This was the first time Annan had seen the Mage Tower activate.
An Arcane Ray flashed across several miles and vanished. Seconds later, a clear, brief buzz sounded from the north.
"Was it blocked?"
Several mages flew out of the Mage Tower Annan was watching. Then nearby knights set off, and some Guard Legion Soldiers patrolling the streets began converging on the scene.
It seemed that in the months he had been away, they had developed an instinct for handling trouble.
But this time was different. Annan saw the first mages to arrive spread out. Then several knights rode to the City Lord's Mansion and reported that whoever had shown hostile intent had escaped.
Bandits trying their luck? Or some kind of test?
"I lean toward the latter. Their disciplined response exceeded our expectations."
The mages from the Mage Tower pursued them for only two or three miles before turning back. They weren't confident they could defeat an enemy outside the city. That was Free City's predicament: it lacked powerful fighters.
They were confident they could defend Free City, but they couldn't reach much farther than that.
Once they had replicated the Goblin Golem, though, that problem should ease.
Holding the Spider Bottle, Annan went downstairs and took out the Magic Mirror in front of the knights. "All-Knowing and All-Powerful Magic Mirror, who are these intruders?"
"Dark Elves," the Magic Mirror answered simply.
Annan looked up at the stunned knights. "You heard it. Go investigate. You'd best take Della with you."
Little Spider raised her head inside the glass bottle.
Had her Believers found their way here?
A wave of joy swept over the Spider Queen. She didn't even notice when she was carried back to the room...
I must let them know I'm here!
As she thought this, two