Writers Note: These posts stay here at GWGuru’s discretion and Anet and NCSofts mercy but
Guild Wars guru makes no claims of ownership for materials posted in the user agreement of this site save their right to remove or edit, nor requirements that you relinquish copyright of any story posted. That means I have the right to retain ownership of intellectual property posted herein. I choose to use that right: this story and its characters are the property of me and/or Anet and NCSoft; any attempt to duplicate what’s mine for personal gain or to post it on another site without my permission (particularly a paid to view sight) will meet with litigation. Translation: Reading about Faith and her friends is free and it’s going to stay that way. Don’t steal Faith and try to make money off it or turn her into some trumped up hussy in your own story or I’ll sue you into the ground.
For those interested, the first installment of Faith Riven can be found here:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s....php?t=3000934
And its first sequel here:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s....php?t=3023706
It’s been a long hiatus for me and my necro. I’ve left GW, come back, gone into GvG, left that, and finally settled into a guild I trust. Hard Mode got me interested in PvE again, and a few days ago I just picked up Faith and started wandering around. This story is several years in the making, and I don’t remember all of it anymore. Still, I hope you’ll be able to sit back and find some enjoyment as I spin one more yarn for Faith.
I don't remember Minus Sign's password, so I'm posting this with my GvG handle. if there's any confusion from people who followed the original story, I apologize.
Prelude
There was no light in the room save the soft glow created by its occupants. Five figures stood erect in the small space, unmoving as suits of armor. Perhaps they wore armor, no one knows. No living mind knows to tell what they truly looked like under the glowing golden robes they wore as the five creatures stood in the small room.
Despite their statuesque stance, there was an air of impatience in the room. “We should kill them now,” one of them said. Another shook its head very slightly.
The second spoke, its voice a haunting echo of the firsts. “Those who serve still have their uses. They round up those who do not. I still believe that conversion is preferable.
The first turned slightly to face the second. “As long as the humans live, the Chosen still flourish. We have all heard the prophecy by now.”
“Glint is a blind fool buried in the desert,” the second replied, impatience tingling its spectral voice. “Her race is gone with the rest. The Youngest are all that remain a threat, and we are dealing with them as we agreed.”
“But the prophecy,” the first began again.
“I will not bandy words with a dragon!” the second snapped. The creature seemed on the edge of violence, and its ire was most uncomely to the rest. Two of the five turned away, to hide the second speaker’s shame at loosing its temper.
“If it proves true,” said the first, its voice soft, “they will be the end of us.”
“If it proves true,” said a third, “there is no stopping it anyway, sibling.”
“But still he seeks it,” pressed the first.
“Of course he seeks it,” said the second, turning from the group in shame.
“He is the seeker,” said the third. “It is his nature.”
“We will be the first race,” the second promised. “The others remain bound, we will be the first among all. This time, when He is freed all will bow to we who break the seals.”
“You are so certain sibling,” said a fourth speaker as it entered the room. “I would not be if you knew what I know.”
The tension in the room ebbed as the sixth member took its place in the circle. “It is you who called this meeting,” said the second irritably.
“Show what you know,” the third said, more calmly.
A twisted picture formed in the center of the room, expanding through the dark chamber. To the eye, there was no chamber anymore. “I took this from one of our missives sent to the north. There is still much fighting in Ascalon. Child Zain’s memories are quite clear on what he saw.” The occupants now floated above rocky barren ground, a tarpit bubbling ominously in the distance. The world around them was dying. No. It was dead; a decaying corpse of a country that had fallen to calamities worse than even their hands could wrought.
“What has done this?”
“The Untamed Ones attacked Ascalon with a power that rendered the Youngest’s magic useless. Their Great Wall was shattered and their towns turned to rubble.
“Where did they acquire such magic?” the second sounded accusing now. “If our Agony has been used too soon…”
“Not I,” said the first.
“Then who?”
“Look,” replied the fourth, “and see what power has been granted the beasts.” The image shifted, twisting along the Great Northern Wall. In no time, the occupants had “traveled” a distance of several miles, to a ruined city under heavy siege. Charr and men fought in the streets and outside, the tide of battle shifting like breaking waves. The occupants ignored the fighting; it was a small concern now.
Before the charr an effigy stood. A crude caricature of a three legged beast was poised before their army. As they looked on, four large charr ran through the tight mass of furred bodies carrying a bronze cauldron. The creatures growled ominously in ceremony, dipping its burring contents atop the effigy which lit to flame. The charr around it roared triumphant. The occupants of the room stared on it what could only be stark horror.
“They,” gasped the third, “are loose?”
“Too soon,” said a fifth and the second nodded. “Too soon. We have not the power to stop them.”
“We will not be first among servants," the sixth occupant now said. “We will break the seals.”
“That is to wait, sibling,” said the third. It turned to the second and first speakers in turn, saying “I think we can all agree on this now?” the two nodded solemnly. “Good. The Seeker will take our full attention until the scepter is secure. Once it is destroyed, we can carry on our plans unhindered. None of the others can oppose us.”
Faith Riven: Old Enemy New
Melody Cross
Melody Cross
*1*
There is hope in the Ascalon foothills, for those who care to look. Though the grass is turned a sickly brown hue, it is a natural shade for foliage so high. The foothills have always been a tough land to live in, with tough people settled on the sloping feet of the Shiverpeeks. Now, after the apocalyptic attack by a race of animal-like creatures called charr, these tough people have been driven out. Driven up to the Shiverpeek Mountains or down to the blasted lowlands below; driven into cages to be sold as slaves or worse things beyond the knowing of the living. But still, there was hope. The nature of the foothills remains unchanged by the searing chant that the charr used to rock all of Ascalon to its foundations. And one who passed this hard land after living in Rin for 2 years could not help but marvel.
For if the foothills remained as they once had, perhaps—not probably, but a feeble hope of “maybe”—the world was not coming to an end yet.
“Where there’s life, there’s hope,” was the Ascalonian motto for hard times, and a ranger took comfort in that thought as he stumbled with his burden up the cold barren earth toward the snowcapped rocks beyond.
“Don’t give up Alia,” Colin Trueshot said, hitching a barely conscious mesmer that was leaning heavily on his shoulder. “Where there’s life there’s hope.”
A massive brown and gray stalker growl/purred its agreement, licking the mesmer’s bloody hand when her feet began to drag. “Water,” she whispered. “Want…water…”
Colin grunted under the strain of her weight. Alia Peacebound was a slight but fairly tall woman. She wasn’t heavy. In truth, she was a rather bony woman after the months of short rations that had been all the besieged Grendich Courthouse could offer its troops as they fought the charr. But Colin was weary as she, and wounded too as they had made their way up the foothills through monsters pushed out of the Diessa lowlands by the perpetual war below. It had seemed ironic at the time to Colin: to survive the horror’s of Grendich’s last days and a mad dash through the charr infested lowlands only to die unmourned and unlamented at the rock hard hands of a blinding Stone Fury and its hydra hanger on.
There had been no warning. The ground shifting under their feet became grasping hands and Alia shreaked in fear and pain. Colin turned arrow nocked and ready to fire as a massive shape emerged from the rocky trail they had been traveling on. Shrieking, upside-down with her leg being crushed in the…
No, he thought to himself, don’t dwell on it.[/i]
But the memory came unbidden, and once begun, it was like watching a play in his mind. Alia shrieked again, hexing the boulder elemental as it struck her abdomen. The empathic shock cracked the elemental in two, but that did not save the poor mesmer. She landed on her head, pieces of heavy stone from the crumbling creature toppling atop her.
Don’t…think about it.…
The fight was joined. Two Stone Furies had come to the living boulder’s aid and Colin had no time to spare for Alia as the entire mountain foothill seemed to turn against him. Earth exploded upward, blinding shards of mana heated rock stabbing at his eyes. In pain and sightless, Colin desperately crawled from the mana-imbued eruption and into the path of another. Through the group link, he could feel Alia’s bones breaking as an earthquake tossed her between the ground and the crushing weight of rock that had fallen atop her. Still she fought. “Caster’s,” she had told him once, “are playthings to a decent mesmer.”
And she proved it too. Colin could feel another volley of elemental spells begin to form near him, but no sooner was he praying to Grenth to give him a nice spot at the table when the energy in the earth around him rebounded back to its source with lethal consequence. Alia’s screamed “Fail!” echoed through the air, changing from a mere word to action as the mana-enhanced command interrupted the two spells; turning the deadly twin Eruptions against their creators and twisting the energies once inside. One of the Furies tried to cast again, but Alia’s “Die!” sent the power back into it again, the Power Spike shattering the Stone fury as effectively as her Empathy hex had the Boulder.
“Finish em off boy!” Colin roared, stumbling to his feet at last and rubbing his burning eyes. Through a separate but similar link he could feel Idiot reaching the wounded Furies. But the stalker did not attack them at his master’s order; he ran on past the pair and further up the trail. The ranger had no time to ponder why Idiot disobeyed, and the reason became clear with Alia’s last soul-shredding scream.
His vision still watery but no longer blind, Colin aimed his bow waveringly at the nearest Stone Fury, twin arrows impacting on its already cracked torso. The creature fell, crumbling into the other who was already toppling into a pile of lifeless rock. But it was the—the thing—beyond them that instantly took Colin’s attention.
Feral hunger stared back at him from six eyes as the hydra roared a challenge. He could smell burning flesh and Colin chanced a look back to see another massive boulder searing Alia from above. The hydra had been too far from the furies to be affected by her Cry of Frustration and the mesmer had been too busy fending off their renewed assault to deal with it. Overtaxed, she had ignored the Meteor it was forming until it was too late, and now the aftereffect was undoing what work she had done in crawling out of the Boulder Elemental’s corpse, crushing her under—now burning—stone. Another spell flared from the hydra, a fiery ring scorching Idiot as he ran to Alia’s rescue and snapped at one of the hydra’s heads at melee range. But the spell did not end where it began. Streaking from the hydra, in a twisted three headed caricature of the mythical bird Colin had seen human elementalist’s use, a mana phoenix flew past him to explode across Alia’s exposed back.
“KIIILLLLL YOUUUUUU!” Colin roared, his usually carefree temper shattered in a heat more blazing than an Inferno. Alia was all he had managed to bring out of Grendich alive. If she…if she…died…
“Water,” the mesmer pleaded again, and Colin stumbled anew. The memory had been so gripping—why couldn’t he let it go and focus on what needed doing now? It was hours past!
“I can’t give you water Alia,” Colin said pitifully. “The hydra destroyed our packs.”
“Water,” she said again, more feebly than before.
He had tried to share his Troll Unguent with her, a powerful ointment that soothed wounds out of the body as quickly as a monk’s Healing Breeze could. But the spot he had applied to her skin to test puffed up immediately. She was allergic to something in the mixture; trying to heal her with it would likely kill her in the process. Kill her faster…if she dies…
“There’s snow up at the top Alia,” Colin tried to sound soothing. “I’ll melt some down and you can drink it while I ice your back.”
“No cold,” the mesmer groaned. “Ice…cold.” At least something was getting through her delirium. “I’m cold.”
“I know you feel cold, but that’s the fever,” he said. Alia wriggled feebly under the burning stone, her mouth open in a silent, panicked scream. “You’ve a fever though,” he forced the memory down this time, staying in the present, “your back is inflamed. I need to ice you down soon and clean the burns or they might get infected.”
“Colin,” she said, her voice the whispered hush of a bad dream, “run…hydra…fire…in the air…”
“Don’t you worry about that damn hydra,” Colin ordered, forcing the rage in his voice to a simmer. “It won’t hurt anything ever again.”
He let the memory come this time: two thrashing heads crooning piteously at the third lifeless one that lolled between them, its face a pincushion of arrows. Colin snarled at the left head as Idiot pounced on the right, dragging the dying animal down. “May Grenth spit on your mother,” he cursed, taking his time as he brought the last arrow to bear…
“Run…hydra...” the fear in her voice pained Colin more than the sight of her when he cleared the last of the rubble off had. Her tone was so concerned for him, so worried that he would pounce into danger to rescue her. If only he had in time…
Idiot whimpered beside him, gripping his hands by the teeth and pulling the rag-tag troop to a stop. Colin was just about to call the stalker down when he heard the faint sound of spell casting beyond.
Colin was an excellent tracker with great ears. “How did you know when I didn’t?” he asked the mesmer and Idiot at once. The answer was obvious; he’d been spending all his energy brooding and none of it focused on the present.
And he’d led them into the middle of a battle in the process.
“In the air,” Alia warned again and what he’d taken as delirium now made perfect sense, “Fire in the air.”
Colin was no elementalist. His sense of mana energy was less than theirs. But he could feel what Alia could, now he took the time to search for it. Fire mana was roaring somewhere up aread. Lots of fire mana, and earth as well. This close, he could sense the energies being used. “Fire,” he whispered to himself, looking at the mesmer’s pale, sweaty face, “in the air.”
“Run…”
There is hope in the Ascalon foothills, for those who care to look. Though the grass is turned a sickly brown hue, it is a natural shade for foliage so high. The foothills have always been a tough land to live in, with tough people settled on the sloping feet of the Shiverpeeks. Now, after the apocalyptic attack by a race of animal-like creatures called charr, these tough people have been driven out. Driven up to the Shiverpeek Mountains or down to the blasted lowlands below; driven into cages to be sold as slaves or worse things beyond the knowing of the living. But still, there was hope. The nature of the foothills remains unchanged by the searing chant that the charr used to rock all of Ascalon to its foundations. And one who passed this hard land after living in Rin for 2 years could not help but marvel.
For if the foothills remained as they once had, perhaps—not probably, but a feeble hope of “maybe”—the world was not coming to an end yet.
“Where there’s life, there’s hope,” was the Ascalonian motto for hard times, and a ranger took comfort in that thought as he stumbled with his burden up the cold barren earth toward the snowcapped rocks beyond.
“Don’t give up Alia,” Colin Trueshot said, hitching a barely conscious mesmer that was leaning heavily on his shoulder. “Where there’s life there’s hope.”
A massive brown and gray stalker growl/purred its agreement, licking the mesmer’s bloody hand when her feet began to drag. “Water,” she whispered. “Want…water…”
Colin grunted under the strain of her weight. Alia Peacebound was a slight but fairly tall woman. She wasn’t heavy. In truth, she was a rather bony woman after the months of short rations that had been all the besieged Grendich Courthouse could offer its troops as they fought the charr. But Colin was weary as she, and wounded too as they had made their way up the foothills through monsters pushed out of the Diessa lowlands by the perpetual war below. It had seemed ironic at the time to Colin: to survive the horror’s of Grendich’s last days and a mad dash through the charr infested lowlands only to die unmourned and unlamented at the rock hard hands of a blinding Stone Fury and its hydra hanger on.
There had been no warning. The ground shifting under their feet became grasping hands and Alia shreaked in fear and pain. Colin turned arrow nocked and ready to fire as a massive shape emerged from the rocky trail they had been traveling on. Shrieking, upside-down with her leg being crushed in the…
No, he thought to himself, don’t dwell on it.[/i]
But the memory came unbidden, and once begun, it was like watching a play in his mind. Alia shrieked again, hexing the boulder elemental as it struck her abdomen. The empathic shock cracked the elemental in two, but that did not save the poor mesmer. She landed on her head, pieces of heavy stone from the crumbling creature toppling atop her.
Don’t…think about it.…
The fight was joined. Two Stone Furies had come to the living boulder’s aid and Colin had no time to spare for Alia as the entire mountain foothill seemed to turn against him. Earth exploded upward, blinding shards of mana heated rock stabbing at his eyes. In pain and sightless, Colin desperately crawled from the mana-imbued eruption and into the path of another. Through the group link, he could feel Alia’s bones breaking as an earthquake tossed her between the ground and the crushing weight of rock that had fallen atop her. Still she fought. “Caster’s,” she had told him once, “are playthings to a decent mesmer.”
And she proved it too. Colin could feel another volley of elemental spells begin to form near him, but no sooner was he praying to Grenth to give him a nice spot at the table when the energy in the earth around him rebounded back to its source with lethal consequence. Alia’s screamed “Fail!” echoed through the air, changing from a mere word to action as the mana-enhanced command interrupted the two spells; turning the deadly twin Eruptions against their creators and twisting the energies once inside. One of the Furies tried to cast again, but Alia’s “Die!” sent the power back into it again, the Power Spike shattering the Stone fury as effectively as her Empathy hex had the Boulder.
“Finish em off boy!” Colin roared, stumbling to his feet at last and rubbing his burning eyes. Through a separate but similar link he could feel Idiot reaching the wounded Furies. But the stalker did not attack them at his master’s order; he ran on past the pair and further up the trail. The ranger had no time to ponder why Idiot disobeyed, and the reason became clear with Alia’s last soul-shredding scream.
His vision still watery but no longer blind, Colin aimed his bow waveringly at the nearest Stone Fury, twin arrows impacting on its already cracked torso. The creature fell, crumbling into the other who was already toppling into a pile of lifeless rock. But it was the—the thing—beyond them that instantly took Colin’s attention.
Feral hunger stared back at him from six eyes as the hydra roared a challenge. He could smell burning flesh and Colin chanced a look back to see another massive boulder searing Alia from above. The hydra had been too far from the furies to be affected by her Cry of Frustration and the mesmer had been too busy fending off their renewed assault to deal with it. Overtaxed, she had ignored the Meteor it was forming until it was too late, and now the aftereffect was undoing what work she had done in crawling out of the Boulder Elemental’s corpse, crushing her under—now burning—stone. Another spell flared from the hydra, a fiery ring scorching Idiot as he ran to Alia’s rescue and snapped at one of the hydra’s heads at melee range. But the spell did not end where it began. Streaking from the hydra, in a twisted three headed caricature of the mythical bird Colin had seen human elementalist’s use, a mana phoenix flew past him to explode across Alia’s exposed back.
“KIIILLLLL YOUUUUUU!” Colin roared, his usually carefree temper shattered in a heat more blazing than an Inferno. Alia was all he had managed to bring out of Grendich alive. If she…if she…died…
“Water,” the mesmer pleaded again, and Colin stumbled anew. The memory had been so gripping—why couldn’t he let it go and focus on what needed doing now? It was hours past!
“I can’t give you water Alia,” Colin said pitifully. “The hydra destroyed our packs.”
“Water,” she said again, more feebly than before.
He had tried to share his Troll Unguent with her, a powerful ointment that soothed wounds out of the body as quickly as a monk’s Healing Breeze could. But the spot he had applied to her skin to test puffed up immediately. She was allergic to something in the mixture; trying to heal her with it would likely kill her in the process. Kill her faster…if she dies…
“There’s snow up at the top Alia,” Colin tried to sound soothing. “I’ll melt some down and you can drink it while I ice your back.”
“No cold,” the mesmer groaned. “Ice…cold.” At least something was getting through her delirium. “I’m cold.”
“I know you feel cold, but that’s the fever,” he said. Alia wriggled feebly under the burning stone, her mouth open in a silent, panicked scream. “You’ve a fever though,” he forced the memory down this time, staying in the present, “your back is inflamed. I need to ice you down soon and clean the burns or they might get infected.”
“Colin,” she said, her voice the whispered hush of a bad dream, “run…hydra…fire…in the air…”
“Don’t you worry about that damn hydra,” Colin ordered, forcing the rage in his voice to a simmer. “It won’t hurt anything ever again.”
He let the memory come this time: two thrashing heads crooning piteously at the third lifeless one that lolled between them, its face a pincushion of arrows. Colin snarled at the left head as Idiot pounced on the right, dragging the dying animal down. “May Grenth spit on your mother,” he cursed, taking his time as he brought the last arrow to bear…
“Run…hydra...” the fear in her voice pained Colin more than the sight of her when he cleared the last of the rubble off had. Her tone was so concerned for him, so worried that he would pounce into danger to rescue her. If only he had in time…
Idiot whimpered beside him, gripping his hands by the teeth and pulling the rag-tag troop to a stop. Colin was just about to call the stalker down when he heard the faint sound of spell casting beyond.
Colin was an excellent tracker with great ears. “How did you know when I didn’t?” he asked the mesmer and Idiot at once. The answer was obvious; he’d been spending all his energy brooding and none of it focused on the present.
And he’d led them into the middle of a battle in the process.
“In the air,” Alia warned again and what he’d taken as delirium now made perfect sense, “Fire in the air.”
Colin was no elementalist. His sense of mana energy was less than theirs. But he could feel what Alia could, now he took the time to search for it. Fire mana was roaring somewhere up aread. Lots of fire mana, and earth as well. This close, he could sense the energies being used. “Fire,” he whispered to himself, looking at the mesmer’s pale, sweaty face, “in the air.”
“Run…”
Melody Cross
*2*
The Gods, it seemed to Colin, were having a fun time at his expense. There; just at the top of the hill he could see a shimmer of reflected light. It was dirty and trodden upon, but the water he had been promising Alia for hours now was almost in arms reach.
“Go,” she pleaded weakly. Her warning delivered, it felt to Colin that the last of Alia’s strength was fading, “back…down.”
“We can’t turn back,” Colin scolded himself. “The water’s up there. You’ll die going back down and if you don’t the charr will finish us both.” The only hope for her—for both of them—was the band of refugees that had fled with Prince Rurik when King Adelbern denounced him. The dwarves that lived up there might get him to the other humans and safety; there had always been a fragile peace between Ascalon and the Deldrimor Dwarves.
But to fight, Colin would have to abandon Alia. To get her to safety, he would need to leave her behind.
“Idiot,” he said, setting the mesmer down as gently as he could on her stomach, “stay with her while I go look.”
The stalker sat beside Alia, pawing her face gingerly and licking her ear. Alia stirred, moaning from the movement. “Melandru,” Colin called, “Dwayna; Grenth take me Lysa, someone keep an eye on her!” and he ran the short distance to cover, preparing his arrows for harm once more.
Screams could be heard from the rocky hillside, and Colin twisted around a boulder to see. His heart nearly leapt into his throat at what he saw.
Dwarves. A dozen of them in fierce combat with several hydras and boulder elementals. A stone fury rose ominously from the ground, only to be smacked back down by a massive warhammer.
“Yes!” roared one of the dwarves,” But tell your people to be more gentle Mistress Bay. We need as much of the creatures skin intact as we can get!”
“You heard em,” a familiar voice rang in Colin’s ears, “quick and clean folks and lets get back to the bend!”
his mouth open in wonder, Colin crested the hill, abandoning cover. He recognized none of the other five with her, but there was no doubt that he knew the tall, dark haired elementalist leading them. “KALI!!!” he screamed, almost laughing as he ran toward them. One of the dying hydra’s heads turned toward the distraction, and was quickly blasted to pieces by an orb of pure energy.
The humans turned from their labor to watch him, Kali Bay the staring in shock as she recognized who he was.
His joy lasted only moments as her eyes turned white in spellcasting. The earth leapt up to his knees, dragging him to a halt as if walking in mud. Why? Why would another human do this to him in his time of need? Had she turned into a bandit? Had she…
He knew the answer before he asked these questions. The reason Kali would not be so happy to see him as he was to see her, was because he had done considerably worse in their last meeting.
The last time he had seen her, Colin and his group had intended to capture or kill Kali and her friends.
“Colin Trueshot,” Kali snarled. She must be still holding a grudge. “Make ready,” she warned her team and the dwarves, “he’s one of Gaban’s.”
“I’m not!” Colin almost screamed, futilely tugging at his trapped legs. The elementalist was unconvinced, and assuring her there was no trap would waste precious time. “I swear it! We came up here for help; I swear!”
“And whose this ‘we’ you speak of then,” Kali asked, still wary. He knew she had a right, but Gods, please, let her trust just a little. Alia needed help now! “Where’s the rest of your group Colin? Hiding in ambush, ready to hit us when we run to their aid I bet!”
“Yes!” he said, trying for all to ignore the sardonic twist to Kali’s mouth. “Me and a mesmer,” he explained, finally pulling a foot loose, “we came up here today and were attacked. She’s just beyond the rise,,” as soon as his other foot was free, kali recast Grasping Earth on him, dragging him further into the ground than before.
“Just out of sight,” she sneered. “That’s convenient Colin. You’re too smart for your own good. If you’d come up with that pet of yours, I might have believed you were alone. I won’t drag my team into another trap for your sake.” The finality of her statement struck Colin like a blow to the face. He was a threat to her friends, and she was steeling herself to pass sentence.
“Please,” he begged. Giving up on freeing himself, Colin dropped to his knees. “Gods, please, just go check. She’s right beyond the hill. Please!”
“He is grouped,” the hammer warrior said. “Can’t tell how many.”
“Please Kali,” Colin said, his own strength giving way in the futility of the last day’s effort. Alia was to die, yards away from help…by the very people he had brought her to for help!
“Please, before she’s dead.”
The elementalist was standing over him now, a longsword in her hand and raised slightly.
“Kali,” the monk put her hand on Kali’s forearm. “Are you sure? I mean,” the young woman rubbed the shaved half of her head thinking, “he doesn’t look a threat. He’s beat out and run down.”
“I’m sure,” Kali proclaimed, flexing her swordhand. “He’s crafty as a snowfox and he always looks a mess.”
“We should check Kali,” a ranger said behind her. “If he is bringing up refugees, we’d be remiss to leave them out here.”
“Please,” Colin said one last time. “Do what you want to me; I deserve it. But save my group.”
Kali’s hand faltered on the sword, staring into Colin’s eyes. Rage at him was still flaring across her face
“Balthazar be with me,” Kali grumbled, raising the sword again to point. “Fine; Sadie, Gerard, swing around the other side; I’ll take the center,” then to another warrior, this one with a sword and shield, “you run ahead.” Kali turned to the last of her group, the ranger and the air elementalist. “If he moves, kill him.” The hex was wearing off again, and Kali recast it a third time. “If you’re lying, I swear, you will be the first to die.”
The monk and hammer warrior disappeared around the other side of the hill, and kali and her escort crested the top at a hard charge, ready to fight. Then silence. Colin was panting in panic. What was taking so long? Why weren’t they talking?
“It’s a mesmer!” the hammer warrior roared from beyond at last. “Alone! She’s in a bad way—Sadie! Sadie git yer skinny butt over here!”
Colin breathed a sigh of relief. He still might not live through the day, but at least Alia had a chance.
“Gods,” he heard the monk swear. “Gods, I can’t. She’s all torn up.”
“Try Sadie,” Kali said softly beyond.
One wrong move and I’ll pin you to the ground brother,” the ranger drawled. “Walk slow, lets see to your friend.”
The air elementalist helped him to stand, the ranger still keeping his bow taut and ready. Colin dropped in own bow and quiver, walking unarmed over the rise.
Sadie had Alia’s head in her hands, a bright light emenating from both bodies as the monk worked her spells. “I,” another shimmer of light from the monk and Alia tensed, breathing more deeply. “I think she’ll live. If we get her to Yak’s Bend and mean right now! She needs Mhenlo or ‘the loon’—“
“Don’t call her that!” Kali snapped.
“Sorry,” Sadie said, her hands floating over Alia and up to her hair, then back again, as though afraid that touching the mesmer would break what healing her mending enchantment had wrought. “Sorry. She needs a…she needs more help than I know how to give.”
“You,” Kali snapped, standing tall and assuming all the command her great height could give her. The dwarves who had been making their way toward the pass jerked, stopped. “Where’d’you think you’re going?”
Colin turned to see the dwarves had followed. In all the confusion and panic, he had forgotten they were even there. Now they were trying to quietly slip away back up the trail into Shiverpeeks. “Our business is concluded Mistress Kali. We were—“
“Just about to give us a hand carrying her up to Yak’s Bend, right?” Kali cut the senior dwarf off.
“But,” the dwarf quailed slightly, “the supplies. We can’t carry both,” the dwarf sighed, dropping the giant pack full of boulder elemental. “Yes, you’re right.”
“Then lets move out people,” Kali said, pulling another pack from one of the dwarves shoulders. “Gerard, take point, everyone else, form up on,” she hesitated, glancing again at Colin and some of her ire show through again. “Form up on the refugees.”
The Gods, it seemed to Colin, were having a fun time at his expense. There; just at the top of the hill he could see a shimmer of reflected light. It was dirty and trodden upon, but the water he had been promising Alia for hours now was almost in arms reach.
“Go,” she pleaded weakly. Her warning delivered, it felt to Colin that the last of Alia’s strength was fading, “back…down.”
“We can’t turn back,” Colin scolded himself. “The water’s up there. You’ll die going back down and if you don’t the charr will finish us both.” The only hope for her—for both of them—was the band of refugees that had fled with Prince Rurik when King Adelbern denounced him. The dwarves that lived up there might get him to the other humans and safety; there had always been a fragile peace between Ascalon and the Deldrimor Dwarves.
But to fight, Colin would have to abandon Alia. To get her to safety, he would need to leave her behind.
“Idiot,” he said, setting the mesmer down as gently as he could on her stomach, “stay with her while I go look.”
The stalker sat beside Alia, pawing her face gingerly and licking her ear. Alia stirred, moaning from the movement. “Melandru,” Colin called, “Dwayna; Grenth take me Lysa, someone keep an eye on her!” and he ran the short distance to cover, preparing his arrows for harm once more.
Screams could be heard from the rocky hillside, and Colin twisted around a boulder to see. His heart nearly leapt into his throat at what he saw.
Dwarves. A dozen of them in fierce combat with several hydras and boulder elementals. A stone fury rose ominously from the ground, only to be smacked back down by a massive warhammer.
“Yes!” roared one of the dwarves,” But tell your people to be more gentle Mistress Bay. We need as much of the creatures skin intact as we can get!”
“You heard em,” a familiar voice rang in Colin’s ears, “quick and clean folks and lets get back to the bend!”
his mouth open in wonder, Colin crested the hill, abandoning cover. He recognized none of the other five with her, but there was no doubt that he knew the tall, dark haired elementalist leading them. “KALI!!!” he screamed, almost laughing as he ran toward them. One of the dying hydra’s heads turned toward the distraction, and was quickly blasted to pieces by an orb of pure energy.
The humans turned from their labor to watch him, Kali Bay the staring in shock as she recognized who he was.
His joy lasted only moments as her eyes turned white in spellcasting. The earth leapt up to his knees, dragging him to a halt as if walking in mud. Why? Why would another human do this to him in his time of need? Had she turned into a bandit? Had she…
He knew the answer before he asked these questions. The reason Kali would not be so happy to see him as he was to see her, was because he had done considerably worse in their last meeting.
The last time he had seen her, Colin and his group had intended to capture or kill Kali and her friends.
“Colin Trueshot,” Kali snarled. She must be still holding a grudge. “Make ready,” she warned her team and the dwarves, “he’s one of Gaban’s.”
“I’m not!” Colin almost screamed, futilely tugging at his trapped legs. The elementalist was unconvinced, and assuring her there was no trap would waste precious time. “I swear it! We came up here for help; I swear!”
“And whose this ‘we’ you speak of then,” Kali asked, still wary. He knew she had a right, but Gods, please, let her trust just a little. Alia needed help now! “Where’s the rest of your group Colin? Hiding in ambush, ready to hit us when we run to their aid I bet!”
“Yes!” he said, trying for all to ignore the sardonic twist to Kali’s mouth. “Me and a mesmer,” he explained, finally pulling a foot loose, “we came up here today and were attacked. She’s just beyond the rise,,” as soon as his other foot was free, kali recast Grasping Earth on him, dragging him further into the ground than before.
“Just out of sight,” she sneered. “That’s convenient Colin. You’re too smart for your own good. If you’d come up with that pet of yours, I might have believed you were alone. I won’t drag my team into another trap for your sake.” The finality of her statement struck Colin like a blow to the face. He was a threat to her friends, and she was steeling herself to pass sentence.
“Please,” he begged. Giving up on freeing himself, Colin dropped to his knees. “Gods, please, just go check. She’s right beyond the hill. Please!”
“He is grouped,” the hammer warrior said. “Can’t tell how many.”
“Please Kali,” Colin said, his own strength giving way in the futility of the last day’s effort. Alia was to die, yards away from help…by the very people he had brought her to for help!
“Please, before she’s dead.”
The elementalist was standing over him now, a longsword in her hand and raised slightly.
“Kali,” the monk put her hand on Kali’s forearm. “Are you sure? I mean,” the young woman rubbed the shaved half of her head thinking, “he doesn’t look a threat. He’s beat out and run down.”
“I’m sure,” Kali proclaimed, flexing her swordhand. “He’s crafty as a snowfox and he always looks a mess.”
“We should check Kali,” a ranger said behind her. “If he is bringing up refugees, we’d be remiss to leave them out here.”
“Please,” Colin said one last time. “Do what you want to me; I deserve it. But save my group.”
Kali’s hand faltered on the sword, staring into Colin’s eyes. Rage at him was still flaring across her face
“Balthazar be with me,” Kali grumbled, raising the sword again to point. “Fine; Sadie, Gerard, swing around the other side; I’ll take the center,” then to another warrior, this one with a sword and shield, “you run ahead.” Kali turned to the last of her group, the ranger and the air elementalist. “If he moves, kill him.” The hex was wearing off again, and Kali recast it a third time. “If you’re lying, I swear, you will be the first to die.”
The monk and hammer warrior disappeared around the other side of the hill, and kali and her escort crested the top at a hard charge, ready to fight. Then silence. Colin was panting in panic. What was taking so long? Why weren’t they talking?
“It’s a mesmer!” the hammer warrior roared from beyond at last. “Alone! She’s in a bad way—Sadie! Sadie git yer skinny butt over here!”
Colin breathed a sigh of relief. He still might not live through the day, but at least Alia had a chance.
“Gods,” he heard the monk swear. “Gods, I can’t. She’s all torn up.”
“Try Sadie,” Kali said softly beyond.
One wrong move and I’ll pin you to the ground brother,” the ranger drawled. “Walk slow, lets see to your friend.”
The air elementalist helped him to stand, the ranger still keeping his bow taut and ready. Colin dropped in own bow and quiver, walking unarmed over the rise.
Sadie had Alia’s head in her hands, a bright light emenating from both bodies as the monk worked her spells. “I,” another shimmer of light from the monk and Alia tensed, breathing more deeply. “I think she’ll live. If we get her to Yak’s Bend and mean right now! She needs Mhenlo or ‘the loon’—“
“Don’t call her that!” Kali snapped.
“Sorry,” Sadie said, her hands floating over Alia and up to her hair, then back again, as though afraid that touching the mesmer would break what healing her mending enchantment had wrought. “Sorry. She needs a…she needs more help than I know how to give.”
“You,” Kali snapped, standing tall and assuming all the command her great height could give her. The dwarves who had been making their way toward the pass jerked, stopped. “Where’d’you think you’re going?”
Colin turned to see the dwarves had followed. In all the confusion and panic, he had forgotten they were even there. Now they were trying to quietly slip away back up the trail into Shiverpeeks. “Our business is concluded Mistress Kali. We were—“
“Just about to give us a hand carrying her up to Yak’s Bend, right?” Kali cut the senior dwarf off.
“But,” the dwarf quailed slightly, “the supplies. We can’t carry both,” the dwarf sighed, dropping the giant pack full of boulder elemental. “Yes, you’re right.”
“Then lets move out people,” Kali said, pulling another pack from one of the dwarves shoulders. “Gerard, take point, everyone else, form up on,” she hesitated, glancing again at Colin and some of her ire show through again. “Form up on the refugees.”
Melody Cross
*3*
Faith scowled as the monk turned and walked away. She knew better than to ask one of “them” where Melody had gotten herself. It never ceased to amaze her how people could latch onto one thing and twist it so completely upside down.
Why, in Grenth’s, won’t they just leave us alone!
It hadn’t taken long for Melody to become a curiosity to the local healers. Her traumatic experience during the Searing and the peculiar side effects that came with it had been a source of debate and speculation for the first month they had spent in Yak’s Bend, waiting orders from Rurik’s re-banded Rin Defense Force as they led the way to Kryta and safety.
Her “elite” enchantment, as the monks called it, was doubly a problem. Some considered it a blasphemous waste for “her” to carry; others fairly drooled to see if they could wheedle out how it worked so they too could reap its power in combat.
The mesmers had been more subdued in their inquires. And more helpful. Melody had entered therapy again with a host of mesmers and Faith’s fellow necromancers to look in on her. Simply called “The Team” amongst themselves, they had begun shunning the monks when it became obvious that much of their help was more motivated toward self-gain than it was toward healing a severe mental trauma.
Faith sighed, spotting a pair of sandy blonde buns bobbing up and down behind a large crate near the camp kitchens. She started toward her hidden friend, contemplating where it had all gone horribly wrong.
When the monks had been relegated away from Melody’s case, they had quailed. In a rare show of solidarity from the class, they had announced melody unfit for active duty and ordered her confined for treatment. The Team had pleaded melody’s case adeptly to Prince Rurik, with Faith and her old group coming to her aid again. While Melody remained free in the camp, the end result was that Faith and her friends where ostracized by many of the other—most experienced—monks.
Of course, it would help if she—Faith—had been back up to snuff before she arrived in Yak’s Bend. The near death experience had taken much out of her in the intervening month and it had been a slow and boring recovery thus far. A legend among some, Faith had risen quickly in Duke Baradin’s Special Teams two years earlier. Then again, she had proven herself a valuable and deadly assest when he sent her and her team to Grendich Courthouse to help a beleaguered Prince Rurik retake the Diessa Lowlands. That she had arrived too late had not been her fault, and Faith had fought charr and prejudice as the Acalon Army crumbled around her. It had taken being dead—actually dead—for several hours to awaken her to the fact that Ascalon was a lost cause and Adelbern would not rest until his people were a smear on hungry charr’s cheeks after a turn at the cookfire. Still weakened from her return, she had managed to lead her team out of the lowland, up the foothills and to safety.
But still a month later, the monks—who were ultimately in charge of clearing people for combat duties—were stonewalling her. She still needed time to recover from her ordeal. And while she was here, they could twist Faith’s—Melody’s Group Leader’s—arm to get another look at her.
Melody never noticed these things of course. Even when troubles did manage to break through her haze, they were quickly forgotten. This was largely due to Peace and Harmony, a semi-permanent enchantment spell she had acquired to deal with her mental anguish. Under its guise, Melody could neither see nor perpetrate harm. While it made her one of the most powerful monks to come out of Ascalon, it also made her completely unaware of certain aspects of the hard life she lived.
“Hello Faith,” the tiny monk said, smiling as the necromancer turned the corner of the crate.
“What is that still doing here?” Faith asked, staring sickly at a furry lump in Melody’s lap. The lump shifted, growling ominously.
“Hmm?” Melody turned to look at Faith curiously. “Cuddles? He’s always been here.”
Cuddles shifted in Melody’s arms, spitting out the bladder of goats milk she had been feeding it from and regarding its caretaker with ravenous eyes. “It’s not ‘Cuddles’,” Faith said, taking an unconscious step back, “it’s a trollspawn.”
“Pet him Faith,” Melody replied, ignoring the slight as she lifted Cuddles up for her friend to inspect.
“I am not petting that.”
“Isn’t he cuuuute!”
“No.”
“Well, I think you’re cute.” Melody rubbed the baby trolls head and received a vicious snap on her hand for the trouble. ‘Cuddles’ latched on and growled savagely, shaking her hand in his mouth. Melody giggled, letting him thrash away and using her other hand to stroke the burs from his fur. Faith sighed. When his teeth came in and he bit off a finger doing that, Melody wouldn’t be laughing then. Where did she get him anyway?
“Ho Faith!” came a hoarse baritone from the kitchens and the necromancer turned to see a large warrior striding toward them. “Where’s Kali?”
