Faith Rivin: Looking For Group

A Flesh Golem isn't a Tyrian skill, I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't get that ability for a while.
Ascalon is a long way from Cantha ;-)

In either case, let Minus continue the story as he sees it best done - he's done a fantastic job so far and I'd hate to see him get too caught up trying to please the different desires of the readers to make it how it's supposed to be: his way.

Not to refer to you in the third person, Minus Sign
Keep it up, I love how you so expertly keep the plot moving without having the characters suddenly realize what they need to do. It's human, and therefore believable.

yeah i know but in minus's minion mistress faith could do it so y cant she do it now?

22

Lunchtime saw Faith and Melody sitting on a pair of covered rain barrels, the necromancer flexing and loosening her hands subconsciously. Melody stared sullenly at the groups that passed, waving at people she had met over the last two weeks. Once, she shifted on her perch as Frazier Embergleen passed. Faith clamped a hand on the monk’s shoulder, shaking her head slightly.

Enough people had “gone away’ without telling Melody that the monk had finally accepted it as a world truth. But it was neither peaceful nor harmonious for her, and Faith feared the monk would forget why she couldn’t tell others. Today, Faith was watching the monk warily instead of the other way round.

Kali appeared in the mass, trying nonchalance as she shifted a heavy laden duffle bag on her shoulder. Melody waved again, easing herself off the rain barrel. Faith grabbed her arm firmly, holding her where she was. “She’s coming to us,” the necro said sternly. Melody pouted but remained silent.

“Is Stephan back yet?” Faith asked in a careful tone when kali approached. “We didn’t see him come in.”

The warrior had not been able to take on an evening sweep after all, but had instead been snatched into a midday offensive. The timing would hurt. If Stephan was too tired to fight his way out…Faith took hold of herself, trying not to shake her head in annoyance. Stephan might be tired.

She pushed worry aside in the same breath. Once her horde was up, he could rest safely behind it with the rest of them.

She hoped. Faith wobbled as she finally followed Melody in standing from their seat. She was still tired, weakened from her condition.

“Yeah; he’s back,” Kali said, pinching her lips between her teeth. “He’s, ahh, got to report to the QMs “

“Why?” Faith asked, eyeing the elementalist. Something about her tone. Kali shrugged, feigning ignorance. The twitch of her shoulders revealed a longsword, well worn and freshly sharpened. “Is that Stephan’s sword?”

“Yeah,” Kali said, hefting the weapon unconsciously.

“Uh huh,” Faith nodded, hiding a smile. That was why. “Looks heavy.”

Kali smiled, whispering “A little.”

“Ok,” a gruff voice said from Melody’s other side and Kali jumped. Stephan dropped his duffle behind the rain barrels with Faith and Melody’s, testing a half-moon war axe experimentally. “Horn blows in three minutes. Do we want to be first out or last to leave?”

Faith was still watching Kali, no longer trying to hide the smile. Kali puckered her mouth, shaking her head at the necro with reddening cheeks. “Last to leave I think is best,” Faith said at last. “We’ll grab more corpses on our way; easier going once we’re outside.

“Are you ready?”

Stephan hunched his shoulders, picking at a loose buckle on the wooden buckler he carried. “I’m rested,” he said, all the answer she’d get on the subject. Stephan was still uncomfortable with all of this. “If we run through the center the fight will be lightest with all the people around. Might make things easier while we make our break.”

Faith shook her head. “We’ll have to run through more Char if we go that way. Best if we stick to the west and run southwest. We run for the old bridge and try to swing around the Char.”

“The lowlands are all grown wild Faith,” Kali reminded. “There’s a firestorm of Storm Riders and Hydras that way. Might make things harder without that nice effect Stormcaller has every hour.”

“I think we all know better than that by now,” Faith injected sarcastically. “Hydras and Storm Riders will attack us if they’re hungry, sure. But they aren’t likely to chase down a group of people that can fight them off

“I don’t believe I’m hearing this,” kali said jokingly. “Faith not looking for a fight?”

“I want all of us out alive and safe. That’s our goal now. Any Char we meet, we kill—and you can bet there will be plenty—but we aren’t going to court trouble to get out of here.”

“Faith,” Stephan cautioned, “She was just kidding.”

