Chapter 28: Mute
The instant Vina stepped beyond the boundaries of Norfany's refuge, a familiar knot tightened in her stomach. A tangible reluctance threaded each footstep she took away from her quest destination, amplifying her unease. Tacey's firm grip on her hand was an unstoppable force, pulling her away from her quest destination. To Vina's relief—though paradoxically, also her consternation—her armor reactivated the panels that guided her path to the exit.
Throughout their journey, a newfound self-assuredness radiated from Tacey. It was a distinct contrast to her previously diminished vibrance during their descent. Yet, her outward demeanor belied a far more complex array of emotions. "You’re going to be okay, Vina," Tacey asserted for the third time. "Has the tension worsened?"
Vina mumbled a response, her focus elsewhere as she grappled with the overwhelming nature of her situation. The prospect of eliminating Langternem now appeared utterly impossible. The overwhelming spectacle of advanced biotechnology that surrounded her provided a tantalizing glimpse of why The Shaper believed The Kaliters could eradicate Langternem. Yet without their support, Vina found herself at a loss to think of a scenario where she could gain sufficient knowledge to replicate such an outcome.
Her thoughts shifted back to her mother and her pact with Stine. Upon reaching the surface, she'd be expected to return The Dark Spiny Echo, having failed to fulfill her end of the agreement. Consequently, Stine would be under no obligation to disclose the identity of the person who could lead Vina to her mother. A scream of frustration was building inside her, yet Tacey's attempt at a reassuring squeeze on her hand held it at bay.
Vina shot a sharp look at Tacey. Her gesture of comfort seemed empty, a mere facsimile of comfort. Tacey's vibrance betrayed her true feelings with stark clarity. "They won't assist me," Vina thought, "They only wish to control me."
When Tacey moved past the open scale doors into the sinkhole proper, Vina faltered at the threshold. "You're lying to me," she stated flatly. "You don't need to act as if you care. I know you're pleased with my situation."
Tacey pivoted to face her, her expression meticulously arranged into one of pure concern. "The Watch requires your aid to ensure Langternem's containment. We’re all depending on your help to save those under The Darkness's influence. My concern for you is genuine. Your paranoia is a consequence of The Darkness warping your perceptions."
Vina shook her head in defiance, attempting to activate her Refuge Recall Boon, only to be met with a warning message in her field of view.
You cannot use this boon while in physical contact with another person.
“Let go!” Vina snapped, wrenching her hand from Tacey's grasp, but to no avail. She focused then on pushing as much blood as she could into the reservoir in her bones, preparing to travel to a random location.
"No. I won't release you until we reach Lampasa. Please stop struggling." Tacey said calmly, firmly pulling Vina's arm back to a natural position. "I'm significantly stronger this close to Saryne."
Vina locked eyes with Tacey. She activated the runes on her bones with a thought and then… nothing happened. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out what had gone wrong. Blood Sense searched the runes emblazoned on her body until she found it. Her broken bones had healed, but the fractures had severed the rune connections on her ribs as well as her collarbone. In a panic her mind briefly flitted to the potential use of Blood Stained Hands. But she quickly dismissed the thought. That ability would place her into combat, and then Refuge Recall still couldn’t be activated while fighting.
Tacey met her gaze, her expression somber. "You're contemplating using that ability, aren't you? The one that induces bleeding at a touch."
Vina held her tongue, unwilling to divulge anything. She now recognized her predicament: she was effectively Tacey's captive until she had managed to fix the runes on her body. For a moment, accepting the mutual cooperation contract as a means to protect herself from Tacey crossed her mind, but she was immediately reminded of the requirement to return to Lampasa. She saw now the trap that had been set, either way she was being dragged back to the capital city of the twelve.
“You’re welcome to try bleeding me. With Saryne’s help, I survived the bonding sickness you afflicted on us. Far away from him, my healing ability is weak as you said. This close to him, I think I could withstand whatever you can bring against me.”
In support of Tacey's defiant words, Vina had noticed an intensification in her vibrance as they ascended from Norfany. She also sensed a subtle, overlapping presence on Tacey’s. "Could that be Saryne?" Vina wondered. Relaxing her arm, Vina chose to bide her time for a chance to escape when Tacey might release her, even if only momentarily. Quietly, she hoped her refuge recall ability would need only a moment to activate.
In a swift motion, Tacey pulled Vina close, framing her face with her free hand. “It will be okay, Vina. I’m here to safeguard you. I won’t let The Darkness cloud your heart any longer.”
