alone.  After a few stops at walls, she did find her way outside.  The long shadows of the trees proclaimed how late it was, and she felt weary suddenly.  This was a task for far younger people, who had the full use of all limbs.

  Even so, Evadel hurried on her way.  She could sense things, her incredible skills noting the distortion in the balance of the world.  Much like the clamor of a gong, the Smalgor resounded against the normal feelings of her surroundings.  It would not attack tonight.  The fiend was a crafty beast, and had learned long ago that traps would be waiting when it stalked certain prey.  To search for them, and disarm them, would take it time... except no traps were set.  She had avoided such a precaution out of fear the people here would stumble into the traps.

  Her first stop proved lucky.  Dubrick's mother answered the door, looking weary and worn.  When offered a chance to remove the overly energetic youths from her house, she did so with glee.  Peter, it turned out, had been staying for the last few days while his parents were on a trip to town.  She had planned on asking both of them, and they were eager enough to help.

  'Come along boys.'  Evadel set off with a groan.  Her leg was not happy with her.  This made her even more grateful that Peter had been visiting, as his house was the farthest away.

  Her next stop was to a nearby park.  She watched for a moment, letting her leg rest, while Cynthia worked through an exercise with a wooden sword.  'Cynthia, dear!'  She called once she was feeling only mildly hurt.

  Cynthia took a few more swings.  As far as she cared, nobody rushed her, not even Evadel.  It was hard to focus on the exercise, however, when considering how many swings were a delay and how many would just be rude.  'Well, what do you want?  I'm a little busy right now.'

  Evadel waggled her fingers and smirked.  'No need to be snarky girl.  I just came to offer you a job.'

  Dubrick and Peter both objected.  'A job!'  This meant that the task was far more serious than they had thought.  'What is going on!'

  'Shush!  I'll explain once we get everyone we need.  Until then, be quiet.'

  'A job?  I'm not exactly going to toss on a dress you know, not when I've been doing this.'

  'No, a dress would hardly be fitting for the work involved.'

  Cynthia smiled a little.  'Ah, a practical application!  That's perfect!'  She dropped the wooden sword next to a tree, and picked up her own sword.  'Let's be going then!'

  'Aye.'  Evadel didn't really want to move yet, but there was some urgency to the task.  Her next stop made her entourage groan.  She ignored them, and knocked twice in a certain way.  The second tap sounded more like a drum than a knock, and she hoped the courtesy would be welcomed.

  It took a few minutes for the door to open.  Short and plump, Mr. Melnin was dressed in an apron smeared with goo and dusted with powders.  'A pleasure!' he exclaimed, 'although the potion I am making can sit for about a quarter hour at most.'

  'I'll be short then.  Smalgor.  Want Gerald.'

  'Oh my.  You have more than his magic to work against it, correct?'

  'Rynthalis.'

  'Gerald!'  Mr. Melnin bellowed, and sure enough Gerald came running.

  'Master Melnin, what is it?'

  'Go with Evadel.  Do what is asked.  Important task to save this village.'

  Gerald looked at Evadel and then shuffled his feet.  'But, learning about...'

  Mr. Melnin cut him off.  'No.  This is too important.'

  Gerald knew better than to argue more.  'Very well.'

  'Come then.'  Evadel whirled around, her leg clattering as she rushed off.  The crew was assembled, and she felt a little happier about the prospects for tomorrow.  There was only one task left.

  She took them to visit Imelwain's mother.  For the first time of the night, she was told no.  Repeatedly.  Evadel hissed in frustration.  The woman was so stubborn!  'Fine then!  I'll tell you exactly what is going on!  Listen close, because without your son it is likely that everyone in this village will have to run away, or they will die.  You know well enough about his father.'  And so Evadel explained the situation to those she had gathered.  Finally, with grudging frustration and a few coughs, she was told yes.  Then she asked to rest there for the night, and was told no again, repeatedly, until the children fell asleep.  At that point it was permitted.