“You be serious,” Faith scolded. “We’ve got one more mission to finish—our last one if there’s any grace in the Gods—and I’m your GL,” to prove the point, Faith sent a wisp if her spirit out to the three of them. The three accepted and the group formed. “This isn’t a democracy. Not yet anyway. You follow my orders; you’ve trusted me this far.” Her first step was just a little stiff, but she hid the effort. They didn’t need to know she was in too bad a state to fight a Char counter-offensive. Not yet.

“I love you too Faith,” Kali smiled.

“Shuddup,” the necro scowled. While they had been talking, a trickle of men and women had begun walking through the south gate. That trickle had grown to a flood, groups jockeying for position to be the first out.

Faith flinched at the thought. The last groups out secured the retreat. Stragglers wouldn’t be noticed leaving Grendich. No one wanted to look the dead in the eyes.

One body broke from the stream of men and women, turning straight toward her. “Sweet Gods not now,” she mumbled and both Stephan and Kali turned to the man who was coming toward them with confusion.

The necromancer that stopped in front of Faith was tall and skinny, dark black with grey hair. The sneer on his face reached his eyes, both humorless as he took in the four people standing together. It wasn’t that the man was bad or good; he seemed to have the oil slick smoothed edge sheen of aristocracy about him like a thin film.

Faith found his presence greasy.

“Mistress Melody,” the necro bowed deeply to the monk. Melody smiled uncertainly. “it is good to see you’re letting Miss Faith out again. I’ve just come from her tent.

“I was hoping to ask you some question,” he trailed off, looking each of them in turn. “Why are you grouped?”

“We’re,” Kali began.

“Going out for some fresh air, master Hexbiter,” Faith finished. “I believe and Melody agrees, Grendich is a little stifling for those who are still in recovery.”

It was a lie as thin as vellum, but it was the best she could come up with. Beyond belief, Terrance Hexbiter nodded sagely.

“Of course, of course,” the Group Leader said, still nodding, “but could that not wait for a few minutes? I had some time to think last night and I believe I can better explain your return if you might—“

“I’m on evening patrol, master Hexbiter,” Kali offered. “And we’re here for her escort. I won’t have time to help her later if I intend to do my sweep tonight.”

“I see,” the necro said, still nodding. “And you as well?” he asked, glancing to Stephan.

“I just finished my first offensive,” the warrior said,” I’m expecting another sortie this evening as well. This is the best time for us to chaperone her.”

“Ahh,” the GL said, agreeing. Faith turned toward the gate again. “You were with her when she came to Grendich, were you not?”

No one moved. “I was,” Kali confessed—it did sound a confession to Faith’s ears—and Terrance nodded again.

“We’re all of us from Piken,” Stephan offered, stepping around melody so he was between the women and the necro. “We’re all of us close.”

“That’s nice,” Terrance said, his voice hissing amusement. Faith watched the gate worriedly. The rush of men and women had dwindled to a trickle. Soon the horn would sound and—bad tactic for Grendich or no—it was their only chance to punch through the mass of Char that would lie waiting for them outside. “It’s good to have friends,” then, again, “I see you’re still wearing your GL pin Miss Faith. I’ve no doubts they’ll recognize you once you’re up to full strength—maybe we’ll promote you to a GL 6 like me, eh?” Faith met the man’s oily smile with one of her own, tip lipped and annoyed. “But I don’t think…” the necro trailed off, staring at something behind them.

All eyes turned to where Terrance was looking. Kali had not dropped her duffle behind the rain barrel with the rest of their things, the large laden bag sitting conspicuously out in the open behind them. “What’s this?” Terrance asked, the smile still annoyingly nonplussed. “Is that yours?”

A group of warriors—the last group—was running through the gate, and Faith took a breath. “Now Stephan,” she ordered, her tone cool as a fall breeze.

“Sorry old hat,” the warrior mumbled, one mammoth arm swinging back.

“Wha—” whatever question Terrance was about to ask was cut off by the crack of a war axe grazing—the flat of the blade thankfully—across the necro’s chin. Terrance dropped in a heap on the ground, breathing.

“What the?” a shocked voice called from the canteen.

“Run!” Faith roared command.

“Alarm!” came the voice again, and others as people saw Terrance wriggling feebly on the ground. “Alarm! Alarm!”

Stephan steeled himself at the exit, ready to protect the groups escape. Faith grabbed him by the collar, pulling the big man back with every ounce of her weakened strength. “Don’t fight them when there’s plenty more things we have to kill!” she snapped. “I said run now you run damn you!”

