Clash at the Wizard's Lodge Inn

Three days passed on the road to the crystal city, nothing much had happened as of yet, Valstad had been fairly quiet  most of the rip, and despite his many precautions he could tell they were being followed. However there had been no sign of attack, which led Valstad to conclude they ere being led into a trap, and yet they had few options the road did not split for quite sometime, and traveling the back country was even more dangerous than an assassin's trap, and easy to get lost in. So they continued their journey, for the first two nights the made camp off the side of the road, but on the third day nearing sundown they came a cross a pleasant two story inn in the wilderness called the "Wizard's Lodge". Valstad voiced his opinion first as he looked at the brick, and wood building "It'd be nice to get out of the open for a knight, and get some fresh food." Perhaps the first positive thing they heard him say.

Cerise was no doubt annoying her two companions greatly with her constant chatter, only occasionally saying something vaguelly interesting, such as when her troupe had entertained here at one point,and Lord so-and-so and turned up, or that one time when they had passed that spot, she could have sworn she had seen a dragon flying past that mountain. She would also jump on and climb anything and everything, taking some inefficient, mildly dangerous routes instead of the normal path. She couldn't stand still for more than two minutes, and often sat in rather strange positions, that require one to be quite flexible. Despite her apparent cheerful mien, she had been suffering from homesickness, which she only let come out into the open at night when she hoped the other two were sleeping, or just not paying attention to her woes.
She was used to constant travelling, but a warm bed sounded incredibly tempting, so she just nodded at Valstrad and skipped on ahead into the inn.

Ephraim nods "A soft mattress and some food that hasn't been salted to hell would be nice yes" He had stayed relatively even tempered this entire time, taking Cerise's chatter in stride and even responding every once in a while.He was used to the constant chatter, during his training under Aron he had experienced the same.

Honestly the chatter didn't seem to affect Valstad much, he seemed equally aloof, and stoic either way, Which signified he probably blocked out most of it. The inn had a cozy feel on the inside, it was clean but not uncomfortably so. Aden purchased their biggest room which had two beds, and ordered food for everyone with a gold coin out of his own pocket.

Ephraim looks to Val arms crossed "Should I buy my own room or do you think that would be too dangerous? Perhaps me and you take sleep shifts ? " He proposes .

"We'll take shifts like every other night" Valstad did not intend to let down his guard even when at the inn. Three hooded strangers entered the inn as Valstad found a  table

"We've got one third of the Nazgul following us in" Ephraim remarks to Val in a near whisper as he glances quickly at the hooded men.

Cerise  popped down on a seat, looking entirely unworried about the situation.

Valstad nodded as the hooded figures shot glances in their direction "Thoughts?" he asked the others

(Kilo)

(Hunted.)

"They can hardly get us if we're here, in public," she said, looking over at the figures with her head propped up on her fist.

"You were in public when they shot at you Cerise, remember?" Ephraim reminds her, worry clear on his face.

"I'm not sure that in front of one elderly innkeep, a cook, and a waitress, at an inn in the middle of nowhere counts as public" Valstad said as the group walked towards them, and split up, two sitting at the table vasltad was  was facing, and one sat at the table behind him

She waved her hand dismissively, "It'll be grand."

"Valstad leaned in and whispered to the other wizard "Do you want offense or defense?"

"I'll go on defense" He replies smoothly .

"Ok on my signal be ready to defend Cerise, and get out the back alright?" Valstad asked

Ephraim nods "I've got it covered"

(will you play the assassin wizards this time?)

(Sure why not right)

Suddenly one of the hooded men attacks, casting half a dozen razor sharp ice daggers towards Cerise. With a grunt of surprise Ephraim moves into action ,creating a shield of flame to melt the daggers and pulling Cerise with him towards the back door.Meanwhile the other assassins spring into action as well firing bolts of lightning at Val.

Cerise gave a little yelp, eyes widening at the sudden movements, and she let Ephraim drag her along to the exit.

Valstad sprung into action like a master duelist, he quickly created a Glyph that turned the attacker's lightningbolts,into a freezing beam as they passed through it, the direction was also warped by the Glyph so said beam it the assassin behind him. The stoic wizard then counter attacked with a sigil that fired four lightning spears at the two remaining. throughout it all he was entirely calm, and calculating, nearly detached

One assassin is taken down by a lightning spear, another dodges and retaliates with a spell that flings Val through the bar.

(he dodges lightning?)

(uh)