“Got tired of waiting for you to wake up I suppose,” Faith replied to the new arrival. “I saw her talking to Gerard a few hours ago, Stephan.”
“Aw. Why’d she let me oversleep in the first place?” another annoying aspect of their stay here had been the split her group had suffered. Kali was spending more and more time with Stephan. She didn’t begrudge the elementalist for falling in love with the rugged warrior, but it left Faith holding the bag alone when it came to looking after Melody.
Because you’ve turned into a drunken sod since we got here. “Maybe she wanted to do this one on her own.” Worse than Faith’s sense of abandonment, Stephan was having some trouble adjusting to this “new life”. He’d always been a drinker since Faith had known him but since leaving Ascalon the man had become sullen, moody and—the worst, in Faith’s book—unreliable. If she didn’t get her group back together and working soon, it was liable to tear itself apart.
“It might be her first patrol as GL,” Stephan almost whined and Faith grated her teeth in vexation, “but that’s no sense. I’da followed her orders the same as anyone.” Cuddles snarled again, trying to get his mouth around Melody’s wrist and Stephan jumped back, alarmed. “What’s that still doing here?”
“It’s ‘Cuddles’,” Faith dripped sarcasm.
“Wanna pet’em?” melody asked, standing to hold the squirming troll babe out for Stephan.
“Well,” the warrior gave a sickly look and stepped back with Faith, “uh,” Melody followed, drawing Cuddles close to her chest and cooing to the little monster, “What’s all the commotion up there?” Stephan asked, pointing to a small gathering that was starting to obscure the south entrance to Yak’s Bend
“Dunno,” Faith replied, just as eager to change the subject away from melody’s disgusting and violent pet, “Groups come in probably. Might be Kali; she’s due in any time now.”
“Mel! Mel!” and a bald monk exploded from the group, his robes crumpled as he had wrestled his way through the growing crowd. “Melody!” Mhenlo called, running to the three and grabbing her by the arm. Faith lurched forward, catching Cuddles as the tiny monk was dragged into the fray…and got her arm chewed for it. “I need your help; we’ve a wounded mesmer here and she’s in a terrible state.”
The chief thing Faith hated most about the last month came upon her as she watched Melody’s perplexed expression disappear into the throng of quickly crowding bodies: that feeling of being useless.
“They need some air,” she said to Stephan. The massive warrior nodded, flexing.
“Alright you lot!” he bellowed, Faith already drawing the crowd back with a firm hand one at a time, “Make a hole, lets give those two some room to work.”
For those who were reluctant to move at Stephan’s stern command, Faith held Cuddles up to their face and they became most eager to be elsewhere.
Faith scowled as the monk turned and walked away. She knew better than to ask one of “them” where Melody had gotten herself. It never ceased to amaze her how people could latch onto one thing and twist it so completely upside down.
Why, in Grenth’s, won’t they just leave us alone!
It hadn’t taken long for Melody to become a curiosity to the local healers. Her traumatic experience during the Searing and the peculiar side effects that came with it had been a source of debate and speculation for the first month they had spent in Yak’s Bend, waiting orders from Rurik’s re-banded Rin Defense Force as they led the way to Kryta and safety.
Her “elite” enchantment, as the monks called it, was doubly a problem. Some considered it a blasphemous waste for “her” to carry; others fairly drooled to see if they could wheedle out how it worked so they too could reap its power in combat.
The mesmers had been more subdued in their inquires. And more helpful. Melody had entered therapy again with a host of mesmers and Faith’s fellow necromancers to look in on her. Simply called “The Team” amongst themselves, they had begun shunning the monks when it became obvious that much of their help was more motivated toward self-gain than it was toward healing a severe mental trauma.
Faith sighed, spotting a pair of sandy blonde buns bobbing up and down behind a large crate near the camp kitchens. She started toward her hidden friend, contemplating where it had all gone horribly wrong.
When the monks had been relegated away from Melody’s case, they had quailed. In a rare show of solidarity from the class, they had announced melody unfit for active duty and ordered her confined for treatment. The Team had pleaded melody’s case adeptly to Prince Rurik, with Faith and her old group coming to her aid again. While Melody remained free in the camp, the end result was that Faith and her friends where ostracized by many of the other—most experienced—monks.
Of course, it would help if she—Faith—had been back up to snuff before she arrived in Yak’s Bend. The near death experience had taken much out of her in the intervening month and it had been a slow and boring recovery thus far. A legend among some, Faith had risen quickly in Duke Baradin’s Special Teams two years earlier. Then again, she had proven herself a valuable and deadly assest when he sent her and her team to Grendich Courthouse to help a beleaguered Prince Rurik retake the Diessa Lowlands. That she had arrived too late had not been her fault, and Faith had fought charr and prejudice as the Acalon Army crumbled around her. It had taken being dead—actually dead—for several hours to awaken her to the fact that Ascalon was a lost cause and Adelbern would not rest until his people were a smear on hungry charr’s cheeks after a turn at the cookfire. Still weakened from her return, she had managed to lead her team out of the lowland, up the foothills and to safety.
But still a month later, the monks—who were ultimately in charge of clearing people for combat duties—were stonewalling her. She still needed time to recover from her ordeal. And while she was here, they could twist Faith’s—Melody’s Group Leader’s—arm to get another look at her.
Melody never noticed these things of course. Even when troubles did manage to break through her haze, they were quickly forgotten. This was largely due to Peace and Harmony, a semi-permanent enchantment spell she had acquired to deal with her mental anguish. Under its guise, Melody could neither see nor perpetrate harm. While it made her one of the most powerful monks to come out of Ascalon, it also made her completely unaware of certain aspects of the hard life she lived.
“Hello Faith,” the tiny monk said, smiling as the necromancer turned the corner of the crate.
“What is that still doing here?” Faith asked, staring sickly at a furry lump in Melody’s lap. The lump shifted, growling ominously.
“Hmm?” Melody turned to look at Faith curiously. “Cuddles? He’s always been here.”
Cuddles shifted in Melody’s arms, spitting out the bladder of goats milk she had been feeding it from and regarding its caretaker with ravenous eyes. “It’s not ‘Cuddles’,” Faith said, taking an unconscious step back, “it’s a trollspawn.”
“Pet him Faith,” Melody replied, ignoring the slight as she lifted Cuddles up for her friend to inspect.
“I am not petting that.”
“Isn’t he cuuuute!”
“No.”
“Well, I think you’re cute.” Melody rubbed the baby trolls head and received a vicious snap on her hand for the trouble. ‘Cuddles’ latched on and growled savagely, shaking her hand in his mouth. Melody giggled, letting him thrash away and using her other hand to stroke the burs from his fur. Faith sighed. When his teeth came in and he bit off a finger doing that, Melody wouldn’t be laughing then. Where did she get him anyway?
“Ho Faith!” came a hoarse baritone from the kitchens and the necromancer turned to see a large warrior striding toward them. “Where’s Kali?”
“Got tired of waiting for you to wake up I suppose,” Faith replied to the new arrival. “I saw her talking to Gerard a few hours ago, Stephan.”
“Aw. Why’d she let me oversleep in the first place?” another annoying aspect of their stay here had been the split her group had suffered. Kali was spending more and more time with Stephan. She didn’t begrudge the elementalist for falling in love with the rugged warrior, but it left Faith holding the bag alone when it came to looking after Melody.
Because you’ve turned into a drunken sod since we got here. “Maybe she wanted to do this one on her own.” Worse than Faith’s sense of abandonment, Stephan was having some trouble adjusting to this “new life”. He’d always been a drinker since Faith had known him but since leaving Ascalon the man had become sullen, moody and—the worst, in Faith’s book—unreliable. If she didn’t get her group back together and working soon, it was liable to tear itself apart.
“It might be her first patrol as GL,” Stephan almost whined and Faith grated her teeth in vexation, “but that’s no sense. I’da followed her orders the same as anyone.” Cuddles snarled again, trying to get his mouth around Melody’s wrist and Stephan jumped back, alarmed. “What’s that still doing here?”
“It’s ‘Cuddles’,” Faith dripped sarcasm.
“Wanna pet’em?” melody asked, standing to hold the squirming troll babe out for Stephan.
“Well,” the warrior gave a sickly look and stepped back with Faith, “uh,” Melody followed, drawing Cuddles close to her chest and cooing to the little monster, “What’s all the commotion up there?” Stephan asked, pointing to a small gathering that was starting to obscure the south entrance to Yak’s Bend
“Dunno,” Faith replied, just as eager to change the subject away from melody’s disgusting and violent pet, “Groups come in probably. Might be Kali; she’s due in any time now.”
“Mel! Mel!” and a bald monk exploded from the group, his robes crumpled as he had wrestled his way through the growing crowd. “Melody!” Mhenlo called, running to the three and grabbing her by the arm. Faith lurched forward, catching Cuddles as the tiny monk was dragged into the fray…and got her arm chewed for it. “I need your help; we’ve a wounded mesmer here and she’s in a terrible state.”
The chief thing Faith hated most about the last month came upon her as she watched Melody’s perplexed expression disappear into the throng of quickly crowding bodies: that feeling of being useless.
“They need some air,” she said to Stephan. The massive warrior nodded, flexing.
“Alright you lot!” he bellowed, Faith already drawing the crowd back with a firm hand one at a time, “Make a hole, lets give those two some room to work.”
For those who were reluctant to move at Stephan’s stern command, Faith held Cuddles up to their face and they became most eager to be elsewhere.
Melody Cross
*4*
No sooner had Faith and Stephan started to clear the mass of people than the group erupted again. Stephan roared a hoarse “Kali!” and the elementalist barreled into Faith’s arm, a bound man behind her with a sack tied over his head.
“Get us outa here!” the elementalist screamed as the mob pushed in again.
“Back up!” Stephan roared again, shoving people out of his way to reach the pair. “Who is that?” he called over the angry murmurs that were turning into ill-content grumblings.
“Who is that?” a ranger pulled at the bound man’s arm.
“A bandit!” accused a woman, pulling at the sack on the bound man’s head.
“He’s not a bandit,” yelled another refugee. “Look at his arm! That’s a GL badge! He’s from Grendich!”
“They caught a traitor!”
“Get em!”
“What’d you do to that mesmer pal!”
“Where’s my brother!”
“What the Gods names?” Stephan grunted as the mass of people began pushing back in on him. Faith gave Cuddles free reign, the troll baby snapping and biting at anyone who came too close. He didn’t hurt them, but the sight of the untamed troll snapping and snatching at them helped people decide to keep their distance.
“We’ve got to get him to the stockade before they lynch em!” Kali pushed onward toward the RDF tents, dragging her prisoner behind. Her group kept up behind, keeping the worst of the mob away from them. The prisoner made no complaints even when he nearly fell to the ground; whatever treatment she might have given him was nothing compared to what this mob would do if they got a hold of one of Gaban’s officers.
“You bastards killed my brother!”
“Get us outa here!” Kali screamed again
“Your fault!” the mob began chanting. “This is all your fault!” the month of cold beds, constant fear and homelessness was coming crashing down on this solitary sack covered head. Kali was right; if Faith didn’t get her to safety soon, they wouldn’t stop until they had torn this man apart.
A fiery dragon sword cut the mob in half in front of Faith. No one was burned, though many screamed fearfully. Captain Orsic pushed through the crowd to Kali and her captive, trying to regain order. Though his station had little effect keeping the mob at bay, the uncompromising heat of his weapon gave him instant attention. “Back up!” he roared, slowly waving the weapon in a circle around Kali. “We’re not savages cutting each other to pieces here! Back off I said!”
The dwarves had made their way into the mass as well, Brogmar the Arena Guard first at the fore. “You humans have been given the dwarves’ guestright. Would you spit on our hospitality by smearing our homes with what may be innocent blood?”
“Innocent in Grenth’s Eye!” the brotherless refugee called back. “That’s a Group Leader badge on his arm! He was an officer for Duke Gaban in Grendich and we all know the slaughterhouse they’ve turned that into!” Murmurs of agreement came from the group, though thankfully Faith realized, not as many as had been clawing at her a moment ago.
“That is enough!” she yelled, grabbing the refugee by the throat and dragging him out of the group. He was a dirty man, with hungry eyes that looked to have missed more than a few nights sleep recently. Many of them did, but she wouldn’t let him hide behind a sea of faces and egg people on toward murder. “I was there you little snit! I was in Grendich; I fought there!
“I never saw you!”
“They took my brot—“
“I don’t care if they inducted your mother you toad of a man! What you’re trying to do doesn’t avenge his name; you disgrace it! All of you! There is no justice in a mob; only more wrong.
“If this man,” Faith waved her hand over the sack covered head, “has caused wrong while he was a GL for Gaban, then he will be found guilty and he will be sentenced. But not by you! By a tribunal of GLs or the prince himself!”
The mob gasped. A tribunal was one thing. GLs were largely judge, jury and executioner in the field, but more serious crimes took a tribunal to pass sentence. But for the real offenders, the Royalty got involved. It was a myth among Ascalonians that a man sentenced to die by the king had damned his family in the process.
“Van!” Orsic called, seizing the stunned silence Faith’s outburst had given him. “Get down here. Take this prisoner from GL Kali’s custody. She’s forfeiting her right to pass sentence and have his case heard by the local monarchy.
“Right?”
“Right,” Kali said immediately.
“You lot disperse before I start thumping heads,” Orsic waved the fiery sword before him again for motivation, “and you won’t like it if I have to thump your head.”
Van took the prisoner from kali, leading him away on the improvised leash and kali began disbanding her group. “You lot stay here,” Orsic ordered as Sadie and Gerard began to leave for their quarters. Faith started pulling Stephan away, Cuddles trying to bite through her arm now that she had his undivided attention again. Could the little furball actually be laughing at her?
“I meant all of you Faith,” Orsic said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I didn’t do anything,” Faith said, shrugging him off. “I mean, I didn—I wasn’t out there.”
“No arguments, Faith,” orsic said, some of the hardness returning to his voice. “I don’t want you two mingling with that crowd right now; you’re foremost in their minds and I don’t want his hate,” he hitched his thumb toward the retreating prisoner, “on your head.”
“I,” Faith began, getting another glare from Captain Orsic, “of course Captain;” she said instead, “lead the way.”
“Uh huh.”
“You,” Faith hissed in kali’s ear as they followed Orsic into toward the RDF barracks, “have a lot of explaining to do.”
“You have no idea,” the elementalist replied.
“Are you alright?” Stephan asked, putting his arm around her. Kali pushed him off with a smile; she hated him trying to cuddle when she was sweaty and dusty.
“Well” she began, dropping her voice to a whisper, “to start with, the guy you saved was Colin.”
“Colin Trueshot?”
“The same.”
Faith sighed. Colin hadn’t been a bad group leader while she had been in Grendich, but he’s had a famous name. That kind of notoriety in the Ascalon Army would not help him if the mob got hold of it. They’d figure, since they’d actually heard about him before, he must be doubly bad. “Then that’s why you sacked him.”
“Do you know what they would have done if I’d let him walk in her free?” kali started. “They’d have torn my team apart to get to him, and they were already mobbing around to watch that mesmer he dragged up croak.” The elementalist sniffed disgustedly. “Ghouls.”
“You did it right Kali,” Faith replied. “You brought him in and no one got hurt. Its in Rurik’s hands now.”
Kali only grunted, walking on.
No sooner had Faith and Stephan started to clear the mass of people than the group erupted again. Stephan roared a hoarse “Kali!” and the elementalist barreled into Faith’s arm, a bound man behind her with a sack tied over his head.
“Get us outa here!” the elementalist screamed as the mob pushed in again.
“Back up!” Stephan roared again, shoving people out of his way to reach the pair. “Who is that?” he called over the angry murmurs that were turning into ill-content grumblings.
“Who is that?” a ranger pulled at the bound man’s arm.
“A bandit!” accused a woman, pulling at the sack on the bound man’s head.
“He’s not a bandit,” yelled another refugee. “Look at his arm! That’s a GL badge! He’s from Grendich!”
“They caught a traitor!”
“Get em!”
“What’d you do to that mesmer pal!”
“Where’s my brother!”
“What the Gods names?” Stephan grunted as the mass of people began pushing back in on him. Faith gave Cuddles free reign, the troll baby snapping and biting at anyone who came too close. He didn’t hurt them, but the sight of the untamed troll snapping and snatching at them helped people decide to keep their distance.
“We’ve got to get him to the stockade before they lynch em!” Kali pushed onward toward the RDF tents, dragging her prisoner behind. Her group kept up behind, keeping the worst of the mob away from them. The prisoner made no complaints even when he nearly fell to the ground; whatever treatment she might have given him was nothing compared to what this mob would do if they got a hold of one of Gaban’s officers.
“You bastards killed my brother!”
“Get us outa here!” Kali screamed again
“Your fault!” the mob began chanting. “This is all your fault!” the month of cold beds, constant fear and homelessness was coming crashing down on this solitary sack covered head. Kali was right; if Faith didn’t get her to safety soon, they wouldn’t stop until they had torn this man apart.
A fiery dragon sword cut the mob in half in front of Faith. No one was burned, though many screamed fearfully. Captain Orsic pushed through the crowd to Kali and her captive, trying to regain order. Though his station had little effect keeping the mob at bay, the uncompromising heat of his weapon gave him instant attention. “Back up!” he roared, slowly waving the weapon in a circle around Kali. “We’re not savages cutting each other to pieces here! Back off I said!”
The dwarves had made their way into the mass as well, Brogmar the Arena Guard first at the fore. “You humans have been given the dwarves’ guestright. Would you spit on our hospitality by smearing our homes with what may be innocent blood?”
“Innocent in Grenth’s Eye!” the brotherless refugee called back. “That’s a Group Leader badge on his arm! He was an officer for Duke Gaban in Grendich and we all know the slaughterhouse they’ve turned that into!” Murmurs of agreement came from the group, though thankfully Faith realized, not as many as had been clawing at her a moment ago.
“That is enough!” she yelled, grabbing the refugee by the throat and dragging him out of the group. He was a dirty man, with hungry eyes that looked to have missed more than a few nights sleep recently. Many of them did, but she wouldn’t let him hide behind a sea of faces and egg people on toward murder. “I was there you little snit! I was in Grendich; I fought there!
“I never saw you!”
“They took my brot—“
“I don’t care if they inducted your mother you toad of a man! What you’re trying to do doesn’t avenge his name; you disgrace it! All of you! There is no justice in a mob; only more wrong.
“If this man,” Faith waved her hand over the sack covered head, “has caused wrong while he was a GL for Gaban, then he will be found guilty and he will be sentenced. But not by you! By a tribunal of GLs or the prince himself!”
The mob gasped. A tribunal was one thing. GLs were largely judge, jury and executioner in the field, but more serious crimes took a tribunal to pass sentence. But for the real offenders, the Royalty got involved. It was a myth among Ascalonians that a man sentenced to die by the king had damned his family in the process.
“Van!” Orsic called, seizing the stunned silence Faith’s outburst had given him. “Get down here. Take this prisoner from GL Kali’s custody. She’s forfeiting her right to pass sentence and have his case heard by the local monarchy.
“Right?”
“Right,” Kali said immediately.
“You lot disperse before I start thumping heads,” Orsic waved the fiery sword before him again for motivation, “and you won’t like it if I have to thump your head.”
Van took the prisoner from kali, leading him away on the improvised leash and kali began disbanding her group. “You lot stay here,” Orsic ordered as Sadie and Gerard began to leave for their quarters. Faith started pulling Stephan away, Cuddles trying to bite through her arm now that she had his undivided attention again. Could the little furball actually be laughing at her?
“I meant all of you Faith,” Orsic said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I didn’t do anything,” Faith said, shrugging him off. “I mean, I didn—I wasn’t out there.”
“No arguments, Faith,” orsic said, some of the hardness returning to his voice. “I don’t want you two mingling with that crowd right now; you’re foremost in their minds and I don’t want his hate,” he hitched his thumb toward the retreating prisoner, “on your head.”
“I,” Faith began, getting another glare from Captain Orsic, “of course Captain;” she said instead, “lead the way.”
“Uh huh.”
“You,” Faith hissed in kali’s ear as they followed Orsic into toward the RDF barracks, “have a lot of explaining to do.”
“You have no idea,” the elementalist replied.
“Are you alright?” Stephan asked, putting his arm around her. Kali pushed him off with a smile; she hated him trying to cuddle when she was sweaty and dusty.
“Well” she began, dropping her voice to a whisper, “to start with, the guy you saved was Colin.”
“Colin Trueshot?”
“The same.”
Faith sighed. Colin hadn’t been a bad group leader while she had been in Grendich, but he’s had a famous name. That kind of notoriety in the Ascalon Army would not help him if the mob got hold of it. They’d figure, since they’d actually heard about him before, he must be doubly bad. “Then that’s why you sacked him.”
“Do you know what they would have done if I’d let him walk in her free?” kali started. “They’d have torn my team apart to get to him, and they were already mobbing around to watch that mesmer he dragged up croak.” The elementalist sniffed disgustedly. “Ghouls.”
“You did it right Kali,” Faith replied. “You brought him in and no one got hurt. Its in Rurik’s hands now.”
Kali only grunted, walking on.
Paul Mahdi
Haven't read it all yet (Instead went back and refreshed my memory), but I'm excited to see you're back and writing again.
Minus Sign
Alright. I found the old email and got my PW, just in case anyone's notified a mod that I'm stealing my own hash
Nice to see you Paul. I know this is a little dark right now, but most of my stuff starts out that way.
I hope you enjoy it.
Nice to see you Paul. I know this is a little dark right now, but most of my stuff starts out that way.
I hope you enjoy it.
Minus Sign
*5*
They were placed in a single cramped tent for the day, the heat of their bodies making the small space warmer. Slowly, Faith and her old group filled Kali’s team in on who Colin had been, the mad dash from Grendich they had made with him close on their heels. And Kali in turn was able to tell Faith what had happened on what was supposed to have been a cakewalk first mission as a mercenary.
“So,” Faith said as they finished the rounds of explanations, “the question is ‘what are we waiting for now’?”
Stephan shrugged. “Well, it’s obvious isn’t it?” he looked to each of them in turn. “They need to speak to Kali’s group to find out what Colin was doing in the foothills. And I guess they’d want to talk to us because we were the last group to make it out of Grendich. We’re all witnesses, one way or another, for a,” the warrior took a breath, “a crown court.”
“They’ll split us up, then,” Faith decided. “Soon. They won’t like us talking amongst ourselves like this. It’d have been better if we hadn’t been together in the first place, from their point of view. Better if they,” Faith trailed off, part of her mind clicking on a single fact. The only one of her group not here was Melody. But she was with Mhenlo, helping see to the mesmer. They wouldn’t take her out or a healer’s tent for something like this would they? Mhenlo would pitch fits.
“What?” Kali asked, recognizing that look in her GL’s eye.
Orsic returned, pulling the tentflap open. “Okay, we’re going to split you folks up for a while—”
“Where’s Melody?” Faith cut the captain off, pushing past him and into the hands of several RDF guardsmen.
“What?” Orsic waved the men to stand easy, but they didn’t let Faith out. “With Prince Rurik. He wanted to get her testimony before she was elbow deep in guts, if you’ll pardon the phrase.”
“What?!” Stephan and Kali screamed together, moving to help Faith push her way out.
Faith was scanning the barracks thoroughfare, searching for a familiar face. “See here now, I don’t know what kind of game you’re trying to play but—”
“Willamina!” Faith called, breaking free from the guardsmen and rushing to a dark mesmer as she too hurried on.
“I know,” Willamina said without stopping and the guardsmen had Faith by her arms. “I’m getting The Team together right now. I sent Minerva and Jessie ahead; if anyone can get inside those two can.”
“You know what?” Orsic snapped, grabbing Willamina’s arm. “What’s going on?”
“You’ll still need to get over there Faith,” the mesmer said, ignoring the captain. “She’ll need a familiar face.”
Then to Orsic and the RDF, “Melody Cross is very sick Captain,” Orsic gasped, thinking of what he had just set loose upon his monarch without knowing. “It’s not a catching kind of sick; I’m sure you’ve heard a little something about it already if you listen to the monk’s gossip.” Orsic nodded, sighing relief. “But it can be dangerous to her and people around her if she’s placed in the wrong kind of stressful situation, and I’m concerned that you’ve done just that.”
“What can we do?” Orsic asked. He’d probably been dispatched to get Melody; the show of unquestioning concern usually meant that she had met this man.
“Get those three to her as quick as you can,” Willamina replied, pointing to Faith and her friends. “I know your orders differ, but she needs well-known faces right now or she’s,” the mesmer sighed, turning to hurry on, “liable to hurt someone.”
“Hurt someone?” Orsic repeated but the mesmer had already shaken loose from him and was now running down the thoroughfare, calling names. “That little girl?”
“Herself most likely,” Faith supplied, pulling Orsic out of his thoughts. “Will you help us?”
Orsic turned to her, then to the RDF. One of them shrugged. The captain said “I know Willow. If she thinks it’s what we need to do, then yes. Lieutenant; separate the other witnesses; you three with me. We’ll be back shortly.”
Orsic tried to retain some dignity as he led the group at a run down the thoroughfare into the deepest part of the RDF barracks. Willamina had been busy before Faith caught her up; several mesmers were already beginning to descend on prince Rurik’s private tent when the quartet reached it. The guards outside were having a time keeping the women out. Two of them were trying to crawl between gaps in the men’s legs, some were snapping at them like a pair of naughty children caught stealing sweets, and still more were trying to wax provocative at the pair for a distraction. If the situation weren’t so serious, Faith might have laughed as the mesmers pawed, railed at and cajoled the two men.
Both of the guards breathed a sigh of relief as Orsic pushed his way into the mass. “Let us pass,” the captain said, several of the mesmers taking the opening for their chance to slip in.
Faith surveyed the tent as she came inside. It was open and spacious, a small fire from a clay oven warming the interior. She had seen houses less opulent than this tent; the Deldrimor Dwarves having furnished it for Rurik as a visiting monarch.A silver stand mirror sat in a corner, with a motherofpearl washbasin beside a small curtained space that could only be Rurik’s bed. Even in disgrace, the Prince of Ascalon was doing well. It gave Faith heart to know he was being treated so well.
But her hope sank as she saw the tiny white bundle rocking back and forth in a chair in the center of the open space. Melody was surrounded by at least a dozen of Rurik’s personal guard, every one of them as large and intimidating as Stephan on a bad day. As the mesmers broke inside with Orsic and Faith’s team, the guards tensed anxiously, hands moving to weapons.
“Faith!” the tiny monk jumped out of the chair, running from her prince without dismissal and taking Cuddles into her arms. The troll seemed to sense her agitation and settled for gnawing on her robes. “I gotta gooo,” the little monk said, rocking back and forth anxiously. She was crying. “I gotta gooo. Now. Mhenlo needs me; Alia’s still in a bad way. Please?”
Faith laid a hand on Melody’s head, turning to Prince Rurik. He was seated in a large wooden chair with red cushions, staring at the monk and the intruding mesmers with equal shades of disbelief and confusion. “Respectfully Your Highness, you’ll not get much more than that out of her even if she didn’t have a patient to attend to.”
“Please?” Melody said again, rocking Cuddles in her arms. “I don’t like it here. Its scary.” Then, turning to Rurik. “He’s scary.”
“Hey, Mel,” Stephan said, laying his hand on her shoulder. Melody flinched. That was a bad sign. She hadn’t been nervous around Stephan since day one. If she was this agitated, she was ready to flip out. “He’s not scary. He’s Prince Rurik.”
“I don’t know him, I don’t know him,” she was rocking back and forth again, squeezing Cuddles tightly. “Make him go away I don’t know him I gotta go.”
Willamina stepped from the throng of mesmers rapidly filling the tent, curtsying deftly to her Prince. “Respectfully, Highness, may I take her in hand?”
“Of course,” Rurik waved his hand dismissively, staring at Melody as she was shiveringly led out of the large tent. “Thank you for your time Mistress Cross.”
“Bye bye,” the monk said, still shivering, “Gotta go bye bye gotta go.”
Willamina mouthed a quick “She’ll be fine” as the The Team passed Faith. The necromancer nodded, taking a shivering breath of her own. That could have gone better, obviously.
“Highness,” Kali supplied,” you won’t need all of us, I’m sure. And if its alright, Mel’s known the three of us since Piken.”
“What?” Rurik asked, his eyes on the tentflap “Yes. By all means. Captain Orsic, please escort these two while they’re with Mistress Cross. I’ll send for them later.” A quick bow from the two men, a hurried curtsy from kali and all three of them were heading toward the exit.
“I didn’t realize it was that bad,” the prince mumbled, more to himself than to his subjects.
“It hasn’t been for a very long time Highness,” Faith supplied. “It’s just…she’s not used to being without one of us,” she pointed to herself, Kali and Stephan, “and, to be frank, you’ve got a lot of men here that she’s never met.”
“Will she be alright?” a small voice called from the corner and Faith turned. Colin was here, still bound, looking for all as if he wanted to chase kali and Stephan down.
She’ll be fine now Colin,” Faith said, managing a tight smile. :”For now, let’s see about you.”
They were placed in a single cramped tent for the day, the heat of their bodies making the small space warmer. Slowly, Faith and her old group filled Kali’s team in on who Colin had been, the mad dash from Grendich they had made with him close on their heels. And Kali in turn was able to tell Faith what had happened on what was supposed to have been a cakewalk first mission as a mercenary.
“So,” Faith said as they finished the rounds of explanations, “the question is ‘what are we waiting for now’?”
Stephan shrugged. “Well, it’s obvious isn’t it?” he looked to each of them in turn. “They need to speak to Kali’s group to find out what Colin was doing in the foothills. And I guess they’d want to talk to us because we were the last group to make it out of Grendich. We’re all witnesses, one way or another, for a,” the warrior took a breath, “a crown court.”
“They’ll split us up, then,” Faith decided. “Soon. They won’t like us talking amongst ourselves like this. It’d have been better if we hadn’t been together in the first place, from their point of view. Better if they,” Faith trailed off, part of her mind clicking on a single fact. The only one of her group not here was Melody. But she was with Mhenlo, helping see to the mesmer. They wouldn’t take her out or a healer’s tent for something like this would they? Mhenlo would pitch fits.
“What?” Kali asked, recognizing that look in her GL’s eye.
Orsic returned, pulling the tentflap open. “Okay, we’re going to split you folks up for a while—”
“Where’s Melody?” Faith cut the captain off, pushing past him and into the hands of several RDF guardsmen.
“What?” Orsic waved the men to stand easy, but they didn’t let Faith out. “With Prince Rurik. He wanted to get her testimony before she was elbow deep in guts, if you’ll pardon the phrase.”
“What?!” Stephan and Kali screamed together, moving to help Faith push her way out.
Faith was scanning the barracks thoroughfare, searching for a familiar face. “See here now, I don’t know what kind of game you’re trying to play but—”
“Willamina!” Faith called, breaking free from the guardsmen and rushing to a dark mesmer as she too hurried on.
“I know,” Willamina said without stopping and the guardsmen had Faith by her arms. “I’m getting The Team together right now. I sent Minerva and Jessie ahead; if anyone can get inside those two can.”
“You know what?” Orsic snapped, grabbing Willamina’s arm. “What’s going on?”
“You’ll still need to get over there Faith,” the mesmer said, ignoring the captain. “She’ll need a familiar face.”
Then to Orsic and the RDF, “Melody Cross is very sick Captain,” Orsic gasped, thinking of what he had just set loose upon his monarch without knowing. “It’s not a catching kind of sick; I’m sure you’ve heard a little something about it already if you listen to the monk’s gossip.” Orsic nodded, sighing relief. “But it can be dangerous to her and people around her if she’s placed in the wrong kind of stressful situation, and I’m concerned that you’ve done just that.”
“What can we do?” Orsic asked. He’d probably been dispatched to get Melody; the show of unquestioning concern usually meant that she had met this man.
“Get those three to her as quick as you can,” Willamina replied, pointing to Faith and her friends. “I know your orders differ, but she needs well-known faces right now or she’s,” the mesmer sighed, turning to hurry on, “liable to hurt someone.”
“Hurt someone?” Orsic repeated but the mesmer had already shaken loose from him and was now running down the thoroughfare, calling names. “That little girl?”
“Herself most likely,” Faith supplied, pulling Orsic out of his thoughts. “Will you help us?”
Orsic turned to her, then to the RDF. One of them shrugged. The captain said “I know Willow. If she thinks it’s what we need to do, then yes. Lieutenant; separate the other witnesses; you three with me. We’ll be back shortly.”
Orsic tried to retain some dignity as he led the group at a run down the thoroughfare into the deepest part of the RDF barracks. Willamina had been busy before Faith caught her up; several mesmers were already beginning to descend on prince Rurik’s private tent when the quartet reached it. The guards outside were having a time keeping the women out. Two of them were trying to crawl between gaps in the men’s legs, some were snapping at them like a pair of naughty children caught stealing sweets, and still more were trying to wax provocative at the pair for a distraction. If the situation weren’t so serious, Faith might have laughed as the mesmers pawed, railed at and cajoled the two men.
Both of the guards breathed a sigh of relief as Orsic pushed his way into the mass. “Let us pass,” the captain said, several of the mesmers taking the opening for their chance to slip in.
Faith surveyed the tent as she came inside. It was open and spacious, a small fire from a clay oven warming the interior. She had seen houses less opulent than this tent; the Deldrimor Dwarves having furnished it for Rurik as a visiting monarch.A silver stand mirror sat in a corner, with a motherofpearl washbasin beside a small curtained space that could only be Rurik’s bed. Even in disgrace, the Prince of Ascalon was doing well. It gave Faith heart to know he was being treated so well.
But her hope sank as she saw the tiny white bundle rocking back and forth in a chair in the center of the open space. Melody was surrounded by at least a dozen of Rurik’s personal guard, every one of them as large and intimidating as Stephan on a bad day. As the mesmers broke inside with Orsic and Faith’s team, the guards tensed anxiously, hands moving to weapons.
“Faith!” the tiny monk jumped out of the chair, running from her prince without dismissal and taking Cuddles into her arms. The troll seemed to sense her agitation and settled for gnawing on her robes. “I gotta gooo,” the little monk said, rocking back and forth anxiously. She was crying. “I gotta gooo. Now. Mhenlo needs me; Alia’s still in a bad way. Please?”
Faith laid a hand on Melody’s head, turning to Prince Rurik. He was seated in a large wooden chair with red cushions, staring at the monk and the intruding mesmers with equal shades of disbelief and confusion. “Respectfully Your Highness, you’ll not get much more than that out of her even if she didn’t have a patient to attend to.”
“Please?” Melody said again, rocking Cuddles in her arms. “I don’t like it here. Its scary.” Then, turning to Rurik. “He’s scary.”
“Hey, Mel,” Stephan said, laying his hand on her shoulder. Melody flinched. That was a bad sign. She hadn’t been nervous around Stephan since day one. If she was this agitated, she was ready to flip out. “He’s not scary. He’s Prince Rurik.”
“I don’t know him, I don’t know him,” she was rocking back and forth again, squeezing Cuddles tightly. “Make him go away I don’t know him I gotta go.”
Willamina stepped from the throng of mesmers rapidly filling the tent, curtsying deftly to her Prince. “Respectfully, Highness, may I take her in hand?”
“Of course,” Rurik waved his hand dismissively, staring at Melody as she was shiveringly led out of the large tent. “Thank you for your time Mistress Cross.”
“Bye bye,” the monk said, still shivering, “Gotta go bye bye gotta go.”
Willamina mouthed a quick “She’ll be fine” as the The Team passed Faith. The necromancer nodded, taking a shivering breath of her own. That could have gone better, obviously.
“Highness,” Kali supplied,” you won’t need all of us, I’m sure. And if its alright, Mel’s known the three of us since Piken.”
“What?” Rurik asked, his eyes on the tentflap “Yes. By all means. Captain Orsic, please escort these two while they’re with Mistress Cross. I’ll send for them later.” A quick bow from the two men, a hurried curtsy from kali and all three of them were heading toward the exit.
“I didn’t realize it was that bad,” the prince mumbled, more to himself than to his subjects.
“It hasn’t been for a very long time Highness,” Faith supplied. “It’s just…she’s not used to being without one of us,” she pointed to herself, Kali and Stephan, “and, to be frank, you’ve got a lot of men here that she’s never met.”
“Will she be alright?” a small voice called from the corner and Faith turned. Colin was here, still bound, looking for all as if he wanted to chase kali and Stephan down.
She’ll be fine now Colin,” Faith said, managing a tight smile. :”For now, let’s see about you.”
Minus Sign
*6*
Rurik took another breath to compose himself, then he was all business. “You are correct Mistress,” he paused, waiting for her to supply a name.
“Everyone calls me Faith, Highness.”
“Faith. I was not able to get very much useful information out of Mistress Cross,” another akward glance to the tentflap said things had been going worse than they were when Faith entered. She worried anew at what Melody had done. “Beyond being happy to see Master Trueshot, she did not seem interested in answering my questions.
“Perhaps you can enlighten me further about what happened in Grendich?”
Faith shrugged. “Beyond what I told you when we arrived Highness, there’s not much more to tell. Grendich was a slaughterhouse when I arrived, and it only got worse. I honestly believe now that it the whole affair was a foolish attempt—if you’ll forgive me—to set up another Piken Square but on a larger scale.”
“Moral was high when you first re-took the Square; it dropped after my father stopped sending men and supplies,” Rurik nodded for her to continue.
“As you say Majesty. I don’t know if it was King Adelbern trying to re-live his mistakes at Piken and make things right, or if it was Duke Gaban trying to set himself up as a bigger better Duke Baradin. I don’t really care anymore. It was a mess; my team was going to die for no good reason, and I had a way out.
“I took it,” she snapped, some of her own heat at the incident showing through. Faith took a calming breath herself, continuing, “The powers that be didn’t like that.”
Rurik chuckled to himself. “Baradin’s letter warned me you were ‘bold’,” Price Rurik said after a long space. “And this ranger is one of the group leaders that assaulted you on the way up here.”
“He is Your Highness,” Faith nodded. “I know Kali was a little put off after she learned what,” she paused, turning to regard Colin in the corner, “well; what you did to Stephan.” The ranger blanched. “But he was following orders and technically, we were defectors. I know of no dishonorable conduct from this man during my tenure at Grendich. In truth, I understand why he had no choice but to follow the orders he was given, even if they were on the ragged edge of immoral.
“But that does not explain why you’ve come up here Master Trueshot,” said the prince. “In fact, it suggests this would be the last place you would willingly want to go.”
Colin was studying his the ropes around his wrists. He spoke in a hollow voice; one filled with pain and weariness. “I did try to stop Faith and her group from leaving Grendich. I won’t lie about it. I was under orders and I followed them to the letter.
“And what orders are you under now,” the prince pressed.
“No ones,” Colin looked to Faith and Rurik. Then back to his hands. “Grendich…fell nearly a week ago.”
Rurik bowed his head, shaking it and muttering to himself. Faith thought she caught “Blind stubborn fool!” before his head wiped up again and he said “What of Rin?”
“What Rin?” Colin asked, his patience beginning to wear thin. “There wasn’t much left when you folk made your way up here in the first place. What was left…You’re all the way up here and that makes for a heck of a good view I’m sure Highness. Maybe you noticed a soft glowing light a few days ago; kinda pretty in the air.”
“They’ve sacked Rin?” Faith asked. “But…Stormcaller…”
“They ran over Rin like it was a twig under a cartwheel,” Colin faced her, starting up. The closest of the personal Guards let an inch of steel show from his scabbard and Colin settled back down. “From what I heard. I believe what I heard; the fires were still going when we made it into the foothills.