The warrior mouthed a retort to her, but anything he said was lost to the wind, the screaming from Grendich and the thump of boots and sandals at a hard run.

One could argue, Necro Lord Nottsy, that Faith was only able to create a Flesh Golem while under the influence of Grenth. That's how I've viewed her ability for a Pre-Searing necro to use a Canthan Elite skill so early in her Tyrian life.

That Kasha Blackblood saw the Golem with wonder and terror speaks--at least I hoped it did--to the rarity of such a skill for a necromancer in Tyria.

Someday, she will use Elites again. For now though, much of her expierence in the catacombs I label as part of being "Godspoken"; a rare trait amoung humans in the GW world with fleeting enhancments to their natural abilities; many of the skills she used needing now to be relearned in their proper time before she can use them again. While I do take some creative liscence in how and when she acquires normal skills (mainly because I can't remember when every skill is open for unlock in Tyria anymore) I'm restraining myself from giving her Elites unless they fit directly into the story.

EX: Melody uses peace and harmony; an elite skill. But it fits with her personality and is part of the reason why she is, well, the way she is. Faith's use of a Flesh Golem was due to her own mental anguish at seeing karim's minion fall. Both times I've used Elites I have tried to make it so the characters needed them more than anything else.

While using any skill they--I or you--want to would be wicked kewl, it would also have a tendency to solve too many problems for the characters, remove too many obstacles they still need to face.

Or, to put it another way: would it be as much fun to read if I gave them Godliness?

Thank you for your feedback and I hope you enjoy Faith as she is, even if I've gimped her a little from the first one.

23

Far up on the northern end of the courthouse, nothing was happening. Grad Haleheart sighed luxuriously as warm water trickled from the nozzle above his head.

The walls of the washtent shook with a mournful peal and the ranger paused from his scrubbing. “Right on time,” He said, grabbing soap and washcloth to rub the bar to a nice froth. Someone in the tent grunted agreement.

“Nothing like the little luxuries,” the ranger smiled mischievously. The thought made him sigh mournfully. Soap being a luxury was something he hadn’t considered two weeks ago when he’d been conscripted from the Rin defense force for help at Grendich. And needing a ranger’s scrounging abilities to get hold of a bar had seemed a silly thing to worry over.

Now he meticulously rubbed his chest, cleaning the grim of this day’s first patrol off. He’d never met a generous quartermaster in his life, but to think anyone would begrudge a man a bar of soap…Grad shook his head in silence, dipping his face under the water. They wouldn’t miss it too much.

“Grad!” he heard from the door, just a moment before his GL’s head burst through. Colin Trueshot only glanced inside, ready to slam the door closed. Seeing his team member, the ranger GL grabbed the jam, throwing the door back so all could see inside. Grab blushed. “There you are,” Colin said with a scowl, “Get dressed; there’s trouble.”

“Uh buh uh wha,” Grad spluttered, covering himself with the washcloth.

“Get it out man!” Colin snapped and Grad jerked again. Colin never snapped at anyone.

“What’s wrong sir?” Grad managed finally, toweling himself off.

“Someone’s just assaulted GL6 Hexbiter,” Colin answered. He scratched his chin, staring at Grad. The man blushed harder and Colin nodded knowingly. Belatedly—very belatedly in Grad’s opinion, the GL shut the door. Someone outside giggled. “The QMs are reporting weapons missing from the lockers and maybe more.

“We’ve been ordered out to get them back. Get dressed.”

* * *

Char and men roared in unison as Faith panted into the fray. She didn’t even bother casting a Deadly swarm; there were plenty of corpses for her to choose from.

“Grugle!” came from a nearby mesmer, the sound muffled by a blasting peal from the south.

“Don’t look back,” was all she said, three heads nodding acceptance as they rushed headlong into a warzone.

Corpses blackened as other necromancers began making their own hordes. Green glows formed around wells as well, signal that the battle was only beginning.

Faith took what she needed, nothing more. Minions burst forth and fell almost in the same breath, some necromancers destroying their horde as soon as it was up. Each minion that died, exploded in a shower of bone and putrid flesh, spreading decay to anything near.

Faith’s horde would need be more resilient than that.

A group of Elementalists floated above the ground before her, mana crackling the air like heat lightning. Lightning struck once, twice, three times in the same place. Char that had howled on the ground as air magick pounded them down. Drops of pure fire followed after, cooking the Char as they writhed under the onslaught of powerful spells.