Your communication with Entity Common Name: The Darkness has been severed.
A blaze of fury ignited in Vina as the message flashed in her vision. The last thread connecting her to The Darkness and any hope of finding her mother had just been cut. Tacey's words, meant to be soothing, came across as nothing more than condescension. Vina saw them for what they were: a further attempt to isolate her from others.
“You're safeguarding me?!” Vina exploded, wrenching her face away from Tacey's grasp. Her voice echoed through the sinkhole, the raw anger in it palpable. “Is that what you call this? Cutting me off from the only lead I had to my mother?” Her chest heaved with suppressed rage, eyes flashing with the sharp sting of betrayal. “I never asked for your protection. I never asked for your sympathy. I don’t need you to 'save' me,” she spat out in Tacey’s face, the words tasting bitter in her own mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.
But Tacey only stared back at her silently with pity in her eyes and satisfaction in her vibrance. She turned away, dragging Vina out of Norfany and up the sinkhole despite her continued protests. Vina's frustration intensified, yet beneath it lay a seed of cold, simmering determination.
Finally, they emerged at the sinkhole's peak, where Saryne awaited. The air there carried a biting chill that seeped into Vina's bones. She paused at the precipice, her gaze locked on the gaping maw of the abyss below, as cold and hard as the brilliant stones beneath her feet.
Her heart skipped a beat when she felt Tacey's grip loosen slightly, a brief moment of vulnerability. But then it passed as her grip tightened once more. She knew her chance would come, a fleeting opportunity she needed to seize. But for now, she had to endure. She looked away as Tacey pulled her once more toward Saryne and where her own mount awaited. Vina’s eyes searched for the saddlebag where she knew the shadow possessed marf likely still remained. A single eye peeked out from the flap, straining against the brightness of the light around them.
“Stine!” Vina called out to the small creature, hoping against hope that The Darkness could somehow circumvent Tacey's abilities. The marf simply blinked slowly in response before retreating further into the darkness of the bag.
With a determined stomp, Tacey approached the Smarmel, yanking Vina along. The animal eyed them warily but seemed to relax under Tacey's calming hand. Without ceremony, Tacey yanked open the saddlebag, pulling the squirming marf into the bright light. It squealed in protest as sores began to bloom on its skin in the surrounding light. Thick fur slowly fell to the ground. But before Vina could even think of protesting, Tacey launched the marf into the air in Saryne's direction. Vina averted her eyes, but the sickening crunch of Saryne’s chewing was impossible to ignore.
Once the gruesome spectacle was over, Tacey faced Vina, her voice unexpectedly soft, contrasting with the harsh reality of her actions. “Vina, when I was sent to find you, I was tasked with bringing both you and Langternem back to Lampasa safely. But it's evident that The Darkness has manipulated you extensively since your departure from The Watch. Now that I’ve silenced it, you'll recover. I understand that trust isn't easy right now, but know this, I intend to keep you safe.”
Vina glared at her, her emotions churning like a storm within. She tried to move toward her mount, a plan forming in her mind to activate Refuge Recall the moment Tacey released her. But Tacey was quicker, pulling her back. “No. I’ve met your sisters. One of them possessed the ability to travel at will. I won’t risk you having a similar ability. For your safety and mine, I will not let go of you until we reach Lampasa.”
Vina stared at her in disbelief, but she didn’t dare try to deny it and risk exposing herself with a lie. “How do you propose we get there?” Vina asked cautiously, her mind racing with escape plans.
“There’s a portal ring a few days away. We can use it to travel directly to Lampasa,” Tacey responded confidently, though a flicker of doubt shadowed her features when she caught Vina's calculating gaze. “But you plan to disable it before I can activate it, don’t you?”
Vina didn’t respond, but Tacey's words echoed in her mind, confirming her very intent if she hadn’t managed to escape by then.
The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Tacey heaved a sigh, her posture slumping momentarily. “Well, we’ll figure out how to handle that when we get there. I have ways to prevent you from acting without causing you harm. Hopefully, by then, you'll see reason.” With that, Tacey gestured to the larger bag on the other side of the Smarmel. Vina obeyed reluctantly, placing Langternem inside. Hand in hand, a forced partnership in motion, they left Norfany behind.
