Jonathan looked back at the bird now right behind him and made a skeptical face. "I really hope this magic is as dumb as you think!" he half grumbled, half prayed before diving into the lake, cool water covering him. He kept diving down, quickly passing Lillian until finally he looked back just in time to see what liked like a fiery meteor through the water crashing into the lake's surface. Fire spread out along the top of the water and was quickly swallowed, but he could feel the water heat up and then he saw the form of the bird, smoldering and trailing bits of steam and bubbles after it hurling through the water towards them.

Jonathan grabbed Lillian and tumbled out of the way, and sent a shockwave of water at the bird which finally dissolved into nothing but warm water. Swimming strongly up through the water with Lillian he broke through the surface, taking in a deep breath of air. "That sure was a sight!"

Lillian gasped for breath when the two broke through the surface. She was quiet until the two reached the shore and she had regained her composure. "Thank you, for that." She said quietly, but loud enough for Jonathan to hear clearly. The girl then quickly made her way back to David and the defeated wizards.

(darn its stopped showing me when this thread gets responses!!!! *kicks it)

Jonathan shook the water out of his hair, with a crooked smile. "No problem!" he shouted after her then shook his head and ran to catch up with her. He looked around when the got back to where David was. "well, at least that's all taken care of."

(lol that's funny. I was gone for a while anyways, so it didn't matter much.)


Lillian looked at the scene in front of her. The large wolf was growling at the head wizard. His hood was now down and she could see his face. A rather old man, it looked like.
"So now you'll leave us in peace? No more running after us?" the girl glared at the man. His arm was bleeding from where David had bit him.

The wizard looked at the three travels in fear. "Yes, yes!" he said, quite hastily. As he tried to get up

David, now back to his human from, spoke. "No, not so fast." He helped the old man up but David kept his hand on him. "First you answer some questions."

(oh, well its good to hear its not all my fault)

Jonathan crossed his arms, going serious again. "Yeah, like how did you make a freakin firebird come after us?!!" he snapped. "Okay no, what I wonder about is that its only wizards that have attacked us so far. who knows about us?"

The wizard quite frightened by the fact the summoned phoenix had been destroyed, answered their questions.
"Silus," he whispered, "He's been on your trail since before you began. No matter what you may do, our Lord will find you."

David scowled at the man, "And who is this 'Silus' you speak of?"

"He's only the most powerful wizard in the land." The man looked at David and scoffed, "You've never heard of him? Yet you call yourself a shifter?"

The shifter just about lost his temper and grabbed the head wizard by his cloak. Quite ready to teach the old man a lesson. "What makes you think I could know anything about Silus?"

(Mmm...do you have any ideas what they could do next? I'm sorta running out. :sweat:)

(:sweat: I guess they could meet this silus in person??)

Jonathan eyed David, ready to step forward and stop him in case he killed the wizard out of anger. "how could this Silus person track us from the begining? Barely a handful of people know about this mission!" It made him think that one of the few people who knew about and were backing this mission had double crossed him and if there was a traitor, then the entire kingdom could one day be at risk.
"Where is silas?!" jonathan snapped, ready to end this madness.

(Why didn't I think of that? :headdesk:)

"You can't find him, he finds you. Silus has ears everywhere. It was only time until he found out about your quest for 'that' gem of legend. Such a gem it is." the wizard said nothing else as David let go of his hold.

Lillian spoke, "Well that settle it. Two plans uncovered at once."

The shapeshifter looked at his two companions, "So that's what you're after. The Haven's Gem." He shrugged as the girl glared at him, "What else could it be, really?"

"Yes, and frankly we should be heading forward. Too much time has been wasted already." Lillian then started to bandage the wizard's arm. "We'll let you live. Just don't get in our way again." After the mentioning of this Silus person, Lillian seemed to be a little more on edge, as if she knew exactly who he was.