“I took what I could,” he continued. “I took who would follow. Most were set and determined to make their way to Ascalon City.”
“What of,” Rurik cleared his throat. “What of my father, the King?”
“Highness,” Colin looked up again, tears beginning to stain his cheeks, “I’m sorry. I know nothing of the King. I saw some of Adelbern’s Guard when I made my way out; they were…there was talk of going back for him, but my team wasn’t in the best of shape.
“It is my understanding that he was still in Rin when the charr attacked it.”
“Your team,” Faith pressed, instantly turning to Prince Rurik to apologize. Rurik gave her a “go on” gesture silently and she continued. “I know you Colin. You wouldn’t try to make your way up here with nothing but a mesmer for support; you’re smarter than that.”
Colin was staring at his hands again. “Can you talk about it?” the ranger nodded but said nothing. “What happened?”
“Some of us,” he began, “went back anyway; try to rebuild like I said. ‘Where there’s life there’s hope’ but I’m not sure I believe that for Ascalon now.
“The other’s…Charr. Hit us on the bridge. You remember the bridge Faith? It nearly broke in half when they dropped a meteor shower on our heads. Alia and I got out of there with Grad but…Alia’s part elementalist and I’m part mesmer. We had no monks with us anymore.
“We couldn’t attune the shrine,” he said, Faith’s mind echoing the futility of those words from long ago. “I couldn’t attune the shrine.”
“Damn.”
Rurik took another breath to compose himself, then he was all business. “You are correct Mistress,” he paused, waiting for her to supply a name.
“Everyone calls me Faith, Highness.”
“Faith. I was not able to get very much useful information out of Mistress Cross,” another akward glance to the tentflap said things had been going worse than they were when Faith entered. She worried anew at what Melody had done. “Beyond being happy to see Master Trueshot, she did not seem interested in answering my questions.
“Perhaps you can enlighten me further about what happened in Grendich?”
Faith shrugged. “Beyond what I told you when we arrived Highness, there’s not much more to tell. Grendich was a slaughterhouse when I arrived, and it only got worse. I honestly believe now that it the whole affair was a foolish attempt—if you’ll forgive me—to set up another Piken Square but on a larger scale.”
“Moral was high when you first re-took the Square; it dropped after my father stopped sending men and supplies,” Rurik nodded for her to continue.
“As you say Majesty. I don’t know if it was King Adelbern trying to re-live his mistakes at Piken and make things right, or if it was Duke Gaban trying to set himself up as a bigger better Duke Baradin. I don’t really care anymore. It was a mess; my team was going to die for no good reason, and I had a way out.
“I took it,” she snapped, some of her own heat at the incident showing through. Faith took a calming breath herself, continuing, “The powers that be didn’t like that.”
Rurik chuckled to himself. “Baradin’s letter warned me you were ‘bold’,” Price Rurik said after a long space. “And this ranger is one of the group leaders that assaulted you on the way up here.”
“He is Your Highness,” Faith nodded. “I know Kali was a little put off after she learned what,” she paused, turning to regard Colin in the corner, “well; what you did to Stephan.” The ranger blanched. “But he was following orders and technically, we were defectors. I know of no dishonorable conduct from this man during my tenure at Grendich. In truth, I understand why he had no choice but to follow the orders he was given, even if they were on the ragged edge of immoral.
“But that does not explain why you’ve come up here Master Trueshot,” said the prince. “In fact, it suggests this would be the last place you would willingly want to go.”
Colin was studying his the ropes around his wrists. He spoke in a hollow voice; one filled with pain and weariness. “I did try to stop Faith and her group from leaving Grendich. I won’t lie about it. I was under orders and I followed them to the letter.
“And what orders are you under now,” the prince pressed.
“No ones,” Colin looked to Faith and Rurik. Then back to his hands. “Grendich…fell nearly a week ago.”
Rurik bowed his head, shaking it and muttering to himself. Faith thought she caught “Blind stubborn fool!” before his head wiped up again and he said “What of Rin?”
“What Rin?” Colin asked, his patience beginning to wear thin. “There wasn’t much left when you folk made your way up here in the first place. What was left…You’re all the way up here and that makes for a heck of a good view I’m sure Highness. Maybe you noticed a soft glowing light a few days ago; kinda pretty in the air.”
“They’ve sacked Rin?” Faith asked. “But…Stormcaller…”
“They ran over Rin like it was a twig under a cartwheel,” Colin faced her, starting up. The closest of the personal Guards let an inch of steel show from his scabbard and Colin settled back down. “From what I heard. I believe what I heard; the fires were still going when we made it into the foothills.
“I took what I could,” he continued. “I took who would follow. Most were set and determined to make their way to Ascalon City.”
“What of,” Rurik cleared his throat. “What of my father, the King?”
“Highness,” Colin looked up again, tears beginning to stain his cheeks, “I’m sorry. I know nothing of the King. I saw some of Adelbern’s Guard when I made my way out; they were…there was talk of going back for him, but my team wasn’t in the best of shape.
“It is my understanding that he was still in Rin when the charr attacked it.”
“Your team,” Faith pressed, instantly turning to Prince Rurik to apologize. Rurik gave her a “go on” gesture silently and she continued. “I know you Colin. You wouldn’t try to make your way up here with nothing but a mesmer for support; you’re smarter than that.”
Colin was staring at his hands again. “Can you talk about it?” the ranger nodded but said nothing. “What happened?”
“Some of us,” he began, “went back anyway; try to rebuild like I said. ‘Where there’s life there’s hope’ but I’m not sure I believe that for Ascalon now.
“The other’s…Charr. Hit us on the bridge. You remember the bridge Faith? It nearly broke in half when they dropped a meteor shower on our heads. Alia and I got out of there with Grad but…Alia’s part elementalist and I’m part mesmer. We had no monks with us anymore.
“We couldn’t attune the shrine,” he said, Faith’s mind echoing the futility of those words from long ago. “I couldn’t attune the shrine.”
“Damn.”
Minus Sign
*7*
It was several moments before Rurik remembered himself enough to dismiss Faith from the court proceedings. With a stern “Remain in camp in case I need to recall you,” she was released to her own devices. She went to check on Melody only to find Willamina, Kali and Stephan sitting outside one of the private recovery tents. Melody was inside, back in her element and, according to the mesmer—quickly returni ng to normal.
“It’s amazing, that spell,” Willamina said, looking back at the sealed tentflap. “Two minutes and she’s forgotten why she was scarred. Come tomorrow, I’ll be surprised if she remembers being scarred.”
Faith took a turn at the tent when Orsic came to summon Kali. When it was Stephan’s turn, a rustle at the flap announced Mhenlo stumbling out. He looked exhausted but quite pleased.
“She’ recovering,” he said, then realized who his audience was. “Both of them will. Melody is staying the first watch; I need to get something to eat and a little sack time and chew Prince Rurik out for dragging my best assistant away. Some times, I don’t know about that young man.”
“You go on to bed,” Faith said, giving the monk a little nudge. He didn’t protest. “I’ll bring something to your tent for you.”
“I’ll,” came a harsh snap from her other side and Faith winced. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard Cynn come up, “get something for him, thank you very much. You worry about your monk; I’ll worry about mine.”
Faith shrugged, letting the elementalist take Mhenlo in hand.
Willamina was replaced by Jessie, was replaced by Minerva, was replaced by Gertrude after Kali left and before Stephan returned. Faith had sent Kali to get some sleep hours ago, and from the haggard look in the warrior’s eyes when he returned, Colin had been more detailed in what had transpired on the way out of Ascalon. She sent him off too.
“You should get some rest too,” Gertrude said. “If you get any more pale you’ll be see-through young lady.”
Faith cracked a lazy eyelid open to watch the platinum haired tallow skinned mesmer stifle a yawn of her own. “Look whose talking,” the necromancer rebuked. “Besides, I can sleep here,” she lied. “It’s not that cold.”
It was true that Faith had caught a few minutes of sleep here and there while standing this night’s watch. But the dreams she had were fitful things. Dark and unremembered. She pulled the collar of her jerkin open a little more to let the cold in. It kept her awake.
“That whammo,” Kali drawled, thumping down in a heap beside her. Faith grunted, elbowing Kali to make a little room, “has only one thing on his mind.”
“Zat a fact?” Faith asked, feigning sleep again. Gertrude chuckled.
“Okay,” Kali said and faith thought she could hear the blush rising in Kali’s cheeks. “Two things,” and the old mesmer slapped her knee with a throaty guffaw. “Tonight it’s ale. I don’t know what to do with him Faith; those dwarves won’t pay us until they have ‘a full shipment of boulder skin’ so I hafta go out again tomorrow.
“I can’t use him drunk or hung-over.”
“So?” Faith drawled sleepily. “Keep him occupied on the other thing he always has on his mind.” Gertrude tipped on her side, hugging her sides and howling.
“If I can swing it, we’ll come with you tomorrow.”
“The monk’s have cleared you?” Kali asked, leaning over to swat the convulsing mesmer on her thigh. It only made Gertrude laugh harder.
“No.”
“What’s going on out here?” came a sleepy voice from the tent. The flap popped open and Melody’s head burst out between Faith and a cackling Gertrude. “Shh,” the little monk said, putting a finger to her lips. “My patient needs quiet.”
“Hey Mel,” Kali said while Faith turned to shush up Gertrude. “How’re you doing?”
Melody cocked her head to the side, scratching her ear. “I’m fine. But Alia needs to sleep so shh.”
“We were worried after,” Kali shrugged. “You know. The prince.”
“The prince?” Melody asked, budding her lip with her finger. “I think,” she leaned her ehad around again, looking to Gertrude who had regained her composer and was now watching Melody intently. “He was nice,” the monk declared. “He let me see Colin again. It’s good to see friends. I’m glad Colin is back.”
The three women outside the tent shared a look. The looks on their faces exchanged a silent agreement: Peace and Harmony.
“Mel,” Faith asked, coming full awake, “about Alia. If you get some sleep tonight, do you think another monk could watch her tomorrow? Say,” Faith paused to glance at Kali, “around noontime till dusk?”
“Oh,” Melody waved her hand at the necromancer, “she’ll be fine by then. Ready to go out again in another few days. This is all just precaution now. The bones are all healed up and Mhenlo did a great job on her wounds. It was touch and go there while we worked on her, but now they’ve mended, her wounds are all healed up. It’s not like it was with you Faith.”
“Then we’re probably going to go out for a while tomorrow,” Faith said, giving Kali a wink.
“But what about the monks?” Kali pressed. “What about The Prince?”
“I don’t care if they do or don’t clear me anymore,” Faith growled. “We’re mercenaries for crying out loud; we don’t have to listen to them. And if Rurik hasn’t called us back before noon, he isn’t going to.”
“I might could swing something to get melody out of camp,” Gertrude supplied. “I’ll talk to some of The Team in the morn.”
“You should listen to the monks Faith,” Melody chimed instantly. “They only want to help you.”
“Do you think I’m still sick?”
“Well,” Melody pondered that, budding her lower lip again, “not really. Your body is okay, anyway. But you haven’t been out in such a long time, whose to know what will happen if you try to make more minions.”
“That settles it then,” Faith said, nodding to the elementalist. “Mel and I need to get out of here for a day anyhow. Give these people a chance to talk about us behind our backs.
“Now,” Faith gave Kali a firm push away from the tent. “You go give that warrior a reason to stay sober tonight. If it’s such a chore you need to find another one anyway and we’ll need him in fighting form tomorrow.”
As Kali left the recovery tent Gertrude doubled over again.
It was several moments before Rurik remembered himself enough to dismiss Faith from the court proceedings. With a stern “Remain in camp in case I need to recall you,” she was released to her own devices. She went to check on Melody only to find Willamina, Kali and Stephan sitting outside one of the private recovery tents. Melody was inside, back in her element and, according to the mesmer—quickly returni ng to normal.
“It’s amazing, that spell,” Willamina said, looking back at the sealed tentflap. “Two minutes and she’s forgotten why she was scarred. Come tomorrow, I’ll be surprised if she remembers being scarred.”
Faith took a turn at the tent when Orsic came to summon Kali. When it was Stephan’s turn, a rustle at the flap announced Mhenlo stumbling out. He looked exhausted but quite pleased.
“She’ recovering,” he said, then realized who his audience was. “Both of them will. Melody is staying the first watch; I need to get something to eat and a little sack time and chew Prince Rurik out for dragging my best assistant away. Some times, I don’t know about that young man.”
“You go on to bed,” Faith said, giving the monk a little nudge. He didn’t protest. “I’ll bring something to your tent for you.”
“I’ll,” came a harsh snap from her other side and Faith winced. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn’t heard Cynn come up, “get something for him, thank you very much. You worry about your monk; I’ll worry about mine.”
Faith shrugged, letting the elementalist take Mhenlo in hand.
Willamina was replaced by Jessie, was replaced by Minerva, was replaced by Gertrude after Kali left and before Stephan returned. Faith had sent Kali to get some sleep hours ago, and from the haggard look in the warrior’s eyes when he returned, Colin had been more detailed in what had transpired on the way out of Ascalon. She sent him off too.
“You should get some rest too,” Gertrude said. “If you get any more pale you’ll be see-through young lady.”
Faith cracked a lazy eyelid open to watch the platinum haired tallow skinned mesmer stifle a yawn of her own. “Look whose talking,” the necromancer rebuked. “Besides, I can sleep here,” she lied. “It’s not that cold.”
It was true that Faith had caught a few minutes of sleep here and there while standing this night’s watch. But the dreams she had were fitful things. Dark and unremembered. She pulled the collar of her jerkin open a little more to let the cold in. It kept her awake.
“That whammo,” Kali drawled, thumping down in a heap beside her. Faith grunted, elbowing Kali to make a little room, “has only one thing on his mind.”
“Zat a fact?” Faith asked, feigning sleep again. Gertrude chuckled.
“Okay,” Kali said and faith thought she could hear the blush rising in Kali’s cheeks. “Two things,” and the old mesmer slapped her knee with a throaty guffaw. “Tonight it’s ale. I don’t know what to do with him Faith; those dwarves won’t pay us until they have ‘a full shipment of boulder skin’ so I hafta go out again tomorrow.
“I can’t use him drunk or hung-over.”
“So?” Faith drawled sleepily. “Keep him occupied on the other thing he always has on his mind.” Gertrude tipped on her side, hugging her sides and howling.
“If I can swing it, we’ll come with you tomorrow.”
“The monk’s have cleared you?” Kali asked, leaning over to swat the convulsing mesmer on her thigh. It only made Gertrude laugh harder.
“No.”
“What’s going on out here?” came a sleepy voice from the tent. The flap popped open and Melody’s head burst out between Faith and a cackling Gertrude. “Shh,” the little monk said, putting a finger to her lips. “My patient needs quiet.”
“Hey Mel,” Kali said while Faith turned to shush up Gertrude. “How’re you doing?”
Melody cocked her head to the side, scratching her ear. “I’m fine. But Alia needs to sleep so shh.”
“We were worried after,” Kali shrugged. “You know. The prince.”
“The prince?” Melody asked, budding her lip with her finger. “I think,” she leaned her ehad around again, looking to Gertrude who had regained her composer and was now watching Melody intently. “He was nice,” the monk declared. “He let me see Colin again. It’s good to see friends. I’m glad Colin is back.”
The three women outside the tent shared a look. The looks on their faces exchanged a silent agreement: Peace and Harmony.
“Mel,” Faith asked, coming full awake, “about Alia. If you get some sleep tonight, do you think another monk could watch her tomorrow? Say,” Faith paused to glance at Kali, “around noontime till dusk?”
“Oh,” Melody waved her hand at the necromancer, “she’ll be fine by then. Ready to go out again in another few days. This is all just precaution now. The bones are all healed up and Mhenlo did a great job on her wounds. It was touch and go there while we worked on her, but now they’ve mended, her wounds are all healed up. It’s not like it was with you Faith.”
“Then we’re probably going to go out for a while tomorrow,” Faith said, giving Kali a wink.
“But what about the monks?” Kali pressed. “What about The Prince?”
“I don’t care if they do or don’t clear me anymore,” Faith growled. “We’re mercenaries for crying out loud; we don’t have to listen to them. And if Rurik hasn’t called us back before noon, he isn’t going to.”
“I might could swing something to get melody out of camp,” Gertrude supplied. “I’ll talk to some of The Team in the morn.”
“You should listen to the monks Faith,” Melody chimed instantly. “They only want to help you.”
“Do you think I’m still sick?”
“Well,” Melody pondered that, budding her lower lip again, “not really. Your body is okay, anyway. But you haven’t been out in such a long time, whose to know what will happen if you try to make more minions.”
“That settles it then,” Faith said, nodding to the elementalist. “Mel and I need to get out of here for a day anyhow. Give these people a chance to talk about us behind our backs.
“Now,” Faith gave Kali a firm push away from the tent. “You go give that warrior a reason to stay sober tonight. If it’s such a chore you need to find another one anyway and we’ll need him in fighting form tomorrow.”
As Kali left the recovery tent Gertrude doubled over again.
Minus Sign
*8*
“Faith.”
Faith stirred, glancing around her. She gasped, jumping to her feet.
“You’ve prayed to Grenth…”
The voice echoed inside her mind, making the necromancer shiver. She was “standing in a nothingness. A soft green light suffused the emptiness around her, hard to see with her eyes.
No. The dead have no eyes.
“Karim?”
“Faith,” the soft whisper in her mind was like an icesickle down her back. This was wrong. Before, she had felt nothing. How—why—did she somehow feel cold?
“Karim!” her voice did not echo in the space around her. It was impossible, but she had been here before. This was “between”, the hollow emptiness she had shared with her lover for an eternity—or a blink of the eye—when she had died.
“You’ve prayed to Grenth but—“
“But what?” Faith “turned” but the long dead monk was nowhere in sight. She thought she turned again—it was impossible to tell with all this nothing; there was no reference for her mind to tell her where she was. “Karim? Where are you?””
“…to Grenth but…”
“Karim!”
“Faith?”
Faith jerked awake, flinching away from the hand on her shoulder. “Wha? Melody?”
“Get her home Mel,” Mhenlo said behind, “I’ve got this.”
“Yeah,” melody said, nodding as the other monk slipped into the tent. “You okay?” she asked, helping Faith to stand. Gertrude had been replaced by Willamina again. “You were…where you having a nightmare?”
“I…I’m not sure. It was,” Faith shivered, drawing her jerkin close. Why in the Gods names had she opened it?
“The mesmer. Alia. Is she alright?”
“Oh yes, she will fine I think.” Melody giggled. “Don’t you remember? I told you before. There was a lot of burning along her back, but Mhenlo is a great skin weaver; I don’t think there will be much scarring.” She smiled. “I did the bones. I was a little worried because she hasn’t had much food for a long time, but Mhenlo said that could wait and she could eat her fill up here so I shouldn’t try to heal hunger.” Another giggle. “That’s silly; you can’t heal hunger.”
“Yeah,” Faith agreed halfheartedly. “I’m glad she’ll be alright.”
“Is she going to get into trouble?”
“What? Why?”
Instead of answering Melody said “Did Colin get in trouble? Stephan was really mad about something and the way they were pushing Colin around I thought there might be trouble.”
“No Mel,” Faith replied. “I don’t think Colin’s in trouble.”
“That’s nice. I like Colin. He tells funny stories. Did I tell you how Idiot got his name?”
Half a dozen times. “Lets get some sleep Mel. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“What are we doing tomorrow?”
“We’re leading the dwarves out to get more boulder skin. Kali’s team had to leave a lot of theirs behind.”
“Oh. Okay. Um…where is Kali?”
“With Stephan Mel. They sleep in the same tent now.” [i]Unfortunately./[i]
“Oh,” Melody shrugged as Faith pulled the tentflap open, leading her inside “I just though,” the monk shrugged.
“What?”
“I dunno,” Cuddles had been put into a little cage Melody had made for him. He was chewing the bars when Melody pulled the latch open and, as soon as the troll had an opening, began chewing her instead. “I thought they’d be here. It was so much like old times this morning, you know? With Colin and you and Kali and Stephan and,” Faith couldn’t hold it in. She burst out laughing. “What’s funny?”
“Only you would remember Grendich fondly Mel. Come on, let’s get some sleep.”
If there was a bright spot to Cuddles, it was that Melody no longer needed to share a bed with anyone. Cuddles curled up with her more than willingly, grasping one of her hands and sucking on a finger as he went to sleep.
“Faith.”
Faith stirred, glancing around her. She gasped, jumping to her feet.
“You’ve prayed to Grenth…”
The voice echoed inside her mind, making the necromancer shiver. She was “standing in a nothingness. A soft green light suffused the emptiness around her, hard to see with her eyes.
No. The dead have no eyes.
“Karim?”
“Faith,” the soft whisper in her mind was like an icesickle down her back. This was wrong. Before, she had felt nothing. How—why—did she somehow feel cold?
“Karim!” her voice did not echo in the space around her. It was impossible, but she had been here before. This was “between”, the hollow emptiness she had shared with her lover for an eternity—or a blink of the eye—when she had died.
“You’ve prayed to Grenth but—“
“But what?” Faith “turned” but the long dead monk was nowhere in sight. She thought she turned again—it was impossible to tell with all this nothing; there was no reference for her mind to tell her where she was. “Karim? Where are you?””
“…to Grenth but…”
“Karim!”
“Faith?”
Faith jerked awake, flinching away from the hand on her shoulder. “Wha? Melody?”
“Get her home Mel,” Mhenlo said behind, “I’ve got this.”
“Yeah,” melody said, nodding as the other monk slipped into the tent. “You okay?” she asked, helping Faith to stand. Gertrude had been replaced by Willamina again. “You were…where you having a nightmare?”
“I…I’m not sure. It was,” Faith shivered, drawing her jerkin close. Why in the Gods names had she opened it?
“The mesmer. Alia. Is she alright?”
“Oh yes, she will fine I think.” Melody giggled. “Don’t you remember? I told you before. There was a lot of burning along her back, but Mhenlo is a great skin weaver; I don’t think there will be much scarring.” She smiled. “I did the bones. I was a little worried because she hasn’t had much food for a long time, but Mhenlo said that could wait and she could eat her fill up here so I shouldn’t try to heal hunger.” Another giggle. “That’s silly; you can’t heal hunger.”
“Yeah,” Faith agreed halfheartedly. “I’m glad she’ll be alright.”
“Is she going to get into trouble?”
“What? Why?”
Instead of answering Melody said “Did Colin get in trouble? Stephan was really mad about something and the way they were pushing Colin around I thought there might be trouble.”
“No Mel,” Faith replied. “I don’t think Colin’s in trouble.”
“That’s nice. I like Colin. He tells funny stories. Did I tell you how Idiot got his name?”
Half a dozen times. “Lets get some sleep Mel. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“What are we doing tomorrow?”
“We’re leading the dwarves out to get more boulder skin. Kali’s team had to leave a lot of theirs behind.”
“Oh. Okay. Um…where is Kali?”
“With Stephan Mel. They sleep in the same tent now.” [i]Unfortunately./[i]
“Oh,” Melody shrugged as Faith pulled the tentflap open, leading her inside “I just though,” the monk shrugged.
“What?”
“I dunno,” Cuddles had been put into a little cage Melody had made for him. He was chewing the bars when Melody pulled the latch open and, as soon as the troll had an opening, began chewing her instead. “I thought they’d be here. It was so much like old times this morning, you know? With Colin and you and Kali and Stephan and,” Faith couldn’t hold it in. She burst out laughing. “What’s funny?”
“Only you would remember Grendich fondly Mel. Come on, let’s get some sleep.”
If there was a bright spot to Cuddles, it was that Melody no longer needed to share a bed with anyone. Cuddles curled up with her more than willingly, grasping one of her hands and sucking on a finger as he went to sleep.
Paul Mahdi
Just read through it, excellent work as usual. Keep 'em coming 
Minus Sign
*9*
There was no summons by late morning from Rurik, so Faith set her plan into action. What could they do? Sit her in another tent to wait? They’d have done that anyway if he had called her. Disband her from the army? They’d already done that anyway.
With nothing to lose and her sanity to regain, Faith met a small group of mesmers and set a plan. Stephan and Kali made their way toward the main gate with Kali’s monk Sadie, and Willamina took the other slot. Faith turned to each person, forming a six-man group.
“Nothing like a little action,” Stephan said, accepting the group link. He stretched lazily, but paused when one of the mesmers broke down in fits of laughter.
“What’s with them?” the warrior asked, pointing with his axe to the gaggle of mesmers just beyond. The platinum haired one was still shamelessly chuckling and now whispering to some of the others who also began to laugh.
“I don’t know,” Faith forced her own smile down, hoping he would only since humor through the group link. “I heard something about an ale keg; made no sense to me.”
“Women,” he shook his head. “You’re all nuts—oof!” Kali smiled sweetly, pulling her elbow out of his ribs.
As Melody joined the group, the feel of Stephan changed in Faith’s mind. He became strong, stable, patient, and protective. It was more comforting than she remembered when last they had grouped. The Team of mesmers had been working with him as well.
From all of them, she felt love. Stephan’s honest heart, Kali’s fiery spirit. Melody blazed with it, unknowing and unworried, only to know that she loved her friends dearly and would protect them from any hurt. Faith forced back a savage thought and sent as much of her love to the monk as she could. Melody touched her arm in greeting, smiling as bright as her soul.
“You sure about this?” was all Kali said. “We could get into trouble.”
“Really?” Faith asked, sincerely. “You think I might get us into a little trouble?” and she smiled.
“Yes,” Kali bared teeth, “Smarty-pants.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got this,” Faith said, waving a small piece of parchment at Kali. “I’ll take the heat; come on.”
“Hold up there,” Orsic called as the six began to leave. “What’d’you thing you’re doing?”
“Therapy,” Faith supplied, handing the note the Team had written for Melody. “We need to get her out of the camp for a little while, let her get some fresh air and group with some people she trusts.”
Orsic ignored her, reading the piece of paper and exchanging a glance at Willamina. “Are you sure about this Willow?”
“Absolutely,” and there was a touch of humor from the dark willowy mesmer through the link. “We should have done this yesterday, but everyone was dog tired from the hearing and the operation on Alia Peacebound. It had to wait until today, but it shouldn’t wait any longer.
“Why these three?” Orsic asked. “They’re the main witnesses.”
“And her original team,” Willamina countered. “Mel trusts no one like she trusts these three,” she pulled out another piece of paper for him to inspect, then stuffed it back into her belt pouch. “Prince Rurik gave us clearance for this, now stand aside please.”
“Oh,” the captain said, straightening with that. “If the Prince gave you permission, then, uh,” he turned to Melody who was smiling at him and hiding behind Kali. “You—are—going—to—be—okay?”
Melody looked at him quizzically, leaned forward with each word as she said “Yes—I—am. How—are—you?” and she popped back behind Kali, peeking around with a smile.
Faith laughed. “She’s not deaf Orsic.”
“Sorry.”
“May we?”
“Yeah.”
As the six stepped out of yak’s bend faith turned to Willamina in wonder. “You lied.”
“I’d never lie,” the mesmer said in all seriousness, but there was a mutinous tinge to her in the link. “Rurik gave The Team permission to do ‘whatever it thinks necessary in Melody Cross’s case’. The Team thinks she needs a day outside to play. And you too.
“Besides,” Willamina continued, lowering her voice ominously, “This’ll teach him to grab people out of an operating tent or a therapy session in the future. If he needs a little mutiny to learn his priorities, I’m all for it.”
***
“Okay,” Kali said, bowing to the party of dwarves who were to follow and pulling out a map of the area. “Last time we took the east road down and that’s probably still the best way to go. The Summit are more interested in keeping us from getting deeper into the Shiverpeeks for now so they don’t patrol down that way.
“Our biggest problem is this wood bridge here. They keep a heavy guard there with some Ice Golems to help, in case prince Rurik ever tries to hit this big group here with a flank. But its more for warning and to give their patrol time to sound an alarm. We hit it and keep moving, they’ll liable to let us slip out.
“An excellent plan as usual, Mistress Bay, but if I may.”
“You are?” Faith asked, offering her hand.
The dwarf took it, “I am called Granite by those who know me. I am a mason for the Bend, fortifying the outpost. We need this Boulder Skin to counteract the cold wind and elements. It works wonders against an Ice Golem siege too.
“Pleasure,” the necromancer said, forcing a smile.
“There will be a problem with it today I fear, Mistress Bay,” Granite continued. “The Summit are on alert after yesterday’s foray. They will not be as lightly guarded as before. I expect to meet patrols here,” he pointed to a place on the map, “and here,” and to another space just south of the bridge.
“What would you have us do?” Faith asked.
“Why,” the dwarf looked at her humorously, as though it were obvious, “Steel yourselves for combat of course. Oh, the battle; it will be glorious," the dwarf looked off dreamily. "Some of us may even die.”
“We’ll try to avoid that anyway, Mason Granite.”
“Of course we will,” he agreed, nodding sagely, “Of course we will.”
“And we shant be outnumbered long either,” Kali said, forcing a smile.
“That’s not the half of it,” Faith said, standing and looking around. She pointed, “help me take down that wolf, will ya?”
“Oh, Faith, no,” the elementalist began.
“We’ll need the corpses anyway,” Faith pressed, looking at the wolf hungrily. The animal bent low, trying to hide itself in a thorn scrub.
Kali sighed, turning her sword toward the bush, her eyes white. “This better be worth it,” she grumbled, “You know how much I hate killing innocent animals to feed you.”
The wolf yelped, breaking cover with black fire streaming out behind. In a moment the creature had died. Faith let the life spirit of the animal into her, feeling its death regained within. Eyes turned red from her Soul Reaping power, she glared at the corpse before her and thought.
The wolf shivered, twisting apart, and a creature gurgled out of the wolf’s dead body. It walked on two legs—more certainly than the usually shambling bodies Faith typically produced and came to stand before its mistress.
“That’s different,” Stephan said respectfully. Faith cooed to the little minion, smiling wickedly.
“What is it?” Melody asked, pressing in beside Granite. she really was dwarfish; they were nearly the same height.
“A bone fiend,” Faith supplied. “Morgan showed me how to make them while I was stuck in recovery. See this?” she thought and the minion bared its throat—it had no head—to the clumped group. Inside was a thin barbed projectile nestled where its stomach should be. “They spit these at whatever I want to die. Its like my own personal horde or rangers.
“Nice,” Willamina said, drawing away from the fiend. "I guess." It gurgled at her and took a step forward.
“Very,” Faith agreed. "These things don’t have to run up front to be effective. I can cast a Healing Area spell anytime I feel the need. Less Blood of the Master to keep them alive, less healing for Melody—and you too Sadie—and they do a little more damage per attack than my horrors do too.”
“What about our minion wall?” Stephan asked. “It’ll be harder for me to keep the badies off you if there’s nothing else blocking up there with me. More things getting through means more heals, not less.”
“That’s the beauty of having the minions clumped like this,” Faith countered. "We casters can shift around them and through them safely, but any monster that tries to get at us will only end up getting buried in the horde. It’s a little more running, but the damge they can do is worth it, I think."
“It looks funny,” Melody said, patting the fiends back, “but it’s still stinky.”
“I’ll still cast a few horrors now and again to help you keep the line straight Stephan,” Faith continued. “But I’ve got an idea. I get up to around ten minions, and I start letting the old ones die; break my connection with them and they'll drop. That way, I get some of the energy from dying minions back regularly instead of them all going in one big lump when I overcast. I do that regularly, and I can keep casting minions all day long if I have the corpses."
“Only ten?” Kali scoffed. “That’s pathetic! I’ve seen you run with forty before Faith--more!--and keep them focused and moving easy.”
"I need the Soul Reaping from old minions to cast these new guys,” she said, nodding to Melody, “They're a lot more complex than horrors so energy from the old ones let me bring new ones up; they take a bit outa me otherwise.
“Morgan called it a Minion Factory,” Faith finished. “I keep the horde running, instead of blowing it out of proportion and out of control. This lets Death Nova pop all the time too, so when things get away from Stephan and start chasing us around the horde, I can let one blow up in its face.
“I want to try it, and ten minions are still a lot of minions.”
The elementalist shrugged, starting out on the east path. “Your horde, your call,” she said, but Faith heard the melancholy in her voice. The necromancer hadn’t the heart to tell her teammate that, since her incident outside Grendich, she wasn’t sure she could keep more than ten minions under control.
So it became a sour walk down the mountainside for Faith and her team. The other casters thought she was either being lazy or blindly following Morgan’s advice to play with a new toy. Faith knew that the wounds she had received would not let her work as she had before...perhaps never again.
But ten fiends can do a lot of damage. It’ll work, she thought to herself. Morgan assured me it’d work.
There was no summons by late morning from Rurik, so Faith set her plan into action. What could they do? Sit her in another tent to wait? They’d have done that anyway if he had called her. Disband her from the army? They’d already done that anyway.
With nothing to lose and her sanity to regain, Faith met a small group of mesmers and set a plan. Stephan and Kali made their way toward the main gate with Kali’s monk Sadie, and Willamina took the other slot. Faith turned to each person, forming a six-man group.
“Nothing like a little action,” Stephan said, accepting the group link. He stretched lazily, but paused when one of the mesmers broke down in fits of laughter.
“What’s with them?” the warrior asked, pointing with his axe to the gaggle of mesmers just beyond. The platinum haired one was still shamelessly chuckling and now whispering to some of the others who also began to laugh.
“I don’t know,” Faith forced her own smile down, hoping he would only since humor through the group link. “I heard something about an ale keg; made no sense to me.”
“Women,” he shook his head. “You’re all nuts—oof!” Kali smiled sweetly, pulling her elbow out of his ribs.
As Melody joined the group, the feel of Stephan changed in Faith’s mind. He became strong, stable, patient, and protective. It was more comforting than she remembered when last they had grouped. The Team of mesmers had been working with him as well.
From all of them, she felt love. Stephan’s honest heart, Kali’s fiery spirit. Melody blazed with it, unknowing and unworried, only to know that she loved her friends dearly and would protect them from any hurt. Faith forced back a savage thought and sent as much of her love to the monk as she could. Melody touched her arm in greeting, smiling as bright as her soul.
“You sure about this?” was all Kali said. “We could get into trouble.”
“Really?” Faith asked, sincerely. “You think I might get us into a little trouble?” and she smiled.
“Yes,” Kali bared teeth, “Smarty-pants.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got this,” Faith said, waving a small piece of parchment at Kali. “I’ll take the heat; come on.”
“Hold up there,” Orsic called as the six began to leave. “What’d’you thing you’re doing?”
“Therapy,” Faith supplied, handing the note the Team had written for Melody. “We need to get her out of the camp for a little while, let her get some fresh air and group with some people she trusts.”
Orsic ignored her, reading the piece of paper and exchanging a glance at Willamina. “Are you sure about this Willow?”
“Absolutely,” and there was a touch of humor from the dark willowy mesmer through the link. “We should have done this yesterday, but everyone was dog tired from the hearing and the operation on Alia Peacebound. It had to wait until today, but it shouldn’t wait any longer.
“Why these three?” Orsic asked. “They’re the main witnesses.”
“And her original team,” Willamina countered. “Mel trusts no one like she trusts these three,” she pulled out another piece of paper for him to inspect, then stuffed it back into her belt pouch. “Prince Rurik gave us clearance for this, now stand aside please.”
“Oh,” the captain said, straightening with that. “If the Prince gave you permission, then, uh,” he turned to Melody who was smiling at him and hiding behind Kali. “You—are—going—to—be—okay?”
Melody looked at him quizzically, leaned forward with each word as she said “Yes—I—am. How—are—you?” and she popped back behind Kali, peeking around with a smile.
Faith laughed. “She’s not deaf Orsic.”
“Sorry.”
“May we?”
“Yeah.”
As the six stepped out of yak’s bend faith turned to Willamina in wonder. “You lied.”
“I’d never lie,” the mesmer said in all seriousness, but there was a mutinous tinge to her in the link. “Rurik gave The Team permission to do ‘whatever it thinks necessary in Melody Cross’s case’. The Team thinks she needs a day outside to play. And you too.
“Besides,” Willamina continued, lowering her voice ominously, “This’ll teach him to grab people out of an operating tent or a therapy session in the future. If he needs a little mutiny to learn his priorities, I’m all for it.”
***
“Okay,” Kali said, bowing to the party of dwarves who were to follow and pulling out a map of the area. “Last time we took the east road down and that’s probably still the best way to go. The Summit are more interested in keeping us from getting deeper into the Shiverpeeks for now so they don’t patrol down that way.
“Our biggest problem is this wood bridge here. They keep a heavy guard there with some Ice Golems to help, in case prince Rurik ever tries to hit this big group here with a flank. But its more for warning and to give their patrol time to sound an alarm. We hit it and keep moving, they’ll liable to let us slip out.
“An excellent plan as usual, Mistress Bay, but if I may.”
“You are?” Faith asked, offering her hand.
The dwarf took it, “I am called Granite by those who know me. I am a mason for the Bend, fortifying the outpost. We need this Boulder Skin to counteract the cold wind and elements. It works wonders against an Ice Golem siege too.
“Pleasure,” the necromancer said, forcing a smile.
“There will be a problem with it today I fear, Mistress Bay,” Granite continued. “The Summit are on alert after yesterday’s foray. They will not be as lightly guarded as before. I expect to meet patrols here,” he pointed to a place on the map, “and here,” and to another space just south of the bridge.
“What would you have us do?” Faith asked.
“Why,” the dwarf looked at her humorously, as though it were obvious, “Steel yourselves for combat of course. Oh, the battle; it will be glorious," the dwarf looked off dreamily. "Some of us may even die.”
“We’ll try to avoid that anyway, Mason Granite.”
“Of course we will,” he agreed, nodding sagely, “Of course we will.”
“And we shant be outnumbered long either,” Kali said, forcing a smile.
“That’s not the half of it,” Faith said, standing and looking around. She pointed, “help me take down that wolf, will ya?”
“Oh, Faith, no,” the elementalist began.
“We’ll need the corpses anyway,” Faith pressed, looking at the wolf hungrily. The animal bent low, trying to hide itself in a thorn scrub.
Kali sighed, turning her sword toward the bush, her eyes white. “This better be worth it,” she grumbled, “You know how much I hate killing innocent animals to feed you.”
The wolf yelped, breaking cover with black fire streaming out behind. In a moment the creature had died. Faith let the life spirit of the animal into her, feeling its death regained within. Eyes turned red from her Soul Reaping power, she glared at the corpse before her and thought.
The wolf shivered, twisting apart, and a creature gurgled out of the wolf’s dead body. It walked on two legs—more certainly than the usually shambling bodies Faith typically produced and came to stand before its mistress.
“That’s different,” Stephan said respectfully. Faith cooed to the little minion, smiling wickedly.
“What is it?” Melody asked, pressing in beside Granite. she really was dwarfish; they were nearly the same height.
“A bone fiend,” Faith supplied. “Morgan showed me how to make them while I was stuck in recovery. See this?” she thought and the minion bared its throat—it had no head—to the clumped group. Inside was a thin barbed projectile nestled where its stomach should be. “They spit these at whatever I want to die. Its like my own personal horde or rangers.
“Nice,” Willamina said, drawing away from the fiend. "I guess." It gurgled at her and took a step forward.
“Very,” Faith agreed. "These things don’t have to run up front to be effective. I can cast a Healing Area spell anytime I feel the need. Less Blood of the Master to keep them alive, less healing for Melody—and you too Sadie—and they do a little more damage per attack than my horrors do too.”
