The Huntress
As the morning wore on, Audrey occasionally saw the same trio of wizards gliding through Artists Alley. Each time she caught sight of their burgundy robes, she watched them from afar. She was impressed that they never appeared to break character, keeping serious expressions as they roved the aisles.
Audrey noticed the wizards again during Taylor’s second visit to her table. As she lifted her gaze above the tea packet she was smelling, Audrey laughed to see the wizards being photographed by two teenage girls who seemed determined to get selfies with every cosplayer they saw.
“They’re new this year,” Taylor told her, watching as the girls took turns posing with the wizards. “I don’t recognize the costumes or the cosplayers, but I’m guessing they’re theater students from the college. Have you seen the huntress that’s with them? They have some whole schtick worked out about racing to find a gem.”
The overhead lights flickered quickly, not in a pattern but in one brief flash on and off.
“Is that unusual?” Audrey asked, seeing the wizards drift back toward the main con floor.
“Yeah, but it’s been happening all day,” Taylor noted, looking up at the lights assessingly. “Steve said the hotel maintenance crew is looking into it.”
“No, not the lights. I meant is it unusual to have a story like that? Like the wizards?”
“Oh, yeah, I guess,” Taylor shrugged. “Most cosplayers just walk around and attend the con like anyone else. But some work out little skits, or have handouts that match their characters, stuff like that. Some of us get into the show of it,” he added with a wink to his own old-time tea shop attire.
“Oh, look, here’s our huntress now!”
Audrey turned and saw a striking woman striding toward them. She wore a butter-yellow leather tunic over matching pants and brown leather boots. She had strands of gold in her dark hair, glitter on her cheeks, and a polearm strapped across her back.
“I hear she tried to bring in an actual crossbow,” Taylor said as she neared. “Caused a stir at weapons check.”
“I am Klaia, chief hunter of the Trataqi tribe,” she told Audrey succinctly. “Have you seen three wizards in wine red robes pass by? They are of the Order of Vryslik, Claimer of Worlds, and I must find them before they have a chance to procure the Star Stone.”
“You just missed them,” Taylor told her lightly. “They went thataway.”
“Thank you,” Klaia nodded tightly, allowing a smile of gratitude before resuming her search for the wizards and the mystical Star Stone.
“I love your outfit!” Audrey called after her, but Klaia did not stop to look back.
- If you want to see Klaia and the wizards face off, click here
- If you want to see who else Klaia might meet, click here
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