Jonathan eyed David, but decided it didn't really matter that she shapeshifter knew what they were after. He then glanced over at Lillian who seemed to be acting a bit different suddenly. "You're going to let him go just like that?" he asked her as she let the wizard escape. "You know something." His face got thoughtful. "Something about this Silas and his 'ears' everywhere."

Lillian finished bandaging the wizard and then had David knock the old man out so he wouldn't see where the group was going next. She looked at Jonathan, a little angry, "Of course I know something. I'm surprised neither of you do." She sighed and started to head towards the next destination.

David suddenly stood in front of her. "Oh no you don't, you're gonna tell us what you know about Silus. And tell me about that quest of yours."

Lillian looked at David, unprovoked, "Well, why don't I tell you on the way to our next destination?"

As the group continued on the path Lillian asked the two what exactly they wanted to know about Silus.

For once he and david were agreeing. They wanted to know what Lillian knew. Jonathan was walking beside Lillian. "What we want to know? All of it. who is this guy? he seems to have a rather big and infamous reputation so I suppose he deals in all sorts of nasty crime."

Lillian sighed, somewhat annoyed, then started to tell the two about Silus. "I wouldn't call it crime. He's a mercenary of sorts. Mainly one who deals with stolen information. He obtains it, then sells it to the highest bidder. All the bigwigs know about him. But he's not just some weak person, surrounded by guards. He's strong as well as smart. The rumors say he's a shapeshifter. He's a magician and can fend off 10 full grown men on his own. Those are the more believable rumors."

David interrupted her, "A shapeshifter?"

"Yes. Supposedly he's a cat, as he seems to disappear from view when trouble gets a little too much for him. Which doesn't happen often." As they walked Lillian told a few more of the rumors. Of how he's from a far off country, he has skills with all weapons, he's a fire and water mage, and no one has escaped from him alive. "In fact, from what I've heard, no one's really seen his face. He always wears a hood that covers his eyes. Makes him a little harder to find really."

While Lillian was talking they day got darker as the night came. "We should stop and camp for the night."

"Just a little farther, I know a good spot." David said. The group followed the boy, and in a few minutes were in a small clearing off the road near a cave. Lillian didn't say much else about Silus during that. Talking about that particular man was a little uncomfortable for her. There were things about her past she wouldn't reveal to the others. At least not until it was absolutely necessary.

Jonathan was silent all the while Lillian was talking. She was saying so much about this Silas that it took some time to process. Rumors made the man out to be some kind of god, though he doubted that was true, but he did understand his sort. this Silas was likely one of those people that are as close to a god as you can get, the kind you avoid at all costs. If this man had taken an interest in their little quest for the Haven's jewel, then things were likely to go downhill very soon.

Finally, as they were setting up camp by a cave that David led them too, Jonathan spoke. "So Lillian. You've heard all these rumors about Silas. How much of it do you believe?" he didn't particularly care that she looked uncomfortable with the conversation. He had to know what they were up against.

"Half of them," the girl answered after a short pause. She had to think how much to tell them, so it wouldn't give her past away. "He's strong, but more on an ordinary level. He doesn't know much magic, more like simple trickery. He is a shapeshifter, that's a true fact. Not just a rumor. I'm reality he seems more like a merc. A rather strong and smart one, but a merc nonetheless."

Jonathan nodded slowly. "I think we can deal with that then as long as we stay smart and don't go around asking for trouble. The hardest thing to deal with is the fact that he's a shapeshifter and has ears everywhere as you said." He dropped into thought. "If he's going to try to stop us from getting the Haven's Jewel, then perhaps it would be wiser to try to pull a surprise attack on him before he can get the jump on us?"

Lillian was slightly startled at the though, "How would you even go about finding him?" At this she stifled a yawn.

"Look, I know it'd be a good idea to plan this now, but we really should get some rest," David said, "In the morning, well have sharper minds. I'll take first watch."

"I'll take second," Lillian said as lay on her blanket and did her best to sleep. In the morning, she wouldn't give so much away. "We'll continue our conversation tomorrow."