“What about our minion wall?” Stephan asked. “It’ll be harder for me to keep the badies off you if there’s nothing else blocking up there with me. More things getting through means more heals, not less.”
“That’s the beauty of having the minions clumped like this,” Faith countered. "We casters can shift around them and through them safely, but any monster that tries to get at us will only end up getting buried in the horde. It’s a little more running, but the damge they can do is worth it, I think."
“It looks funny,” Melody said, patting the fiends back, “but it’s still stinky.”
“I’ll still cast a few horrors now and again to help you keep the line straight Stephan,” Faith continued. “But I’ve got an idea. I get up to around ten minions, and I start letting the old ones die; break my connection with them and they'll drop. That way, I get some of the energy from dying minions back regularly instead of them all going in one big lump when I overcast. I do that regularly, and I can keep casting minions all day long if I have the corpses."
“Only ten?” Kali scoffed. “That’s pathetic! I’ve seen you run with forty before Faith--more!--and keep them focused and moving easy.”
"I need the Soul Reaping from old minions to cast these new guys,” she said, nodding to Melody, “They're a lot more complex than horrors so energy from the old ones let me bring new ones up; they take a bit outa me otherwise.
“Morgan called it a Minion Factory,” Faith finished. “I keep the horde running, instead of blowing it out of proportion and out of control. This lets Death Nova pop all the time too, so when things get away from Stephan and start chasing us around the horde, I can let one blow up in its face.
“I want to try it, and ten minions are still a lot of minions.”
The elementalist shrugged, starting out on the east path. “Your horde, your call,” she said, but Faith heard the melancholy in her voice. The necromancer hadn’t the heart to tell her teammate that, since her incident outside Grendich, she wasn’t sure she could keep more than ten minions under control.
So it became a sour walk down the mountainside for Faith and her team. The other casters thought she was either being lazy or blindly following Morgan’s advice to play with a new toy. Faith knew that the wounds she had received would not let her work as she had before...perhaps never again.
But ten fiends can do a lot of damage. It’ll work, she thought to herself. Morgan assured me it’d work.
Bark
Hey
It's really great to see that you are writing again. When I read that you were posting another sequel, I could do nothing else than start to read right away, ended up reading this for the rest of that lession in school.
I loved your works since I red the first page in your first story about Faith, and I've read both of them a dozen of times since then. So I'm really looking forward to seeing how this one turns out, this far it has been absolutely wonderfull
Thank you
It's really great to see that you are writing again. When I read that you were posting another sequel, I could do nothing else than start to read right away, ended up reading this for the rest of that lession in school.
I loved your works since I red the first page in your first story about Faith, and I've read both of them a dozen of times since then. So I'm really looking forward to seeing how this one turns out, this far it has been absolutely wonderfull
Thank you
Minus Sign
*10*
Granite was right. No sooner had Kali stepped off the main trail toward the foothills, they spotted a pair of Stone Summit Dwarves break cover from around a bend and run away.
“That can’t be good,” Sadie said, focusing on the necromancer. A soft wisp of healing flowed from the monk and Faith felt the mending enchantment take root. Melody’s eyes bulged as she let the Peace and Harmony spell flare over her.
“Push on!” Granite roared, the dwarves breaking into a charge. “Lets show these feather-headed fur wearing rust lovers what real dwarves can do!”
Faith’s eyes bulged as big as Melody’s had been. She broke into a run, keeping pace with the long-legged elementalist, soon overtaking Granite. “Are they nuts?”
“A little,” Kali twisted around a pair of dwarves, keeping the pace. “But it’s our job to keep them alive Faith. They’re tough fighters though, I can attest to that. They just really hate the Stone Summit.”
It took little time to catch up to the spotters who had retreated and Kali’s Grasping Earth spell flashed as she reached the two metal clad dwarves. Sword flashing, the tall woman slammed the blade down on one’s neck, red spraying the white snow beneath. Faith felt another surge of energy as the dwarf died, tensing from the release of life. She turned the Soul Reaped mana back toward its source, and a bone fiend began to shake its way loose.
“Gurgle!”
“On the rise!” Stephan roared, sprinting toward another pair of dwarves that were drawing bows. “Shields Up folks,” he screamed as the dwarf allies came into bow range.
Faith snarled, twisting to her side as a pair of arrows streaked by where her head had been moments ago.
Kali was bounding on the dwarf before her, light flashing as he struck against rock hard armor. With one hand, she slammed the crippled dwarf backward to the edge of her sword. With the other she let loose a roar of rage, twin stone daggers forming in the air to strike his helmeted face. The dwarf shook off her attack.
With a roar of his own, Stephan slammed into the dwarf, axe flickering across his armored chest. The warrior heaved back as the stout dwarf shoved and Stephan’s next attack landed on its shield. He growled, swinging again and the dwarf screamed as Stephan’s next attack slashed through shield and arm, a deep gash slashing down the dwarf’s side as he fell.
Faith convulsed as the Summit dwarf died, forcing her mind to her own task. Two fiends were now pushing toward the bow wielding dwarves, throat barbs impacting with vicious results as they struck. Another gurgle announced her third, too far away for a healing area spell to
“Kill the minion master,” one of the bowdwarfs called, letting his arrows fly at her two at a time. Blue light flared as they hit, twisting away from the guardian spell. Melody flashed by her, running for the horde to heal them too.
“It’s minion mistress you sexist pig,” Faith growled to herself, grabbing Melody’s tunic and holding her back. “Keep me up, I’ll keep them up.” Eyes turned a deep red again and Faith winced at the price her minions demanded. The three fiends became more animated, redoubling their attack as their Mistress’s life-force gave them new energy.
“Don’t do that!” Sadie rebuked, another blue-white flash emanating from the young monk. “They’ll do enough damage to you if they hit; don’t kill yourself too!”
Faith smirked, turning to the closest of the bow wielders as he fell. She knew he was dead before he hit the ground, and as he struck she sent his dying spirit back again. This time, a bone horror formed, turning on the last of the four and skewering it in the chest. The dwarf gave a shocked gasp, barely audible below the minion’s satisfied “gurgle!” and three throat barbs slammed into him from the other side, sending the dwarf flying.
“Gurgle!”
“Wchau Wchau,” the first three fiends greeted the forth, turning to each other, tails wagging; then the four of them ran back to Faith, the horror shambling on uneven legs behind.
“I’ll give you this much Faith,” Kali said, offering a hand. “They do some damage.”
“Lets see just how much,” Faith smiled again, turning to Granite. The dwarves had only just reached the battle and were looking at their weapons with a touch of remorse. “Was that your first patrol?”
“What?” the mason started, staring at the bodies he’d had no hand in dropping with a touch of envy, “Yes. I think that was the first. We should be clear until we hit the bridge. I warn you,” and he waved a cautionary finger at Faith, “the ice golems leave no corpse for your horde. The next fight will be harder,” he looked at the battlefield again, at the 6 humans who were coming to stand together, “and a little longer, I hope.”
“You shouldn’t be encouraging her,” Sadie rebuked again, “Don’t use a spell like that one you used before; it hurt you.”
“So?” Faith asked, “It healed my horde and kept you two safe in the back. They needed healing and you two need to stay safe.” To prove it, Faith drew her horde close again, throwing a healing spell out onto the area.
“Don’t,” Sadie snapped, “use it.”
Melody pulled on the other monks arm. “I can keep Faith up if you can help with the others. Please don’t fight. She’s really good at making minions and keeping them around.”
“Fine,” Sadie said, releasing the Mending enchantment from Faith, the trickle of healing fading away. “If you think you can. But there’s no way mending will keep up with the damage that spell can do, and I’m not using all my energy to keep just her alive.”
Melody shrugged. “That’s why I haven’t used mending in such a long time,” the little monk said.
“Why not?” Sadie asked. “It’s a good spell for keeping on other people. Works really well with a Dwayna’s Kiss.”
Melody shrugged again, studying her wand. “It took so much out of me though. I had trouble keeping it on everyone who needed healing, and they always seemed to need more healing than it could give them. I just stopped using it.”
“If you two can talk and walk,” Faith hitched a thumb toward the four waiting minions, slowly decaying in the cold mountain air.
”Anyway,” Melody continued, throwing a blast of pure healing power into the waiting horde, “The damage Faith deals to herself is a lot less than the damage how much the horde gets healed for. It really helps having them around.
“Fodder,” Sadie intoned, thinking about it a little more. “They take the hits so we don’t have to.”
“Hmm?” Melody looked perplexed. “Hits?”
“From the Stone Summit just now,” Sadie continued. They went after Faith because there were enough fiends to hurt them really bad. And because the fiends are weaker than a human..
“You mean the dwarves?” Melody glanced back at the Yak's Bend crew.
“What re you, nuts er something?” Sadie pointed to one of the exploited corpses as they passed. Melody seemed to see the body for the first time and rushed toward it. Need flared through the link. Need to help.
“Melody!” Faith snapped. “Let Sadie deal with him; come up here and keep an eye on my horde…and me.”
Sadie stared thunderstruck at the other monk.
“She doesn’t remember,” Kali whispered to her softly. “And it’s rare that she even notices what’s ‘hitting’ us. Not the way we do.”
“She really is crazy.”
“A little,” the elementalist conceded. “It’s more something about Peace and Harmony we think; but it might just be her.
“But you have to admit, she’s good at what she does.”
Sadie watched Melody warily for a time. Faith paused, casting another of her life sacrificing spells into the horde and the little monk instantly repaired the lost health.
“A little,” Sadie conceded.
Kali snickered, another retort on her lips as a hollow roar echoed from the bend just out of eyesight.
Sadie’s eyes widened. “They don’t waste time.”
“No they don’t!” Kali snapped, breaking into a run to reach the frontline.
Granite was right. No sooner had Kali stepped off the main trail toward the foothills, they spotted a pair of Stone Summit Dwarves break cover from around a bend and run away.
“That can’t be good,” Sadie said, focusing on the necromancer. A soft wisp of healing flowed from the monk and Faith felt the mending enchantment take root. Melody’s eyes bulged as she let the Peace and Harmony spell flare over her.
“Push on!” Granite roared, the dwarves breaking into a charge. “Lets show these feather-headed fur wearing rust lovers what real dwarves can do!”
Faith’s eyes bulged as big as Melody’s had been. She broke into a run, keeping pace with the long-legged elementalist, soon overtaking Granite. “Are they nuts?”
“A little,” Kali twisted around a pair of dwarves, keeping the pace. “But it’s our job to keep them alive Faith. They’re tough fighters though, I can attest to that. They just really hate the Stone Summit.”
It took little time to catch up to the spotters who had retreated and Kali’s Grasping Earth spell flashed as she reached the two metal clad dwarves. Sword flashing, the tall woman slammed the blade down on one’s neck, red spraying the white snow beneath. Faith felt another surge of energy as the dwarf died, tensing from the release of life. She turned the Soul Reaped mana back toward its source, and a bone fiend began to shake its way loose.
“Gurgle!”
“On the rise!” Stephan roared, sprinting toward another pair of dwarves that were drawing bows. “Shields Up folks,” he screamed as the dwarf allies came into bow range.
Faith snarled, twisting to her side as a pair of arrows streaked by where her head had been moments ago.
Kali was bounding on the dwarf before her, light flashing as he struck against rock hard armor. With one hand, she slammed the crippled dwarf backward to the edge of her sword. With the other she let loose a roar of rage, twin stone daggers forming in the air to strike his helmeted face. The dwarf shook off her attack.
With a roar of his own, Stephan slammed into the dwarf, axe flickering across his armored chest. The warrior heaved back as the stout dwarf shoved and Stephan’s next attack landed on its shield. He growled, swinging again and the dwarf screamed as Stephan’s next attack slashed through shield and arm, a deep gash slashing down the dwarf’s side as he fell.
Faith convulsed as the Summit dwarf died, forcing her mind to her own task. Two fiends were now pushing toward the bow wielding dwarves, throat barbs impacting with vicious results as they struck. Another gurgle announced her third, too far away for a healing area spell to
“Kill the minion master,” one of the bowdwarfs called, letting his arrows fly at her two at a time. Blue light flared as they hit, twisting away from the guardian spell. Melody flashed by her, running for the horde to heal them too.
“It’s minion mistress you sexist pig,” Faith growled to herself, grabbing Melody’s tunic and holding her back. “Keep me up, I’ll keep them up.” Eyes turned a deep red again and Faith winced at the price her minions demanded. The three fiends became more animated, redoubling their attack as their Mistress’s life-force gave them new energy.
“Don’t do that!” Sadie rebuked, another blue-white flash emanating from the young monk. “They’ll do enough damage to you if they hit; don’t kill yourself too!”
Faith smirked, turning to the closest of the bow wielders as he fell. She knew he was dead before he hit the ground, and as he struck she sent his dying spirit back again. This time, a bone horror formed, turning on the last of the four and skewering it in the chest. The dwarf gave a shocked gasp, barely audible below the minion’s satisfied “gurgle!” and three throat barbs slammed into him from the other side, sending the dwarf flying.
“Gurgle!”
“Wchau Wchau,” the first three fiends greeted the forth, turning to each other, tails wagging; then the four of them ran back to Faith, the horror shambling on uneven legs behind.
“I’ll give you this much Faith,” Kali said, offering a hand. “They do some damage.”
“Lets see just how much,” Faith smiled again, turning to Granite. The dwarves had only just reached the battle and were looking at their weapons with a touch of remorse. “Was that your first patrol?”
“What?” the mason started, staring at the bodies he’d had no hand in dropping with a touch of envy, “Yes. I think that was the first. We should be clear until we hit the bridge. I warn you,” and he waved a cautionary finger at Faith, “the ice golems leave no corpse for your horde. The next fight will be harder,” he looked at the battlefield again, at the 6 humans who were coming to stand together, “and a little longer, I hope.”
“You shouldn’t be encouraging her,” Sadie rebuked again, “Don’t use a spell like that one you used before; it hurt you.”
“So?” Faith asked, “It healed my horde and kept you two safe in the back. They needed healing and you two need to stay safe.” To prove it, Faith drew her horde close again, throwing a healing spell out onto the area.
“Don’t,” Sadie snapped, “use it.”
Melody pulled on the other monks arm. “I can keep Faith up if you can help with the others. Please don’t fight. She’s really good at making minions and keeping them around.”
“Fine,” Sadie said, releasing the Mending enchantment from Faith, the trickle of healing fading away. “If you think you can. But there’s no way mending will keep up with the damage that spell can do, and I’m not using all my energy to keep just her alive.”
Melody shrugged. “That’s why I haven’t used mending in such a long time,” the little monk said.
“Why not?” Sadie asked. “It’s a good spell for keeping on other people. Works really well with a Dwayna’s Kiss.”
Melody shrugged again, studying her wand. “It took so much out of me though. I had trouble keeping it on everyone who needed healing, and they always seemed to need more healing than it could give them. I just stopped using it.”
“If you two can talk and walk,” Faith hitched a thumb toward the four waiting minions, slowly decaying in the cold mountain air.
”Anyway,” Melody continued, throwing a blast of pure healing power into the waiting horde, “The damage Faith deals to herself is a lot less than the damage how much the horde gets healed for. It really helps having them around.
“Fodder,” Sadie intoned, thinking about it a little more. “They take the hits so we don’t have to.”
“Hmm?” Melody looked perplexed. “Hits?”
“From the Stone Summit just now,” Sadie continued. They went after Faith because there were enough fiends to hurt them really bad. And because the fiends are weaker than a human..
“You mean the dwarves?” Melody glanced back at the Yak's Bend crew.
“What re you, nuts er something?” Sadie pointed to one of the exploited corpses as they passed. Melody seemed to see the body for the first time and rushed toward it. Need flared through the link. Need to help.
“Melody!” Faith snapped. “Let Sadie deal with him; come up here and keep an eye on my horde…and me.”
Sadie stared thunderstruck at the other monk.
“She doesn’t remember,” Kali whispered to her softly. “And it’s rare that she even notices what’s ‘hitting’ us. Not the way we do.”
“She really is crazy.”
“A little,” the elementalist conceded. “It’s more something about Peace and Harmony we think; but it might just be her.
“But you have to admit, she’s good at what she does.”
Sadie watched Melody warily for a time. Faith paused, casting another of her life sacrificing spells into the horde and the little monk instantly repaired the lost health.
“A little,” Sadie conceded.
Kali snickered, another retort on her lips as a hollow roar echoed from the bend just out of eyesight.
Sadie’s eyes widened. “They don’t waste time.”
“No they don’t!” Kali snapped, breaking into a run to reach the frontline.
Minus Sign
Its good to see some familiar faces. I'm glad your enjoying the new installment Bark but *waggles finger* don't let your grades suffer.
If I can, I'll finish up 11 before the night is done. GW:EW, work and RL pwned me this weekend and part of the week; I'll get back into Faith tonight and some tomorrow if I'm lucky.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your comments. I hope my grammar is better this time through; I know its a little atrocious.
If I can, I'll finish up 11 before the night is done. GW:EW, work and RL pwned me this weekend and part of the week; I'll get back into Faith tonight and some tomorrow if I'm lucky.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your comments. I hope my grammar is better this time through; I know its a little atrocious.
Minus Sign
*11*
Wait you idiots!” Faith snapped, turning her small horde toward a pair of ice golems beyond. The hellish creatures looked little better than caricatures of humanity, jagged spikes rising out of their skin like a porcupine’s spines. One of the monstrosities roared again, hollow and soulless.
“For Ironhammer and Honor!” granite roared in return, stomping up the slop to face his enemy. Stephan shrugged, sprinting away and was quickly at the fore.
“Kali!” Faith roared herself, feeling the elementalist through the group link, still well behind. Focusing her energies, she sent out wisp of her spirit into the shambling horror. “Stephan; Out!”
The warrior saw the putrid green glow surrounding her improvised bomb, veering toward the rangers in the backline. The stone Summit either missed the necrotic enchantment or were unaware of its lethal nature, for as it strode toward their precious golems, the frontline warriors turned on it with a will. Axes slashed and the shambling horror lurched, still pushing closer toward its intended prey.
Live, Faith ordered, infusing the horde with more of her lifeforce, live; just three more steps
Sensing Faith’s need, and seeing the minion begin to crumble, Melody lay blue enchant on green, her Divine Boon sending the protective enchantments into the minion with more healing power than Faith could muster. Somehow, the monk managed to find energy to push out another spam of enchantments, dropping her Divine Boon to throw them across the dwarf allies as they pressed the advance under archer attack. Arrows bounced off the enchanting armor she wove, or saw their lethal force rebound in healing energy.
The fiends had reached the fight as well, throat barbs snapping out toward the nearest warrior. The Stone Summit groaned, dropping to his knees with sharp bone daggers skewered in his calves.
“Okay; let it die Mel. You! Get away from it you morons!” Faith roared again, the dwarves pressing toward the largest mass of Stone Summit, who what all pushed in to see the minion die. Willamina was adding to the chaos, Stone Summit recoiling as they struck the golem. Her voice seemed to whisper in the wind “It hurts; don’t hit me; how can you do this?” and the Summit dwarves recoiled in sympathy to their own attacks, bleeding from wounds they caused the minion. Faith saw the golems, twisting uncertainly in the mass. One tried to cast a spell, but before the necromancer would tell what it was, Willamina’s voice snapped “Fail!” and both of the icy specters twitched, interrupted.
“Damn!” a pair of earthen daggers flashed past, announcing Kali’s return to the fray. Ice cold earth shattered under the clusters feet, erupting in a cloud of dust and ash. They staggered, turning on the casters.
“NOW!” the shambling horror crumbled at last, the necromancer enchantment infusing its dying flesh with new purpose. The light turned inward, shimmering brightly enough for the blind Stone Summit to see their doom. The horror seemed to grow, to expand into even more twisted dimensions than it had been in unlife. It exploded; rotten flesh and bone blasting outward in a decay-filled cloud of malice.
The Stone Summit, weakened by Willamina’s Empathy hexes and again by Kali’s Eruption, exploded as well. The mass of men toppled from the dead minion, groaning as the last of the eruption hammered them or the toxic fragments turned poisonous carrier in their bodies. The golems seemed to quiver—they’d had no had a chance to cast a spell with Willamina’s interrupts pinning them out of the fight—pieces of bone and flesh embedded in their icy bodies, which cracked and crumbled, shattering into useless pieces on the snow.
Faith gasped, the life energy of the dwarves and golems buckling her from side to side. Melody was right behind, holding the necromancer up as the wave of death mana inundated her own wearied spirit. She nodded thanks to the little monk ‘It’s,” she stumbled, forcing herself to focus on the corpses the Summit had left behind, “it’s been a while.”
“Faith!” Stephan screamed, reminding the group that the fight was not yet over. “Mel! Little help up here!” The rangers were retreating as the tide turned. Stephan roared again, axe whirling into one of the dwarves backs, ripping open a savage gouge of flesh. Another strike hit its knee, crippling the fleeing dwarf before bringing his double bladed axe down one last time.
The Yak’s Bend dwarves had recoiled from the explosion, unharmed. They stared at the mass of bodies as they began to shift again. Granite raised his axe, meaning to cleave one of the dead warriors back into Grenth’s hands, but a snappish “Gurgle!’ jerked him to immobility again. The first four fiends ran to meet their new baby brother, and another corpse shivered loose a new shambling horror. A third corpse bulged and the dwarves left the area, bodies twisting open as Faith’s Horde surged in number. Stephan’s ranger gave her nine, and she trembled under the strain to keep them under control.
But the link between minion and master did not break. She pushed forward, perusing the rangers a pace behind Kali. Stephan was long gone in pursuit, and Melody had given chase to keep him safe.
“Where are they going?” Willamina called, keeping pace with the minion mistress, “Their friends are over the bridge; if they wanted to escape, they picked a dumb direction to run.
“They’re not running to escape,” Faith panted, some of her concentration slipping and the minions slowed uncertainly. She took the pause to cast another blood of the master spell, “they’re running to warn—“
“The south patrol!” Stephan charged back toward them, a flailing Melody under his shield arm, holding the metal plate away from her face. Kali had come up short just as he turned the last bend and the ground shimmered as a ward formed around her.
Stephan tossed the monk toward Faith and the backline, Melody landing lightly on her feet in the snow. She turned around, smiling sheepishly. “Stephan’s funny!” the monk giggled. Sadie blanched anew, just reaching the third fight after totally missing the second.
When Melody turned back, she was all seriousness again. Peace and Harmony flared atop her, followed by her Divine Boon again. Her next enchantment was a Guardian spell, dropped on the elementalist just moments before more arrows struck. The barrage of arrows could not be held back by a single spell, however, and Kali winced as some broke through. It was a small wince however, her garments imbued with another enchantment she was rarely without, and wood shattered on linen as hard as platemail.
The rangers who had fled had perhaps hoped to outnumber their pursuers when they finally turned to fight again. Nine minions begged to differ, tilting the scales back in Faith’s favor. No sooner had her horde reached the fight than all eight fiends turned menacingly on a single, wide eyed dwarf.
“Gurgle!” she sent another sickly green enchantment into each of her shambling horrors, forcing them up to the fight. Control of the horde seemed nearly impossible to her; it felt as though her soul were split eleven ways.
The Stone Summit archers whirled against the charging horrors, pounding their doom back with arrows until the twisted faces were covered in arrows.
Twin explosions rebounded into Faith as the two minions died. Twice she felt her soul seem to swell within her as the horrors fell; and again her Soul Reaping sent her reeling as the explosion sent her enemies into unlife.
“That way’s the passage down to the foothills,” Kali pointed, annoyingly fresh—it seemed to Faith—for all the fighting they had done to get here. “The smashy parts over; now we need finesse.” The elementalist turned to Faith suggestively.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” the necromancer forced her voice not to slur in exhaustion, forced herself to make two new minions and bring her horde back up to ten.
“I think it means,” Stephan replied, coming to stand beside Kali, “That those fiends might just be a little too powerful.”
“Can you stick to horrors while we’re in the foothills?” Kali asked.
Faith tried not to scowl. This was, after all, Kali’s mission. Her group. It was just that Faith had led these people so long she was used to taking the reins and steering them where they needed to go. Taking orders was…different.
Faith sighed, letting her horde collapse. “It’s just a couple hydras down there anyway that I can use,” she said, forcing another smile. “Whatever you say GL.”
Kali’s smile seemed grateful.
Wait you idiots!” Faith snapped, turning her small horde toward a pair of ice golems beyond. The hellish creatures looked little better than caricatures of humanity, jagged spikes rising out of their skin like a porcupine’s spines. One of the monstrosities roared again, hollow and soulless.
“For Ironhammer and Honor!” granite roared in return, stomping up the slop to face his enemy. Stephan shrugged, sprinting away and was quickly at the fore.
“Kali!” Faith roared herself, feeling the elementalist through the group link, still well behind. Focusing her energies, she sent out wisp of her spirit into the shambling horror. “Stephan; Out!”
The warrior saw the putrid green glow surrounding her improvised bomb, veering toward the rangers in the backline. The stone Summit either missed the necrotic enchantment or were unaware of its lethal nature, for as it strode toward their precious golems, the frontline warriors turned on it with a will. Axes slashed and the shambling horror lurched, still pushing closer toward its intended prey.
Live, Faith ordered, infusing the horde with more of her lifeforce, live; just three more steps
Sensing Faith’s need, and seeing the minion begin to crumble, Melody lay blue enchant on green, her Divine Boon sending the protective enchantments into the minion with more healing power than Faith could muster. Somehow, the monk managed to find energy to push out another spam of enchantments, dropping her Divine Boon to throw them across the dwarf allies as they pressed the advance under archer attack. Arrows bounced off the enchanting armor she wove, or saw their lethal force rebound in healing energy.
The fiends had reached the fight as well, throat barbs snapping out toward the nearest warrior. The Stone Summit groaned, dropping to his knees with sharp bone daggers skewered in his calves.
“Okay; let it die Mel. You! Get away from it you morons!” Faith roared again, the dwarves pressing toward the largest mass of Stone Summit, who what all pushed in to see the minion die. Willamina was adding to the chaos, Stone Summit recoiling as they struck the golem. Her voice seemed to whisper in the wind “It hurts; don’t hit me; how can you do this?” and the Summit dwarves recoiled in sympathy to their own attacks, bleeding from wounds they caused the minion. Faith saw the golems, twisting uncertainly in the mass. One tried to cast a spell, but before the necromancer would tell what it was, Willamina’s voice snapped “Fail!” and both of the icy specters twitched, interrupted.
“Damn!” a pair of earthen daggers flashed past, announcing Kali’s return to the fray. Ice cold earth shattered under the clusters feet, erupting in a cloud of dust and ash. They staggered, turning on the casters.
“NOW!” the shambling horror crumbled at last, the necromancer enchantment infusing its dying flesh with new purpose. The light turned inward, shimmering brightly enough for the blind Stone Summit to see their doom. The horror seemed to grow, to expand into even more twisted dimensions than it had been in unlife. It exploded; rotten flesh and bone blasting outward in a decay-filled cloud of malice.
The Stone Summit, weakened by Willamina’s Empathy hexes and again by Kali’s Eruption, exploded as well. The mass of men toppled from the dead minion, groaning as the last of the eruption hammered them or the toxic fragments turned poisonous carrier in their bodies. The golems seemed to quiver—they’d had no had a chance to cast a spell with Willamina’s interrupts pinning them out of the fight—pieces of bone and flesh embedded in their icy bodies, which cracked and crumbled, shattering into useless pieces on the snow.
Faith gasped, the life energy of the dwarves and golems buckling her from side to side. Melody was right behind, holding the necromancer up as the wave of death mana inundated her own wearied spirit. She nodded thanks to the little monk ‘It’s,” she stumbled, forcing herself to focus on the corpses the Summit had left behind, “it’s been a while.”
“Faith!” Stephan screamed, reminding the group that the fight was not yet over. “Mel! Little help up here!” The rangers were retreating as the tide turned. Stephan roared again, axe whirling into one of the dwarves backs, ripping open a savage gouge of flesh. Another strike hit its knee, crippling the fleeing dwarf before bringing his double bladed axe down one last time.
The Yak’s Bend dwarves had recoiled from the explosion, unharmed. They stared at the mass of bodies as they began to shift again. Granite raised his axe, meaning to cleave one of the dead warriors back into Grenth’s hands, but a snappish “Gurgle!’ jerked him to immobility again. The first four fiends ran to meet their new baby brother, and another corpse shivered loose a new shambling horror. A third corpse bulged and the dwarves left the area, bodies twisting open as Faith’s Horde surged in number. Stephan’s ranger gave her nine, and she trembled under the strain to keep them under control.
But the link between minion and master did not break. She pushed forward, perusing the rangers a pace behind Kali. Stephan was long gone in pursuit, and Melody had given chase to keep him safe.
“Where are they going?” Willamina called, keeping pace with the minion mistress, “Their friends are over the bridge; if they wanted to escape, they picked a dumb direction to run.
“They’re not running to escape,” Faith panted, some of her concentration slipping and the minions slowed uncertainly. She took the pause to cast another blood of the master spell, “they’re running to warn—“
“The south patrol!” Stephan charged back toward them, a flailing Melody under his shield arm, holding the metal plate away from her face. Kali had come up short just as he turned the last bend and the ground shimmered as a ward formed around her.
Stephan tossed the monk toward Faith and the backline, Melody landing lightly on her feet in the snow. She turned around, smiling sheepishly. “Stephan’s funny!” the monk giggled. Sadie blanched anew, just reaching the third fight after totally missing the second.
When Melody turned back, she was all seriousness again. Peace and Harmony flared atop her, followed by her Divine Boon again. Her next enchantment was a Guardian spell, dropped on the elementalist just moments before more arrows struck. The barrage of arrows could not be held back by a single spell, however, and Kali winced as some broke through. It was a small wince however, her garments imbued with another enchantment she was rarely without, and wood shattered on linen as hard as platemail.
The rangers who had fled had perhaps hoped to outnumber their pursuers when they finally turned to fight again. Nine minions begged to differ, tilting the scales back in Faith’s favor. No sooner had her horde reached the fight than all eight fiends turned menacingly on a single, wide eyed dwarf.
“Gurgle!” she sent another sickly green enchantment into each of her shambling horrors, forcing them up to the fight. Control of the horde seemed nearly impossible to her; it felt as though her soul were split eleven ways.
The Stone Summit archers whirled against the charging horrors, pounding their doom back with arrows until the twisted faces were covered in arrows.
Twin explosions rebounded into Faith as the two minions died. Twice she felt her soul seem to swell within her as the horrors fell; and again her Soul Reaping sent her reeling as the explosion sent her enemies into unlife.
“That way’s the passage down to the foothills,” Kali pointed, annoyingly fresh—it seemed to Faith—for all the fighting they had done to get here. “The smashy parts over; now we need finesse.” The elementalist turned to Faith suggestively.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” the necromancer forced her voice not to slur in exhaustion, forced herself to make two new minions and bring her horde back up to ten.
“I think it means,” Stephan replied, coming to stand beside Kali, “That those fiends might just be a little too powerful.”
“Can you stick to horrors while we’re in the foothills?” Kali asked.
Faith tried not to scowl. This was, after all, Kali’s mission. Her group. It was just that Faith had led these people so long she was used to taking the reins and steering them where they needed to go. Taking orders was…different.
Faith sighed, letting her horde collapse. “It’s just a couple hydras down there anyway that I can use,” she said, forcing another smile. “Whatever you say GL.”
Kali’s smile seemed grateful.
Minus Sign
*12*
“Another successful expedition, Mistress Kali,” Granite said, shaking the elementalist’s hand, “and, as promised, you’ve returned my men and me to the Bend safe and sound.”
“We aim to please,” Kali drawled. As granite released her hand, she kept her arm extended. The little dwarf looked up at her quizzically, “and we’d be more than happy to get paid now.”
“Oh,” the dwarf stammered, fumbling in his pockets, “of course, such a fine display of skill cannot go without reward. We agreed on,” he seemed to have become momentarily distracted by a piece of lint in his pocket, “two hundred gold crowns I believe?”
“It was two-fifty,” Kali said, her voice becoming hard and businesslike, “if you need, I can show your mark in my journal. To boost your memory.”
“No,” Granite smiled sheepishly, handing over five small sacks of gold, “that won’t be necessary.” The other dwarves had scampered into Yak’s Bend, and Granite hastened away himself, a casual wave, “If you ever need a reference,” but what he said next was drowned out by the commotion at the gate.
“You six!” Captain Orsic growled, four RDF guardsmen flanking him and surrounding the group. Kali gave a long suffering sigh as Faith dissolved the group.
“Orsic,” Willamina began.
“Don’t start with me Willow,” the captain whirled, staring down the mesmer in a fury
“It’s my fault captain,” Faith began. It seemed that every word made the man’s face grow just a little redder. “I convinced them to come along “
Orsic snapped his fingers and the four guardsmen circled Faith. “You’re all he wants to see or they’d be waiting for you in the stockade.” He turned to the other five and Faith noticed a gaggle of mesmers—The Team was standing watch—beginning to close in. “You lot get out of here before I change my mind and drag you off as conspirators.”
“Melody,” Willamina took the little monks arm. Melody was still following Faith, a perplexed expression on her face, “Sadie. Have you heard Mel sing? Don’t be shy now. Mel has got the most amazing voice I’ve ever heard. Would you sing for Sadie Mel?”
“Well,” Faith gave the monk a private wink that everything would be okay…and was thankful the group link was separated, or melody would be able to feel the lie in her sentiment, “I like to sing.”
Orsic seemed oblivious to everything in the world save this troublesome necromancer in front of him. He pointed to Faith. “You,” and the finger arched back into a come here gesture, “Come on.”
“Is Faith in trouble?” melody strayed for a moment more, standing on tiptoe as if poised to run. Toward Faith or away from her male escorts, only she knew.
“I’m fine Mel,” the necromancer reassured her. “They just want to talk.”
“Okay,” Melody nodded. “See you at home.”
“As soon as I can.”
“Now necro,” Orsic snapped with a tinge of you-made-me-look-a fool-and-I’ll-have-your-hide-for-it in his voice. One of the guardsmen nudged her between the shoulder blades.
***
The Prince of Ascalon was seated on the throne-like chair again as Faith was roughly shoved inside. He said nothing, merely pointing to the vacant chair in front of him in offer or command to sit.
When he did speak, it was not what she expected.
“Did you have a good time outside? I know the camp can get a little,” he sighed, searching for the right word, “stifling. For one of your experience.”
“Yes Highness,” Faith said, trying to keep the sheepish tone from her voice, “quite…refreshing.”
“This little war between the mesmers and monks is starting to become disconcerting. You on one ned, Mistress Cross on the other. One side says neither of you are fit for duty, the other side says the thick of things is the only place you two seem sane.
“Which is it?”
Faith shrugged. “There are some necromancers on the Team as well, Highness,” she wanted to correct him. Somehow, she schooled her tongue. “We both went out,” she said, non-evasively, “we both came back.”
Rurik smiled—or sneered, his beard was too thick to be certain. “I managed to find this,” he pulled a wide leather-bound file from a small desk beside the chair, “among some of our old reports from Rin. Blame the accountants; if they had their way I’d have had every refugee carry his weight in paper up here with us.
Faith recognized the report. It was an afteraction recap from Mhenlo on what had happened in the catacombs during The Searing. And who had been there.
“Not that we couldn’t use the kindling,” he tossed the file into her lap for her inspection. “you were the monk—the necro—who took down the tunnel.”
“Kali pulled down the tunnel, highness,” Faith said, scanning the report. It all seemed so long ago now. So distant memory becomes when life keeps moving forward. Yet still, it was clear as glass. “I was just her support…”
Underneath the original report, scrawled in large block letters—the Duke’s hand when he had been wearing his gauntlets—was another note. “UNSTABLE; RECKLESS, POSSIBLY SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. CONFIRM WITH MESMERS BEFORE REASSIGNMENT. COMMAND POSITIONS WITHHELD.”
“Was he right?” the Prince asked quietly.
Faith shrugged again, trying to mask the shock inside her. “Probably. I’m not afraid to die if there’s a decent reason for doing so. I know I push my teams hard. But they trust me to see them out,” she fought down a surge of rage. Two years duke Barradin had kept this from her. Two years; no wonder she’d never been promoted beyond GL4. He hadn’t trusted her after all. He’d kept her down, kept her small. If he were still alive, she’d skin his hide in strips! “I work well with small groups. Special Teams,” had she been right when she called them a joke to melody long ago? Were they nothing more than the crazy—expendable—frontline that barradin would willingly give up to save his “good” troops? “was for high risk operations. Low life expectancy, smaller groups.”
“Yes,” Rurik nodded, “Barradin’s Special Teams are something of a legend in themselves. I’ve tried duplicating them myself with some success,” Faith nodded numbly. “Devona’s group is one. I believe you know her?”
No. He’d put up with too much of Faith’s attitude to have thought so little of her. That may have been why he put her in Special Teams, but it wasn’t why she’d stayed there. She got the job done. One way, or another.
Or another. He’d called her resourceful. Brought Tasha Trueborn—one of the best therapeutic mesmer’s in Ascalon—in for Melody once he saw the monk’s potential. Yes; he’d used them. He was their commander. Yes, he’d analyzed her, seen her flaws, seen her…failings. He might have been more than a little surprised when he patted her back after a hard mission. Surprised she’d come back. But never aggravated by the fact.
“This,” she let the file fall back into her lap, “is a rather old and incomplete analysis of me, I should say. And, if I may be so bold highness,” she paused waiting for him to cut her off with another blast from her past.
“You mean to stop being bold Mistress Faith?”
She shrugged--it was all she seemed able to do; her body had rebelled against her--wanting for all to use the file for kindling right now; throw it into the fireplace right in front of his eyes. She kept her hands still. “This wasn’t what I expected you to bring me here for.”
“No doubt,” Rurik nodded, glancing toward the tentflap, “Nor Captain Orsic either I imagine,” Faith forced a wry chuckle at that. “I wouldn’t worry about your foray Faith. May I call you Faith?” she shrugged. “I’ve had my hand slapped more than a few times by those in my command. Too many of them helped change my diapers and train me to manhood for me to hold a grudge when I do something foolish.
“I did something foolish with your friend yesterday. I hope she’ll forgive me.”
“I’m sure she has,” Faith supplied, omitting, “if she hasn’t forgotten it completely. She always forgets…”
“You seem to have a knack, “Rurik continued, “for building very good groups, from some—shall we say—rather unusual people.”
“I’ve been lucky Highness.”
“Yes. Well. I need you to work your magic for me one more time Faith. Colin has, of course, been cleared of any charges. Unfortunately because of that—more than ever—I need him out of Yak’s Bend and away from the refugees. You remember the incident on his arrival.”
“A little,” Faith couldn’t help smiling.
Rurik nodded. “In normal times, the people would have accepted my decision and that would be the end of it.”
“You’ve no need to explain yourself Highness.”
“Yes Faith, I do, he leaned toward her, nodding sadly. “This time, to you, I do.”
Faith glanced to the file again. “The problem is that the people are looking for someone to blame right now. For leaving Rin, being stuck here while our negotiations failed. The fact that the negotiations have failed.”
“You did the best you could Highness. No one should fault anyone; its all just bad timing and…fate.”
The smile on Rurik’s face was genuine this time. “Be that as it may,” he continued, “that’s not how the people see it. Soldiers know how quick the winds change. Civilians want something other than the Gods to blame when the storm tears through.”
“And they’ve latched onto Colin,” Faith concluded.