~~~
Relentless rain pounded on a surface just above her, its rhythm an incessant reminder of her predicament. Cold water seeped in, an unwelcome intruder, inching its way up her body, tightening its icy grip. She was trapped, helpless as the chilling liquid gradually stole her breath away. The tight and enclosed space contracted with each desperate gasp she took, depleting the available air until…
Vina's eyes snapped open, breath ragged and heart pounding. Gasping for air, she found the sensation of constriction all too real, refusing to recede. Looking down, she noticed Tacey's hand, impossibly strong, still clasped around the bare skin of her ankle. The residual chill of her nightmare still lingered, and a bitter taste hung at the back of her throat.
Glancing to the woman beside her, she found Tacey asleep beside the dying embers of their fire. Her lantern, still on, illuminated the surrounding area where they slept. They had been traveling for days under an oppressive silence, a new routine established in which she found no way to escape.
However, amidst this melancholy routine, Vina's body had been gradually healing itself. She could now bear weight on her shoulder without excruciating pain and was relieved to feel the comforting weight of her mother's backpack against her once more. The healing process for her eye was progressing satisfactorily too. Even though her sight was slightly blurred in the mornings and weakened by the evenings, she was generally pleased with her recovery's pace. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment upon realizing that she had exhausted her supply of mendica mixtures, today marking her final treatment.
She continued to examine the runes on her bones, trying to find a way to reconnect the pathways and recover the fractured phrases, but thus far she struggled. Too many parts remained severed, some were missing, and others simply ceased to function. Slowly she began to repair what she recognized, but the work was slow, and she didn’t dare go faster than the rate her body was able to heal her or exceed her rune carving capabilities.
Desperate to feel anything positive, Vina decided to finally place the last of her ten attribute points. She looked at Tacey’s grip and knew in her heart that ten additional strength points would do nothing against this person. Sighing softly, she went through with her original plan to use Seassa’s sword, Selenia, as soon as possible.
Dexterity 59: Your body is 49% more likely to do exactly what you intend, you are 196% more likely to hit your target
She looked at her specialization points next. “Probably can’t help me out of this,” she mumbled quietly to herself. Squeezing her right hand, she thought, “Might as well do Ambidexterity and Kicking.”
Skill specialization: Ambidexterity. Offhand Reload. You can reload ranged weapons such as bows and crossbows twice as fast with your offhand.
You have two skill specialization points remaining.
Vina stifled a groan. The knowledge entered her mind, but she didn’t feel much better about it. Moving her right hand fingers around, she felt the proper movements and marveled at how easy it was despite her limited experience with bows in this world. To her frustration, however, her left hand wouldn’t replicate the same movements without much more difficulty. “Which hand is my dominant now?” she wondered. She shook her head a moment later, recognizing the silliness of her question. “I guess that’s the point,” she mumbled quietly.
Skill Specialization: Kicking. Empowered Kick. Expend extra stamina to increase kicking damage. For every point of stamina you choose to expend, your kick will do 1% more damage.
“Oh?” she intoned softly at reading the prompt. Bringing her leg out from under her covers, she lightly brought it to her chest. Thinking five, she kicked out and saw five stamina get drawn from her bar. “If I used all of my stamina I could do three hundred percent more damage for a total of almost two hundred and eighty-nine damage!” she thought. Then she frowned, “... and be out of stamina. Better be careful with this one.”
Turning back to her skills, she knew the last one she should select.
Skill Specialization: Forage. Blood Bloo…Error
System Error: Skill Specialization Access Violation. System Error Ticket created and forwarded to Trina. Awaiting response.
The prompt stared back at her as if it was a confirmation to Stine’s words. She closed the window a moment later. “All I can do is wait…,” she sighed. From prior experience, she knew the timeout took around two days. With nothing else to do, she closed her eyes, trying to go back to sleep once more.
Her blood sense, however, would not give her rest. Though on the edge of her capabilities, she detected the ominous presence of Stine's creatures lurking not far from their camp. They prowled on the fringes of their campsite, daring not to approach too closely while Tacey or Saryne remained awake. However, one emboldened creature moved closer tonight, its audacity silently commended by Vina. She sat back up and extinguished her lantern, assuring the creature of her passive intent. What approached her was a six-eyed pilidar. Despite the silence imposed by Tacey, their wordless gaze communicated volumes.
The pilidar's large, keen eyes studied her intently, its four-fingered hand cautiously indicating her backpack. Vina instinctively knew what it sought. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a specific item and shook her head slowly, opening the journal to a page filled with her mother’s handwriting. She brandished the page outwardly, a clear rebuke to the creature.
