Chapter 30: Gifts?

As the party leave the void behind, they head towards the road the leaves the city and stretches into the countryside. With no sight if the coachman where they were dropped off the party began to wander down the road back towards the city hoping as they walked, they would run into the coachman as he was coming back to get the party. The rest of the day passed without an encounter with the coachman, Ami mentioning that they didn’t know how long they were inside the void for, and it might be that the coachman hasn’t made it back to the city yet. Ilev thought the same as they never saw it get dark while inside the void so it’s entirely possible they cleared it out in only a couple of hours, and that the coachman wouldn’t be returning to their location until at least the day after next. With darkness setting in the party set up their camp a short way off of the road making sure to keep it clear in case anyone was to be continuing their travels through the night, once the familiar camp was set up and the watch schedule put into place the party settled down for the night expecting another uneventful night. However not long after the first watch started Lexa and Arano noticed a swarm of bees heading towards the party’s temporary campsite, they raise hell making sure to have everyone be at least awake and ready to move even if they aren’t the most alert to the incoming swarm of bees.

“Did we not deal with those bees while inside the void?”
“Well kind of, we cured them of the void corruption and just kind of let them fly away. I didn’t think they’d come back to attack us later though.”
“Well it sure looking that way right now. So are you going to do something?”
“Not until they actually attack us, they might just be passing by. Or if we’re really lucky then they might be coming to give us a gift.”

As the bees approached the party’s camp they appeared to slow down and part showing the queen bee to the front and to where the party had set up camp for the night. The queen bee landed directly in front of Lexa, and then proceeded to offer something to her, a container full of some unknown material. With this gift delivered the bees began to fly away leaving the party in silence as they all looked at the thing Lexa was given trying to figure out what was inside it, with no progress being made in identifying the material the party settled back down to sleep. The rest of the night went without incident, and once morning arrived a familiar voice woke most of the party. The coachman had returned already, having driven through the night on the way back and then leaving almost as soon as they had arrived back in the city. With their transport back to the safety of the city secured they loaded up their camp onto the carriage along with themselves and began the day long journey back to the city. Halfway through the journey Lexa pulled out the container that had the mysterious material inside it and asked the coachman if they recognised the material at all. Taking a quick glance at the contents of the container the coachman responded that they couldn’t be certain but it looked like it was queen jelly, which could be crystalised to form a crystal that functioned similar to the one she already had but it wouldn’t fill up as fast and would dispel some of the corruption on its own without the need of the cleansing from Lexa. But if they left some of it in the container then they would also have the protection of the hive if ever they found themselves in a dire situation, the bees would detect that through the jelly and come to the aid of the party. A very handy gift, he asked where they got it from. Lexa responded by telling the coachman that they got it from the queen bee themselves after healing them of the void corruption they were suffering from. The coachman replied telling Lexa to keep it safe and to not let anyone other than her party see it when they get back into the city at dusk, as if it is queen jelly then many less reputable adventuring parties might attempt to steal it because of the benefits it brings with being in possession of some. Taking the coachman’s advice Lexa put the container into one of the bags containing a tent to keep it safe and way from any prying eyes within the city walls. As dusk approached so did the city walls and the ability to restock on supplies and not sleep out in the field for a few days, as the coach arrived at the gate the guard stationed there handed the party a letter addressed to them. Ilev having had the letter passed to him opened the letter and read what it contained.

“This is what it says.

To the esteemed members of the guild by the title of Shin’ya, I hear that you have made great strides in the defeat of the Dark King already. I have prepared the most wonderous of feasts for your return this eve, I once more invite you to join me for a meal within my manor so that I can hear of your wonderous quest and of your exploits. Yours Lord Connor Leon Seolfor the Fourth.

So I guess dinner will be at the manor with the lord.”
“He seems to have taken a liking to you.”
“Yeah, I don’t know if that’s something I enjoy or not just yet. But here will do Mr. Coachman, I assume the Lord will have sent for a member of his house staff to come and collect us from the gate.”
“Very well. I hope to see you again soon, once again you have my thanks for saving my daughter.”

With that the coachman departs, the party then leave Ilev at the gate to wait on the member of the Lord’s house staff while the remainder of the party go to the house to drop their bags off so they don’t drag them through the Lord’s manor.