“One way or another,” Rurik said holding out his hand. A serving maid was beside him immediately, a silver tray with mulled wine at his fingertips, “I’m getting them off this rock, Faith,” he waved the servant over and Faith took the other goblet without protest, sipping slowly. “In a week’s time, I’ll start sending escort groups through with my best guardsmen. I mean my best. But if Colin is in one of those refugee groups.”
“I can see him through Highness,” Faith supplied confidently. What was he fishing for? The sudden change of tactics from interview to confidant was…unsettling. Baradin was the only royalty she had ever known and his was a gruff manner; to the point even when he was being manipulative. Rurik seemed to be scrounging up his courage for a fight she still couldn’t see.
“I’m sure you could Faith,” Rurik continued, taking a sip from his own goblet. It struck her then. He was unsure. As unsure of her now as Baradin had been when he scrawled that note years ago. She was an unknown. Effective, but possibly dangerous.
And he needed her. Needed her for something bad enough that it was hard for him to ask. "Highness,” she cut him off,” I am not so used to such talk. If there is something you need of me; some service you require, ask. If it is in my power, it is yours.”
Rurik watched her over the wine goblet for a time, the war still playing in his mind. At last he said “There’s a bottleneck through Boris Pass. We’ll need to break the refugees up to get through there, but once we’re in, it will be a fight to get them through the Frost Gate. I have people who I trust to break the Stone Summit siege, but they will need help to do it.”
Help, Faith thought. not reinforcements. Not mercenary conscripts. Help. “You don’t want us evacuating? Me and Colin…and my team. We’re not going with the refugees are we?”
“Yours,” Rurik seemed to need to steel himself once more, “would be the road less traveled, if you accept what I ask. “You were special Teams for Duke Baradin. You’re used to going out into the middle of the fray and making miracles happen.
“Beyond Devona and some few recruits I need taking on the Siege, you and your team are the only people with such experience.
“The Shiverpeek centaurs are massing to help the Stone Summit Faith. I need someone to cause some chaos through the old west passage while our refugees and my own elite teams break the siege. The Stone Summit has taken over the Iron Horse Mine. If we can break a group through there, the dwarves up here will be confused and wary when we start to move our people south. In three days time, a blizzard will strike the mountain—so the dwarves tell me—and whiteout everything from Beacon’s Reach to Gunner’s Hold.
“If you can make your way through, there is a small cave the dwarves tell me can weather you through the storm. While we punch a hole through the Frost Gate, your team can make its way through the other side of Anvil Rock and into the Deldrimor Bowl. Hit as many centaur and Stone Summit groups as you safely can and meet us at Beacon’s Reach when the weather permits.”
So, if the Summit don’t capture us, Faith concluded, and the centaurs don’t kill us, and the weather doesn’t freeze us into an icy tomb, we might—might!—just meet up with the rest of the refugees before everything of Tyria walks off this mountain and abandons us.
“From there,” Rurik continued, “its back through the bowl and into Kryta. When I last spoke with Zain, he seemed more than pleased at the prospect of having some Ascalonians settle there. It’s an odd thing, I know, but I get the feeling that Kryta is suffering a population shortage of late. They may need people to settle some of the harder lands to the west and north.”
“You’re very trusting Highness,” was all Faith could say. If ever there were a suicide mission, Rurik was sending her on one.
“No, I’m not. But its either Kryta or grow a second skin, and I’m getting a little sick of this snow. You?”
“It seems a little much just to keep one former GL away from some refugees Highness,” she supplied. Her team. He was asking her to sacrifice her team.
“More than that and we both know it Faith. I need to trust you in this. Can you handle the job?”
“Another successful expedition, Mistress Kali,” Granite said, shaking the elementalist’s hand, “and, as promised, you’ve returned my men and me to the Bend safe and sound.”
“We aim to please,” Kali drawled. As granite released her hand, she kept her arm extended. The little dwarf looked up at her quizzically, “and we’d be more than happy to get paid now.”
“Oh,” the dwarf stammered, fumbling in his pockets, “of course, such a fine display of skill cannot go without reward. We agreed on,” he seemed to have become momentarily distracted by a piece of lint in his pocket, “two hundred gold crowns I believe?”
“It was two-fifty,” Kali said, her voice becoming hard and businesslike, “if you need, I can show your mark in my journal. To boost your memory.”
“No,” Granite smiled sheepishly, handing over five small sacks of gold, “that won’t be necessary.” The other dwarves had scampered into Yak’s Bend, and Granite hastened away himself, a casual wave, “If you ever need a reference,” but what he said next was drowned out by the commotion at the gate.
“You six!” Captain Orsic growled, four RDF guardsmen flanking him and surrounding the group. Kali gave a long suffering sigh as Faith dissolved the group.
“Orsic,” Willamina began.
“Don’t start with me Willow,” the captain whirled, staring down the mesmer in a fury
“It’s my fault captain,” Faith began. It seemed that every word made the man’s face grow just a little redder. “I convinced them to come along “
Orsic snapped his fingers and the four guardsmen circled Faith. “You’re all he wants to see or they’d be waiting for you in the stockade.” He turned to the other five and Faith noticed a gaggle of mesmers—The Team was standing watch—beginning to close in. “You lot get out of here before I change my mind and drag you off as conspirators.”
“Melody,” Willamina took the little monks arm. Melody was still following Faith, a perplexed expression on her face, “Sadie. Have you heard Mel sing? Don’t be shy now. Mel has got the most amazing voice I’ve ever heard. Would you sing for Sadie Mel?”
“Well,” Faith gave the monk a private wink that everything would be okay…and was thankful the group link was separated, or melody would be able to feel the lie in her sentiment, “I like to sing.”
Orsic seemed oblivious to everything in the world save this troublesome necromancer in front of him. He pointed to Faith. “You,” and the finger arched back into a come here gesture, “Come on.”
“Is Faith in trouble?” melody strayed for a moment more, standing on tiptoe as if poised to run. Toward Faith or away from her male escorts, only she knew.
“I’m fine Mel,” the necromancer reassured her. “They just want to talk.”
“Okay,” Melody nodded. “See you at home.”
“As soon as I can.”
“Now necro,” Orsic snapped with a tinge of you-made-me-look-a fool-and-I’ll-have-your-hide-for-it in his voice. One of the guardsmen nudged her between the shoulder blades.
***
The Prince of Ascalon was seated on the throne-like chair again as Faith was roughly shoved inside. He said nothing, merely pointing to the vacant chair in front of him in offer or command to sit.
When he did speak, it was not what she expected.
“Did you have a good time outside? I know the camp can get a little,” he sighed, searching for the right word, “stifling. For one of your experience.”
“Yes Highness,” Faith said, trying to keep the sheepish tone from her voice, “quite…refreshing.”
“This little war between the mesmers and monks is starting to become disconcerting. You on one ned, Mistress Cross on the other. One side says neither of you are fit for duty, the other side says the thick of things is the only place you two seem sane.
“Which is it?”
Faith shrugged. “There are some necromancers on the Team as well, Highness,” she wanted to correct him. Somehow, she schooled her tongue. “We both went out,” she said, non-evasively, “we both came back.”
Rurik smiled—or sneered, his beard was too thick to be certain. “I managed to find this,” he pulled a wide leather-bound file from a small desk beside the chair, “among some of our old reports from Rin. Blame the accountants; if they had their way I’d have had every refugee carry his weight in paper up here with us.
Faith recognized the report. It was an afteraction recap from Mhenlo on what had happened in the catacombs during The Searing. And who had been there.
“Not that we couldn’t use the kindling,” he tossed the file into her lap for her inspection. “you were the monk—the necro—who took down the tunnel.”
“Kali pulled down the tunnel, highness,” Faith said, scanning the report. It all seemed so long ago now. So distant memory becomes when life keeps moving forward. Yet still, it was clear as glass. “I was just her support…”
Underneath the original report, scrawled in large block letters—the Duke’s hand when he had been wearing his gauntlets—was another note. “UNSTABLE; RECKLESS, POSSIBLY SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. CONFIRM WITH MESMERS BEFORE REASSIGNMENT. COMMAND POSITIONS WITHHELD.”
“Was he right?” the Prince asked quietly.
Faith shrugged again, trying to mask the shock inside her. “Probably. I’m not afraid to die if there’s a decent reason for doing so. I know I push my teams hard. But they trust me to see them out,” she fought down a surge of rage. Two years duke Barradin had kept this from her. Two years; no wonder she’d never been promoted beyond GL4. He hadn’t trusted her after all. He’d kept her down, kept her small. If he were still alive, she’d skin his hide in strips! “I work well with small groups. Special Teams,” had she been right when she called them a joke to melody long ago? Were they nothing more than the crazy—expendable—frontline that barradin would willingly give up to save his “good” troops? “was for high risk operations. Low life expectancy, smaller groups.”
“Yes,” Rurik nodded, “Barradin’s Special Teams are something of a legend in themselves. I’ve tried duplicating them myself with some success,” Faith nodded numbly. “Devona’s group is one. I believe you know her?”
No. He’d put up with too much of Faith’s attitude to have thought so little of her. That may have been why he put her in Special Teams, but it wasn’t why she’d stayed there. She got the job done. One way, or another.
Or another. He’d called her resourceful. Brought Tasha Trueborn—one of the best therapeutic mesmer’s in Ascalon—in for Melody once he saw the monk’s potential. Yes; he’d used them. He was their commander. Yes, he’d analyzed her, seen her flaws, seen her…failings. He might have been more than a little surprised when he patted her back after a hard mission. Surprised she’d come back. But never aggravated by the fact.
“This,” she let the file fall back into her lap, “is a rather old and incomplete analysis of me, I should say. And, if I may be so bold highness,” she paused waiting for him to cut her off with another blast from her past.
“You mean to stop being bold Mistress Faith?”
She shrugged--it was all she seemed able to do; her body had rebelled against her--wanting for all to use the file for kindling right now; throw it into the fireplace right in front of his eyes. She kept her hands still. “This wasn’t what I expected you to bring me here for.”
“No doubt,” Rurik nodded, glancing toward the tentflap, “Nor Captain Orsic either I imagine,” Faith forced a wry chuckle at that. “I wouldn’t worry about your foray Faith. May I call you Faith?” she shrugged. “I’ve had my hand slapped more than a few times by those in my command. Too many of them helped change my diapers and train me to manhood for me to hold a grudge when I do something foolish.
“I did something foolish with your friend yesterday. I hope she’ll forgive me.”
“I’m sure she has,” Faith supplied, omitting, “if she hasn’t forgotten it completely. She always forgets…”
“You seem to have a knack, “Rurik continued, “for building very good groups, from some—shall we say—rather unusual people.”
“I’ve been lucky Highness.”
“Yes. Well. I need you to work your magic for me one more time Faith. Colin has, of course, been cleared of any charges. Unfortunately because of that—more than ever—I need him out of Yak’s Bend and away from the refugees. You remember the incident on his arrival.”
“A little,” Faith couldn’t help smiling.
Rurik nodded. “In normal times, the people would have accepted my decision and that would be the end of it.”
“You’ve no need to explain yourself Highness.”
“Yes Faith, I do, he leaned toward her, nodding sadly. “This time, to you, I do.”
Faith glanced to the file again. “The problem is that the people are looking for someone to blame right now. For leaving Rin, being stuck here while our negotiations failed. The fact that the negotiations have failed.”
“You did the best you could Highness. No one should fault anyone; its all just bad timing and…fate.”
The smile on Rurik’s face was genuine this time. “Be that as it may,” he continued, “that’s not how the people see it. Soldiers know how quick the winds change. Civilians want something other than the Gods to blame when the storm tears through.”
“And they’ve latched onto Colin,” Faith concluded.
“One way or another,” Rurik said holding out his hand. A serving maid was beside him immediately, a silver tray with mulled wine at his fingertips, “I’m getting them off this rock, Faith,” he waved the servant over and Faith took the other goblet without protest, sipping slowly. “In a week’s time, I’ll start sending escort groups through with my best guardsmen. I mean my best. But if Colin is in one of those refugee groups.”
“I can see him through Highness,” Faith supplied confidently. What was he fishing for? The sudden change of tactics from interview to confidant was…unsettling. Baradin was the only royalty she had ever known and his was a gruff manner; to the point even when he was being manipulative. Rurik seemed to be scrounging up his courage for a fight she still couldn’t see.
“I’m sure you could Faith,” Rurik continued, taking a sip from his own goblet. It struck her then. He was unsure. As unsure of her now as Baradin had been when he scrawled that note years ago. She was an unknown. Effective, but possibly dangerous.
And he needed her. Needed her for something bad enough that it was hard for him to ask. "Highness,” she cut him off,” I am not so used to such talk. If there is something you need of me; some service you require, ask. If it is in my power, it is yours.”
Rurik watched her over the wine goblet for a time, the war still playing in his mind. At last he said “There’s a bottleneck through Boris Pass. We’ll need to break the refugees up to get through there, but once we’re in, it will be a fight to get them through the Frost Gate. I have people who I trust to break the Stone Summit siege, but they will need help to do it.”
Help, Faith thought. not reinforcements. Not mercenary conscripts. Help. “You don’t want us evacuating? Me and Colin…and my team. We’re not going with the refugees are we?”
“Yours,” Rurik seemed to need to steel himself once more, “would be the road less traveled, if you accept what I ask. “You were special Teams for Duke Baradin. You’re used to going out into the middle of the fray and making miracles happen.
“Beyond Devona and some few recruits I need taking on the Siege, you and your team are the only people with such experience.
“The Shiverpeek centaurs are massing to help the Stone Summit Faith. I need someone to cause some chaos through the old west passage while our refugees and my own elite teams break the siege. The Stone Summit has taken over the Iron Horse Mine. If we can break a group through there, the dwarves up here will be confused and wary when we start to move our people south. In three days time, a blizzard will strike the mountain—so the dwarves tell me—and whiteout everything from Beacon’s Reach to Gunner’s Hold.
“If you can make your way through, there is a small cave the dwarves tell me can weather you through the storm. While we punch a hole through the Frost Gate, your team can make its way through the other side of Anvil Rock and into the Deldrimor Bowl. Hit as many centaur and Stone Summit groups as you safely can and meet us at Beacon’s Reach when the weather permits.”
So, if the Summit don’t capture us, Faith concluded, and the centaurs don’t kill us, and the weather doesn’t freeze us into an icy tomb, we might—might!—just meet up with the rest of the refugees before everything of Tyria walks off this mountain and abandons us.
“From there,” Rurik continued, “its back through the bowl and into Kryta. When I last spoke with Zain, he seemed more than pleased at the prospect of having some Ascalonians settle there. It’s an odd thing, I know, but I get the feeling that Kryta is suffering a population shortage of late. They may need people to settle some of the harder lands to the west and north.”
“You’re very trusting Highness,” was all Faith could say. If ever there were a suicide mission, Rurik was sending her on one.
“No, I’m not. But its either Kryta or grow a second skin, and I’m getting a little sick of this snow. You?”
“It seems a little much just to keep one former GL away from some refugees Highness,” she supplied. Her team. He was asking her to sacrifice her team.
“More than that and we both know it Faith. I need to trust you in this. Can you handle the job?”
Minus Sign
*13*
“A task like this, I’ll need to ask my people,” she said after a pause. Rurik sighed, apparently meaning to re-argue his case. She cut him off again. “Meaning no disrespect Highness, but you’ve cut us loose from the regular army. It was your choice,” Faith handed him back the folder, “however good the reasons seemed at the time. They are free men and women now—your words—to do what they will.
“This,” Rurik said slowly, “is a voluntary mission. If those of your team refuse to go with you, that is their decision. I believe I can trust you to fill the group with qualified, capable people. Yak’s Bend is yours if you need it—human and dwarf so long as you’re here—if you accept.
“You should know,” Rurik finished, “that Colin has agreed to the task. He will be going the west route regardless.
“I,” she sighed, “understand. Please; let me confer with my team and…I’ll give you my answer in the morning.”
“Of course Faith. And,” the prince faltered again. “Of course. Thank you for your time.”
“Highness,” Faith bowed slightly as she rose, placing the goblet on the waiting tray.
Faith walked out in a daze. Orsic might have baited her as she passed him—might have consoled her or sympathized, she had no idea. Whatever he said was lost to the cold wind as her thoughts ambled sluggishly around her.
Faith wandered the small camp until the sun had begun to sink below the mountain side. One thought kept intruding through all the others. I promised them. Special Teams were finished. She had promised her people that there would be no more need to fight like before. Promised them safety when they broke from Ascalon and followed Rurik up here. Promised them…and was being asked to break it.
A soft melancholy seemed to overtake her as she neared the tent. It seemed to be all around her; the people shuffled as they walked about their tasks. It was as if the world had changed its music to fit her mood, and she could hear Melandru’s voice lament her woes.
Then she recognized the voice, her hand pausing at the tentflap. Musical chimes singing a slow dirge, Melody’s voice rang into her ears.
“…As the cold wind blows
We stand on the edge of the mountain
A dwarf lies cold, a dwarf lies still
No rebirth comes to his soul
We tread on
Through the deepest snows
We walk the edge of the mountain
To the end, the end of us all
We walk through the ice
To the end,
To the end of us all of us all
We face the ice of the mountain.”
“Its” Sadie paused and Faith slipped silently inside. No one noticed, staring transfixed at the little woman on her cot, “so sad. I’ve never heard that before.”
“I made it up,” Melody said, her head bobbing. “Do you like it Sadie?”
“It sounds familiar,” Willamina said sleepily, staring at Melody.
“She’s singing about the fight,” Stephan said sleepily. “It’s as close as she comes to remembering things like that.”
“Hmm? What fight? Who fought?”
“Nothin Mel,” Kali said, slapping the warrior’s thigh playfully. Even Cuddles had become semi-docile under the softly haunting song. “What do you want to call this one?”
“I dunno,” the monk tilted her head, thinking.
“How about, the cold mountain pass,” Faith offered, stepping toward her cot; the only vacant seat left in the tent.
“I like that,” Melody said, nodding to herself.
“So what did you get?” Stephan asked.
“A mission,” the necromancer replied, pulling her cape loose from her shoulders.
Stephan and kali exchanged a look. “You’re serious?” Faith nodded. “What about Colin?”
“He’ll be helping me. Its an excuse to get him away from the refugees; earn up some credit with the people so,” Faith shrugged, “they won’t decide to lynch him when we settle in Kryta.”
“Is that why he called you?” Willamina asked, her tone a little suspicious. “not about Colin so much as making you a GL?” Faith nodded again. “You didn’t get into trouble for running off today?”
“Yeah,” she forced a smile, showing the right side of her face in profile; the side that had not been burned and still showed smooth white skin. “Comeon; can you stay mad at this face?” Unconsciously, Faith pulled at the long strands of hair on her left side, masking the bruise from view.
Kali was nodding vigorously “For a very long time,” but there was humor in her tone.
Stephan curled his arm around the elementalist’s shoulders. “What’s the mission?”
Faith looked at Melody. At Stephan and Kali. They had done enough for King and Country. They had done enough…for her.
“Boring,” she said at last. “he wants me to build a group and lead it on some forays up north, away from the Frost Gate and the siege,” if they asked around, that might be all they heard. If she was quick enough tomorrow. “He likes Baradin’s idea of our old units; wants to see if he can re-create it.
“Train them up and see them through. Like I said: real boring, but,” she forced a laugh, “there might be a chance to get back in the army. Join the RDF, get a promotion. Do some good.”
“I thought you liked being a mercenary,” Kali began.
“I thought I would too, but,” Faith shrugged. Now that the lie was out, building it became easier, “Comeon. Almost a solid month here; nothing to do. The monks won’t let me out. But if I get my GL status fully recognized again, I can thump some skulls.
“I do have some good news though,” she continued. “In one week’s time you three,” she pointed to each in turn, “are walking out with the refugees. Rurik means to push on the Summit soon; break this stupid siege for Ironhammer.
“Will you be in on that push?” Kali asked.
“We can help Faith,” Stephan supplied.
“I’m sure they could use you herding the refugees, uh,” she had to think quickly; they couldn’t know. They couldn’t talk to Rurik or the whole thing would fall like a house of playing cards, “you’ll, uh, need to speak to Orsic about that.”
“Orsic?” Kali scoffed, “When you’ve got the Prince’s ear?”
“I’ll put in the word if that’s what you want to do.”
“I’ll help too,” Melody chirped, rubbing Cuddles head.
“Of course we’ll help Faith,” Kali smiled, “what’d I say when we started all this? I can’t let you have all the glory.”
“You can have it all Kali,” Faith forced the mirth to fill her voice, masking the sadness again. “You can have it all.”
“A task like this, I’ll need to ask my people,” she said after a pause. Rurik sighed, apparently meaning to re-argue his case. She cut him off again. “Meaning no disrespect Highness, but you’ve cut us loose from the regular army. It was your choice,” Faith handed him back the folder, “however good the reasons seemed at the time. They are free men and women now—your words—to do what they will.
“This,” Rurik said slowly, “is a voluntary mission. If those of your team refuse to go with you, that is their decision. I believe I can trust you to fill the group with qualified, capable people. Yak’s Bend is yours if you need it—human and dwarf so long as you’re here—if you accept.
“You should know,” Rurik finished, “that Colin has agreed to the task. He will be going the west route regardless.
“I,” she sighed, “understand. Please; let me confer with my team and…I’ll give you my answer in the morning.”
“Of course Faith. And,” the prince faltered again. “Of course. Thank you for your time.”
“Highness,” Faith bowed slightly as she rose, placing the goblet on the waiting tray.
Faith walked out in a daze. Orsic might have baited her as she passed him—might have consoled her or sympathized, she had no idea. Whatever he said was lost to the cold wind as her thoughts ambled sluggishly around her.
Faith wandered the small camp until the sun had begun to sink below the mountain side. One thought kept intruding through all the others. I promised them. Special Teams were finished. She had promised her people that there would be no more need to fight like before. Promised them safety when they broke from Ascalon and followed Rurik up here. Promised them…and was being asked to break it.
A soft melancholy seemed to overtake her as she neared the tent. It seemed to be all around her; the people shuffled as they walked about their tasks. It was as if the world had changed its music to fit her mood, and she could hear Melandru’s voice lament her woes.
Then she recognized the voice, her hand pausing at the tentflap. Musical chimes singing a slow dirge, Melody’s voice rang into her ears.
“…As the cold wind blows
We stand on the edge of the mountain
A dwarf lies cold, a dwarf lies still
No rebirth comes to his soul
We tread on
Through the deepest snows
We walk the edge of the mountain
To the end, the end of us all
We walk through the ice
To the end,
To the end of us all of us all
We face the ice of the mountain.”
“Its” Sadie paused and Faith slipped silently inside. No one noticed, staring transfixed at the little woman on her cot, “so sad. I’ve never heard that before.”
“I made it up,” Melody said, her head bobbing. “Do you like it Sadie?”
“It sounds familiar,” Willamina said sleepily, staring at Melody.
“She’s singing about the fight,” Stephan said sleepily. “It’s as close as she comes to remembering things like that.”
“Hmm? What fight? Who fought?”
“Nothin Mel,” Kali said, slapping the warrior’s thigh playfully. Even Cuddles had become semi-docile under the softly haunting song. “What do you want to call this one?”
“I dunno,” the monk tilted her head, thinking.
“How about, the cold mountain pass,” Faith offered, stepping toward her cot; the only vacant seat left in the tent.
“I like that,” Melody said, nodding to herself.
“So what did you get?” Stephan asked.
“A mission,” the necromancer replied, pulling her cape loose from her shoulders.
Stephan and kali exchanged a look. “You’re serious?” Faith nodded. “What about Colin?”
“He’ll be helping me. Its an excuse to get him away from the refugees; earn up some credit with the people so,” Faith shrugged, “they won’t decide to lynch him when we settle in Kryta.”
“Is that why he called you?” Willamina asked, her tone a little suspicious. “not about Colin so much as making you a GL?” Faith nodded again. “You didn’t get into trouble for running off today?”
“Yeah,” she forced a smile, showing the right side of her face in profile; the side that had not been burned and still showed smooth white skin. “Comeon; can you stay mad at this face?” Unconsciously, Faith pulled at the long strands of hair on her left side, masking the bruise from view.
Kali was nodding vigorously “For a very long time,” but there was humor in her tone.
Stephan curled his arm around the elementalist’s shoulders. “What’s the mission?”
Faith looked at Melody. At Stephan and Kali. They had done enough for King and Country. They had done enough…for her.
“Boring,” she said at last. “he wants me to build a group and lead it on some forays up north, away from the Frost Gate and the siege,” if they asked around, that might be all they heard. If she was quick enough tomorrow. “He likes Baradin’s idea of our old units; wants to see if he can re-create it.
“Train them up and see them through. Like I said: real boring, but,” she forced a laugh, “there might be a chance to get back in the army. Join the RDF, get a promotion. Do some good.”
“I thought you liked being a mercenary,” Kali began.
“I thought I would too, but,” Faith shrugged. Now that the lie was out, building it became easier, “Comeon. Almost a solid month here; nothing to do. The monks won’t let me out. But if I get my GL status fully recognized again, I can thump some skulls.
“I do have some good news though,” she continued. “In one week’s time you three,” she pointed to each in turn, “are walking out with the refugees. Rurik means to push on the Summit soon; break this stupid siege for Ironhammer.
“Will you be in on that push?” Kali asked.
“We can help Faith,” Stephan supplied.
“I’m sure they could use you herding the refugees, uh,” she had to think quickly; they couldn’t know. They couldn’t talk to Rurik or the whole thing would fall like a house of playing cards, “you’ll, uh, need to speak to Orsic about that.”
“Orsic?” Kali scoffed, “When you’ve got the Prince’s ear?”
“I’ll put in the word if that’s what you want to do.”
“I’ll help too,” Melody chirped, rubbing Cuddles head.
“Of course we’ll help Faith,” Kali smiled, “what’d I say when we started all this? I can’t let you have all the glory.”
“You can have it all Kali,” Faith forced the mirth to fill her voice, masking the sadness again. “You can have it all.”
Bark
Haha, dont you worry about my grades, I do that enough myself You know, I worship you
You know, I worship you
Divine Freak
Just found this series the other day. Gotta say I really enjoy it. I'll be lurking around the forums waiting for the next installment 
Raxus
You asked, I am here. Good stuff Minus(Melody). Keep it up! Would really like to see your stuff at the place I told ya about in the PM too. Totally upto you.
Vedruk
I -am- glad to see Faith and company return .
.
Minus Sign
*14*
A scribe came to her tent before sunrise that morning, laden with sheaves of paper. Maps of the Shiverpeaks, intelligence reports about the Iron Horse Mine, the most recent suppositions of the actions in Anvil Rock, and one letter from King Ironhammer to the dwarves about the situation in the bowl.
She took it all in. What Rurik asked was more than possible. The Stone Summit was so busy blockading the Frost Gate passages that they’d done virtually nothing to the North in comparison. Who would want to go there anyway? The terrain only became harder the further you went, and talk of giant savages riddled some of the earliest reports about excursions beyond the Iron Horse Mines.
I’ll die in Deldrimor, Faith conceded, stepping out of the tent. The scribe was still waiting outside, and pointed her direction when she asked after the Prince. I’ll die in sight of freedom. But it’ll be worth it, to get my people out. To keep them safe…one last time.
“They want to help evacuate the refugees,” Faith told Rurik in the early morning where she found him. He was overseeing training of some of the new recruits to the RDF when she found him. His air as she came up the small rise was expectant, hopeful. When she spoke, he took a pausing breath. “Can you make that happen?”
“I can,” Rurik nodded, watching her. His hands shifted, revealing another folder filled with papers in his hands. “And you?”
Faith sighed relief. She hadn’t had to lie to her prince. Willamina was a good teacher.
“I’ll build you a team,” Faith said, offering her hand. Rurik took it.
“I need to promote you to a GL6 then,” he said, “and, as I said yesterday eve; the store—such as it is—is yours.”
“I won’t need a six man team, Highness,” Faith was already thinking of what she needed. “A monk and a nuke will suffice, if I can find them. Colin will be our forth.”
“But,” Rurik was looking at her questioningly, “you’d be better served with a six man team. More people might stand a chance—”
“Highness,” she cut him off, “how much of a chance?” the Prince said nothing, only watched her silently again. “If I can build a decent horde, we can get out of the mines alive but six people going in there will only mean 2 extra dead bodies in a week when we walk into the Bowl.
“Won’t they?” Rurik said nothing. “Even if I get past the Stone Summit, there’s an army of centaurs between me and Beacon’s Perch pushing its way toward you.”
Rurik nodded sadly. “The Deldrimor Bowl is nearly overrun with them. The Stone Summit give them free reign there, so long as they kill any human or dwarf that is not of their ilk. They,” he turned away from her, watching the training dispassionately. “They’ve taken the towns between here and Beacon’s Perch. As a basecamp.
“I wouldn’t ask you to try taking on the Deldrimor centaurs,” he continued. “We’ll keep them at bay while the refugees push out. It’s the ones massing in Anvil Rock that worry me. They stand the best chance of keeping us pinned up here, and flanking us if we move without trying to stop them.”
“But my team will still have to make it through the Bowl to get out,” Faith said quietly. “We’ll have to go through them, to get to you.”
“It’s a difficult task I’ve set you,” he nodded.
“Not so hard, when you boil it all down. The Iron Horse Mine, I can beat through. There will be fighting, but we’ll have a good chance. Then again in Anvil Rock. If the reports your people have showed me are accurate, we stand a good chance of catching them off guard; doing some damage.
“Deldrimor isn’t a fortified outpost or a staging area, however. It’s the main headquarters for an entire vanguard of fighters. Warriors, monks, necromancers, mesmers. They’ll all be there, and they won’t just ignore us like a few Minotaur might. They’ll know how we got there, know what—who—we went through to get there. And they’ll be out for blood the moment they see us.”
“That’s why I picked you, Faith,” Rurik said with some confidence. “I’ve spoken to Mhenlo about your abilities and Colin at length as well. You’ve only grown in the time between the Searing and now. If anyone can get my people back to me in one piece, its you.”
Faith shook her head. “Getting through that,” Faith stared at him with the realization. “You’ve never sent someone out to die before.” Rurik smirked, ready to tell her otherwise. Faith shook her head. “You’ve sent men and women to their deaths, but never given them a mission you knew they wouldn’t return from. Have you?”
The smirk died on Rurik’s face. He stared into her eye—it felt to Faith he was searching for her soul—and turned away again. “Am I so obtuse?” the Prince asked finally.
No wonder this has been so hard on him. Gods; he’s always hoped his people would come back? “Highness,” she said aloud, “is that the ‘miracle’ you wanted from me last night? To see these people through?”
Rurik nodded.
“I can’t promise you that. Even with my team, it would have been a very high risk assignment.”
“What if I spared a group to stay here?” the prince asked. “Then you could…”
“Make our way through the Frost gate after you’ve stirred up the hornet’s nest?” Faith smiled sheepishly. “I’d just be trading Stone Summit for Centuars. Unless you plan to break the siege completely, instead of beating a way through,” Faith shook her head, “it’d just mean even more dead that needn’t be.”
“Is there,” Rurik was stumbling again. Now faith knew it for what it was. The pauses, the jerky way he spoke to her. He was hiding a tic from her, trying to avoid showing his distress in front of one he would give orders to. “Is there no chance, do you think?”
If she said no, he would find another. “Yes,” she decided to say, but tempered to refrain from making it a total lie, “but it would truly be a miracle.
“I’ll do the best I can for them, if you’ll still have me. The mission, I can assure you, has a high chance to succeed. But four stands as good a chance as six to sneak out—we will try to sneak,” she winked. “And its less people you will need if Kryta turns on you later.
“You asked me if you could trust me, Highness,” Faith finished. “Now I have to ask you:
“Will you trust me?”
The folder he had been half hiding shifted in his fingers. The Prince of Ascalon stood rigid before her, saluting fist tto heart. Some of the passersby took notice and she quickly returned the gesture.
“I insist on a GL6 leading this operation, Mistress Faith,” she nodded, accepting his order, “because I insist on a six man team that has a chance of fighting if it has to.” Faith sighed, but did not argue the point.
“Will you follow me?” he offered her the folder.
“As you command, Highness,” Faith accepted the folder, “I will obey.”
Rurik nodded, all business. “Good.” The sudden change was refreshing this time; he seemed more in control, more like a young Duke Baradin might have been. This was a man she would follow if he asked. “Those are names of people who can replace your old team. Colin is with Mistress Peacebound at the moment, under guard. The RDF has orders not to let anyone in,” he handed her a small pin with the number 6 emblazoned on a gold and red lion, “unless they are Group Leader 6 or above.
“I suggest you begin building that team for me, Faith.”
A scribe came to her tent before sunrise that morning, laden with sheaves of paper. Maps of the Shiverpeaks, intelligence reports about the Iron Horse Mine, the most recent suppositions of the actions in Anvil Rock, and one letter from King Ironhammer to the dwarves about the situation in the bowl.
She took it all in. What Rurik asked was more than possible. The Stone Summit was so busy blockading the Frost Gate passages that they’d done virtually nothing to the North in comparison. Who would want to go there anyway? The terrain only became harder the further you went, and talk of giant savages riddled some of the earliest reports about excursions beyond the Iron Horse Mines.
I’ll die in Deldrimor, Faith conceded, stepping out of the tent. The scribe was still waiting outside, and pointed her direction when she asked after the Prince. I’ll die in sight of freedom. But it’ll be worth it, to get my people out. To keep them safe…one last time.
“They want to help evacuate the refugees,” Faith told Rurik in the early morning where she found him. He was overseeing training of some of the new recruits to the RDF when she found him. His air as she came up the small rise was expectant, hopeful. When she spoke, he took a pausing breath. “Can you make that happen?”
“I can,” Rurik nodded, watching her. His hands shifted, revealing another folder filled with papers in his hands. “And you?”
Faith sighed relief. She hadn’t had to lie to her prince. Willamina was a good teacher.
“I’ll build you a team,” Faith said, offering her hand. Rurik took it.
“I need to promote you to a GL6 then,” he said, “and, as I said yesterday eve; the store—such as it is—is yours.”
“I won’t need a six man team, Highness,” Faith was already thinking of what she needed. “A monk and a nuke will suffice, if I can find them. Colin will be our forth.”
“But,” Rurik was looking at her questioningly, “you’d be better served with a six man team. More people might stand a chance—”
“Highness,” she cut him off, “how much of a chance?” the Prince said nothing, only watched her silently again. “If I can build a decent horde, we can get out of the mines alive but six people going in there will only mean 2 extra dead bodies in a week when we walk into the Bowl.
“Won’t they?” Rurik said nothing. “Even if I get past the Stone Summit, there’s an army of centaurs between me and Beacon’s Perch pushing its way toward you.”
Rurik nodded sadly. “The Deldrimor Bowl is nearly overrun with them. The Stone Summit give them free reign there, so long as they kill any human or dwarf that is not of their ilk. They,” he turned away from her, watching the training dispassionately. “They’ve taken the towns between here and Beacon’s Perch. As a basecamp.
“I wouldn’t ask you to try taking on the Deldrimor centaurs,” he continued. “We’ll keep them at bay while the refugees push out. It’s the ones massing in Anvil Rock that worry me. They stand the best chance of keeping us pinned up here, and flanking us if we move without trying to stop them.”
“But my team will still have to make it through the Bowl to get out,” Faith said quietly. “We’ll have to go through them, to get to you.”
“It’s a difficult task I’ve set you,” he nodded.
“Not so hard, when you boil it all down. The Iron Horse Mine, I can beat through. There will be fighting, but we’ll have a good chance. Then again in Anvil Rock. If the reports your people have showed me are accurate, we stand a good chance of catching them off guard; doing some damage.
“Deldrimor isn’t a fortified outpost or a staging area, however. It’s the main headquarters for an entire vanguard of fighters. Warriors, monks, necromancers, mesmers. They’ll all be there, and they won’t just ignore us like a few Minotaur might. They’ll know how we got there, know what—who—we went through to get there. And they’ll be out for blood the moment they see us.”
“That’s why I picked you, Faith,” Rurik said with some confidence. “I’ve spoken to Mhenlo about your abilities and Colin at length as well. You’ve only grown in the time between the Searing and now. If anyone can get my people back to me in one piece, its you.”
Faith shook her head. “Getting through that,” Faith stared at him with the realization. “You’ve never sent someone out to die before.” Rurik smirked, ready to tell her otherwise. Faith shook her head. “You’ve sent men and women to their deaths, but never given them a mission you knew they wouldn’t return from. Have you?”
The smirk died on Rurik’s face. He stared into her eye—it felt to Faith he was searching for her soul—and turned away again. “Am I so obtuse?” the Prince asked finally.
No wonder this has been so hard on him. Gods; he’s always hoped his people would come back? “Highness,” she said aloud, “is that the ‘miracle’ you wanted from me last night? To see these people through?”
Rurik nodded.
“I can’t promise you that. Even with my team, it would have been a very high risk assignment.”
“What if I spared a group to stay here?” the prince asked. “Then you could…”
“Make our way through the Frost gate after you’ve stirred up the hornet’s nest?” Faith smiled sheepishly. “I’d just be trading Stone Summit for Centuars. Unless you plan to break the siege completely, instead of beating a way through,” Faith shook her head, “it’d just mean even more dead that needn’t be.”
“Is there,” Rurik was stumbling again. Now faith knew it for what it was. The pauses, the jerky way he spoke to her. He was hiding a tic from her, trying to avoid showing his distress in front of one he would give orders to. “Is there no chance, do you think?”
If she said no, he would find another. “Yes,” she decided to say, but tempered to refrain from making it a total lie, “but it would truly be a miracle.
“I’ll do the best I can for them, if you’ll still have me. The mission, I can assure you, has a high chance to succeed. But four stands as good a chance as six to sneak out—we will try to sneak,” she winked. “And its less people you will need if Kryta turns on you later.
“You asked me if you could trust me, Highness,” Faith finished. “Now I have to ask you:
“Will you trust me?”
The folder he had been half hiding shifted in his fingers. The Prince of Ascalon stood rigid before her, saluting fist tto heart. Some of the passersby took notice and she quickly returned the gesture.
“I insist on a GL6 leading this operation, Mistress Faith,” she nodded, accepting his order, “because I insist on a six man team that has a chance of fighting if it has to.” Faith sighed, but did not argue the point.
“Will you follow me?” he offered her the folder.
“As you command, Highness,” Faith accepted the folder, “I will obey.”
Rurik nodded, all business. “Good.” The sudden change was refreshing this time; he seemed more in control, more like a young Duke Baradin might have been. This was a man she would follow if he asked. “Those are names of people who can replace your old team. Colin is with Mistress Peacebound at the moment, under guard. The RDF has orders not to let anyone in,” he handed her a small pin with the number 6 emblazoned on a gold and red lion, “unless they are Group Leader 6 or above.
“I suggest you begin building that team for me, Faith.”
Minus Sign
Sorry for the hiatus. Blame GW:EN. I'm sorta writing myself out of a corner right now also, so chapters may be slower coming than my usual frantic pace. I'll post them as soon as i have them.
Divine Freak
No hurry, it's best to take your time and create them at your own pace. Besides, I believe that GW:EN classifies as a Disease in GW terms, so it kinda spreads really fast and keeps coming back
Minus Sign
*15*
Her next stop would have to be Colin, Faith decided. If no one else, Melody would be meeting up with him regularly over the next few days as he checked in on Alia. She could keep a secret well from people she didn’t know, but she’d share everything with Kali and Stephan.
“Colin,” Faith, bowed into the small private tent. The ranger was on the room’s only stool, sharing a quiet chuckle with the bedbound mesmer.
