Arrival

Normally the road to the village would take no less than three full days, but Lady Blackthorne's carriage was special. Crafted and assembled with the help of best Argellian magicians, it could move three time faster than conventional coaches. The Lord Tullian's gift during her last stay in Tarminea came in handy. So, arriving next morning, Geraldine was sure that she had beaten any possible competitor to her goal.

There was nothing really to see there. A dark forest on one side, a dull moor on the other, and dozen or so crude huts and cabins in the middle. And lots of dirt and wild grass. She tucked a magic wand under the belt of elegant dress and stepped out of her luxurious carriage. "Usual Karth where men and women lie down with pigs and sheep" the countess thought, frowning upon the dull picture before her eyes.

Despite it was early in the morning, the local folks gathered in the main square, abandoning their chores. None of them has ever seen such a richly ornated slick carriage and equally richly dressed highborn noblewoman. Local petty lordling, who was just a bit wealthier than all these farmers, pig herders and woodcutters, who like to drink with them and maybe pinch their women's butts, was all that they knew about nobility. So it was quite a sight for men and women of the village alike.

Countess strode confidently to the crowd stopping in ten yards or so. "Who is your village chief?" she asked

A tall middle-aged man with an awkward look on his face stepped forward. "It's me, ma'am. What do you need from us"

"Ma'am?" Geraldine raised her raven black eyebrows. "Your Ladyship, you mean? I must have given you lashes for disrespect of your superiors, you boor. Fortunately for you, I have no time to spare the likes of you. Where's the artifact?"

"What _antifuck, _Your L... ladyship?"

One of the local women pushed the chief in the hip. "She's speaking of the shining stone, dumbbell" she hissed

"Ah, the stone!" the chief broke into a silly smile. "It's of course here!"

"Then show me where it is exactly" Geraldine spoke coldly. "I am the King's magical advisor and I demand it immediately. The Kingdom's security is at stake"

The chief raised a hand. "Uh, ma'am... I mean, Your Ladyship... But we were told that if anyone from the court will come after the stone, he should show us the King's papers. We ain't got no right to just give it to anybody"

"Told by whom?" Despite her cold glance, Geraldine was beginning to lose her patience.

"Our huntress... It's she who brought it here and ask it to keep for a couple of days, maybe a week"

"Ah, a huntress. So, you'd do what your huntress tells you, or what the King's advisor tells you?"

"But... Your Ladyship..."

"Silence" the Countess raised her hand in ivory glove with a large golden bracelet. "If you bumpkins are not going to cooperate, my guards will **** you to do it". Geraldine's men moved forward menacingly with swords in their hands.

"All right, All right" the chief mumbled. He turned to his folk. "You guys all heard that. If something ain't right with the King's men, that wasn't our fault. We just couldn't do nothing".

"This way, Your Ladyship", he showed the path to one of the bigger houses to Geraldine. "It's in the small chest there"

The Countess turned around on her high heels and strolled to the huse pointed by the chief. As she was heading to the house, a young peasant girl with unkempt reddish hair suddenly got right in front of her.

"I won't let you go inside, lady" she said bravely. "The Huntress told us not to trust anyone, and you're not looking like person I can trust".