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<li data-xf-list-type="ul"><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"Tis safe to say your efforts proved as fruitful as my own, I see. Not unexpected, though I must admit I believed Lord Valen would have a better chance that a mere inexperienced General would. It can't be helped I suppose, such is the way of my people. Unfortunately,"</span> Arioch said, suddenly appearing before the group. It was hard not to feel the explosion of Altima's anger move through the calm forest, and even easier to find the source of the sudden disturbance. Even the children in the city would have been able to track her from the opposite side of it. For a trained scout, doing such a thing took very little effort, especially when the heat haze continued to grow around her.<br/>
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<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"I do believe that I have an answer for your question, though, Lady Altima. Though I fear that you will like what I am about to suggest,"</span> Arioch said, turning her attention toward the group's leader. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"While you were meeting with the King, I took the opportunity to gather a bit of information. Luckily, many of my sources here haven't let my sudden change in status deter their will to give me assistance. To the point - there is some trouble here in Hieronidan. The Seer. . .something strange is happening around her shrine. I've heard tales of the very land itself warping around it, the trees, even people, suddenly crystallizing. . .it. . .is most difficult to put into words. I could not even begin to fathom the reason for such things happening. It's not odd for strange things to happen around the shrine but it's never been anything like this. She refuses to see anyone now but I believe that if. . ."</span><br/>
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With a sigh, she folded her arms and took a deep breath. There was no easy way to say what she was about to say. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:#0040ff">"My King has refused you aid, but this is. . .this is an entirely different situation. The people here. . .even though he may lead them to their demise, innocent people are being harmed. I believe that. . .this is something that we should look into,"</span> Arioch said, stumbling over her words. Her voice sounded foreign to herself as she tripped over her words. Normally, she spoke with an even tone and a great amount of confidence, but here she stood with the eyes of her new traveling companions all on her. It made her feel small before them.[/list:u]</li>
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