“Uh,” Colin jerked off the stool to face her, “hey Faith.” He seemed nervous as she took a place on the edge of the bed, nodding to Alia. “You two haven’t been properly introduced. This is Alia Peacebound; used to group with me back in Grendich.
“Ally, I told you about Faith.”
“Yez,” the mesmer replied, smiling at Faith in a familiar way. It was hard to understand her through the accent; like listening to a person with a mouthful of mush. “I ave…eard much about you in the last ittle while.”
“Lies, I promise you,” Faith said after a moment’s mental translation. “Can we talk?” she jerked her head toward the tentflap. “In private?”
“I am going.” Alia said firmly and Colin began to protest, “ I do not want to ear eny more rangher. I am going wit you and zat iz zat.”
“Where,” Faith drawled a little herself, delaying the question she dreaded asking, “exactly, would you be going Mistress Peacebound?
“Iron ‘orse,” the mesmer replied, unashamed. “And Anvil rock and ‘eldermeer..deldimoor—vhatever bowl. I am going wit you.”
“Well,” Colin shrugged. “I think she’s goin Faith,” and there was another short—embarrassed, she realized—pause from the ranger. Faith looked from Colin to Alia, a piece falling together. So, it like that was it?
But there was more pressing business to deal with than speculating the ranger’s lovelife. “Have you told Melody?” Faith asked.
“Uh,” the ranger shrugged, “no.”
“Colin,” Faith began.
“I haven’t,” Colin repeated, “told Melody about where I’m going at the end of the week.”
“He asn’t,” and there was a small smile creeping about the edge of Alia’s lips. “All ‘e cares about when she iz here is talking aboot me.”
“But,” Colin was still shrugging his way around something else. Faith held up her hand to forestall him.
“Colin,” the necromancer said, “its important that you not tell anyone about this mission. I don’t want my team involved in this one.”
“Don’t you think that’s their choice?” Colin asked, becoming a little defensive.
“Not this one,” Faith replied even more sternly. “I promised them when we came here, no more high risk assignments. I mean to keep it. Promise me Colin. Don’t tell Melody.”
Colin shrugged. “I won’t tell Melody.”
“Oh!” the mesmer squeaked prettily, pouting up at Colin through thick eyelashes, “you sneaky man!”
“What?” Faith glared at the pair. If he had lied about already telling Melody; if he planned to—“What did you do!?”
“I…uh!” Colin waved a hand defensively. Alia sniffed.
The tentflap fairly flew open as Kali shoved her way inside. She had to hunch nearly double to come face to face with Faith, and it was obvious the elementalist was in a foul mood.
“Someone,” Kali’s tone reeked of accusation, “is going on an extended Op. At least, that’s the crazy talk around camp!”
Faith snarled, turning her ire back toward Colin who was—belabored by a playful Alia holding him back—trying to slip outside and away.
“You said you didn’t tell Mel!”
“I didn’t tell Mel!” Colin swore, one hand touching his heart, the other in the mesmer’s grip.
“You lying son of a grawl!”
“Well?” Kali growled, ignoring the interchange.
“But,” Colin held up a finger, wincing slightly, “Stephan was another matter.”
Her next stop would have to be Colin, Faith decided. If no one else, Melody would be meeting up with him regularly over the next few days as he checked in on Alia. She could keep a secret well from people she didn’t know, but she’d share everything with Kali and Stephan.
“Colin,” Faith, bowed into the small private tent. The ranger was on the room’s only stool, sharing a quiet chuckle with the bedbound mesmer.
“Uh,” Colin jerked off the stool to face her, “hey Faith.” He seemed nervous as she took a place on the edge of the bed, nodding to Alia. “You two haven’t been properly introduced. This is Alia Peacebound; used to group with me back in Grendich.
“Ally, I told you about Faith.”
“Yez,” the mesmer replied, smiling at Faith in a familiar way. It was hard to understand her through the accent; like listening to a person with a mouthful of mush. “I ave…eard much about you in the last ittle while.”
“Lies, I promise you,” Faith said after a moment’s mental translation. “Can we talk?” she jerked her head toward the tentflap. “In private?”
“I am going.” Alia said firmly and Colin began to protest, “ I do not want to ear eny more rangher. I am going wit you and zat iz zat.”
“Where,” Faith drawled a little herself, delaying the question she dreaded asking, “exactly, would you be going Mistress Peacebound?
“Iron ‘orse,” the mesmer replied, unashamed. “And Anvil rock and ‘eldermeer..deldimoor—vhatever bowl. I am going wit you.”
“Well,” Colin shrugged. “I think she’s goin Faith,” and there was another short—embarrassed, she realized—pause from the ranger. Faith looked from Colin to Alia, a piece falling together. So, it like that was it?
But there was more pressing business to deal with than speculating the ranger’s lovelife. “Have you told Melody?” Faith asked.
“Uh,” the ranger shrugged, “no.”
“Colin,” Faith began.
“I haven’t,” Colin repeated, “told Melody about where I’m going at the end of the week.”
“He asn’t,” and there was a small smile creeping about the edge of Alia’s lips. “All ‘e cares about when she iz here is talking aboot me.”
“But,” Colin was still shrugging his way around something else. Faith held up her hand to forestall him.
“Colin,” the necromancer said, “its important that you not tell anyone about this mission. I don’t want my team involved in this one.”
“Don’t you think that’s their choice?” Colin asked, becoming a little defensive.
“Not this one,” Faith replied even more sternly. “I promised them when we came here, no more high risk assignments. I mean to keep it. Promise me Colin. Don’t tell Melody.”
Colin shrugged. “I won’t tell Melody.”
“Oh!” the mesmer squeaked prettily, pouting up at Colin through thick eyelashes, “you sneaky man!”
“What?” Faith glared at the pair. If he had lied about already telling Melody; if he planned to—“What did you do!?”
“I…uh!” Colin waved a hand defensively. Alia sniffed.
The tentflap fairly flew open as Kali shoved her way inside. She had to hunch nearly double to come face to face with Faith, and it was obvious the elementalist was in a foul mood.
“Someone,” Kali’s tone reeked of accusation, “is going on an extended Op. At least, that’s the crazy talk around camp!”
Faith snarled, turning her ire back toward Colin who was—belabored by a playful Alia holding him back—trying to slip outside and away.
“You said you didn’t tell Mel!”
“I didn’t tell Mel!” Colin swore, one hand touching his heart, the other in the mesmer’s grip.
“You lying son of a grawl!”
“Well?” Kali growled, ignoring the interchange.
“But,” Colin held up a finger, wincing slightly, “Stephan was another matter.”
Minus Sign
*16*
“Balthazar’s Blood!” Kali swore. Stephan had squeezed in behind her and stood at the tentflap with arm’s crossed, the picture of a locked door keeping its prisoner firmly in her cell. “What the hell did we do to deserve this from you!” the elementalist raged.
Faith sighed, glancing at Colin. He shrugged a silent apology. She schooling herself back to calmness. “It is an extended Op.”
Stephan growled incoherently. Melody could be seen at the tentflap now, pushing on the warrior and grumbling about disrupting patients.
“Are you going through the Bowl?”
“I’ll,” Faith admitted. “We’ll have to. Its sheer cliffs down into Kryta if we try to take another route, and the storms coming in will make traversing the summit even more dangerous.
“It’s the Old Bowl Road, fall or freeze.”
“Lemme in,” Melody piped.
“You know centaur are massing in the Bowl for something?” Kali accused. It looked like the gossip mongers had gotten something right…damn their eyes…
“A few,” Faith lied, “which is why I have to take a small group.” Faith turned to Colin, thinking. Then she said “Except for Colin, Prince Rurik gave me my choice of anyone in Yak’s Bend. I’m still mulling over the other two.”
“Mulling,” Kali spit, “over?”
“That’s right,” Faith said, nodding without shame. If the cat was out of the bag, the only thing left for it was to upset her team so much they wouldn’t want to be around her. From the looks on kali and Stephan’s faces, that wouldn’t take much of a push.
“That’s a GL6 pin Faith,” Stephan pointed out. “Why would the prince promote you if he didn’t want a six man team?”
“I’m still hoping I can convince him that we can do this with only four people,” she replied simply. “With Colin scouting and my horde, it’ll be enough.
“Then,” Kali mouthed them twice before the words made their way out, “you’re kicking one of us?” Faith glanced to Colin. “Who? It can’t be Melody. You’ll need a good monk.”
“Mel’s not going,” Faith said simply.
“I am going,” Alia said immediately. Kali did take notice then. If the mesmer were not in her sickbed, she would liable to have been slapped.
“No you’re not,” Faith snapped. “In a six man, I could use you. Just four people, I need some fast damage to get things down. I’m sorry, but Colin is more than enough disruption in a team; two is overkill.”
“What’d’ya mean Mel’s not going?” Stephan asked.
“Where am I going?” came a small, slightly muffled voice from behind him. Faith could see meldoy’s arm wiggling behind Stephan, trying to squeeze between the tent flap and his side. There wasn’t enough room if she didn’t tear the fabric. “What’s going on—lemme in Stephan!”
“I don’t think she’s grouped enough to trust her with Colin,” Faith turned to the ranger. “No offense, but she’s been a little skittish the last few days; I’m not taking chances on this one. It’ll be hard.”
“Then…who are you kicking? Me or Steph?”
Faith forced her voice to iciness. “I’m not taking either of you,” she said, cold and matter-of-factly. “I’m not taking any of you.”
“Yeah?” Kali looked on, dumbstruck. She was confused, angry. Betrayal flared in her eyes as she looked on Faith. “Well, maybe we’ll just—just…
“Stephan,” the elementalist smiled venomously. “What do you saw for a few days hiking in the mountains?”
The warrior shrugged, and Faith winced mentally. Kali was riding a ragid edge between betrayl and rage. Why was Stephan taking this so calmly? He’d been just as angry as she when they came in. She needed them both mad—both of them hating her—if she was to keep them here. “I’m not regular army anymore,” he said. “We’ve gold in our pockets again, and I’ve got nowhere else to be.”
“Alright. Grab one of those dwarves and ask him to write us up a map.”
“No dammit!” Faith railed. If subtilty wasn’t getting through to Stephan, perhaps good old fashioned insults would. “I said you’re not going and you’re not going!”
“Like hell we aren’t” Kali rebuked. “I don’t know what Rurik is asking you to do but—”
“Rurik asked me to build him a team.” Faith snarled. “He asked me to pick the people that would get through alive.
“And I didn’t pick you! Get it yet?”
Kali stared on, poleaxed. Stephan’s eyes widened in surprise and shock. Yeah; he’d got that one for sure. Faith kept pounding.
“I’ve got my pick of any Ascalonian in Yak’s Bend. I’m picking my team. And I don’t need—a drunken sod!” Stephan’s eyes squinted slightly at the slant.
“A nutcase!” Faith rounded on Melody as she finally managed to squeeze her head inot the tent, and the little monk epped.
And last, Kali. “Or a powerhungry thrill seeker! I’m sick of babysitting you three. Rurik gave me a pick of anyone I want, and by the Gods I mean to get a kickass group together if I’m going to get down alive. I’m taking Colin because I have too, this Mesmer thinks she’s coming along, but I’ve got news for her: no freeloading halfassers this time!” Faith panted, staring up at the elementalist, face to face now.
Neither moved for a space of heartbeats. Kali blinked, turning toward the door.
“Comeon Steph,” Kali said, pushing against the warrior to move him out of the way, “Let’s get outa here and leave Queen bitch to her new crown.”
“No.”
Kali and Faith both look3ed at him. The warrior shrugged uncomfortsbly, but otherwise made no move.
“Steph, you heard her. She doesn’t want us.”
He ignored her, focusing his gaze on Faith.
“This isn’t Piken and I’m not Melody,” Stephan said after a long pause. Kali turned, thunderstruck to regard her lover. “What is going on Faith? Is it that bad out there?”
“Balthazar’s Blood!” Kali swore. Stephan had squeezed in behind her and stood at the tentflap with arm’s crossed, the picture of a locked door keeping its prisoner firmly in her cell. “What the hell did we do to deserve this from you!” the elementalist raged.
Faith sighed, glancing at Colin. He shrugged a silent apology. She schooling herself back to calmness. “It is an extended Op.”
Stephan growled incoherently. Melody could be seen at the tentflap now, pushing on the warrior and grumbling about disrupting patients.
“Are you going through the Bowl?”
“I’ll,” Faith admitted. “We’ll have to. Its sheer cliffs down into Kryta if we try to take another route, and the storms coming in will make traversing the summit even more dangerous.
“It’s the Old Bowl Road, fall or freeze.”
“Lemme in,” Melody piped.
“You know centaur are massing in the Bowl for something?” Kali accused. It looked like the gossip mongers had gotten something right…damn their eyes…
“A few,” Faith lied, “which is why I have to take a small group.” Faith turned to Colin, thinking. Then she said “Except for Colin, Prince Rurik gave me my choice of anyone in Yak’s Bend. I’m still mulling over the other two.”
“Mulling,” Kali spit, “over?”
“That’s right,” Faith said, nodding without shame. If the cat was out of the bag, the only thing left for it was to upset her team so much they wouldn’t want to be around her. From the looks on kali and Stephan’s faces, that wouldn’t take much of a push.
“That’s a GL6 pin Faith,” Stephan pointed out. “Why would the prince promote you if he didn’t want a six man team?”
“I’m still hoping I can convince him that we can do this with only four people,” she replied simply. “With Colin scouting and my horde, it’ll be enough.
“Then,” Kali mouthed them twice before the words made their way out, “you’re kicking one of us?” Faith glanced to Colin. “Who? It can’t be Melody. You’ll need a good monk.”
“Mel’s not going,” Faith said simply.
“I am going,” Alia said immediately. Kali did take notice then. If the mesmer were not in her sickbed, she would liable to have been slapped.
“No you’re not,” Faith snapped. “In a six man, I could use you. Just four people, I need some fast damage to get things down. I’m sorry, but Colin is more than enough disruption in a team; two is overkill.”
“What’d’ya mean Mel’s not going?” Stephan asked.
“Where am I going?” came a small, slightly muffled voice from behind him. Faith could see meldoy’s arm wiggling behind Stephan, trying to squeeze between the tent flap and his side. There wasn’t enough room if she didn’t tear the fabric. “What’s going on—lemme in Stephan!”
“I don’t think she’s grouped enough to trust her with Colin,” Faith turned to the ranger. “No offense, but she’s been a little skittish the last few days; I’m not taking chances on this one. It’ll be hard.”
“Then…who are you kicking? Me or Steph?”
Faith forced her voice to iciness. “I’m not taking either of you,” she said, cold and matter-of-factly. “I’m not taking any of you.”
“Yeah?” Kali looked on, dumbstruck. She was confused, angry. Betrayal flared in her eyes as she looked on Faith. “Well, maybe we’ll just—just…
“Stephan,” the elementalist smiled venomously. “What do you saw for a few days hiking in the mountains?”
The warrior shrugged, and Faith winced mentally. Kali was riding a ragid edge between betrayl and rage. Why was Stephan taking this so calmly? He’d been just as angry as she when they came in. She needed them both mad—both of them hating her—if she was to keep them here. “I’m not regular army anymore,” he said. “We’ve gold in our pockets again, and I’ve got nowhere else to be.”
“Alright. Grab one of those dwarves and ask him to write us up a map.”
“No dammit!” Faith railed. If subtilty wasn’t getting through to Stephan, perhaps good old fashioned insults would. “I said you’re not going and you’re not going!”
“Like hell we aren’t” Kali rebuked. “I don’t know what Rurik is asking you to do but—”
“Rurik asked me to build him a team.” Faith snarled. “He asked me to pick the people that would get through alive.
“And I didn’t pick you! Get it yet?”
Kali stared on, poleaxed. Stephan’s eyes widened in surprise and shock. Yeah; he’d got that one for sure. Faith kept pounding.
“I’ve got my pick of any Ascalonian in Yak’s Bend. I’m picking my team. And I don’t need—a drunken sod!” Stephan’s eyes squinted slightly at the slant.
“A nutcase!” Faith rounded on Melody as she finally managed to squeeze her head inot the tent, and the little monk epped.
And last, Kali. “Or a powerhungry thrill seeker! I’m sick of babysitting you three. Rurik gave me a pick of anyone I want, and by the Gods I mean to get a kickass group together if I’m going to get down alive. I’m taking Colin because I have too, this Mesmer thinks she’s coming along, but I’ve got news for her: no freeloading halfassers this time!” Faith panted, staring up at the elementalist, face to face now.
Neither moved for a space of heartbeats. Kali blinked, turning toward the door.
“Comeon Steph,” Kali said, pushing against the warrior to move him out of the way, “Let’s get outa here and leave Queen bitch to her new crown.”
“No.”
Kali and Faith both look3ed at him. The warrior shrugged uncomfortsbly, but otherwise made no move.
“Steph, you heard her. She doesn’t want us.”
He ignored her, focusing his gaze on Faith.
“This isn’t Piken and I’m not Melody,” Stephan said after a long pause. Kali turned, thunderstruck to regard her lover. “What is going on Faith? Is it that bad out there?”
Sakura Az
I just wanted to say that i love your stories and i can't wait for the next chapter^^.
Minus Sign
*17*
“Screw her I said!” Kali snarled, refusing to look at the necromancer.
“Kali,” Stephan spoke with the patience he showed when melody was in a mood, “you know more about Faith than I do. But sometimes, I swear, you can’t see the forest for the trees.”
Faith was shaking her head. This couldn’t be happening. He should be ready to chew iron and spit nails after what she’d implied—after what she’d said all out! Why wasn’t he?
“What are you talking tank?” Kali asked at last.
“She’s always pushed us, Kali. The worse things get, the harder she pushes. Things are bad enough for her right now, she’s pushing hard,” Stephan nodded to himself and to Faith, “hard enough to push us away.
“What does the prince want of you Faith? What did he really ask? You can tell me,” Stephan nodded to Colin, who was trying for all to become a stitch in the tent wall, “or he can. One way or another, you know I’ma find out.
“And you always said he was a touch slow,” Faith chided to Kali, a smirk forcing the corners of her mouth up. The elementalist gawked.
“Pa always said: ‘a slow mind thinks its way through while a quick one runs the wrong way.’ I may not make decisions as quick as you or Kal, but when I find my path, I know its right. But don’t try to sidetrack us. Talk to us; we’re your friends. Even when you’re doing your damnedest to be a royal,” he nodded to Kali, “what she said.”
“How’d you know?”
“He’s right?” Kali asked, still not looking at Faith.
“Its one of your habits. I’ve been around long enough to notice em. Like I said; you pulled the same stunt in Piken Square the first day we met. That kinda first impression—‘sneakin’ a friend for their own good—is a lasting one.”
“He’s right?!”
“But you still aren’t talking,” he said, “Colin,” and Stephan turned to face the ranger, Melody taking the space to wiggle inside, “lets you and me go for a walk. You can tell me what’s what straight, or I can squeeze it outa ya.”
“Uh…”
“That,” Faith said quietly, “won’t be necessary. You…know the mission.”
Stephan’s eyes narrowed, thinking through what that implied. “You’re just to circle around and go through the Iron Horse Mines.”
“Yeah.”
“But that’ll send you through the Bowl to get back out.”
A whisper “Yeah.”
Stephan thought about this for a time, but Kali asked first, grudgingly. “You’ve got access to military intelligence again.
“How many centaurs are in the Deldrimor Bowl that you know of Faith?
“We may only see a few,” Faith began.
“But how many are there?” Stephan cut her off, annoyed. Melody’s head was bobbing between her three closest friends, at a total loss to understand. Faith could feel a push on her mind—the monk—but she kept her out. She didn’t want to group right now, even knowing Melody needed reassurance. The look of anger on Stephan’s face when she declined showed they were grouped, and he knew she’d refused. So what? She had to think, and scheming while linked was a tough task.
“It’s an army,” Faith snarled when Colin answered. He shrugged “I don’t want him sittin on me.”
“How big and how organized?
“Estimates are between two and six thousand,” the ranger replied. “Numbers are spotty because we lost a lot of rangers getting them, and the dwarves tend to fight anything in the Bowl right now to the death.”
“Its three times as bad as Piken ever was,” Faith admitted, the cat truly out of the bag now, “and almost twice as bad as Grendich.”
“That’s still no excuse!” Kali railed. “What’d we do to deserve this, eh? Why cut us out?”
Another whisper “Everything.”
“What in the five Gods names is that supposed to mean?”
Faith sighed, saying nothing. She felt another nudge on her mind and glanced at melody in frustration. The monk was chewing her thumb, eyes down in her own world right now. Stephan’s blazed in righteous fury.
“You can group or you can talk,” he glanced to Colin, trying to become a hole in the wall again, “or I can sit on you, like he said.”
“You can try Whammo,” Faith said quietly, but there was no heat in her threat. “You three did…everything. You stayed with me when people thought I was…unreliable. Fought beside me—fought for me—when I needed you most.”
She turned her gaze to Kali. “You kept the hole in my heart that Karim left small. No, not small, I still ache for him. But you made it bearable. You didn’t judge me a freak for changing the way I did. You accepted me, stood by me.
“You,” She chocked on the words, “loved,” they were foreign as a bubble in sand.
“Me.”
“So after all that, you do your damnedest to make us hate you?” Kali snapped. There was still heat, but it was a quiet flame. Even in her ire, the words coming from Faith were shocking. The necromancer never talked this way.
“I promised when we came here: no more dangerous missions. And I mean to keep it.”
“And after everything we’ve been through,” Stephan replied, “you think we’d let you off on your own?”
“No,” Faith chuckled, “I thought you’d do your damnedest to get on my team. Doesn’t matter Stephan. The orders are sealed by now. Prince Rurik’ll have you in the refugee escort. You three are getting out of here alive,” and I’m not losing my family again dammit. “this discussion is over. You’re not going.”
“Like hell it is!” Kali’s anger flared to full bloom again and she grabbed Faith by the front of her blouse, “I go where I want when I want necro.”
Melody whined, chewing resolutely on her thumb. Stephan patted her head and the little monk calmed.
“Not with me you’re not,” Faith replied quietly, not looking at any of them now. “Not this time.”
“Don’t you think that’s our decision?” Stephan asked quietly.
“No,” she said, not looking at Colin. “Not this one.” Kali shoved her away—hard—and the necromancer barely caught herself before she fell.
“Well,” Stephan answered with a nod, “then I guess its true.”
Faith had barely repressed a relieved sigh when his next words made her grimace. “Everybody’s got the right to be completely wrong once in their life.” She slouched lower with every word. Her last grand scheme in taters before her as Stephan—the dumb one—ripped it to shreds. “I bet Prince Rurik would be interested to know how we came to decide to join with the refugees. And I bet even with your objections, he’d give his eyeteeth to have you commanding an experienced team.
“What would he say if I asked for an audience and…explained…the situation to him in full? Would he be surprised?
Faith stared silently.
“Yer messed up on this one, Faith,” Stephan said and, taking kali and melody in hand, left the tent.
Faith sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the tentflap. How? How could it have all gone so horribly wrong? She didn’t mind them being angry at her. She’d accepted when she started snapping at them that they would be—had hoped they’d hate her enough to blindly leave her alone until she was well away. Kali had bitten. Melody shut down. But...Stephan just bulled through like he could read her mind. How?
How?
“Excuse me,” a faraway voice called, “GL?” Faith turned, taking Colin in with dead eyes. Traitor, she snapped at him and he recoiled from her gaze as though she’d spoken the word aloud. “I think I’ll just make myself scarse, if that’s alright. I’ll go tell Prince Rurik…
“I’ll…go tell em we got our team.”
“Screw her I said!” Kali snarled, refusing to look at the necromancer.
“Kali,” Stephan spoke with the patience he showed when melody was in a mood, “you know more about Faith than I do. But sometimes, I swear, you can’t see the forest for the trees.”
Faith was shaking her head. This couldn’t be happening. He should be ready to chew iron and spit nails after what she’d implied—after what she’d said all out! Why wasn’t he?
“What are you talking tank?” Kali asked at last.
“She’s always pushed us, Kali. The worse things get, the harder she pushes. Things are bad enough for her right now, she’s pushing hard,” Stephan nodded to himself and to Faith, “hard enough to push us away.
“What does the prince want of you Faith? What did he really ask? You can tell me,” Stephan nodded to Colin, who was trying for all to become a stitch in the tent wall, “or he can. One way or another, you know I’ma find out.
“And you always said he was a touch slow,” Faith chided to Kali, a smirk forcing the corners of her mouth up. The elementalist gawked.
“Pa always said: ‘a slow mind thinks its way through while a quick one runs the wrong way.’ I may not make decisions as quick as you or Kal, but when I find my path, I know its right. But don’t try to sidetrack us. Talk to us; we’re your friends. Even when you’re doing your damnedest to be a royal,” he nodded to Kali, “what she said.”
“How’d you know?”
“He’s right?” Kali asked, still not looking at Faith.
“Its one of your habits. I’ve been around long enough to notice em. Like I said; you pulled the same stunt in Piken Square the first day we met. That kinda first impression—‘sneakin’ a friend for their own good—is a lasting one.”
“He’s right?!”
“But you still aren’t talking,” he said, “Colin,” and Stephan turned to face the ranger, Melody taking the space to wiggle inside, “lets you and me go for a walk. You can tell me what’s what straight, or I can squeeze it outa ya.”
“Uh…”
“That,” Faith said quietly, “won’t be necessary. You…know the mission.”
Stephan’s eyes narrowed, thinking through what that implied. “You’re just to circle around and go through the Iron Horse Mines.”
“Yeah.”
“But that’ll send you through the Bowl to get back out.”
A whisper “Yeah.”
Stephan thought about this for a time, but Kali asked first, grudgingly. “You’ve got access to military intelligence again.
“How many centaurs are in the Deldrimor Bowl that you know of Faith?
“We may only see a few,” Faith began.
“But how many are there?” Stephan cut her off, annoyed. Melody’s head was bobbing between her three closest friends, at a total loss to understand. Faith could feel a push on her mind—the monk—but she kept her out. She didn’t want to group right now, even knowing Melody needed reassurance. The look of anger on Stephan’s face when she declined showed they were grouped, and he knew she’d refused. So what? She had to think, and scheming while linked was a tough task.
“It’s an army,” Faith snarled when Colin answered. He shrugged “I don’t want him sittin on me.”
“How big and how organized?
“Estimates are between two and six thousand,” the ranger replied. “Numbers are spotty because we lost a lot of rangers getting them, and the dwarves tend to fight anything in the Bowl right now to the death.”
“Its three times as bad as Piken ever was,” Faith admitted, the cat truly out of the bag now, “and almost twice as bad as Grendich.”
“That’s still no excuse!” Kali railed. “What’d we do to deserve this, eh? Why cut us out?”
Another whisper “Everything.”
“What in the five Gods names is that supposed to mean?”
Faith sighed, saying nothing. She felt another nudge on her mind and glanced at melody in frustration. The monk was chewing her thumb, eyes down in her own world right now. Stephan’s blazed in righteous fury.
“You can group or you can talk,” he glanced to Colin, trying to become a hole in the wall again, “or I can sit on you, like he said.”
“You can try Whammo,” Faith said quietly, but there was no heat in her threat. “You three did…everything. You stayed with me when people thought I was…unreliable. Fought beside me—fought for me—when I needed you most.”
She turned her gaze to Kali. “You kept the hole in my heart that Karim left small. No, not small, I still ache for him. But you made it bearable. You didn’t judge me a freak for changing the way I did. You accepted me, stood by me.
“You,” She chocked on the words, “loved,” they were foreign as a bubble in sand.
“Me.”
“So after all that, you do your damnedest to make us hate you?” Kali snapped. There was still heat, but it was a quiet flame. Even in her ire, the words coming from Faith were shocking. The necromancer never talked this way.
“I promised when we came here: no more dangerous missions. And I mean to keep it.”
“And after everything we’ve been through,” Stephan replied, “you think we’d let you off on your own?”
“No,” Faith chuckled, “I thought you’d do your damnedest to get on my team. Doesn’t matter Stephan. The orders are sealed by now. Prince Rurik’ll have you in the refugee escort. You three are getting out of here alive,” and I’m not losing my family again dammit. “this discussion is over. You’re not going.”
“Like hell it is!” Kali’s anger flared to full bloom again and she grabbed Faith by the front of her blouse, “I go where I want when I want necro.”
Melody whined, chewing resolutely on her thumb. Stephan patted her head and the little monk calmed.
“Not with me you’re not,” Faith replied quietly, not looking at any of them now. “Not this time.”
“Don’t you think that’s our decision?” Stephan asked quietly.
“No,” she said, not looking at Colin. “Not this one.” Kali shoved her away—hard—and the necromancer barely caught herself before she fell.
“Well,” Stephan answered with a nod, “then I guess its true.”
Faith had barely repressed a relieved sigh when his next words made her grimace. “Everybody’s got the right to be completely wrong once in their life.” She slouched lower with every word. Her last grand scheme in taters before her as Stephan—the dumb one—ripped it to shreds. “I bet Prince Rurik would be interested to know how we came to decide to join with the refugees. And I bet even with your objections, he’d give his eyeteeth to have you commanding an experienced team.
“What would he say if I asked for an audience and…explained…the situation to him in full? Would he be surprised?
Faith stared silently.
“Yer messed up on this one, Faith,” Stephan said and, taking kali and melody in hand, left the tent.
Faith sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the tentflap. How? How could it have all gone so horribly wrong? She didn’t mind them being angry at her. She’d accepted when she started snapping at them that they would be—had hoped they’d hate her enough to blindly leave her alone until she was well away. Kali had bitten. Melody shut down. But...Stephan just bulled through like he could read her mind. How?
How?
“Excuse me,” a faraway voice called, “GL?” Faith turned, taking Colin in with dead eyes. Traitor, she snapped at him and he recoiled from her gaze as though she’d spoken the word aloud. “I think I’ll just make myself scarse, if that’s alright. I’ll go tell Prince Rurik…
“I’ll…go tell em we got our team.”
Minus Sign
Thanks for the votes folks. I am sorry that its taken so long to get this chapter out. I'll not dull you with excuses; the next chapter should be finished quicker than the last.
Thanks to those who've replied. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Thanks to those who've replied. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Minus Sign
*18*
There were whispers over the next four days. Rumor flew that something “big” was happening in Yak’s Bend. Most dismissed such talk as idle rumor, but those who cared to listen did so with bent ear. To what was said. Whispers that the prince was in a fit. Some said he had railed on one of the new necromancer GLs for half an hour. No; she’d screamed at him. He was losing it; he had broken down in her arms. He had found a new lover to replace Althea—it was a woman, all the whispers agreed—and that explained why she was so often in his tent, and they so often alone. What was truly said was not known. The prince’s tent was now heavily guarded.
There were whispers…and evidence if one cared to look. “Look there,” one whisper flew on the wind. “Why is the RDF practicing so hard of a sudden?
“Look there,” called another. “Why is the Ascalon Vanguard mobilized—every day—and where are they going so often?”
And for every question asked, the same answer always found its way to people’s tongues: “War,” they would whisper in the the dark and cold of a mountain night. “Army starts getting ready for one, you know a war is coming.”
“Prince Rurik will see us down.”
“After what the Charr did to them, can we trust our troups against dwarves?
“Are we being attacked? Is it safe to stay? Should we flee?”
“They led us up here. They must know what they’re doing.”
“Like they knew in Rin?”
Whispers. Rumor. The people of Ascalon mumbled to themselves, their soft words haunting as a second chill breeze as passersby glanced to the huddled groups near fires.
And as often follows, some became more bold.
“What is his plan?” a voice would ask as a Vanguard member passed. The voice was loud enough to be heard, but the Vanguard only started for a moment, then hurried on his way.
“We followed him up here. We’ve a right to know what he means to do!” called another voice in the crowd.
“Are we under attack? We’ve a right to know!”
“Who’s all this food for?” called another—hungry—voice on the fourth day. “I could eat for a month on that much food!”
“A group,” the guard replied, “on special assignment.”
“One group?” growled another. “That’s over a weeks worth of food. Why do six people need that much good food?”
“Shut up Dallan;” called a voice from the gathering mob. “You might learn somethin. I used to run a dolyak team up to Piken when the supply trains were still safe. I seen groups like this before.”
A granled man had pushed his way to the front, squeezing his way through the mob to get a better view. One paulsied hand pointed to four of the refugees: a warrior, a monk, a mesmer and an elementalist.
“These guys,” the aged man said, “are Special operations. They need a week’s worth o grub cause that’s the nearest time they’re likely to see another body that ain’t tryin ta killem.”
“Special,” the man Dallan scratched his chin, “Ops?” many had given up staring greedily at the provisions being crammed into packs to regard the group. The warrior was leaning on a wter barrel, his whetstone stropping a longsword. The elementalist watched him with idle curiousity, keeping herself near in a proprietary manner. The mesmer stood aloof, away from the other three, while the monk seemed content to half-hide herself behind the two tallest members of her group, humming softly at a bundle in her arms.
“Is,” someone in the mob asked, pointing out the monk, “Is that a troll?”
“Trueshot!” someone snapped, and the mob growled as one. The name had spread like wildfire after his acquittal. Dallan rallied his courage and stepped back into the mob, picking up a rock as he did so. He had only just reared back to throw when a paulsied hand with surprising strength took him by the wrist.
“I wouldn’t,” the old man hissed in his ear, “less you wanna be minion fodder,” and he pointed to the ranger’s companion with his chin. A short, ghostly pale necromancer was leading the ranger
“Whozat?”
“Riven,” the old man whispered again. “The Dead Wind.”
“I eard bout er,” an eavesdropper replied. “They say you can smell death in the air, you know er orde’s walkin.” Others had stopped their glaring at Colin to inspect the necromancer before them. She was not overly impressive. Short, snow pale skin and hair made her look stunted and sickly. Her eyes where downcast, brooding inwardly as she walked by. A vile scar was just noticeable behind a lock of hair that covered her left cheek. If not for that scar, she might have been quite comely.
“Thats a myth,” Dallan rebuked, dismissing the woman. “Ain’t no Godspoken in Ascalon. Just some pumped up story the Royals lay on to keep our back’s bent.
“I seen er son,” the old dolyak driver replied. “She’s no myth; she’s a nightmare. Last run I made, it was her—and that there big nuke-girl by the warrior—took down three groups of charr when they’d already cut down our escort. Havin er walk us the rest of the way—that horde everywhere, surroundin us like that…I tell ya. It was like bein in Grenth’s hand those last ten miles. I’d a liked to piss my pants before we got there.
“This is Special Ops; no doubt about it; she was with Barradin when they retook the Square. I’ll never forget that face. That psycho’d eat you for breakfast—so I suggest you shaddap afore she hears you.”
Dallan decided that being courageous might not be prudent just then, letting the rock fall from his hands.
The necromancer heard none of this, of course. She walked to the other four, her gaze sweeping from one to another. Everyone knew the group was forming under her. When she turned to the elementalist, her pale cheek bloomed a deep red.
“I’m,” she whispered, “sorry.
“I’m sorry I tried to hide this from you. And I’m sorry I tried to trick you when you found out. Mostly,” she choked on the words, “mostly I’m sorry that I insulted you. I just…I’d rather have you hate me than get hurt. But I don’t want either. I wanted you to know that before…you know.”
The elementalist sniffed indignantly, and the warrior bumped her in the ribs. She grunted, rubbing them and pouting as she looked at him. He gave her a I-know-that-didn’t-hurt-but-if-you-don’t-make-nice-I’ll-try-again look and she sighed, turning to the necromancer again.
“Alright,” she said, still rubbing her side—or her pride, it was hard to tell, “that'll do for now.
“But you ever try a stunt like that again and I’ll pin your mouth shut.”
Faith smiled “Deal.”
“Faith!” roared a voice from the other side of the mob, and the group turned to see a large woman shoving her way through.
“Devona,” the necromancer called, the crowd giving the two space, ‘what news?”
“Cynn,” the warrior panted, holding out a slip of paper for the necromancer to inspect. “She found the bald bassard! His team wiped but he is still up there, trying to rez them. Mhenlo sent that with a dwarf runner, but he dropped at the foot of the bend. I didn’t open it; hope its good news.”
“Highness!” Faith snapped, opening the parchment and turning it away from the mob to read. Rurik—the prince of Ascalon—came rushing to her call.
“News?” he asked, his tone concerned. Faith finished scrolling the message, handing it to him with a sigh. He scanned it twice, then handed it back with a shake of the head. “We can postpone for a few days. Perhaps the snows will quail…”
“Highness,” Faith cut him off. Some people in the mob grumbled and she bowed respectfully, “the weather is the least of my concerns right now. If Mhenlo’s team was spotted and taken, they may be questioned. They know enough about what we’re planning to give the Summit time to organize.
Her tone soured. “If we don’t go now, we’ll be facing an organized defense when we get there.”
Prince Rurik seemed to sag as she spoke. He turned to the other five regarding the exchange, then back to her.
The Prince snapped to a rigid posture and did the unthinkable. Fist to heart, he saluted her. He didn’t return a salute. He saluted her. Then he turned to do the same to the others, but the four on their feet were already standing rigid as well, fist to heart. Melody was still humming to Cuddles behind Kali and Stephan, her back turned. The shock registered to her through the group link and she turned, looking quizzically at the group around her.
The mob gasped. Devona gasped. Rumor would fly as to what the Prince was sending these people to do. A Royal Salute…it was the stuff of myths and legends in Ascalon; reserved for only those who went to serve its people in the most dire time of need. Reserved for the living only when it was assured they would die.
Faith, stunned, returned the salute by reflex.
“God speed Mistress Riven,” Rurik said to her, holding out his hand, “I pray…
“I will pray.”
“Get our people out of here, Highness,” the necromancer replied softly. “that’s all…that’s all we ask.”
“On my life,” the prince swore, “they will see Kryta.”
Faith nodded, taking a calming breath. She turned to her team. “Alright you lot,” she called out, her voice singing with command, “get your packs on and weapons out; we’re a go!”
There were whispers over the next four days. Rumor flew that something “big” was happening in Yak’s Bend. Most dismissed such talk as idle rumor, but those who cared to listen did so with bent ear. To what was said. Whispers that the prince was in a fit. Some said he had railed on one of the new necromancer GLs for half an hour. No; she’d screamed at him. He was losing it; he had broken down in her arms. He had found a new lover to replace Althea—it was a woman, all the whispers agreed—and that explained why she was so often in his tent, and they so often alone. What was truly said was not known. The prince’s tent was now heavily guarded.
There were whispers…and evidence if one cared to look. “Look there,” one whisper flew on the wind. “Why is the RDF practicing so hard of a sudden?
“Look there,” called another. “Why is the Ascalon Vanguard mobilized—every day—and where are they going so often?”
And for every question asked, the same answer always found its way to people’s tongues: “War,” they would whisper in the the dark and cold of a mountain night. “Army starts getting ready for one, you know a war is coming.”
“Prince Rurik will see us down.”
“After what the Charr did to them, can we trust our troups against dwarves?
“Are we being attacked? Is it safe to stay? Should we flee?”
“They led us up here. They must know what they’re doing.”
“Like they knew in Rin?”
Whispers. Rumor. The people of Ascalon mumbled to themselves, their soft words haunting as a second chill breeze as passersby glanced to the huddled groups near fires.
And as often follows, some became more bold.
“What is his plan?” a voice would ask as a Vanguard member passed. The voice was loud enough to be heard, but the Vanguard only started for a moment, then hurried on his way.
“We followed him up here. We’ve a right to know what he means to do!” called another voice in the crowd.
