h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

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Omens of Oblivion: Delivering The Bad News

Finally, Andreas and Freya managed to find their way out and burst out of the cave, followed by surprisingly few cultists, as most of them seemed to have been trapped or blocked off by the oddly timed earthquake.

A brief fight ensued but, since both of them were seasoned fighters (providing Freya with another clue to the puzzle that was her past) they managed to kill off their pursuers. To her surprise, Freya noticed that Andreas had left his horse next to hers, well out of sight from the cave entrance. She frowned and turned at him.

'Just how long have you been following me?'

'Ever since you left Cloud Ruler Temple,' Andreas admitted, looking apprehensive.

'Thank you,' Freya gave him a quick hug and mounted her horse, adding 'we really need to get back to Cloud Ruler Temple as fast as possible!'

Together, they rode all night as fast as their horses could take them and, at the break of dawn, they finally arrived at the gates of the temple. After Freya had stabled her horse, she spotted Jauffre hurrying towards her. Her heart sank at the thought of the bad news she was carrying.

'Thank Talos you've arrived safely! Do you have the amulet?'

'No, Mankar Cameron escaped with it,' Freya replied, looking down, not daring to meet his eyes, banning herself for not grabbing the chance while she had the opportunity.

'Please tell me you have some good news!'

Tentatively, Freya pulled out the Mysterium Xarxes, showing it to Jauffre.

'Ah, good - you should take that to Martin right away!' Jauffre said, and turned around, entering the temple. Freya followed him, dragging her feet, feeling like a complete failure.

Martin seemd to take the news that the amulet was out of reach for now in his stride, but upon hearing Freya was in possession of the Mysterium Xarxes, he hastily grabbed it, explaining how very dangerous it could be to someone not wise in the ways of evil. Quietly, he admitted to her that he had not always been on the good side but that, at least, he had learnt how to protect himself from the evil powers. Eagerly, he sat down to study the book.

'You haven't looked inside, have you?' Martin looked worriedly at Freya.

'No, I... didn't have time for that,' she replied dryly, and entered the dining hall.

Relieved to know that the book might actually contain a clue to how to retrieve the amulet, Freya was delighted to see that everyone, not only Jauffre, had survived their attempt of closing a gate to Oblivion.

Settling down, with a steaming bowl of soup placed before her, Freya asked the Orc brothers about their impressions of fighting creatures inside a gate.

'Blasted fire hurling critters, just like hunting goblin mages,' muttered Lum.

'But the Dremora were worthy adversaries,' Kurz added.

'Yeah, they put up a good fight,' Lum admitted, brightening up.

'It was fun!' the Orc brothers concluded, in unison, grinning widely.

Freya noticed Andreas was also seated at one of the tables, seemingly calm and unperturbed. With a thoughtful look on her face, Freya dug into her soup.

[-B4-]