Letter to Versi (#16)
(Written in the colossus during the group’s rest.)
Versi, my dearest love,
I think this is going badly.
The Lady of Coins did respond to us in the end; but only to tell us that she had ‘no need of heroes’.
That is all well and good: if it weren’t for the fact that she has been petrifying people in their homes and that she has kidnapped Theo’s old paramour! So she has kind of forfeited her right to stay undisturbed. Unfortunately for her… or maybe unfortunately for us...
All of this means that it has been a struggle to get to where we are. Fight, after fight, through sewers and then up into the ruins of the colossus we are sat in now. Everyone looks exhausted. None of us were expecting this day to be so long.
We were actually trying not to kill our opponents throughout all of this; but things have got a little desperate. In the last fight, I managed to get a foothold in our enemies' minds, addling their thoughts, but even that was not enough to prevent the majority of their attacks from hitting. And hitting hard.
So we have had to rest. Which is not ideal after Theo charmed one of our opponents into going to tell the Lady that we were here. I’m… not quite sure what he was thinking on that one. But at least no one seems to have come to find us. Of course, that just means there is likely an ambush waiting up ahead somewhere.
Oh, and it absolutely stinks here! Some silly pipes in here spouted an awful gas that my magic doesn’t seem to be able to touch. Never have I wished more for a bath!
You know, we have encountered quite a few minotaurs. They all seem to be... ‘branded’. It is difficult to tell whether they are marks of ownership, or of membership… but, either way, something is off. ALL of the Cult of Snake members, not just the minotaur, seem on edge when they see Alke. Flinching at the movement of her hair... it doesn’t bode well.
Gods. I hope we survive for me to send you this letter.
Ah, I am sorry my love: what an awful thing to write! Of course, there is little use hiding these sorts of things from you considering your powers but, even so, I should not be so blase.
We will be fine. I will be fine. I will not let the Lady of Coins prevent me from seeing you again.
Forever yours,
Calliope