“Are we under attack? We’ve a right to know!”
“Who’s all this food for?” called another—hungry—voice on the fourth day. “I could eat for a month on that much food!”
“A group,” the guard replied, “on special assignment.”
“One group?” growled another. “That’s over a weeks worth of food. Why do six people need that much good food?”
“Shut up Dallan;” called a voice from the gathering mob. “You might learn somethin. I used to run a dolyak team up to Piken when the supply trains were still safe. I seen groups like this before.”
A granled man had pushed his way to the front, squeezing his way through the mob to get a better view. One paulsied hand pointed to four of the refugees: a warrior, a monk, a mesmer and an elementalist.
“These guys,” the aged man said, “are Special operations. They need a week’s worth o grub cause that’s the nearest time they’re likely to see another body that ain’t tryin ta killem.”
“Special,” the man Dallan scratched his chin, “Ops?” many had given up staring greedily at the provisions being crammed into packs to regard the group. The warrior was leaning on a wter barrel, his whetstone stropping a longsword. The elementalist watched him with idle curiousity, keeping herself near in a proprietary manner. The mesmer stood aloof, away from the other three, while the monk seemed content to half-hide herself behind the two tallest members of her group, humming softly at a bundle in her arms.
“Is,” someone in the mob asked, pointing out the monk, “Is that a troll?”
“Trueshot!” someone snapped, and the mob growled as one. The name had spread like wildfire after his acquittal. Dallan rallied his courage and stepped back into the mob, picking up a rock as he did so. He had only just reared back to throw when a paulsied hand with surprising strength took him by the wrist.
“I wouldn’t,” the old man hissed in his ear, “less you wanna be minion fodder,” and he pointed to the ranger’s companion with his chin. A short, ghostly pale necromancer was leading the ranger
“Whozat?”
“Riven,” the old man whispered again. “The Dead Wind.”
“I eard bout er,” an eavesdropper replied. “They say you can smell death in the air, you know er orde’s walkin.” Others had stopped their glaring at Colin to inspect the necromancer before them. She was not overly impressive. Short, snow pale skin and hair made her look stunted and sickly. Her eyes where downcast, brooding inwardly as she walked by. A vile scar was just noticeable behind a lock of hair that covered her left cheek. If not for that scar, she might have been quite comely.
“Thats a myth,” Dallan rebuked, dismissing the woman. “Ain’t no Godspoken in Ascalon. Just some pumped up story the Royals lay on to keep our back’s bent.
“I seen er son,” the old dolyak driver replied. “She’s no myth; she’s a nightmare. Last run I made, it was her—and that there big nuke-girl by the warrior—took down three groups of charr when they’d already cut down our escort. Havin er walk us the rest of the way—that horde everywhere, surroundin us like that…I tell ya. It was like bein in Grenth’s hand those last ten miles. I’d a liked to piss my pants before we got there.
“This is Special Ops; no doubt about it; she was with Barradin when they retook the Square. I’ll never forget that face. That psycho’d eat you for breakfast—so I suggest you shaddap afore she hears you.”
Dallan decided that being courageous might not be prudent just then, letting the rock fall from his hands.
The necromancer heard none of this, of course. She walked to the other four, her gaze sweeping from one to another. Everyone knew the group was forming under her. When she turned to the elementalist, her pale cheek bloomed a deep red.
“I’m,” she whispered, “sorry.
“I’m sorry I tried to hide this from you. And I’m sorry I tried to trick you when you found out. Mostly,” she choked on the words, “mostly I’m sorry that I insulted you. I just…I’d rather have you hate me than get hurt. But I don’t want either. I wanted you to know that before…you know.”
The elementalist sniffed indignantly, and the warrior bumped her in the ribs. She grunted, rubbing them and pouting as she looked at him. He gave her a I-know-that-didn’t-hurt-but-if-you-don’t-make-nice-I’ll-try-again look and she sighed, turning to the necromancer again.
“Alright,” she said, still rubbing her side—or her pride, it was hard to tell, “that'll do for now.
“But you ever try a stunt like that again and I’ll pin your mouth shut.”
Faith smiled “Deal.”
“Faith!” roared a voice from the other side of the mob, and the group turned to see a large woman shoving her way through.
“Devona,” the necromancer called, the crowd giving the two space, ‘what news?”
“Cynn,” the warrior panted, holding out a slip of paper for the necromancer to inspect. “She found the bald bassard! His team wiped but he is still up there, trying to rez them. Mhenlo sent that with a dwarf runner, but he dropped at the foot of the bend. I didn’t open it; hope its good news.”
“Highness!” Faith snapped, opening the parchment and turning it away from the mob to read. Rurik—the prince of Ascalon—came rushing to her call.
“News?” he asked, his tone concerned. Faith finished scrolling the message, handing it to him with a sigh. He scanned it twice, then handed it back with a shake of the head. “We can postpone for a few days. Perhaps the snows will quail…”
“Highness,” Faith cut him off. Some people in the mob grumbled and she bowed respectfully, “the weather is the least of my concerns right now. If Mhenlo’s team was spotted and taken, they may be questioned. They know enough about what we’re planning to give the Summit time to organize.
Her tone soured. “If we don’t go now, we’ll be facing an organized defense when we get there.”
Prince Rurik seemed to sag as she spoke. He turned to the other five regarding the exchange, then back to her.
The Prince snapped to a rigid posture and did the unthinkable. Fist to heart, he saluted her. He didn’t return a salute. He saluted her. Then he turned to do the same to the others, but the four on their feet were already standing rigid as well, fist to heart. Melody was still humming to Cuddles behind Kali and Stephan, her back turned. The shock registered to her through the group link and she turned, looking quizzically at the group around her.
The mob gasped. Devona gasped. Rumor would fly as to what the Prince was sending these people to do. A Royal Salute…it was the stuff of myths and legends in Ascalon; reserved for only those who went to serve its people in the most dire time of need. Reserved for the living only when it was assured they would die.
Faith, stunned, returned the salute by reflex.
“God speed Mistress Riven,” Rurik said to her, holding out his hand, “I pray…
“I will pray.”
“Get our people out of here, Highness,” the necromancer replied softly. “that’s all…that’s all we ask.”
“On my life,” the prince swore, “they will see Kryta.”
Faith nodded, taking a calming breath. She turned to her team. “Alright you lot,” she called out, her voice singing with command, “get your packs on and weapons out; we’re a go!”
Divine Freak
Very nice work Minus. Hope the story continues to move along easily for you, I know it's always frustrating when you hit a writers block (or just don't have enough time to write). I'll be eagerly awaiting your next installment
Sakura Az
yay! more awesome story! i love reading it all, keep up the awesome work!
Minus Sign
**19**
“We’re a go,” Stephan chuckled as the six moved out of earshot. Then, again, mock-seriously “We’re a go!
“I never knew you liked playing to a crowd that way Faith.”
“Oh hush up,” the necromancer snapped, her teeth grating, “it just…came out that way.”
A soft dusting of new snow was beginning to cover the icy hard pack road as they walked out of Yak’s Bend. The south entrance had been re-fortified in recent days, and several groups milled around the gates, shuffling their feet in the cold. A group of four RDF regulars slipped from the disorganized mob, coming to flank Faith and her team.
“Mistress Riven,” a man with a GL 6 pin called too loudly for the low wind and their closeness. Other members of the RDF turned to the throng, taking notice. “Prince Rurik sends his regards and bays us escort you through to the Iron Horse mines.”
Colin cocked an eyebrow at the four. “I hadn’t known we were so popular,” he said to Faith quietly.
“This mission’s that important,” the RDF GL replied, still loud enough for everyone twenty paces away to hear. Now that was how you play to a crowd, Faith mused.
“Speed is of the essence,” Faith told their escort. “We’ve got intel just now that suggests the Iron Mines Summit may be aware of an attack. We need to be there.”
“You heard the necro!” the RDF GL cut her off, “Clear a path for these six; I don’t want them lifting a finger until they have to.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Faith replied as the small group began to push south. Faith’s team settled into a slow jog just behind as two warriors and a monk rushed into a Whiteout; the other GL stayed to speak with her. “Just help us get to the crossroad and we’ll take our leave.”
“Not to worry Mistress Riven,” the GL, “my team has made this push more than a few times looking for refugees in the last few days. “The Summit are organized but predictable. There may be—damn!”
Faith heard it too. The sound of steel on steel, a clang and ring that echoed eerily through the muffling snow around them. She knew it was close.
“By your leave,” Nigel had already broken into a run and Faith nearly slipped on the slushy mud as she quickened to keep up.
“Sir!” a voice called, catching Nigel’s attention. It was the monk. “Bowdwarves up ahead, just south of the turn.
“They’re retreating to the crossroads.”
“You’re own your own here. We’ll scout further south and hold a line as long as we can; make sure you don’t get flanked by anything.”
“Thank you,” Faith said quietly, but Nigel was already running away.
“We’re a go,” Stephan chuckled as the six moved out of earshot. Then, again, mock-seriously “We’re a go!
“I never knew you liked playing to a crowd that way Faith.”
“Oh hush up,” the necromancer snapped, her teeth grating, “it just…came out that way.”
A soft dusting of new snow was beginning to cover the icy hard pack road as they walked out of Yak’s Bend. The south entrance had been re-fortified in recent days, and several groups milled around the gates, shuffling their feet in the cold. A group of four RDF regulars slipped from the disorganized mob, coming to flank Faith and her team.
“Mistress Riven,” a man with a GL 6 pin called too loudly for the low wind and their closeness. Other members of the RDF turned to the throng, taking notice. “Prince Rurik sends his regards and bays us escort you through to the Iron Horse mines.”
Colin cocked an eyebrow at the four. “I hadn’t known we were so popular,” he said to Faith quietly.
“This mission’s that important,” the RDF GL replied, still loud enough for everyone twenty paces away to hear. Now that was how you play to a crowd, Faith mused.
“Speed is of the essence,” Faith told their escort. “We’ve got intel just now that suggests the Iron Mines Summit may be aware of an attack. We need to be there.”
“You heard the necro!” the RDF GL cut her off, “Clear a path for these six; I don’t want them lifting a finger until they have to.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Faith replied as the small group began to push south. Faith’s team settled into a slow jog just behind as two warriors and a monk rushed into a Whiteout; the other GL stayed to speak with her. “Just help us get to the crossroad and we’ll take our leave.”
“Not to worry Mistress Riven,” the GL, “my team has made this push more than a few times looking for refugees in the last few days. “The Summit are organized but predictable. There may be—damn!”
Faith heard it too. The sound of steel on steel, a clang and ring that echoed eerily through the muffling snow around them. She knew it was close.
“By your leave,” Nigel had already broken into a run and Faith nearly slipped on the slushy mud as she quickened to keep up.
“Sir!” a voice called, catching Nigel’s attention. It was the monk. “Bowdwarves up ahead, just south of the turn.
“They’re retreating to the crossroads.”
“You’re own your own here. We’ll scout further south and hold a line as long as we can; make sure you don’t get flanked by anything.”
“Thank you,” Faith said quietly, but Nigel was already running away.
Minus Sign
*20*
“Lets hurry,” Kali offered as Nigel disappeared, the sound of battle whispering softly to Faith. It was so close. They could do something; help them out.
“Faith!” the elementalist called, and Faith jerked. “Let’s get moving and let them do their job.”
“E should move swiftly now,” Alia agreed when Faith faltered. It wasn’t in her nature to leave a fight. She knew better, but part of her wanted to charge the rise. She was already rationalizing it to herself: a good horde to start. It would slow them down to do it, but the added damage would quicken their pace as they moved into the Iron Horse Mines.
“I know,” the necromancer said at last, pointing north with her scepter and leading the group away from the sounds of battle to their left. “We’re going.” Despite her accord, she brooded, and the others felt her frustration through the link. Faith could feel their too.
“I’ve heard that accent before,” Stephan said, breaking the uneasy silence that followed. “But I still can’t quite place it.”
“Aye am Xulani,” the mesmer replied with a smile. “My parents,” the smile died, “they were ere as trade envoys when the Charr attacked you.
“It was to be my first post. I was to have my own chest; to become a woman in the yes of all Xulan. Zat,” the mesmer shrugged her shoulder, scanning the rise. “Zat is over now. Zee Xulani are a non-aggressive people. We—zay do not take up arms against odders. When aye avenged my parents, I became an outcast. Aye can never go home now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Faith said, her inward brooding turning to regard the mesmer. Colin had spoken briefly of Alia’s past, but the six of them had been too busy this week to leave much time for conversation. She still knew little about this newest member of her team. And Alia seemed to be shielding herself as well. The link felt fuzzy when Faith focused. All she could feel from the mesmer was her presence. None of her mood, none of her emotion slipped through the link. And it was difficult to gauge her health under such circumstances.
We all have our secrets, Faith conceded, but I need to know if she can keep up. If she’s still weak… No. Mhenlo and Melody had both given Alia a clean bill of health before passing her t Faith’s charge. It was the shielding Faith did not like. Tasha—Melody’s therapist and a mesmer herself—had sometimes shielded herself in a group. But Alia kept it up, a permanent wall between herself and her team. It somehow felt…deceptive was the only word Faith could conclude for the emotion. Not just keeping secrets, but hiding truth. There was more to this woman and her story than she gave, and the truth between what she said and what was felt like a chasm to the necromancer.
“But aye tink,” the mesmer said, pulling Faith out of her doldrums, “We have more pressing tings to worry aboot right now.”
“I saw it too,” Colin said, Idiot growl/purring in sympathy to his master, “that bush on the rise. It moved against the wind.”
“Stephan,” Faith snapped command, “check it out. Kali; are you ready?” The warrior grunted, his axe spinning in his hand as he sprinted up the rise.
“I was never a big fan of fire,” the elementalist replied, the sword in her hand twitching irritably. “Without my earth armors, I can’t get up front. But I studied what you asked.”
“There’s—ahhh!” Stephan roared, spinning like a top as he crested the snowcapped hill. Magic projectiles lanced into his armor and Faith felt his pain slash through the group like whipcord. Melody reacted, blue enchantments shining across the warrior as he staggered under a weight of blows.
“Up the rise!” Faith roared, “Take the high ground now!”
“We’ll be exposed up there,” Colin warned, obeying her command even as he consoled against it. “Everything within half a mile will be able to see us.”
“We need to see what we’re killing,” the necromancer snarled back.
And they had a good view too, Faith realized as she crested the hill. The Stone Summit had massed a platoon—several groups milling around next to each other—on the other side of the rise to catch them unawares. Any hope Faith had that the Summit would not be prepared for her at Iron Horse floated away.
Ice Golems milled around, waiting the next order. Stephan still struggled under the weight of their first attack. Arranged around in separate groups, Faith could see…everything. Axe Wielders shoulder to shoulder with hammer wielding Crushers. Necromantic Howlers side by side with mesmer Sages. The ranger Scouts were further forward than they would have usually been, using their power over nature to keep the pet golems under control.
And encircled between them all, high atop a massive hairy doylak larger than any Faith had seen…
“What is that?” Kali balked.
“Shalis Ironmantle,” Faith replied. “I should have known.”
“I can’t,” Stephan grunted, icy bonds encasing his legs up to his thighs, “move.” The warrior took another painstakingly slow step, icy cracking nosily.
“Zen he wood be Saris Headstaver,” Alia said, pointing out a mesmer in the rear. “Let us zee if he is worthy of dee name.” Alia began to step down the rise toward her intended target.
“Wait,” Faith cautioned, scanning the groups again. “And Riine Windrot,” she pointed to a necromancer in another of the groups,
“Toris Stonehammer, too,” Colin said, also scanning the throng, “and if the sketches the dwarves gave us are any good, that’s Ulhar Stonehound; he’s a crack shot from what I hear.”
“Its every combat commander they’ve got!” Kali shook her head, disbelieving. “I count over thirty of them. Faith; this is more than we bargained for and then some.”
“Turn back now,” Toris Stonehammer growled, a massive war hammer pointing toward Faith and her group. “We spare you to deliver this to your prince: take your humans and leave da peeks.”
“Stephan,” Faith turned to Alia, nodding silently. Despite the shield, Alia nodded as well. Faith only hoped they both knew what they were thinking. “Keep walkin.”
“Lets hurry,” Kali offered as Nigel disappeared, the sound of battle whispering softly to Faith. It was so close. They could do something; help them out.
“Faith!” the elementalist called, and Faith jerked. “Let’s get moving and let them do their job.”
“E should move swiftly now,” Alia agreed when Faith faltered. It wasn’t in her nature to leave a fight. She knew better, but part of her wanted to charge the rise. She was already rationalizing it to herself: a good horde to start. It would slow them down to do it, but the added damage would quicken their pace as they moved into the Iron Horse Mines.
“I know,” the necromancer said at last, pointing north with her scepter and leading the group away from the sounds of battle to their left. “We’re going.” Despite her accord, she brooded, and the others felt her frustration through the link. Faith could feel their too.
“I’ve heard that accent before,” Stephan said, breaking the uneasy silence that followed. “But I still can’t quite place it.”
“Aye am Xulani,” the mesmer replied with a smile. “My parents,” the smile died, “they were ere as trade envoys when the Charr attacked you.
“It was to be my first post. I was to have my own chest; to become a woman in the yes of all Xulan. Zat,” the mesmer shrugged her shoulder, scanning the rise. “Zat is over now. Zee Xulani are a non-aggressive people. We—zay do not take up arms against odders. When aye avenged my parents, I became an outcast. Aye can never go home now.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Faith said, her inward brooding turning to regard the mesmer. Colin had spoken briefly of Alia’s past, but the six of them had been too busy this week to leave much time for conversation. She still knew little about this newest member of her team. And Alia seemed to be shielding herself as well. The link felt fuzzy when Faith focused. All she could feel from the mesmer was her presence. None of her mood, none of her emotion slipped through the link. And it was difficult to gauge her health under such circumstances.
We all have our secrets, Faith conceded, but I need to know if she can keep up. If she’s still weak… No. Mhenlo and Melody had both given Alia a clean bill of health before passing her t Faith’s charge. It was the shielding Faith did not like. Tasha—Melody’s therapist and a mesmer herself—had sometimes shielded herself in a group. But Alia kept it up, a permanent wall between herself and her team. It somehow felt…deceptive was the only word Faith could conclude for the emotion. Not just keeping secrets, but hiding truth. There was more to this woman and her story than she gave, and the truth between what she said and what was felt like a chasm to the necromancer.
“But aye tink,” the mesmer said, pulling Faith out of her doldrums, “We have more pressing tings to worry aboot right now.”
“I saw it too,” Colin said, Idiot growl/purring in sympathy to his master, “that bush on the rise. It moved against the wind.”
“Stephan,” Faith snapped command, “check it out. Kali; are you ready?” The warrior grunted, his axe spinning in his hand as he sprinted up the rise.
“I was never a big fan of fire,” the elementalist replied, the sword in her hand twitching irritably. “Without my earth armors, I can’t get up front. But I studied what you asked.”
“There’s—ahhh!” Stephan roared, spinning like a top as he crested the snowcapped hill. Magic projectiles lanced into his armor and Faith felt his pain slash through the group like whipcord. Melody reacted, blue enchantments shining across the warrior as he staggered under a weight of blows.
“Up the rise!” Faith roared, “Take the high ground now!”
“We’ll be exposed up there,” Colin warned, obeying her command even as he consoled against it. “Everything within half a mile will be able to see us.”
“We need to see what we’re killing,” the necromancer snarled back.
And they had a good view too, Faith realized as she crested the hill. The Stone Summit had massed a platoon—several groups milling around next to each other—on the other side of the rise to catch them unawares. Any hope Faith had that the Summit would not be prepared for her at Iron Horse floated away.
Ice Golems milled around, waiting the next order. Stephan still struggled under the weight of their first attack. Arranged around in separate groups, Faith could see…everything. Axe Wielders shoulder to shoulder with hammer wielding Crushers. Necromantic Howlers side by side with mesmer Sages. The ranger Scouts were further forward than they would have usually been, using their power over nature to keep the pet golems under control.
And encircled between them all, high atop a massive hairy doylak larger than any Faith had seen…
“What is that?” Kali balked.
“Shalis Ironmantle,” Faith replied. “I should have known.”
“I can’t,” Stephan grunted, icy bonds encasing his legs up to his thighs, “move.” The warrior took another painstakingly slow step, icy cracking nosily.
“Zen he wood be Saris Headstaver,” Alia said, pointing out a mesmer in the rear. “Let us zee if he is worthy of dee name.” Alia began to step down the rise toward her intended target.
“Wait,” Faith cautioned, scanning the groups again. “And Riine Windrot,” she pointed to a necromancer in another of the groups,
“Toris Stonehammer, too,” Colin said, also scanning the throng, “and if the sketches the dwarves gave us are any good, that’s Ulhar Stonehound; he’s a crack shot from what I hear.”
“Its every combat commander they’ve got!” Kali shook her head, disbelieving. “I count over thirty of them. Faith; this is more than we bargained for and then some.”
“Turn back now,” Toris Stonehammer growled, a massive war hammer pointing toward Faith and her group. “We spare you to deliver this to your prince: take your humans and leave da peeks.”
“Stephan,” Faith turned to Alia, nodding silently. Despite the shield, Alia nodded as well. Faith only hoped they both knew what they were thinking. “Keep walkin.”
Minus Sign
*21*
“They’re not all one group,” Faith whispered to her team, “that many spirits would drown each other out if they were; they have to be separated.”
Melody? the call whispered through the link.
I’m maintaining Holy Veil on Stephan Ironwill. I’m casting Protective Spirit on Stephan Ironwill.
Good girl, Faith thought. “Stephan, get in the center and hit Shalis if you can,” Toris was close enough to hear most of it. His arm rose and his team retreated slightly, moving to protect their monk.
“If you can call it that,” the warrior grunted aloud painfully, forcing his feet to move. The ice cracked and fell away, bit by bit, and Stephan began to move a hair’s breadth quicker.
“It will be your only warning humans,” Riine said quietly. His voice sounded annoyed, a feral hunger barely contained at the thought of taking these human lives. “And more than you deserve for interfering in the first place.”
“Keep your veil atop him Melody,” Alia ordered, “Slow dee golems down and aye will remove zeez hexes ven dee time comes.”
The monk nodded silently, her hands twitching with need to reach out to Stephan, to do something to help him. Moving hurt him; she could feel it. That’s all she knew or cared about now.
Colin? Faith was still working on her team. The feint would only last past the first spell—she knew, and everyone needed to be ready.
I’m targeting Shalis Ironmantle. The Stalker took a preparatory step toward the ranger’s mark. “Easy idiot; not just yet.” Faith forced herself not to smile. The Stalker’s slight twitch was all Toris and the dwarves needed to know. Faith and her team planned to kill their monk first and clean up the rest of them without anything to heal their wounds.
You just keep believing that, Faith prayed. Stephan’s legs were nearly free of the ice and his effort was more feigned strain than real impediment.
Alia.
I’m targeting Saris Headstaver, and Faith tsked. Mesmers and their dueling mentality.
“I need a horde,” Faith said aloud to make certain the mesmer understood.
Alia snorted, annoyed, but her call came through the link clearly. I’m targeting Riine Windrot. “Happy?”
“What’re you doin?” Toris growled again.
“Not yet,” Faith replied.
“Ferget it Torus,” Ulhar Stonehound called, “we no need ta send all sic back. Half’o one be bedder message any way.” And—meaning to put action to words, the rangers drew his bow and pointed at Faith. She ignored the ranger, focusing on Stephan. His legs were free, he could move again.
“Kali!” Faith called, her voice a feral snarl to match Riine’s, “Bring the Rain!”
“They’re not all one group,” Faith whispered to her team, “that many spirits would drown each other out if they were; they have to be separated.”
Melody? the call whispered through the link.
I’m maintaining Holy Veil on Stephan Ironwill. I’m casting Protective Spirit on Stephan Ironwill.
Good girl, Faith thought. “Stephan, get in the center and hit Shalis if you can,” Toris was close enough to hear most of it. His arm rose and his team retreated slightly, moving to protect their monk.
“If you can call it that,” the warrior grunted aloud painfully, forcing his feet to move. The ice cracked and fell away, bit by bit, and Stephan began to move a hair’s breadth quicker.
“It will be your only warning humans,” Riine said quietly. His voice sounded annoyed, a feral hunger barely contained at the thought of taking these human lives. “And more than you deserve for interfering in the first place.”
“Keep your veil atop him Melody,” Alia ordered, “Slow dee golems down and aye will remove zeez hexes ven dee time comes.”
The monk nodded silently, her hands twitching with need to reach out to Stephan, to do something to help him. Moving hurt him; she could feel it. That’s all she knew or cared about now.
Colin? Faith was still working on her team. The feint would only last past the first spell—she knew, and everyone needed to be ready.
I’m targeting Shalis Ironmantle. The Stalker took a preparatory step toward the ranger’s mark. “Easy idiot; not just yet.” Faith forced herself not to smile. The Stalker’s slight twitch was all Toris and the dwarves needed to know. Faith and her team planned to kill their monk first and clean up the rest of them without anything to heal their wounds.
You just keep believing that, Faith prayed. Stephan’s legs were nearly free of the ice and his effort was more feigned strain than real impediment.
Alia.
I’m targeting Saris Headstaver, and Faith tsked. Mesmers and their dueling mentality.
“I need a horde,” Faith said aloud to make certain the mesmer understood.
Alia snorted, annoyed, but her call came through the link clearly. I’m targeting Riine Windrot. “Happy?”
“What’re you doin?” Toris growled again.
“Not yet,” Faith replied.
“Ferget it Torus,” Ulhar Stonehound called, “we no need ta send all sic back. Half’o one be bedder message any way.” And—meaning to put action to words, the rangers drew his bow and pointed at Faith. She ignored the ranger, focusing on Stephan. His legs were free, he could move again.
“Kali!” Faith called, her voice a feral snarl to match Riine’s, “Bring the Rain!”
Minus Sign
*22*
Stephan surged forward as Kali’s eyes went white. “Stop him!” Torin roared, the axe wielders and crushers moving to form a protective shield around Shalis Ironmantle, who in turn began laying enchantments atop them. Unbound by Melody’s crux, the dwarf sent smite enchantments into his frontline, bestowing them with greater damage as they slammed into the lone warrior.
The air around took on a palpable hue, brimstone, as Kali’s spell neared climax. Saris and his team moved to stop the elementalist—anything that took this long and took this much power to cast would be dangerous to them—but Colin was ready. Shifting his aim, he sent a fiery arrow into the mesmer commander, the projectile exploding on the dwarf’s thigh. Crippled, Saris bellowed as his sages scattered, the elementalist forgotten momentarily as they stopped to put out the small fires that spattered their clothes.
Stephan was a wall unto himself though, guardian enchantments deflecting their strikes, reversals of fortune flaring when they got through and the guise of a protective spirit hovering over him as the golems struck again.
Stephan shoved his way into the wall, roaring as his axe spun, red meting white as the snow around him was stained by battle. The wall twisted as he madly pushed into them, encircling him to trap him in.
“NOW!” Alia snarled, her own eyes taking a sheen. The water magic hexes shattered outward, mana-fueled ice exploding around Stephan with lethal consequence. An axe wielder fell, clutching his throat in a death grip and Faith stepped forward, her own eyes red in spellcasting. Riine had done the same; it would be a race to choose which necromancer exploited the corpse first. The clouds above the dwarf platoon had taken a reddish tone, like rain clouds at sunset.
The mob of dwarves had begun to retreat, to give Stephan space lest another deadly Shatter Hex spell was unleashed from the mesmer. But they did not move far or fast enough, and kali grunted from strain, pointing her sword at the largest clump, at Torin Stonehammer. Fiery balls of molten rock began streaming from the cloud laden sky, slamming into the group mercilessly. Controlled by Kali, and aimed precisely, there was no danger to the human warrior in the heart of the Meteor Shower. Dwarf warriors fell, howling in unison as the firey rocks began to sear and crush them. Kali added insult to injury, her eyes flaring again to send yet another ball of pure fire from her hand toward Torin.
But—even as the first meteor struck—the dwarf commander had scoffed. A signet flashed from his outstretched hand, and the guise of a doylak flared in front of him. He moved slowly, purposely, through the fallen bodies around him.
“I am no easy meat for man,” the dwarf bellowed, his hammer coming down on Stephan’s blue flashing body in a mighty blow. Stephan grunted, his shield ringing shrilly through the battlefield as it deflected some of the damage.
“G-Gurgle!” Faith’s smile showed both sets of teeth and two small bone minions exploded from the first to fall. She wasted no time on Torin, turning her ire instead toward Ulhal and his band of archers. She had been right. The confusion that flashed across their underlings faces showed Faith that the teams had been separated into casts; each commanding their chosen profession with a single will. But they had been c0cky as well, assuming their numbers would guarantee victory, that their brute force would be enough to kill a heavily protted warrior.
And that their interrupts would reach the casters in time.
Faith was on the rise with her group, barley in bow range when the first volley struck. She gasped, the arrow striking deep into her abdomen, next to the old scar a charr had left as a parting gift. She felt melody’s Spirit flash around her, soothing the wound, magically drawing the arrow back out. No sooner had the first struck than another. And another. The guardian spell melody used was powerful, but imperfect. It could not deflect a direct assault from six bowdwarves. Still Faith concentrated, ignoring the pain in her chest and body, the blood soaking into her clothes, and the small group of archers withdrew slightly to deal with the threat in their faces.
“Wucha!” came a call and Faith turned her attention back to the mob of warriors. More had fallen in the intervening space of time, and Riine Windrot was not wasting time. He had somehow managed to animate two bone fiends, their throat barbs already streaking the sky toward Kali. The elementalist screamed, arrows turning from Faith to her as the archers tried to outpace Melody’s prots. The monk huffed, turning her attention to Kali and blue flares began to light from the ele’s skin. Faith’s eyes flashed red for a space of heatbeats; a green glow began to form around both minions as they struck the archers in earnest, and a new “Grugle!” answered its mistress’ call, more minions pushing outward in all directions.
The rise was a place of chaos. Torin and Stephan pounded at each other in the center of a scene from hell, bodies smoldering around them as they pushed each other back and forth. Both warriors grunted as they struck and were struck and Faith could hear—a multitude of whispers staining the howls of battle—“Don’t hurt me; why? It hurts! Stop this.” Empathy hexes from Alia and the sages. Faith glanced; several Sages stared dumbly at each other as more droplets of fiery rain began to pelt them anew. They bellowed, moving distractedly—diverted, Faith realized—by the hexes Alia had thrown atop them. Faith’s slowly forming horde scattered, uncontrolled, to strike any threat nearby. There were too many for her to be choosy. The ice golems had been twisted—she’d counted four before—into even less human shapes than she remembered. They appeared to melt into the ground like snowmen in a spring day, writhing in their spellcasting. There was no snow on the rise or just beyond, fire lanced through the area, smearing the undergrowth with a golden light. She could hear her comrades and her foes voices. And she could hear her own—a low pitched scream that issued as arrows struck her side and chest, grazing her head and barely missing an eye. Saris managed to interrupt another of Kali’s spells, but the mesmer staggered in the doing, paying a fearful price as expending his energy expended his life; Alia had found time to cast Backfire, a deadly hex to use against casters.
Melody was a machine, transferring smoothly from one threat to the next. One monk could not stop everything that was being laid on the group, but much of it never got through. She panted under the effort, throwing her spells on all five of her friends, desperate to keep the pain at bay. Thus far, the dwarves had been more busy keeping death away to bother with a single monk.
Riine began to call forth another minion, and Faith was just about to rebuke her mesmer when a screamed “Die!” rocked the valley, Alia’s mana-enhanced voice lashing into Riine Windrot like a scythe. He staggered, staring hatefully at the bone fiend that grew up in front of him. A fiend he had not created. Faith turned to another corpse, the broken body of an axe wielder that had impossibly made it to the top of the rise before…someone killed it, she couldn’t tell what struck the final blow.
And then she was reeling, pitching back and forth on her feet, trying to remember her own name with little success. Her Soul Reaping energy still hammered her—promising she was alive, that others were dying—but her mind was a blank in the impossible pain that stopped her cast.
The Sages had entered the fight at last. Too many for Alia to stop when combined with her attention on Riine, they had begun to take their vengeance out on the slowest casters of Faith’s group first. Another roar issued from down the rise, taking everyone’s attention. Toris Stonehammer toppled with a pain-filled scream, falling in a heap at Stephan’s feet.
Melody screamed to echo him, head in her hands as she reeled in shock and pain. She stopped casting, white eyes turning grey, her face a mask of horror. “Wha-what? M-my Gods!
“WHAT’S GOING ON???”
“Mel!” Faith roared, “PnH, now! Cast it on yourself now!”
Melody whimpered, staring at the war torn stretch of land, the corpses, the bodies, the violence. She was dumbstruck. Faith lurched in pain herself, feeling one of the monks protective spells torn from her in violence, the mana intended to heal and protect twisted instead into harm incarnate. Kali squealed, dropping to her knees as unshielded arrows lanced into her. Still the elementalist fought, eyes white fury as an axe wielder topped the rise, standing over her with weapon raised. Faith had time for a gasp of terror as mana exploded from Kali, a ring of fire bursting out, a fiery bird—Kali’s phoenix—lashing down toward the sages below. But without Melody healing the damage, Kali was a pincushion; a bloody sack of flesh protruding arrows grotesquely from her front and sides.
“Colin,” Faith roared aloud and through the link, “on the sages; don’t let him strip her enchants again!”
“But,” Colin blanched, “the doylak!” Even as he called Shalis Ironmantle began to cast a spell, his effort thwarted as Idiot jumped up, biting down on the monk’s leg and holding on savagely. If Kali was a pincushion, Shalis was a porcupine, he and his doylak steed reeling back and forth from lost blood and punctured organs.
“Melody,” Alia, closest to the tiny woman, cooed and bent to help the monk to her feet. The mesmer positioned herself between Melody and the fight, a physical wall between the chaos before them and the fragile mind keeping death at bay. “Your spell. Your special spell. Wee need uo to use it for uz. We are urting Melody; please…”
Melody jerked, still hearing the roar of fighting. Faith snarled, turning back into the fight. She couldn’t stop now, not and leave them three people down. Alia was a mesmer; it was best left in her hands. The necromancer could hear no more as she walked carefully down the rise and into the heart of torment. “Let me worry about their monk”
Faith concentrated on the horde, turning the bone minions toward Shalis and praying the archers and sages would ignore her—just for a few seconds. Green light flashed around one of the minions—making three death novas pounding toward the dying monk—before another arrow lanced into her shoulder.
“Help!” Shalis screamed Unhindered by the ranger, he began casting enchantments on the two remaining axe wielders. Blue light flashed as they rushed to the monk’s aid, their weapons imbued with holy damage that scythed through Faith’s undead horde with righteous power. The minions dropped quickly
“Idiots,” she whispered triumphantly.
And as the three bone minions dropped, they exploded. The death novas burst outward as powerfully as Kali’s Fireball, bone and poisonous flesh stabbing into Shalis and his would-be protectors. The doylak moaned, one leg hanging as a bloody useless ruin, and rolled over, crushing its passenger underneath.
“Kill the necro!” Saris Headstaver roared, “She’s their leader; kill the necr—oh!” Saris bent, twisting with a look of surprise to lay on his back as he dropped to the ground. Stephan wrenched at the dying body, pulling his axe out of the mesmer’s chest.
“Shaddap.”
Another sage—smoldering still—dropped atop Saris who stared unseeing at the clouds above, his mouth still open in his last call.
“Stephan!” Kali called, somehow risen to her feet again, “the archers wanna meet you!”
“Colin!” Faith roared, taking Kali’s lead, “keep Riine and his little friends busy.” And she turned back to the untouched group of howlers protecting their commander.
Though not so untouched as she had thought. One howler lay in pieces, a boulder sized rock between his torso and legs. Another had simply crumbled, blood coming out of his eyes after casting through one Backfire hex too many. And yet a third was on the ground, almost sensuously entwined with one of Faith’s bone minions as it crumbled around the dwarf’s body. Riine was not among the dead though, and seven fiends had come to stand and flank their master. After bombing Shalis, Faith had some considerable catching up to do. She didn’t bother to look for corpses. Her Soul Reaping told her where the nearest bodies were and there were far to many to be picky now. As her horde began to swell, Riine’s charged the rise to meet her. To stop her.
And it would succeed too. Colin was busy keeping the Howlers from casting; he hadn’t the time or arrows to block off a horde. Kali was cleaning up the last of the Sages and warriors; the two groups had balled together again as the warriors moved to defend what casters were left. And Stephan had his own problems to worry about. Kali’s call had been a good one, but saying it aloud had given the archers warning. As the warrior had moved to take them on, they had targeted his legs, pinning him down to prevent him from closing to melee range.
Seven headless throats presented themselves and Faith snarled, still casting summons.
“Fail!”
The fiends jerked, looking at one another in surprise. Stephan, moving with agonizing slowness as he bled his way toward the archers suddenly staggered, refreshed. He glanced at his legs, snarled wordlessly and sprinted toward the remaining archers. They renewed the attack, balked by blue light as the warrior crashed into them like a wave at high tide.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” came a voice at her left like a mouthful of mush. Faith chanced a look at Melody. The monk was still visibly shaken, her hands wringing together with her staff on the ground, and she had the daydreamy quality of a person reliving a nightmare, but Faith could feel spells pouring out of her through the group link. Kali straightened, arrows shorn away as if wiped from her body by an unseen hand.
“Nice to have you back,” Faith replied. Riine’s horde renewed their attack and Faith felt two barbs piece her skin. Four others bent harmlessly away as the seventh fiend’s attack exploded in blue light, restoring her. Melody trembled, looking at her friend with questioning eyes.
“Both of you,” Faith said, turning her horde into Riine’s. Fiend struck fiend as the two necromancers began to battle. But no sooner had they begun that Riine’s horde seemed to lose concentration. The fiends looked at each other dumbly, still under attack from Faith’s still small horde. Then they lashed out; angrily attacking everything—even each other—in mindless violence.
Faith looked to Riine and the Howlers. Another lay on the ground next to the meteor. The last was cradling Riine, an arrow jutting through the necromancer’s chest.
“Quarter!” came a call from what was left of the archers. Ulhar had his bow in one hand, warding Stephan as the warrior pursued.
Stephan surged forward as Kali’s eyes went white. “Stop him!” Torin roared, the axe wielders and crushers moving to form a protective shield around Shalis Ironmantle, who in turn began laying enchantments atop them. Unbound by Melody’s crux, the dwarf sent smite enchantments into his frontline, bestowing them with greater damage as they slammed into the lone warrior.
The air around took on a palpable hue, brimstone, as Kali’s spell neared climax. Saris and his team moved to stop the elementalist—anything that took this long and took this much power to cast would be dangerous to them—but Colin was ready. Shifting his aim, he sent a fiery arrow into the mesmer commander, the projectile exploding on the dwarf’s thigh. Crippled, Saris bellowed as his sages scattered, the elementalist forgotten momentarily as they stopped to put out the small fires that spattered their clothes.
Stephan was a wall unto himself though, guardian enchantments deflecting their strikes, reversals of fortune flaring when they got through and the guise of a protective spirit hovering over him as the golems struck again.
Stephan shoved his way into the wall, roaring as his axe spun, red meting white as the snow around him was stained by battle. The wall twisted as he madly pushed into them, encircling him to trap him in.
