The Morl Rider's scout ran towards Deris.
"Captain…Our lookout has sent a word. They are moving."
Deris grabbed his weapon and got up.
"Gather all of them. We will follow them." He ordered.
The riders packed up and moved out.
"Remember, maintain a safe distance and only scout. We will not engage in battle. The Falvarian lookout has sent a message." Deris ordered.
"What message?"
"The Falvarians want to know what they are finding. They want both the thing and their heads."
The riders nodded and headed towards their targets.
The squad left the village and moved east. Efris was a religious country. They were polytheistic. Hence, they had numerous temples. In old times, they were allies of Cerfis as well. But after the war, it changed. They didn't hate each other, but they didn't like each other either.
The squad crossed the border and was now in Efris. No borders around the world had barriers or walls. Only certain border villages and cities had walls and gates. So moving from one country to another was easy.
They ventured into the new territory and began to look for the next location. They were unsure about a dry river. Their only clue was temples. They travelled southeast and arrived at a small city.
They entered the city and began to move through it. In the centre of the city was a big temple. It was a temple of one of the six gods of Efris. They went near the temple. All around it, numerous ropes and lanterns were hanging. And many people were entering and leaving the temple.
As they moved, Felmer turned his horse and spotted a black-robed man. The man felt suspicious. The man looked at Felmer and then disappeared into the crowd. He moved his horse close to his squad.
"We are being followed."
They looked at him and around them.
"If my guess is correct, the riders won't attack us. They will scout and track us. If they are sent by the Falvarians, then after the encounter with the first sky, they may have figured out what we are looking for." The captain guessed.
"But we can never let them have the badge," Flexin said.
"Correct…The best we can do is to keep an eye on them and not let them know that we have spotted them."
"But won't we lead them to the badge this way…" Melfer objected.
"If we do, then we will fight for it…" Elna replied.
They all nodded and took deep breaths.
"Now, we should disperse and ask around for such places. Flexin, you will stay with the captain."
"Should we divide when we are being chased?" Flexin asked.
"If we start babysitting you two, then we will have no progress," Elna replied.
They got off their horses, took them near an inn and tied them in the stables. Then they went off in different directions.
Felmer walked through the crowd, searching for a place where he could gather information. He went to a bookshop and asked the shopkeeper for a temple present near a dried-up river.
"A temple in such a place? Not that I know of…" The shopkeeper replied.
"Any place where I can know about it?"
"No, son, I don't know, sorry…"
Felmer nodded and left the shop. He asked in many shops and stalls. But no one knew of such a temple. He wandered around the city. Stopped at a stall and bought a pear. Felmer cut the pear with his knife and ate it.
The time was near noon, and Felmer had almost travelled the whole city. But he was unable to find anything. He decided to head back to the central temple and join his squad. As he walked on the pavement, an old man caught his eye. The man was walking at some distance. He was wearing a white dress and a light blue robe with patterns of water over his dress. The clothing style somehow matched that of the first sky. His face was wrinkled, but he looked wise. The people were ignoring him a lot. But he was very prominent.
Felmer thought that he must be thinking wrong. But before he was about to turn. A woman passed near him, and the edge of the woman's bag went through the man's hand. Now, Felmer was sure that he was looking at the correct person.
'Only memory fragments can have such behaviour,' Felmer thought.
Without a second thought, Felmer moved swiftly towards him. As he drew close, the man noticed him and began to walk swiftly as well. Felmer followed him. The man moved swiftly through the crowd and turned into a dark alley. Felmer followed him and turned into the same alley. As he turned, a magic-imbued hand struck his face. Felmer barely dodged it, drew his dagger, and pointed it at the man's neck.
"Hmmm…Not bad. Why are you following me?"
Felmer began to look at him and breathe heavily. Felmer didn't know what to say. He thought and asked.
"Do you know of a woman named Wernia Alore?"
The man suspiciously looked at him.
'How does this young man know of her?' The old man thought.
"And If I do?"
Felmer smiled. He was now sure he had met the right person. "I am Felmer Gorbin. The 456th heir of the throne." Felmer said, while pulling back his dagger.
"Does the throne stand?"
"I don't know any of these passwords. There are four other people beside me. One of them is the captain of the Cerfisian army. He knows these passwords." Felmer replied and took out the rock and the paper he got from Wernia.
The man's mouth opened. He smiled. He was assured that he was looking at a man from Gorbin.
"My name is Wallis Alore. Master Felmer, you have met the right person."