Kali all but leapt up with the other four nukes, earth mana seeping into and out of the ground. Above, the Char were burned; below, Kali boiled them.

She gritted teeth, casting herself out among the carnage.

“Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle!” the horde swelled as Faith stumbled, slowing to a walk. Too much effort. Too soon, too tired.

“Gurgle!” No! she admonished, pushing herself onward. Too late to worry about it now. They were in the fight and relying on her to do her part.

Mana shimmered just ahead and Faith stepped into the ward Kali had dropped. Just outside, Kali was sending a column of mana deep underground. The Char had begun re-forming. Soon they would retaliate. Stephan sprinted toward the mana fueled volcano, axe swinging in a wide arc all around him. Surrounded by the mana frothing earth, the warrior pushed deep toward Kali’s epicenter of chaos to pound the Char away or down. An axe fiend tried to stumble out of the blast zone but Stephan was right behind, slashing a miraculous strike that nearly took the Char’s arm clean off before sending another vicious blow across its ankles. The Char roared in pain, still stumbling away and the warrior followed.

“Stephan!” Kali barked. All the warning he needed, the warrior covered his eyes just as the mana exploited ground puffed into a dusty cloud. Coughing, he retreated a step.

“Gurgle!” Faith almost fell sending a part of herself to sustain her horde. The minions had converged in the after throws of Kali and the elementalist assault, bone skewers flashing wetly as they hammered the blinded Char.

“Faith!” Melody called from beside her. The monk had to scream over the unanimous wail around them. “You’re too weak for that!”

“Help me,” the necro said, forcing herself beyond endurance to keep the horde alive and focused. She felt pure energy turned healing and a rush of life exploded inside. She gasped—Gods, it felt good to breathe—and focused on the next corpse.

“Here they come!” someone shouted from behind and Faith could hear the next charge already pounding down on them.

“Kali!” she called, feeling her horde massing up behind her, “wait for the next ward; I’ve got an idea!”

The elementalist nodded, sending out a stream of stone daggers one after another. Fast as an arrow and just as deadly, the rock projectiles slammed into Char armor and through, dropping everything they hit. Faith was right behind, half formed minions stabbing at Char even as they grew from the fallen.

The screams behind them had changed in tone, and Faith chanced a look back. The human’s had begun their retreat—too late again—and Char slammed into the center line like a wall of furry death. Their elementalist escort had fallen back as well, leaving them exposed and alone.

“Dammit!” Stephan bellowed, seeing the carnage wrought by the Char. “I will avenge you!” he screamed, turning on the Char with murderous intent. His axe flew with a incensed speed and the warrior shrugged off any returned blows as he pounded his way outside the minion wall.

And he was not alone. Three groups of Char had turned on the exposed humans and were doing everything they could to get inside. Black sparks glittered as Kali bent her magick over the minions; earth groaned and roared again as another mana inspired event twisted the very ground into the Char’s enemy. Char near the wall fell and did not rise as bone skewers stabbed down in unison to the necromancer’s will.

“Now Kali!” the necro ordered and a ward flashed immediately. The nuke hadn’t waited, wards against melee and elements flaring as her own earthquake was turned against her. Fire mana grabbed the ground before Faith’s horde and the minion master felt her creations pain as lava began too seep from the broken ground.

Faith bent double under the strain to keep her horde alive and fighting, the minions too dull-witted to think of retreating from the powerful fire magicks which were rapidly killing them. She reeled backward, melody quick to the rescue to keep her from a nasty fall as what little energy she had was turned against her by a lucky mesmer spell. Another explosion issued from the monk, healing mana power spreading in a font of life energy all around them.

“Stephan,” Faith managed, gasping air. The warrior had retreated from the blazing heat beyond, his boots smoldering slightly even now. “That way,” she gestured and the warrior nodded. Inspired by the fallen behind and pumped to a frenzy by Faith’s state, the warrior roared as he shoved minion and Char aside, axe swinging in another wide sweep oblivious to what it struck. Over and over, faster and faster, Stephan pounded through the Char ranks and deeper into the lowlands. Kali followed, sword slashing behind at anything he missed or hadn’t completely killed.

