#hotober

“I am never taking you out of the castle again!” Ambrose shouted to be heard over the troll.

“I should be telling you that!” Natty laughed. “You seem to be quite popular with trolls.”

Ambrose was too busy rolling out of the way of a club to retort. He threw a an empty poacher cage at the troll, hitting it right in the nose. The troll stumbled and fell to one knee. Natty unleashed a barrage of spells while the troll was stunned. It was clearly hurt but it still ripped a chunk of stone out of the ground.

Ambrose drew the Ancient Magic around him into himself and launched himself across the clearing in a streak of light, just in time to tackle Natty out of the way of the boulder. Ambrose turned around and channeled the Ancient Magic now into the Troll’s club, it tried to tug it up but Ambrose held it down until the Troll gave it a brutal yank. Ambrose let go at the last second and the troll hit itself in the head, knocking itself out quite efficently.

Him and Natty had been exploring the Highlands in hopes of finding a Poacher camp where they had managed to wrangle some thestrals. Thankfully they’d found it, but not before a very angry troll did. The troll was making light work of the last few dark wizards, leaving Natty and Ambrose to finish it off.

But now the fight was over. Ambrose shook out his legs a little. Doing that streak of light thing always made them tingle, like they’d lost blood flow.

“You okay?” Ambrose checked.

“Thanks to you,” Natty said. “Are you?”

“Peachy,” Ambrose rolled his shoulders too.

He went over to the thestral cage which was much bigger than any Poacher cage Ambrose had ever seen. He made sure he was out of the way before casting alohomora. The htestrals charged out of the cage, trampling what little was in their path before taking off into the sky.

“Would you like to talk about it?” Natty asked.

“Talk about what?” Ambrose replied. “Come on, the Poachers usually have some pretty useful things laying about.”

Ambrose started rifling through a chest while Natty headed into the tent nearby.

“About whatever argument you had with Sebastian,” Natty called. Shit.

“Who says I had an argument with Sebastian?” Ambrose chuckled nervously. That was awful. Natty didn’t even dignify that with a response. Ambrose sighed.

Talking about and revisting that fight in the Undercroft was about the last thing he wanted to do just then. Maybe it would be good to get it off his chest, but he’d already been brooding about it for the last week. He’d talked to Ominis about it too. He was just tired of giving it, and Sebastian, so much of his attention.

“Honestly, not really,” Ambrose sighed. “Today’s not about Sebastian. I barely get to spend time with you these days so I just want to enjoy it.”

“Now that is something I can guarantee,” Natty promised.

Ambrose laughed and resumed to digging through the chest. He found the instuctions for an enchantment he could weave into his robes with the enchanted loom, along with a bag of gold he was more than happy to pocket. According to Everett’s last letter his only scarf had finally fallen apart so now Ambrose could buy him a new one. Ambrose may even be able to buy himself a pair of gloves. His fingers felt like they were going to fall off.

“Did you find anything?” Ambrose asked.

“I believe I did,” Natty replied. “Come see this.”

Ambrose came to her side and looked at the documents she was holding in her hands.

“Is that a letter?” Ambrose said.

“The draft of one,” Natty answered. “This letter was meant to be sent to Harlow about the thestrals that were captured. I may be able to use this to find where Harlow is hidden.”

“I think you mean we,” Ambrose corrected her. “You’re awesome Natty but I’m not letting you go looking for Harlow alone.”

“Good,” Natty smiled. “Shall we?”