Party at Castle Grof by Kira Morgana

concentrate. The rest of the party took the moment to relax and have a drink.
    “Was ye maether a mage?” Arnhammen asked Erendell, passing her a small flask.
    “Eliethorendraelliana is her full name,” Aranok told him. “She is one of the greatest mages that ever existed, but her story is a tragic one.”
    “My mother has suffered much because of her power. It is her duty to teach those who come to the Mage Library in Alethdariel, as she is the only one strong enough to help them.” Erendell blinked rapidly, moisture shining in her eyes.
    “She’s a marvellous teacher,” Ariana said softly, opening her eyes.
    “What did you see?” Aranok asked.
    “Steady on, Aranok, the Lady has only just returned!” Arnhammen held out one hand. “Gie her a minute to come to herself.”
    “It’s all right, Arnhammen.” Ariana smiled at the dwarf. “The corridor ahead is patrolled by Skeletons. They move in groups of five and should be easy enough to deal with – if Arnhammen is up to it.”
    “I hae ne’er been more ready, Lady.” The dwarf looked eager to go.
    “Then let us away to battle the Undead in our bid to free this world of evil!” Erendell proclaimed as if reciting some ancient battle cry.
    Grald and Arnhammen looked at Erendell as if she’d grown horns. Aranok gagged and turned away, unable to speak, and Ariana grinned.
    “It’s ok,” she said. “She’s eating Copperleaf and Berry Bread.” She pointed at the wedge of bread in the dark elf’s hand.
    “Huh?” Grald sounded confused.
    “Don’t worry about it,” Aranok said, swilling his mouth out with water. “Erendell put that stuff away.”
    “Oh all right.” Erendell folded a napkin around the wedge and put it into her knapsack.
    Erendell disarmed the alarm and gas traps that she found by the door and unlocked it with a twist of a pick. They moved cautiously through and into the next corridor.
    Here there was no glowing ooze so Ariana produced a Mage Globe and whispered to it. It glowed a soft yellow that made Erendell’s golden eyes gleam in the borrowed light.
    “She’s so beautiful,” Grald whispered longingly to Aranok as they made their way up the passage.
    “Be careful, Grald. Erendell is nearly one hundred and eight years old and has had at least four human lovers that I know of. She’ll break your heart.” Aranok shook his head when the barbarian’s face turned stubborn. To change the subject he asked, “Do you have any family?”
    “Yes. I have a younger sister, Freya.”
    “Where is she at the moment?”
    “She’s a Pleasure House Slave in Jira. I used to be a Gladiator Slave there as well. A merchant who won a lot of money betting on me bought me and set me free. Now all I have to do is buy her free.”
    “Is that why you’re adventuring? You never did tell me when we were talking last night.” Aranok looked around the corridor they were walking up. “It’s too quiet.”
    Grald wasn’t really paying much attention to Aranok.
    “Yes, Lord Harnez promised me enough gold to pay off at least half of her price. I’m hoping to pick up some more here and I have a third of her price already stashed away.”
    They reached the point that Ariana suggested they dig from without encountering any Skeletons.
    “That was strange. I expected at least one skirmish on the way up here,” the mage remarked as she pulled the Digger Mech out of her bag. The copper cube sat on the ground quiescent as she attached a leather cord to her wrist and another to a loop at the back of the cube.
    “Aye Lady t’is strangely quiet, but I shall nae count on it staying that way.” Arnhammen set out four blue quartz cubes two on either side of the party, setting them down in the centre and began to pray over his medallion of Tyr.
    The cubes glowed, rose from the ground and began to spin around them, just over their heads. A translucent barrier surrounded them with a pale blue light.
    “Why in the Mother’s name have you put a leash on that