Melody was a crutch, healing power atop protection spells as the tiny woman helped her friend through the maelstrom. A second sinister spell struck, draining Faith again but melody had prepared for it; Light shimmered as lost energy became renewed strength instead of another soul breaking strike.

Faith saw light beyond, clear air just out of the horde forming and dying around her. “Almost,” she whispered.

“What,” Melody asked, a warm hand turning Faith toward her. “I didn’t hear you.”

“Now we run,” the necro said. “Leave the minions; we need to run.”

“Ok,” Melody said, pulling Faith onward and out of the fight. A few minions followed as she called them to unlife but most of her horde was lost to the fight behind as they madly attacked any Char they could find.

“Is she alright?” someone asked from Faith’s other side and Faith felt strong arms lifting her up.

“No,” Melody squeaked fearfully. “I told her it was too soon to make minions but she wouldn’t listen!”

“Sorry Mel,” the necro mumbled, feeling herself slip into darkness. Behind her the squishy steps of minions followed as Stephan carried her away.

Epilogue

The air had a dry bite to it. If the mountain summit weren’t so cold, Faith might have found the air refreshing.

Free, she tested the word in her mind. It felt odd thinking of herself that way. She had never felt indentured to anyone—anyone alive that was—but the idea of being able to make any choice she wished felt strangely foreign none the less. No Group Leaders barking orders. No generals sending her into the fray. It was her choice to make, one way or another, as to where she went and what she did.

Mercenary, she tested the other word Rurik had used. Where “free” felt bitter from an unperceived slant, merc had a nice sweetness to it. She smiled in thought. Yes, a very nice word to call oneself. And there would be nothing free about the services she rendered anymore either.

The smile deepened slightly and she nodded.

“Faith?” a voice called, breaking her from her revelry. She turned to see a young monk—older than she remembered and hardened beyond measure from experience—break into a run as he spied her face. He grabbed her forearms familiarly, beaming as he looked into her face. “Faith!”

“Mhenlo,” the necromancer said coolly. “Good to see you’re alive still.”

“Hello Brother Mhenlo,” Melody chirped beside her.

Mhenlo smiled uncertainly at the small monk. “Sister Melody. It’s good to see you out and about finally.

“I heard the news,” Mhenlo said, turning his attention back to Faith, “considering the fight we had getting into the foothills, I’m amazed the four of you made it. Where’s Kali?”

“Right behind you,” Faith answered, pointing as Kali and Stephan walked down from the cookfires above to join them. Kali grinned lopsidedly at the monk, taking his forearm

“Mhenlo you rogue,” the elementalist chided, “Glad to see you again. We’ve been stuck with that one,” she pointed to Melody who cocked her head to a side quizzically, “for so long I was starting to forget what a real monk looked like.”

“Brother Mhenlo,” Stephan broke in, gently pushing forward so he was slightly between Kali and the monk. “Heard a lot about you.”

Mhenlo took the warrior’s hand as well and made to say something when “You know these women Mhenlo?” came from a taut voice behind and Faith turned again. A slim young woman in elementalist robes stared daggers at Faith and Melody in turn.

“Well, yes,” Mhenlo replied, introducing each in turn. “Faith was a student of mine back in Ashford Abbey. She and Kali and Kasha Blackblood and I were together when we sealed up the catacombs.

“Melody was,” the monk paused, searching, “a patient. Briefly.”

“Faith, this is Cynn, she’s a—”

“A necromancer was your student in the Abbey?” Cynn cut in, unconvinced. “Really?”

“Well, there’s a story to that.”

“I bet.”

“A rather long story Cynn, and I’m sure—”

“I’ve got time,” Cynn smiled, showing teeth.

“No,” a young female warrior with her hair tied at the nape of her neck cut in, overriding the elementalist as she strode toward the group, “we don’t Cynn.” Devona “If you’ll excuse us, we have a sweep to run. Come on Cynn."

“Odd group,” Stephan commented as the three of them walked a lanky ranger who follwed them all into Traveler’s Vale. Faith chuckled ruefully. Takes one to know one, she thought.

“Well?” Stephan asked when Faith remained silent, “what’s the deal?”

Faith shrugged. “Since we’re not part of his teams Rurik is decided to drop us with the refugees. We come and go as we please, take what duties we want that don’t involve general camp maintenance.”

“What does that mean?” he asked, perplexed.

Faith smiled. “It means you can give up chopping Char and start chopping firewood. There’s call enough for that around here.”