“NOW!” Alia snarled, her own eyes taking a sheen. The water magic hexes shattered outward, mana-fueled ice exploding around Stephan with lethal consequence. An axe wielder fell, clutching his throat in a death grip and Faith stepped forward, her own eyes red in spellcasting. Riine had done the same; it would be a race to choose which necromancer exploited the corpse first. The clouds above the dwarf platoon had taken a reddish tone, like rain clouds at sunset.
The mob of dwarves had begun to retreat, to give Stephan space lest another deadly Shatter Hex spell was unleashed from the mesmer. But they did not move far or fast enough, and kali grunted from strain, pointing her sword at the largest clump, at Torin Stonehammer. Fiery balls of molten rock began streaming from the cloud laden sky, slamming into the group mercilessly. Controlled by Kali, and aimed precisely, there was no danger to the human warrior in the heart of the Meteor Shower. Dwarf warriors fell, howling in unison as the firey rocks began to sear and crush them. Kali added insult to injury, her eyes flaring again to send yet another ball of pure fire from her hand toward Torin.
But—even as the first meteor struck—the dwarf commander had scoffed. A signet flashed from his outstretched hand, and the guise of a doylak flared in front of him. He moved slowly, purposely, through the fallen bodies around him.
“I am no easy meat for man,” the dwarf bellowed, his hammer coming down on Stephan’s blue flashing body in a mighty blow. Stephan grunted, his shield ringing shrilly through the battlefield as it deflected some of the damage.
“G-Gurgle!” Faith’s smile showed both sets of teeth and two small bone minions exploded from the first to fall. She wasted no time on Torin, turning her ire instead toward Ulhal and his band of archers. She had been right. The confusion that flashed across their underlings faces showed Faith that the teams had been separated into casts; each commanding their chosen profession with a single will. But they had been c0cky as well, assuming their numbers would guarantee victory, that their brute force would be enough to kill a heavily protted warrior.
And that their interrupts would reach the casters in time.
Faith was on the rise with her group, barley in bow range when the first volley struck. She gasped, the arrow striking deep into her abdomen, next to the old scar a charr had left as a parting gift. She felt melody’s Spirit flash around her, soothing the wound, magically drawing the arrow back out. No sooner had the first struck than another. And another. The guardian spell melody used was powerful, but imperfect. It could not deflect a direct assault from six bowdwarves. Still Faith concentrated, ignoring the pain in her chest and body, the blood soaking into her clothes, and the small group of archers withdrew slightly to deal with the threat in their faces.
“Wucha!” came a call and Faith turned her attention back to the mob of warriors. More had fallen in the intervening space of time, and Riine Windrot was not wasting time. He had somehow managed to animate two bone fiends, their throat barbs already streaking the sky toward Kali. The elementalist screamed, arrows turning from Faith to her as the archers tried to outpace Melody’s prots. The monk huffed, turning her attention to Kali and blue flares began to light from the ele’s skin. Faith’s eyes flashed red for a space of heatbeats; a green glow began to form around both minions as they struck the archers in earnest, and a new “Grugle!” answered its mistress’ call, more minions pushing outward in all directions.
The rise was a place of chaos. Torin and Stephan pounded at each other in the center of a scene from hell, bodies smoldering around them as they pushed each other back and forth. Both warriors grunted as they struck and were struck and Faith could hear—a multitude of whispers staining the howls of battle—“Don’t hurt me; why? It hurts! Stop this.” Empathy hexes from Alia and the sages. Faith glanced; several Sages stared dumbly at each other as more droplets of fiery rain began to pelt them anew. They bellowed, moving distractedly—diverted, Faith realized—by the hexes Alia had thrown atop them. Faith’s slowly forming horde scattered, uncontrolled, to strike any threat nearby. There were too many for her to be choosy. The ice golems had been twisted—she’d counted four before—into even less human shapes than she remembered. They appeared to melt into the ground like snowmen in a spring day, writhing in their spellcasting. There was no snow on the rise or just beyond, fire lanced through the area, smearing the undergrowth with a golden light. She could hear her comrades and her foes voices. And she could hear her own—a low pitched scream that issued as arrows struck her side and chest, grazing her head and barely missing an eye. Saris managed to interrupt another of Kali’s spells, but the mesmer staggered in the doing, paying a fearful price as expending his energy expended his life; Alia had found time to cast Backfire, a deadly hex to use against casters.
Melody was a machine, transferring smoothly from one threat to the next. One monk could not stop everything that was being laid on the group, but much of it never got through. She panted under the effort, throwing her spells on all five of her friends, desperate to keep the pain at bay. Thus far, the dwarves had been more busy keeping death away to bother with a single monk.
Riine began to call forth another minion, and Faith was just about to rebuke her mesmer when a screamed “Die!” rocked the valley, Alia’s mana-enhanced voice lashing into Riine Windrot like a scythe. He staggered, staring hatefully at the bone fiend that grew up in front of him. A fiend he had not created. Faith turned to another corpse, the broken body of an axe wielder that had impossibly made it to the top of the rise before…someone killed it, she couldn’t tell what struck the final blow.
And then she was reeling, pitching back and forth on her feet, trying to remember her own name with little success. Her Soul Reaping energy still hammered her—promising she was alive, that others were dying—but her mind was a blank in the impossible pain that stopped her cast.
The Sages had entered the fight at last. Too many for Alia to stop when combined with her attention on Riine, they had begun to take their vengeance out on the slowest casters of Faith’s group first. Another roar issued from down the rise, taking everyone’s attention. Toris Stonehammer toppled with a pain-filled scream, falling in a heap at Stephan’s feet.
Melody screamed to echo him, head in her hands as she reeled in shock and pain. She stopped casting, white eyes turning grey, her face a mask of horror. “Wha-what? M-my Gods!
“WHAT’S GOING ON???”
“Mel!” Faith roared, “PnH, now! Cast it on yourself now!”
Melody whimpered, staring at the war torn stretch of land, the corpses, the bodies, the violence. She was dumbstruck. Faith lurched in pain herself, feeling one of the monks protective spells torn from her in violence, the mana intended to heal and protect twisted instead into harm incarnate. Kali squealed, dropping to her knees as unshielded arrows lanced into her. Still the elementalist fought, eyes white fury as an axe wielder topped the rise, standing over her with weapon raised. Faith had time for a gasp of terror as mana exploded from Kali, a ring of fire bursting out, a fiery bird—Kali’s phoenix—lashing down toward the sages below. But without Melody healing the damage, Kali was a pincushion; a bloody sack of flesh protruding arrows grotesquely from her front and sides.
“Colin,” Faith roared aloud and through the link, “on the sages; don’t let him strip her enchants again!”
“But,” Colin blanched, “the doylak!” Even as he called Shalis Ironmantle began to cast a spell, his effort thwarted as Idiot jumped up, biting down on the monk’s leg and holding on savagely. If Kali was a pincushion, Shalis was a porcupine, he and his doylak steed reeling back and forth from lost blood and punctured organs.
“Melody,” Alia, closest to the tiny woman, cooed and bent to help the monk to her feet. The mesmer positioned herself between Melody and the fight, a physical wall between the chaos before them and the fragile mind keeping death at bay. “Your spell. Your special spell. Wee need uo to use it for uz. We are urting Melody; please…”
Melody jerked, still hearing the roar of fighting. Faith snarled, turning back into the fight. She couldn’t stop now, not and leave them three people down. Alia was a mesmer; it was best left in her hands. The necromancer could hear no more as she walked carefully down the rise and into the heart of torment. “Let me worry about their monk”
Faith concentrated on the horde, turning the bone minions toward Shalis and praying the archers and sages would ignore her—just for a few seconds. Green light flashed around one of the minions—making three death novas pounding toward the dying monk—before another arrow lanced into her shoulder.
“Help!” Shalis screamed Unhindered by the ranger, he began casting enchantments on the two remaining axe wielders. Blue light flashed as they rushed to the monk’s aid, their weapons imbued with holy damage that scythed through Faith’s undead horde with righteous power. The minions dropped quickly
“Idiots,” she whispered triumphantly.
And as the three bone minions dropped, they exploded. The death novas burst outward as powerfully as Kali’s Fireball, bone and poisonous flesh stabbing into Shalis and his would-be protectors. The doylak moaned, one leg hanging as a bloody useless ruin, and rolled over, crushing its passenger underneath.
“Kill the necro!” Saris Headstaver roared, “She’s their leader; kill the necr—oh!” Saris bent, twisting with a look of surprise to lay on his back as he dropped to the ground. Stephan wrenched at the dying body, pulling his axe out of the mesmer’s chest.
“Shaddap.”
Another sage—smoldering still—dropped atop Saris who stared unseeing at the clouds above, his mouth still open in his last call.
“Stephan!” Kali called, somehow risen to her feet again, “the archers wanna meet you!”
“Colin!” Faith roared, taking Kali’s lead, “keep Riine and his little friends busy.” And she turned back to the untouched group of howlers protecting their commander.
Though not so untouched as she had thought. One howler lay in pieces, a boulder sized rock between his torso and legs. Another had simply crumbled, blood coming out of his eyes after casting through one Backfire hex too many. And yet a third was on the ground, almost sensuously entwined with one of Faith’s bone minions as it crumbled around the dwarf’s body. Riine was not among the dead though, and seven fiends had come to stand and flank their master. After bombing Shalis, Faith had some considerable catching up to do. She didn’t bother to look for corpses. Her Soul Reaping told her where the nearest bodies were and there were far to many to be picky now. As her horde began to swell, Riine’s charged the rise to meet her. To stop her.
And it would succeed too. Colin was busy keeping the Howlers from casting; he hadn’t the time or arrows to block off a horde. Kali was cleaning up the last of the Sages and warriors; the two groups had balled together again as the warriors moved to defend what casters were left. And Stephan had his own problems to worry about. Kali’s call had been a good one, but saying it aloud had given the archers warning. As the warrior had moved to take them on, they had targeted his legs, pinning him down to prevent him from closing to melee range.
Seven headless throats presented themselves and Faith snarled, still casting summons.
“Fail!”
The fiends jerked, looking at one another in surprise. Stephan, moving with agonizing slowness as he bled his way toward the archers suddenly staggered, refreshed. He glanced at his legs, snarled wordlessly and sprinted toward the remaining archers. They renewed the attack, balked by blue light as the warrior crashed into them like a wave at high tide.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” came a voice at her left like a mouthful of mush. Faith chanced a look at Melody. The monk was still visibly shaken, her hands wringing together with her staff on the ground, and she had the daydreamy quality of a person reliving a nightmare, but Faith could feel spells pouring out of her through the group link. Kali straightened, arrows shorn away as if wiped from her body by an unseen hand.
“Nice to have you back,” Faith replied. Riine’s horde renewed their attack and Faith felt two barbs piece her skin. Four others bent harmlessly away as the seventh fiend’s attack exploded in blue light, restoring her. Melody trembled, looking at her friend with questioning eyes.
“Both of you,” Faith said, turning her horde into Riine’s. Fiend struck fiend as the two necromancers began to battle. But no sooner had they begun that Riine’s horde seemed to lose concentration. The fiends looked at each other dumbly, still under attack from Faith’s still small horde. Then they lashed out; angrily attacking everything—even each other—in mindless violence.
Faith looked to Riine and the Howlers. Another lay on the ground next to the meteor. The last was cradling Riine, an arrow jutting through the necromancer’s chest.
“Quarter!” came a call from what was left of the archers. Ulhar had his bow in one hand, warding Stephan as the warrior pursued.
Minus Sign
*23*
“Quarter damn you! I surrender!”
Stephan stopped, glancing back at Faith in question. She shook her head, turning her horde to flank the lone ranger.
“I’m sorry,” the necromancer said, walking down the rise, past Toris’ exploited corpse. “I’m sorry so many lives were wasted here today,” she stepped around the doylak, sparing a look at Shalis’ hand. It was all she could see of the monk. “And I’m sorry about this.”
“No!” Urhal snapped, dropping his bow. “I cried quarter; you have to take me back to your prince. My people will offer—”
“Your people have offered nothing but mayhem since we arrived here,” Faith snapped, silencing the dwarf. “You have killed refugees trying to reach us as we evacuated Ascalon. You have dragged us into your war with Jarlis Ironhammer after we repeatedly told you we wish nothing but safe haven and passage.”
“But,” Urhal beseeched her, “you have to take me back to Prince Rurik. I…surrendered.”
“I would so be bound,” Faith conceded and Urhal relaxed slightly. “If we were going back to the bend.
“But we are not.”
“You want war? So be it; the Ascalon refugees are at war with the Stone Summit. And I am on a mission that cannot afford to be slowed down by prisoners. Even half of one.”
“NO!”
“GURGLE!”
“Ya know,” Stephan said, wiping his axe clean, “I coulda done that and saved you a speech.”
“Shut up,” Faith said, but there was no venom. “I’m the group leader; it was my responsibility to pass sentence.”
“My Gods,” Colin said, staring at the blasted bowl they were now in the center of. “We just took out a whole platoon of them. I count forty two bodies, addin in the puddles Kali made outa them golems.”
“We got of lighter than I feared we would,” Faith said stoicly, and the ranger staggered. Melody had withdrawn momentarily, but burst forward when Idiot limped back to the group. The small woman was worrying over the stalker now, physically and magically soothing its wounds. Cuddles had managed to sneak from her pack when she fell, and the troll was chewing appreciatively on—Faith turned away from Toris’ and Cuddles with a groan. “When I first saw the platoon, I feared they would have the same scattered through the trail leading up to Iron Horse. All their commanders in the same place though—or at least, most of them; The Judge, Hussfar Ironfeast, and Ulrik aren’t here. They may be blocking the southern pass still with Inar Frostbite.
“Thank Melandru for small favors,” Colin relied.
“I might,” Faith replied, “later. But for now it looks as though whatever Mhenlo’s team disclosed, the Summit misunderstood. They think we mean to push a large group through here. If we’d been bigger, Toris and his commanders would have retreated back into Iron Horse with their teams. There’s a bottleneck up that way near the old resurrection shrine; they could have conceivably stalled a large force there for days with help from the centaurs on the way.
“But they were overconfident,” Kali concluded. “Figured we were a scouting party instead of…”
“The force they were warned to ward against,” Faith nodded. “They fought us out here, in the open where we could see them. But where they could wait for Rurik’s people too.”
“But we still don’t know what else we have to face,” Stephan offered.
“I’m betting little of none,” Colin replied. “If Faith is right then they never intended to have any serious fighting until we had pushed them back into the bottleneck, where our ‘numbers’ would be useless while their small teams could spell each other for…days.”
“Lets hope anyway,” Faith said, turning toward the corpses around her, checking over her horde. She had managed to keep six up in the short fight, 1 bone minion and five fiends. Thee were still a few corpses left she could exploit for fodder. “By the time I reach the mines, whats left of the horde I make here will be ready to drop no matter how hard Mel and I work. Speaking of which.
“Melody?”
The monk jerked again as if struck, turning her eyes to the necromancer. Faith smiled, sending confidence through the link. “Are you okay?”
“I,” the monk shuddered, “um,” she glanced at the ground around them. She could see the bodies around her. She knew what had happened still. Shattering Peace and Harmony had done far more damage to Faith’s team than anything the mesmers could have done.
“Mel-o-dee?” Alia cooed again, soothing the monk the same way she was soothing Idiot. “Your spell. Use your spell again por us. Please?” Faith suppressed a growl. Alia might had handled the fight adequately—even if she strayed from Faith’s orders a few times, but that was forgiven as targets of opportunity had presented themselves. But that deceptive shield was still locked in place, keeping Faith—keeping everyone out.
“But,” Melody looked at Alia questioningly, “I don’t…need to.”
“I like to see dee liddle flash. It is such a pretty spell and you use it all dee time. It has such a pretty flash. May I see it again? Please?”
“Okay,” Melody concentrated and Peace and Harmony flashed a gold and blue nimbus around her. She relaxed a little more.
“Very pretty; thank you.” The mesmer nuzzled Melody behind the ear, and the monk gave a confused giggle.
When Alia turned, her face was stern; the softness of her voice was gone and she spoke with clinical confidence. “I spent some time discussing er condition wit Zee Team. It seems that the more she applies her spell to herself, the more quickly her traumas dissipate. A few more casts and she will have forgotten what we just did, and to oo.
“We must make certain to shut down any mesmer who would strip her spell again, “Alia continued. “These dwarves are not like dee charr. They fight just as dirty, but they are more knowledgeable about what will break us down. It was not until they saw her elite that they considered Melody the threat. They will do everything they can to kill our monk.”
“Then we’d best get moving,” Faith replied. “Let me get a horde up, in case we need it.” The word “our” was the deciding factor in Faith’s decision not to send Alia back to the bend. Shielded or not, she had let her hand slip. She viewed Melody in a proprietary manner. A member of her team. Shield or no shield, Faith could feel the heat in Alia’s voice as she laid out the means to defend Melody from another Shatter Enchantment to Colin. Perhaps it was just a sense of obligation to one who had tended her wounds when she reached yak’s bend. Maybe it was more. But Alia would defend the group as best she could—she wouldn’t slack off or sneak out on her own.
She’d stick. And in time, she might even fit. Something in Faith knew that now.
“Quarter damn you! I surrender!”
Stephan stopped, glancing back at Faith in question. She shook her head, turning her horde to flank the lone ranger.
“I’m sorry,” the necromancer said, walking down the rise, past Toris’ exploited corpse. “I’m sorry so many lives were wasted here today,” she stepped around the doylak, sparing a look at Shalis’ hand. It was all she could see of the monk. “And I’m sorry about this.”
“No!” Urhal snapped, dropping his bow. “I cried quarter; you have to take me back to your prince. My people will offer—”
“Your people have offered nothing but mayhem since we arrived here,” Faith snapped, silencing the dwarf. “You have killed refugees trying to reach us as we evacuated Ascalon. You have dragged us into your war with Jarlis Ironhammer after we repeatedly told you we wish nothing but safe haven and passage.”
“But,” Urhal beseeched her, “you have to take me back to Prince Rurik. I…surrendered.”
“I would so be bound,” Faith conceded and Urhal relaxed slightly. “If we were going back to the bend.
“But we are not.”
“You want war? So be it; the Ascalon refugees are at war with the Stone Summit. And I am on a mission that cannot afford to be slowed down by prisoners. Even half of one.”
“NO!”
“GURGLE!”
“Ya know,” Stephan said, wiping his axe clean, “I coulda done that and saved you a speech.”
“Shut up,” Faith said, but there was no venom. “I’m the group leader; it was my responsibility to pass sentence.”
“My Gods,” Colin said, staring at the blasted bowl they were now in the center of. “We just took out a whole platoon of them. I count forty two bodies, addin in the puddles Kali made outa them golems.”
“We got of lighter than I feared we would,” Faith said stoicly, and the ranger staggered. Melody had withdrawn momentarily, but burst forward when Idiot limped back to the group. The small woman was worrying over the stalker now, physically and magically soothing its wounds. Cuddles had managed to sneak from her pack when she fell, and the troll was chewing appreciatively on—Faith turned away from Toris’ and Cuddles with a groan. “When I first saw the platoon, I feared they would have the same scattered through the trail leading up to Iron Horse. All their commanders in the same place though—or at least, most of them; The Judge, Hussfar Ironfeast, and Ulrik aren’t here. They may be blocking the southern pass still with Inar Frostbite.
“Thank Melandru for small favors,” Colin relied.
“I might,” Faith replied, “later. But for now it looks as though whatever Mhenlo’s team disclosed, the Summit misunderstood. They think we mean to push a large group through here. If we’d been bigger, Toris and his commanders would have retreated back into Iron Horse with their teams. There’s a bottleneck up that way near the old resurrection shrine; they could have conceivably stalled a large force there for days with help from the centaurs on the way.
“But they were overconfident,” Kali concluded. “Figured we were a scouting party instead of…”
“The force they were warned to ward against,” Faith nodded. “They fought us out here, in the open where we could see them. But where they could wait for Rurik’s people too.”
“But we still don’t know what else we have to face,” Stephan offered.
“I’m betting little of none,” Colin replied. “If Faith is right then they never intended to have any serious fighting until we had pushed them back into the bottleneck, where our ‘numbers’ would be useless while their small teams could spell each other for…days.”
“Lets hope anyway,” Faith said, turning toward the corpses around her, checking over her horde. She had managed to keep six up in the short fight, 1 bone minion and five fiends. Thee were still a few corpses left she could exploit for fodder. “By the time I reach the mines, whats left of the horde I make here will be ready to drop no matter how hard Mel and I work. Speaking of which.
“Melody?”
The monk jerked again as if struck, turning her eyes to the necromancer. Faith smiled, sending confidence through the link. “Are you okay?”
“I,” the monk shuddered, “um,” she glanced at the ground around them. She could see the bodies around her. She knew what had happened still. Shattering Peace and Harmony had done far more damage to Faith’s team than anything the mesmers could have done.
“Mel-o-dee?” Alia cooed again, soothing the monk the same way she was soothing Idiot. “Your spell. Use your spell again por us. Please?” Faith suppressed a growl. Alia might had handled the fight adequately—even if she strayed from Faith’s orders a few times, but that was forgiven as targets of opportunity had presented themselves. But that deceptive shield was still locked in place, keeping Faith—keeping everyone out.
“But,” Melody looked at Alia questioningly, “I don’t…need to.”
“I like to see dee liddle flash. It is such a pretty spell and you use it all dee time. It has such a pretty flash. May I see it again? Please?”
“Okay,” Melody concentrated and Peace and Harmony flashed a gold and blue nimbus around her. She relaxed a little more.
“Very pretty; thank you.” The mesmer nuzzled Melody behind the ear, and the monk gave a confused giggle.
When Alia turned, her face was stern; the softness of her voice was gone and she spoke with clinical confidence. “I spent some time discussing er condition wit Zee Team. It seems that the more she applies her spell to herself, the more quickly her traumas dissipate. A few more casts and she will have forgotten what we just did, and to oo.
“We must make certain to shut down any mesmer who would strip her spell again, “Alia continued. “These dwarves are not like dee charr. They fight just as dirty, but they are more knowledgeable about what will break us down. It was not until they saw her elite that they considered Melody the threat. They will do everything they can to kill our monk.”
“Then we’d best get moving,” Faith replied. “Let me get a horde up, in case we need it.” The word “our” was the deciding factor in Faith’s decision not to send Alia back to the bend. Shielded or not, she had let her hand slip. She viewed Melody in a proprietary manner. A member of her team. Shield or no shield, Faith could feel the heat in Alia’s voice as she laid out the means to defend Melody from another Shatter Enchantment to Colin. Perhaps it was just a sense of obligation to one who had tended her wounds when she reached yak’s bend. Maybe it was more. But Alia would defend the group as best she could—she wouldn’t slack off or sneak out on her own.
She’d stick. And in time, she might even fit. Something in Faith knew that now.
Minus Sign
*24*
“Looks like you’ere right,” Colin said a minute later. He had slipped out quickly in the intervening space between his talk with Alia and the team’s march north to scout ahead. His face promised good news. “Don’t see a hair nor hide of nothing up that way all up to the bottleneck. That’s as far as yer horde’ll git, right?”
“By then, they’ll be too decomposed for melody and I to waste energy keeping them alive. If you’re sure its clear, I’ll let them drop as we move and we can run all that faster.”
Colin nodded; he was sure. “Pick up yer feet necro; we got a walk to make.”
So the slow trudging march—punching their way through patrol after patrol—that Faith had dreaded turned into a run for their lives. No dwarf on the summit could have missed the display Kali had caused summoning her Meteor Shower. Something would be coming to check. Soon.
But, Faith wondered, trying to hide her own concern from the group through the link ,what will our reception be when we reach the mines? Are there more waiting for us, or are they expecting Rurik’s team to be stymied by the group here? I can’t set us wrong again.
I have to do this one right.
The last of her horde had collapsed when the answer came limping into view. Faith tensed as a hoarse “Faith!” issued from a weary Mhenlo, his robes in taters; his team…only Cynn seemed fresh. The elementalist was supporting Mhenlo. Faith nearly gawked. The testy—typically short tempered—elementalist had a cast in her eyes as desperate as Melody’s. Her face was still pinched up like a woman who ate nothing but lemons, but her eyes were fretful with worry for the monk in her arms.
“Faith,” Mhenlo called more quietly as she and the casters reached his group. They were hunkered beneath a resurrection shrine, soft blue/white light soothing away the worst of their wounds. To one side, a female necromancer she did not recognize—short dark red hair with a wide mouth—was breathing shallowly and lying on her back, unconscious. Beside her the bandaged head of a male elementalist had swung drunkenly up to regard the gathering group. He seemed to count them, shake his head mournfully, and sit his head back between his knees.. Melody reached out to the injured pair but Mhenlo waved her away. “Leave that off Mel. You’ll need your energy; let the shrine do its work.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his attention turning back to Faith and—she was surprised to see—Colin, “we tried to sneak through the north, but it’s crammed full of Etins.”
“I got your note.”
“Sorry,” Mhenlo said, not sounding sorry at all. He sounded harried, haggard from strain and exhaustion. “Lana and her half-ranger heritage. She kept trying to sneak just a little further into the mine; just a little more info on their numbers, you know? Next thing we knew, we had Summit on every side, Etins on our flank and alarm’s tolling through—” Mhenlo took a composing breath. “It got bad fast.”
“Where is she?”
“Yeah,” the monk rubbed his bald head, exhaustion giving way to true regret. “Not good to speak ill of the dead. She’s in there too deep and I can’t rebirth her without starting another fight.
“Looks like you’ve done enough of that,” Faith said off-handedly.
“Watch it necro.”
“Shut up Cynn.”
“Both of you,” Mhenlo snapped, getting four fiery eyes for his trouble. “Stop.
“Anyway,” he said, forcing himself upright so as not to rely too heavily on Cynn. The elementalist eyes shot daggers at Faith, but her hands hovered close, ready in case he looked ready to fall. Mhenlo looked perpetually ready to fall at the moment. “I’m sorry for the extra hassle to you and yours; looks like you fought your way through all of traveler’s vale to get here.”
“Just half,” Kali offered, smiling awkwardly.
“Heh,” Cynn laughed. Faith shook her head.
“Look,” Mhenlo continued, pointing to a group of shadows on the northmost path behind him. As the dwarves reached the rise of a hill, they stopped. Counting Faith’s team, the small group appeared to decide fighting would not be in their best interest, and began making their way slowly back north, away from the shrine and the humans. “They keep trying to scout up here. We’ve been lucky so far. They haven’t sent anything larger than a five man group.
“Its almost like they want to keep us here,” Cynn said thoughtfully.
“There was a platoon on its way,” Stephan said casually. The male ele groaned and Cynn seemed to slump under Mhenlo’s weight.
“They aren’t any more,” Faith offered, and Mhenlo perked at that, glancing again at the ragid state of her group. “But my guess is, if you’d stayed here like this you were going to find yourself sandwiched shortly.”
“What do you mean ‘they aren’t any more’?”
“We took care of it. The way down is clear; I suggest you take it while you can.”
“We will,” and exhaustion for his efforts turned to honest awe at theirs, Mhenlo held out his hand, taking Faith’s by the forearm. “Gods Faith; a platoon? I’ll let Rurik know you made it this far, and what you’ve done.”
"Tell him to move his ass; the Summit won’t sit still much longer now. They’re bound to retaliate once they know who died today and Yak’s Bend is too cut off a target to not be tempting.”
“Who died?”
Faith let Kali rattle off the list as she moved toward the red headed necromancer. She was covered in baby-pink skin. New skin, not woven or repaired. the rez shrine continued to hum in soft light, continued working to heal what had been done to her.
“What could do this?” came a soft whisper behind her ear, and Faith jerked physically. Alia knelt down on the other side of the necromancer, resting a hand on the woman’s wrist in a curious manner. “To burn it all off? It would kill her in the process. This skin was…
“Corrupted,” Mhenlo offered. “That’s the other thing you six need to know about before you head up that way. Faith…I am…”
“Stop saying you’re sorry,” she almost snapped. Mhenlo wasn’t like this; making apologies left and right for things he’d had no control over. The scout mission had gone bad. These things happened and he knew it. But something had shaken the monk in more than a physical way. His spirit had been crushed in the Iron horse Mine.
"There are these…things…up there. I’ve never seen anything like them before."
“What’d’they look like?” Colin asked, his own voice dropped to match theirs. He knelt next to Alia, examining the unconscious necromancer as well.
“Bugs,” Mhenlo said with a shaky whisper. Faith was right; the man talked as if reliving the battle. “On four legs. With big head, small bodies.”
“Dryders,” Colin said. “I’ve heard of em; never seen one alive though.”
“Its necromancer mana,” Alia offered. “iz it naught?”
“Yeah,” Mhenlo said. “It was like her flesh,” he sighed, shaking his head, “like it twisted off her. Her body…rejected it. I couldn’t heal her. Well; I mean I could but…Gods it’s hard to explain."
“Defile Flesh,” Faith supplied. “It’s a curse spell, and a nasty one. Your healing—anything’s healing—gets wrapped up trying to reduce what the hex does.
“Even a rez shrine, apparently.” Faith turned from her examination of the necromancer to Mhenlo, “is this why you’re so sorry all a sudden?"
The monk nodded. “The southern route is still defended, but there probably aren’t any officers reconnoitered there yet. It’s your best chance to get into to Anvil Rock. But that’s how we got out of the mines too; we broke through there because it was the weakest area. And when we did—when we were mopping up the last of the Summit that’d followed—these things, these dryders attacked us. For no reason; they just jumped us like we were a free meal.
“Olivia was already in a bad way when we got out of the mine. Those things went for her first and hard. She hasn’t woken up since,” he trembled as he laid a hand on the necromancer’s cheek. “Considering what that hex must have felt like when she fainted, I’m grateful for it.
“They weren’t that hard to kill but the hex…their hexes linger.”
“If those things’re that bad,” Colin said, standing up, “we can avoid em. We’ve all of us dealt with Etins and Summit before.”
Mhenlo shook his head. “The mine is mobilized; you’ll face a staunch defense if you go near it. The bridge south isn’t required for its defense,” and he pointed to a bright corridor beyond, the first flurry of snow beginning to pelt the ground beyond. Where they stood, in the bottleneck, the snow was a small thing. In the wide expanse beyond, the wind whipped it into a fury of white. It’s still going to be better than punching your way through the mines. Trust me on this; if you can hit the bridge and break out, you’ll stand a better chance getting to the Anvil.”
Faith stood as well, her lips puckered in a pouting frown. “You need to get back to the bend now Menhlo.”
The monk nodded, helping the elementalist to his feet. The other man looked at her, only one eye was unbound and it was watery, the skin around it bruised. He shook his head and began to shuffle away. Stephan helped Cynn—the most able of the group to retreat—rig a stretcher to carry Olivia. The necromancer made no sound as they shifted her from the hard ground to the contraption, made not a peep when Mhenlo and Melody checked her in turn.
“What’d’you think Faith?” Colin asked in that same whispered—almost conspiratorial—tone. He was looking at the fork beyond; the dark maw of the Iron Horse Mine to their north, the flurry filled expanse of white out trail to their south. “North side and through a wall of Summit or south and maybe meet your maker?”
Faith sighed. It was Grendich all over again. Two roads to follow; danger at both ends. But which was worse?
I can’t be wrong again.
“Looks like you’ere right,” Colin said a minute later. He had slipped out quickly in the intervening space between his talk with Alia and the team’s march north to scout ahead. His face promised good news. “Don’t see a hair nor hide of nothing up that way all up to the bottleneck. That’s as far as yer horde’ll git, right?”
“By then, they’ll be too decomposed for melody and I to waste energy keeping them alive. If you’re sure its clear, I’ll let them drop as we move and we can run all that faster.”
Colin nodded; he was sure. “Pick up yer feet necro; we got a walk to make.”
So the slow trudging march—punching their way through patrol after patrol—that Faith had dreaded turned into a run for their lives. No dwarf on the summit could have missed the display Kali had caused summoning her Meteor Shower. Something would be coming to check. Soon.
But, Faith wondered, trying to hide her own concern from the group through the link ,what will our reception be when we reach the mines? Are there more waiting for us, or are they expecting Rurik’s team to be stymied by the group here? I can’t set us wrong again.
I have to do this one right.
The last of her horde had collapsed when the answer came limping into view. Faith tensed as a hoarse “Faith!” issued from a weary Mhenlo, his robes in taters; his team…only Cynn seemed fresh. The elementalist was supporting Mhenlo. Faith nearly gawked. The testy—typically short tempered—elementalist had a cast in her eyes as desperate as Melody’s. Her face was still pinched up like a woman who ate nothing but lemons, but her eyes were fretful with worry for the monk in her arms.
“Faith,” Mhenlo called more quietly as she and the casters reached his group. They were hunkered beneath a resurrection shrine, soft blue/white light soothing away the worst of their wounds. To one side, a female necromancer she did not recognize—short dark red hair with a wide mouth—was breathing shallowly and lying on her back, unconscious. Beside her the bandaged head of a male elementalist had swung drunkenly up to regard the gathering group. He seemed to count them, shake his head mournfully, and sit his head back between his knees.. Melody reached out to the injured pair but Mhenlo waved her away. “Leave that off Mel. You’ll need your energy; let the shrine do its work.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his attention turning back to Faith and—she was surprised to see—Colin, “we tried to sneak through the north, but it’s crammed full of Etins.”
“I got your note.”
“Sorry,” Mhenlo said, not sounding sorry at all. He sounded harried, haggard from strain and exhaustion. “Lana and her half-ranger heritage. She kept trying to sneak just a little further into the mine; just a little more info on their numbers, you know? Next thing we knew, we had Summit on every side, Etins on our flank and alarm’s tolling through—” Mhenlo took a composing breath. “It got bad fast.”
“Where is she?”
“Yeah,” the monk rubbed his bald head, exhaustion giving way to true regret. “Not good to speak ill of the dead. She’s in there too deep and I can’t rebirth her without starting another fight.
“Looks like you’ve done enough of that,” Faith said off-handedly.
“Watch it necro.”
“Shut up Cynn.”
“Both of you,” Mhenlo snapped, getting four fiery eyes for his trouble. “Stop.
“Anyway,” he said, forcing himself upright so as not to rely too heavily on Cynn. The elementalist eyes shot daggers at Faith, but her hands hovered close, ready in case he looked ready to fall. Mhenlo looked perpetually ready to fall at the moment. “I’m sorry for the extra hassle to you and yours; looks like you fought your way through all of traveler’s vale to get here.”
“Just half,” Kali offered, smiling awkwardly.
“Heh,” Cynn laughed. Faith shook her head.
“Look,” Mhenlo continued, pointing to a group of shadows on the northmost path behind him. As the dwarves reached the rise of a hill, they stopped. Counting Faith’s team, the small group appeared to decide fighting would not be in their best interest, and began making their way slowly back north, away from the shrine and the humans. “They keep trying to scout up here. We’ve been lucky so far. They haven’t sent anything larger than a five man group.
“Its almost like they want to keep us here,” Cynn said thoughtfully.
“There was a platoon on its way,” Stephan said casually. The male ele groaned and Cynn seemed to slump under Mhenlo’s weight.
“They aren’t any more,” Faith offered, and Mhenlo perked at that, glancing again at the ragid state of her group. “But my guess is, if you’d stayed here like this you were going to find yourself sandwiched shortly.”
“What do you mean ‘they aren’t any more’?”
“We took care of it. The way down is clear; I suggest you take it while you can.”
“We will,” and exhaustion for his efforts turned to honest awe at theirs, Mhenlo held out his hand, taking Faith’s by the forearm. “Gods Faith; a platoon? I’ll let Rurik know you made it this far, and what you’ve done.”
"Tell him to move his ass; the Summit won’t sit still much longer now. They’re bound to retaliate once they know who died today and Yak’s Bend is too cut off a target to not be tempting.”
“Who died?”
Faith let Kali rattle off the list as she moved toward the red headed necromancer. She was covered in baby-pink skin. New skin, not woven or repaired. the rez shrine continued to hum in soft light, continued working to heal what had been done to her.
“What could do this?” came a soft whisper behind her ear, and Faith jerked physically. Alia knelt down on the other side of the necromancer, resting a hand on the woman’s wrist in a curious manner. “To burn it all off? It would kill her in the process. This skin was…
“Corrupted,” Mhenlo offered. “That’s the other thing you six need to know about before you head up that way. Faith…I am…”
“Stop saying you’re sorry,” she almost snapped. Mhenlo wasn’t like this; making apologies left and right for things he’d had no control over. The scout mission had gone bad. These things happened and he knew it. But something had shaken the monk in more than a physical way. His spirit had been crushed in the Iron horse Mine.
"There are these…things…up there. I’ve never seen anything like them before."
“What’d’they look like?” Colin asked, his own voice dropped to match theirs. He knelt next to Alia, examining the unconscious necromancer as well.
“Bugs,” Mhenlo said with a shaky whisper. Faith was right; the man talked as if reliving the battle. “On four legs. With big head, small bodies.”
“Dryders,” Colin said. “I’ve heard of em; never seen one alive though.”
“Its necromancer mana,” Alia offered. “iz it naught?”
“Yeah,” Mhenlo said. “It was like her flesh,” he sighed, shaking his head, “like it twisted off her. Her body…rejected it. I couldn’t heal her. Well; I mean I could but…Gods it’s hard to explain."
“Defile Flesh,” Faith supplied. “It’s a curse spell, and a nasty one. Your healing—anything’s healing—gets wrapped up trying to reduce what the hex does.
“Even a rez shrine, apparently.” Faith turned from her examination of the necromancer to Mhenlo, “is this why you’re so sorry all a sudden?"
The monk nodded. “The southern route is still defended, but there probably aren’t any officers reconnoitered there yet. It’s your best chance to get into to Anvil Rock. But that’s how we got out of the mines too; we broke through there because it was the weakest area. And when we did—when we were mopping up the last of the Summit that’d followed—these things, these dryders attacked us. For no reason; they just jumped us like we were a free meal.
“Olivia was already in a bad way when we got out of the mine. Those things went for her first and hard. She hasn’t woken up since,” he trembled as he laid a hand on the necromancer’s cheek. “Considering what that hex must have felt like when she fainted, I’m grateful for it.
“They weren’t that hard to kill but the hex…their hexes linger.”
“If those things’re that bad,” Colin said, standing up, “we can avoid em. We’ve all of us dealt with Etins and Summit before.”
Mhenlo shook his head. “The mine is mobilized; you’ll face a staunch defense if you go near it. The bridge south isn’t required for its defense,” and he pointed to a bright corridor beyond, the first flurry of snow beginning to pelt the ground beyond. Where they stood, in the bottleneck, the snow was a small thing. In the wide expanse beyond, the wind whipped it into a fury of white. It’s still going to be better than punching your way through the mines. Trust me on this; if you can hit the bridge and break out, you’ll stand a better chance getting to the Anvil.”
Faith stood as well, her lips puckered in a pouting frown. “You need to get back to the bend now Menhlo.”
The monk nodded, helping the elementalist to his feet. The other man looked at her, only one eye was unbound and it was watery, the skin around it bruised. He shook his head and began to shuffle away. Stephan helped Cynn—the most able of the group to retreat—rig a stretcher to carry Olivia. The necromancer made no sound as they shifted her from the hard ground to the contraption, made not a peep when Mhenlo and Melody checked her in turn.
“What’d’you think Faith?” Colin asked in that same whispered—almost conspiratorial—tone. He was looking at the fork beyond; the dark maw of the Iron Horse Mine to their north, the flurry filled expanse of white out trail to their south. “North side and through a wall of Summit or south and maybe meet your maker?”
Faith sighed. It was Grendich all over again. Two roads to follow; danger at both ends. But which was worse?
I can’t be wrong again.