Had they lost track of time? Or had they run into trouble?
Annan was about to use a Summoning Spell to bring Illymoyas back when he realized that if they were in danger, she was their strongest fighter. Pulling her away would leave Tasia and Brino Jana stranded without help...
"Can we get closer to the Snow Mountains?" Annan asked.
"That's the Demons' lair. If we get too close, they'll spot us."
The Red Dragon Sorcerer had died at Annan's hands. The Demons surely hated Free City now, and approaching them recklessly would only draw the Demon Army down on them.
Sending the Legion was no good either. Demons were harder to deal with than Ratfolk, and there would certainly be casualties...
A big commotion might catch Illymoyas and the others' attention, but theirs would not be the only attention it caught.
Annan waited another half day. When they still did not appear, he decided to summon them back. To be safe, he also borrowed the Good Fortune of Martin, the Son of the North. "Martin! Free City needs you!"
After obtaining personal belongings of theirs from the Minotaur tribe, the Crystal Lair, and the Jana Family, Annan summoned Tasia first.
Magic Power surged, a Magic Circle appeared, and Tasia's outline took shape before him.
Tasia's calf was injured. The wound ran deep enough to expose bone, though it had stopped bleeding.
Seeing that she was otherwise all right, Annan breathed a sigh of relief. "Did you run into danger?"
"The Demons spotted us as soon as we reached the Fortress. They chased us into some Ancient Ruins they'd discovered."
"Ruins? Find anything good?" Annan asked reflexively.
"We don't know," Tasia said glumly. "We were still exploring... Is it time?"
"Yes. The Ratfolk are gathering. We need to leave."
Annan