“Rurik didn’t accept your GL status?” Stephan asked, sounding surprised.

“No,” Faith said in placating tones, “he did. But…we’re outsiders here. Everyone around is from Rurik’s ranks or the Rin Defense Force. They’d appreciate ‘the gesture’—his words—but they don’t really want outsiders getting hurt doing their jobs.

“As far as most of these folks are concerned, we’re refugees, same as everyone else.”

“Back to square one,” the elementalist sighed.

“It’s not that bad Kali," Stephan said, considering. "Three squares a day and—”

“No more hurting,” Melody nodded with confidence.

“Well,” Faith shrugged, “about that. It seems the Stone Summit aren’t too happy with Rurik making camp up here. They’ve been laying siege to King Ironhammer for a while and they don’t like any ‘meddlesome humans’ sticking our noses in.

“They’ve denied Rurik safe passage. Any refugee caravan they see, they’ll attack. They think this is some plot between Ironhammer and Adelbern to smuggle supplies into Beacon’s Reach…wherever that is…”

“Rurik hasn’t made any official requests, but there is a call for mercenaries from some of the refugees, and he’s sure to answer it if he has to take on the dwarves.

“It’s all your choice but I’m going to help him get these people off this mountain.”

“I’ll help,” Melody said immediately. “We aren’t dwarves and it’s too cold to for all these children and elderly people up here. We need to get them somewhere warmer.”

“I’m in,” Kali spoke right behind the monk. “I’ve been with you this long; I’m not letting you take all the glory.”

The three women turned to Stephan. None showed expectation or desire. They only wanted an answer; and only the truth he found in himself was right.

The warrior smiled, hefting his axe. “What the heck,” he said, taking his buckler up, “I’d rather swing this than a wood axe anyway. Maybe when I’m old and grey, but for now, I’m still too young to die.”

“I’m glad you’re with us Steph,” Faith said, sending a flow of herself to each in turn. The three accepted and the group formed. Faith turned her backs to them and unfolded a parchment of requests from both dwarf and man; things that needed doing but were out of the jurisdiction of the regular army here. “But don’t think that just because we’re ‘volunteers’ now that I’m going to go any easier on you. We’re none of us invincible, and if I have to beat that into your head myself, you’ll know it before we leave this camp every time”.

Stephan smiled sheepishly, said “I love you too Faith.”

“Dammit!” the necro roared, whirling on her three grinning group mates. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”

“Because it’s true silly,” Melody chirped. “You mean,” the little monk stared, open mouthed as she sensed Faith’s confusion and annoyance through the group link, “you really don’t know?”

Kali said “Faith; think about it. Spirits joined in the hope to protect one another. Sharing each others pain, drawing comfort in the midst of our sorrow.”

And the Elementalist smiled. “A good group is love, Faith.”



* * *

Writer's commentary

Well, thats LFG. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for the comments, feel free to continue your critiques and let me know of any glaring--or not so glaring--errors on my part. Constructive criticism of these works is much appreciated. its how good writers grow.


And...Lysaa kiss me for this...

Excerpt from: Faith Rivin: Old Enemy New (a Guild Wars fan-fic novel)

“Stop her!” someone roared, and the alarm rang clear into the reaches of Lion’s Arch. Melody twitched as the throng of onlookers turned angry mob, closing on the tiny monk.

As hands touched her blue light flashed, flaring in a blinding aegis that sent the throng of men and women to the ground in a heap.

Colin gawked. “Holy Gods; what is that?!?”

“Shield of Judgment,” Kali replied, her voice hollow.

“But,” Colin shook his head, disbelieving, “That’s a smite spell. Melody can’t smite!”

The White Mantle was still on his back, scooting away from the short monk; eyes wide as if staring at a hungry Ettin. The crotch of his trousers were stained a wet dark.

“Yes,” Kali said, her voice trembling with pain. She made no move to stop the monk. “She can. Sweet gods can she ever.”

With Stephan’s help, a groggy Faith rose weakly to her feet, shaking away the reverberations of Melody’s signet. She glanced around, searching, and found the monk ready to strike her prey. Melody smiled, a tooth white open mouthed grin that could only have been the animal pleasure of the truly insane.

“Melody! No!”

Someone remembers
Someone betrays
And for someone in Faith’s group
The price is finally paid

But for right now? I'm goanna READ some fan-fics for a change <grin>.