You wake from a short rest to find all of your equipment… Erm…. Bedazzled. Pixies are known to steal Coursers’ belongings and decorate them to their own tastes, which aren’t always the most practical in the dungeon. How fabulously inconvenient.

Sol and Madoc finally found somewhere relatively safe to rest. After the snail incident, Madoc did not want to deal with anything. It was a small cavern with water and all sorts of plant life. Madoc set most of his gear down, only keeping his sword by his side. With a sigh, he laid down to sleep, with Sol on his back of course.

Sol’s cawing awoke Madoc. He groaned as he tried to go back to sleep. Sol perilously continued cawing, so Madoc finally decided to see what was up. When he lifted his head, he was greeted by a pixie, it wasn’t much bigger than Madoc’s hoof, and had a sage green dress. Madoc reached for his sword, only to realize it was no longer attached to him. Instead he found tiny bedazzling pieces pixies often use. Panic arose in Madoc as he saw another figure, in the shape of a Courser a little ways off. 

“Hunting for Auryn?” The figure asked. Madoc felt the heat rising off of him. “Auryn is family. So no, I’m not hunting, I’m searching.” Madoc hissed. “Ooh, Madoc’s getting angry. Are you sure she’s not property of the throne?” The figure asked, pleasure in their voice. “Who are you, and what do you want?” Madoc growled. The figure sighed. “My identity is not worth being revealed to you. As for what I want, I’d like to kill you but sadly I have explicit orders to not kill you.” The figure groaned. “But why don’t you call me Blu?” Blu offered. Madoc could see the gleam of his sword on the ground near them. Madoc decided to entertain this, ‘Blu’. “Blu, why don’t you tell me who you work for.” Madoc offered. Blu snorted. “Must I?” He jokingly asked, as if he and Madoc were good old friends. Madoc joined in and laughed as well. “You must!” Madoc laughed. Blu sighed a little. Blu grabbed a sip from a flask, and offered it to Madoc. “Ah, I have no head for liquor.” Madoc laughed. “As you wish.” Blu said, taking a large swig. 

Madoc noticed the liquor was going to Blu’s head quite quickly. “Tell me about yourself.” Madoc said. With another swig, Blu began speaking a bit drunkenly, “Well, I mean I’m not someone to please you. My princess likes to keep me more of a secret but I kill lots of Coursers. It’s fun honestly.” Madoc began gleaming with the realization that this Courser was much too drunk to keep a hard hand, nonetheless fight. 

Madoc sprang from his place, running to his sword. Blu was much too drunk and said lazily “where are you going?” Once Madoc had the sword in his possession, he noticed it had been bedazzled. “Pixies.” He cursed, and brought the sword up. Blu, slowly realizing what was happening, also grabbed his sword. Blu held his weapon lazily and drunkenly, giving Madoc the perfect opportunity. Madoc worked with his sword as an extension of his hand. The bland nipped Blu’s side, thick red blood pouring out. Blu looked down in astonishment, and in that moment Madoc took the opportunity to free the sword from Blu’s hand. With a flick of his mouth, the sword that was once in Blu’s hand, clattered to the ground. Blu backed up, clearly sobering up enough to realize whoever was standing before him, was not who he thought he was. Madoc advanced onto Blu, putting his sword to his neck. Only then did he speak. “How did you navigate the tunnels well enough to find someone?” Madoc asked. Blu’s eyes darted from side to side, and he kept backing up until eventually he was flush against the wall. Madoc kept the blade light on Blu’s neck. “Do I need to ask again?” Madoc questioned. Blu shook his head. “Trackers. Trackers, they used trackers.” Blu begged. “I could kill you.” Madoc offered. Blu’s legs began to tremble at the thought of dying in the dungeons. “Or, I could keep you prisoner and you could help me.” Madoc offered. Blu built up the courage to speak. “Please, I’ll do anything you want!” Blu begged. Madoc nodded. “Yes you will.” He affirmed.