Its eyes narrowed, expressing a mix of irritation and anger. Unfazed, Vina held its gaze, an unspoken confrontation taking place. The direct line of communication might have been severed by Tacey, but this was more than enough to relay their understanding—their pact was far from over. Vina had just redefined the terms. She was now holding Stine's power for ransom.
Suddenly, the creature erupted into a flurry of agitated chatter, none of which made any sense to Vina. But before it could take another breath, Saryne materialized from the shadows and crushed the diminutive being under his massive paw.
Startled, Tacey stirred from her slumber. Vina swiftly reactivated her lantern, hoping to cloak her recent interaction with Stine in the light's glow. However, when Tacey's lavender gaze scanned their surroundings, it was with a level of perceptiveness that left Vina feeling decidedly exposed.
"The Darkness can't seem to let you go, can it?" Tacey mused, stifling a yawn. "Sometimes, after being silenced, its targets become marked for death instead. However, rest assured, in Lampasa you will be safe."
Tacey rose to her feet, her grip shifting from Vina’s ankle to grasp one of her hands seamlessly. With overwhelming strength Tacey pulled, and Vina didn’t have a choice but to join her. Then Tacey stopped short, her gaze turning distant, clearly focused on an unseen screen. "No, not now," she muttered under her breath.
"What?" Vina probed, curiosity piqued.
Ignoring Vina's question, Tacey turned towards Saryne. "Evacuation of the entire town."
Saryne growled in response, a sound so guttural and primal it sent a shiver down Vina's spine.
“But we have Vina. If there’s an army coming…” Tacey started, but Saryne interrupted her.
Tacey shook her head as she gestured with her free hand. “No she won’t! We can’t trust that will happen!”
As Tacey's conversation with Saryne descended into an argument, her voice raised in frustration as she countered whatever the creature proposed. However, it was clear to Vina that Tacey was losing ground. In her fervor, she seemed to forget Vina's presence entirely, her grip ever so slightly weakening.
“No!” She shouted at Saryne as her hand clamped down on Vina’s once more. “I refuse to wait anymore! The people of Prosit should have left for Termily months ago!”
Vina's heart lurched. The small outpost that marked the beginning of her journey in Palitern was in danger?
"Prosit?" Vina cut in. "What's happening there?"
“Shut up!” Tacey snapped at her, raising a hand as if to strike. Saryne grunted a warning, and Tacey slowly lowered her hand. “Prosit is a small outpost not associated with The Watch. It’s under imminent threat from a nearby gloom, and I’ve been tasked with evacuating the town to Termily.”
She knew the gloom Tacey was referring to. It was the very same one she had found Trina in. Sneaking a glance at the pilidar body still oozing blood nearby, an unspoken thought crossed her mind. “Stine’s attacking the town to send me a message.” This was retaliation for failing her quest.
“I know where Prosit is!” Vina said derisively. “We need to help those people!”
Tacey looked at her, confusion etched onto her features. Ignoring this, Vina quickly opened her map. “ Prosit is just a few hours’ march away. If we leave now, we can make it there before midday. Will the people listen to your evacuation orders?”
Tacey was slow to answer, her gaze drifting between Saryne and Vina. “I can't be certain. This request was issued remotely, through a fake aspect. The included details are sparse. But Vina, they might listen to an Asharaina?” She fell silent for a moment, as if wrestling with a question she was hesitant to voice. Vina could feel the undercurrent of doubt and uncertainty in Tacey's vibrance.
“I’m getting to it,” Tacey muttered, somewhat reluctantly, after Saryne grumbled at her. “Vina, can we count on you to not run away while we help this town?”
Vina swallowed, her throat dry. All that she had endured, all her personal struggles, were suddenly relegated to the background. Her personal needs had to be put on hold. Now, she had to ensure the safety of Milly, Pawld, Jan, Tressi, and everyone else she knew in Prosit from Stine's retaliation for her failure. She nodded slowly, but she knew that wouldn’t be enough for Tacey. She would want a promise. “I won’t bind myself with promises, Tacey. You’ll just have to trust me.” She pointed at her mount, still tied to a tree nearby. “We can get there even faster if we ride.”
Saryne snorted loudly, and Vina jumped at its abrupt expression. Tacey gave him a knowing look. “No, we’ll walk. I can’t let a quest kill you should you flee and then Langternem kill the rest of the world when you aren’t here to care for it. We’ll warn the town and then be on our way.”