Chapter 17 - Part 2

Delegado spent every bit of the money. First he bought three durable magebred horses from Vadalis, along with the best saddles, saddlebags, and plenty of food. Then he and Thomas hit up a few hermits and Greensingers who had arcane scrolls. That stock was snatched up pretty quickly, and they then convinced the Wardens of the Wood to let them buy some of the town’s scrolls. Following that they visited a gnome druid alchemist who had come to sell his wares, and cleared out everything the short humanoid had to offer. Finally they visited the Cannith operative. Ignoring questions about the warforged, Delegado again bought every oil, potion, and spare bit of weaponry available.

Walking towards the town square, Delegado was counting arrows and Thomas was checking valises.

“This is an incredible haul,” Thomas said. “These spells, some are very powerful. War spells.”

“We’ll need them,” Delegado said. “We’re entering the Wastes.”

“Have you been there?” Thomas asked.

“No,” Delegado said. “But House Tharashk has a presence in a place called Blood Crescent. There’s dragonshards, narstones, other things there. But it’s a bad place.”

“I thought of crossing the Icehorn Mountains to go there,” Thomas said. He gripped his new staff before putting it into a carrying sling on his back. “I had heard of a town of sorts, a place called the Holt.”

“Festering Holt,” Delegado said. “It’s a rumor, may not be true, about a town of misfits. You thought you’d join them?”

“Aye,” Thomas said. “I did not though. I decided I would rather be alone.”

“I know that feeling,” Delegado said.

He and Thomas walked in silence for a bit, and Delegado saw the half-daelkyr’s face contract. The half-orc recalled something that Orphan had told him about Thomas feeling left out.

“My father died in the Demon Wastes,” Delegado said.

“He did?” Thomas asked, more surprised that Delegado was telling him than anything else.

“Yeah, he was really too old to go prospecting but he wanted to go,” Delegado said. “He um, his prospecting party got caught by something.”

“I am sorry,” Thomas said.

“Yeah, Wastes is a dangerous place is all I’m saying,” Delegado told him. They walked in silence after that. I hope you’re happy, Delegado thought when he saw the warforged waiting for them.