Neven explained word for word to Talos everything that transpired in the Thieves Guild. He explored the nature of the deal they cut with the Thieves and what they had to do to fulfill the end of their bargain. Irzen then asked Talos, "Please tell us everything you know about Zilc. Where he lives, who his friends are, where he drinks his ale, what his habit trails are, who he associates himself with, everything, that we would need to prove whether or not Major Zilc is indeed who he says he is."

Sergeant Talos had had his own suspicions of late but didn't think much of it until now. He surmised that the Bronze Man more than likely knew of this incident as well but kept it low key. Direct involvement from the temple would spooked the individuals into leaving town and destroying evidence. "The Major lives at the barracks. He has his own private quarters there. All the officers who take up the mantle of head officer live and work from the barracks. He doesn't drink either at least not to my knowledge. Now that you mention it, I did see an odd looking scroll among various others sitting on his desk one day but thought nothing of it. Odd as it is in glowing with magic, a faint red color pulsed from it and it gave me the creeps. Two, the Bronze Man may or may not have knowledge of this and doesn't want to get involved. Any involvement from the temple would spook the persons to up and vanish."

"A MYSTERY! Yeaaa! We must solve this puzzle!" Caliaphy squeaked excitedly. She looked back at the ranger, "I'm Serna's new friend and she's my new friend. Making friends is a good thing."

"You're cute," Neven took notice of the fairy, "In a silly sort of way."

The fairy blushed as she darted around the thief in delight.

"It's better than making enemies," Serna quipped.

"What are his habit trails? Who does he associate himself with? Is he ever alone? Does he walk the streets alone?" Irzen pressed.

Before the Swordsman get an answer, Arch Mage Kellan of the mage's guild blinked right in front of the the group, "LOOK OUT! WILD MAGIC ON THE LOOSE!" He threw a magic barrier over the group just in time for a magic missile storm slammed into them.

****WHOOOSHHHTTTT!!!****

Irzen, Serna, Neven and Willow instinctively dropped to the ground and took cover as the magic missile storm collided with the magic barrier.

People scattered in all directions looking for cover while the arch mage contained the incident. Five minutes later the anomaly was gone. "My apologies Sergeant Talos. It was the Netherese wizard. He went crazy when I asked him about unsanctioned summonings within the guild. He become edgy and highly defensive and accused me of searching the guest quarters and I found this!"

"What?!" Talos stiffened up. "What's this? I don't read arcane, Kellan."

"The language is old. Ancient. I've tried to decipher it with my resources but hit a dead end." Arch Mage Kellan gave Talos his response. "I know many languages. Many and even asked those who specialize in other fields of magic, arcane and religious."

Talos replied, "Where is the wizard now?"

"Still in the city proper that I do know. I've alerted the Bronze Man of the situation. The wards of the city will prevent anyone bearing his description and power from leaving Asylum. The mages guild will handle magic type events. I've got the members throughout the city to make sure while working in tandem with the militia." The arch mage assured him.

Talos closed his eyes and listened. He heard this kind of music before. Pandemonium. "Have your members use true seeing spells or something of equivalent to it. Something tells me that not all the militia are loyal guards of Asylum. Go with caution."

Caliaphy zipped back over to Serna's shoulder, "Wild magic is scary stuff! Will you protect me?"

"Of course I will," Serna got back to her feet, "Just stick with me, okay?"

"Is it safe to get up?" Neven asked slowly rising to his feet.

"I would think so," Willow helped The Thief up.

"Great! Just great!" The sergeant threw up his arms in protest, "Not what I was expecting however, I will personally send that piece of scum to the Nine hells when I get through with him. So, we have this scroll from the arch mage, Irzen. How are your skills in hunting down rogue wizards? I expect a group effect here. It's gonna take all of us to find this creep."

"Wait one minute!" Irzen got back to his feet, "Unless this rogue wizard is named Sorvor, my friends and I are not doing a thing. We still have to clear our names and return your holy relic to your bronze friend. Only after we finish with that mission will we help you with this new one. After all, we signed on to right a wrong to which we were partly to blame. As far as this new incident goes, none of us signed on to this!"

Before the arch mage left, "Talos is there another scroll like this one I gave you?"

"Yes! Yes there is one just like it," Talos grew even more concerned, "at the barracks."

"Lord Irzen is right, Sergeant Talos," Serna added, "It's only fair."

"We should complete one before we start the other," Neven concluded, "Right is right and wrong is wrong."

Willow nodded in agreement.

"First of all, this scroll provides evidence of his schemes in the mages guild, presented by Arch Mage Kellan himself before he left. The barracks would be the other place to look." Sgt. Talos argued with the swordsman.

"Then why didn't you say so before?" Irzen asked innocently enough, "With this scroll, we can take down Zilc by giving this to The Bronze Man. We don't have to go after Sorvor--which I really did not relish doing without our resident mage present."

********

Alyson and Madeous ran over to the party. Alert and cautious with everyone on edge, "Everyone okay? Totally did not see that coming? Just a thought as we passed the barracks, the major's form shivered in the rays of sunlight."

"Shivered into what?" Neven asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Where the hell did you two come from?" Irzen looked around, "You guys just popped out of thin air or what?"

"Maybe you should ask the Bronze Man how time works here in Asylum, Lord Irzen. I had a hard time understanding how it runs when I came here all those years ago." Madeous said.

"That will be one of many questions I'm going to ask that guy when next we meet him," Irzen admitted jokingly, "That and where does he get his awesome tan? Sun Tan City?"

"What?" Talos stepped forward with great concern, "Are you sure?"

"The Bronze Man is not the only one who can SEE people as they truly are, Sgt. Talos, What I saw, was no human." Alyson said bluntly, "something that looked fiendish. A tiefling."

Madeous remained silent and alert. He scanned the crowd for any spies of this hidden enemy within the merchant district.

"A what?" Serna asked no one in particular, "What's a tiefling?"

"A tiefling is someone who is part human part demon," Alyson told the shield maiden, "most are thieves or warlocks by trade however, if they're raised by the demonic parent, well they tend to be evil."

The elementalist turned to the swordsman, "Did I hear that you were lacking a mage in the party? I tried to stay out of this but it seems fate likes throwing a curve ball. So, off to the barracks, then?"

The platinum knight stepped forward, "Alright, Talos and the swordsman take point. With the kids next. Willow and Alyson behind them, and I will take the rear. I have a feeling our suspect is already at the barracks lying in wait for us. Let's go and finish this."

"Agreed," Irzen took his position with Talos keeping a watchful eye out for any possible surprise attacks, "Talos, lead the way!"

"I'll keep an eye on the shadows," Neven offered as he joined Serna's side.

"And I'll keep an eye on you Caliaphy, don't stray too far from me, okay?" Serna warned the fairy.

Willow drew forth his bow and nocked an arrow as he marched alongside Alyson. His eyes were already scannning rooftops and balconies for any more magical ambushes.