Greeting all!
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Anyway, be sure to read 
“I thought this was a memory stone.” Said Adiran looking at his closed hand.
“It is, just didn’t say whose memory it was.” The old man winked at him. “Which one sent you for help.”
“Ah…Adiran?”
The old man frowned a little, sighed, then got to his feet, “That boy, he carries so much weight on his shoulders for things he had no control over. I tried to help him, but he was so stubborn.”
He reached for a crooked staff and slowly made his way to the fireplace. His pace was excruciatingly painful but once he reached the fireplace he reached into the flames and removed some embers. The older man let the red embers burn in his hand before he dropped the blackened remains at his feet.
“You must be the youngest then, the last of the Adrian line.”
Adrian didn’t like the sound of that but remained silent while nodding his head.
“Your future was so bright, but then he spotted you, in fact, several hes spotted you. They were going to destroy your soul, but luckily the old castle guard stepped in.” the old man leaned against the fireplace and used a foot to scribble in the dirt.
“You mean Mortis?”
“Is that what he was called in your time? It can be so difficult to keep track.”
“Why am I here?”
“I am to give you a map to find the little lizard fellow, right? At least, that was what I said I would do. Is there something else you need of me?"
“We don’t have time for games. I can only assume that you need us to move. Where do we go?”
“You still have your father’s impulsiveness, always will. It’s the mark he left on you and your sister.” Adiran sighed, “Take care of her. I feel she has started delving into the Fiery One’s power and I’d hate for her to lose herself.”
The old Adiran muttered something under his breath and then said, “Soon Adiran won’t be able to maintain this spell, but until then, that memory stone is what will get you to me when you need my assistance. A drop of your blood will activate it, but it’ll need a few days of rest.”
“What do you mean by that? What is my uncle planning?”
“I cannot tell you because you will turn the party around to try and help him No, you are on the path that you must be on, and I am on the path that I must be on.” Adiran pointed down. “Your map.”
Adrian looked down and looked at a perfectly created map. His eyes quickly pointed out important landmarks and committed them to memory.
“Travel to the east for the next two days to find my old friend. She’ll guide you the rest of the way.”
“Another companion. Why not have them join us at the start of this mission?”
“Because I am Prince Adrian and not Adiran, young man. I don’t know what your uncle was thinking. But he wouldn’t have spent his last boon with me on something frivolous.” The old man painfully limped to Adrian to put a hand on his shoulder. “As you travel come back now and again to this place look for the updated map, I may or may not be here.”
“I’m still confused.” Said Adrian.
“Good! If you’re confused, then he’s confused.”
“Pardon?” Adrian was confused.
Adiran grinned and gently pushed Adrian from the room. In an instant, it felt like his vision was shrunk to nothing more than a spot of light, but then slowly he became aware of his other senses.
He was lying on his back, his head hurt, and he was thirsty. His ears were ringing, but he could make out someone talking. Not panicked voices, but low murmurs. He struggled to get his body to obey him, but eventually, he was able to get feeling back in his arms. Once he was able to move those, he released his hold on the stone. Just like that, everything around him came back into review. He sat up with a gasp, shocking the wolf that had been his pillow previously.
Calm Prince. You are safe.
His sister was the first to his side. She looked annoyed and only asked one word, “And?”
“I know where we have to go for now, but the map isn’t complete. I met the craziest version of our uncle; the man was a loon. However, this stone allows me entrance into his mind to see the updated map now and again.”
“Where are we to go next?” asked Sebastian.
Magna helped Adrian to his feet. The young man looked at his mother’s brother and said, “We go east for two days, we will be met by an ally who can guide us further.”
“More people we have to be worried about.” Muttered Magna.
“We need rest.” Said Anna who had started making a fire. “I will draw up a watch shift, so that we may all get some rest.”
“Mortis doesn’t sleep.” Said Magna.
“And neither do I.” said Bellatrix.
Taken aback that her plan had been shunned so quickly, she only grinned and said, “Very well, you two can then be in charge of standing guard. Everyone else can help put something for dinner together.”
While everyone else in the cave started to prepare for their various tasks, Magna pulled Adrian away and said, “You look like you saw a ghost, what happened? Don’t lie to me.”
Adrian took a deep breath before whispering, “I don’t know if we’re going to see our uncle again.”
He then gripped her arm tightly, as if fearing she may run after Adiran. Magna didn’t pull away but instead hugged her brother close.
“I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Surprised by the outward show of affection, Adrian returned the embrace and whispered, “Some to you. I am your shield, use me as you wish.”
And back in Zak's court!
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
| by | by  |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | Part 2 |
| Part 3 | Part 4 |
| Part 5 | Part 6 |
| Part 7 | Part 8 |
| Part 9 | Part 10 |
| Part 11 | Part 12 |
| Part 13 | Part 14 |
| Part 15 | Part 16 |
| Part 17 | Part 18 |
| Part 19 | Part 20 |
| Part 21 | Part 22 |
| Part 23 | Part 24 |
| Part 25 | Part 26 |
| Part 27 | Part 28 |
| Part 29 | Part 30 |
| Part 31 | Part 32 |
| Part 33 | Part 34 |
| Part 35 | Part 36– You are here |
| Part 37 – Coming Soon | Part 38– Coming Soon |
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