Ra’Handa and Blink didn’t talk anymore after the guard had left. They sat in silence contemplating their situation. Neither of them was willing to apologise to the other or admit their own failings. It took longer than Ra’Handa had thought for anyone to come. They were brought food to eat, usually nothing more than dry bread and broth. It was more than they had eaten in days since their arrival in the town of Tory and the disasters the followed. The ate it gladly and in silence. Ra’Handa counted the hours as the guard shifts turned over into the next. She was beginning to see patterns and even recognise their shifting gaits as they walked. Some nights they could hear games of cards or dice being played outside the cells. Their raucous laughter and drinking making sleep impossible in the small cells. Ra’Handa was surprised that they had not come for them sooner but then the witling hours of boredom must too have been purposeful. Perhaps they thought it would make them more malleable once they had been taken. Perhaps they thought the torment of sitting with their thoughts and fears enough to break them. They wouldn’t of course. Blink had spent most of his life in a small room such as this and Ra’Handa had been far from afraid or bored. She had a job to do and that was enough to settle her nerves.

It was twelve days since their capture before Bornwald finally came to see them. The door to their cell was opened and standing before them was the brute in gleaming armour before them. He didn’t smile and merely looked at them as though they were nothing but a nuisance he’d sooner be rid of. He commanded some of his men to shackle them by the arms and legs. They did so, leaving enough between for them to walk. Bornwald and a contingency of four guards walked them past the cells on either side of them. Blink searched the cells as best he could, trying to get a glimpse of Danu or Brigid or any of the villagers. It was fruitless as all the cells were sealed by the same type of wooden door as his own. Surely, Danu would have just turned into a mouse or something and crawled away. But then… wouldn’t she have come to help us? Blink wondered to himself. He thought about her forlorn state after losing her staff. Things really do seem hopeless right now, don’t they? If only I’d been able to use the sword properly. I could have stopped Pavreck and gotten the staff back for her. We wouldn’t be walking in chains right now. How can I make it appear again? Blink had been trying to make the sword appear using his thoughts since he had awoken in the cell. No matter what he tried it never worked.

Soon after leaving the cells they came to a lavish area of the tower. The walls were made from the same white stones as the rest of city, however here they were polished, and Blink had never seen such wealth in his life. Horrog had been wealthy, but he had nothing compared to that of the pristine walls of the Paragon’s Spire. As they walked, he took in the scenes of paintings depicting heroes fighting terrible beasts, and dragons, and portraits of the kings and queens that had once ruled the city. The floor was a thick red carpet trimmed with gold, ornate statues guided their way and golden ornaments with orbs of light lit the halls. The guards never spoke a word and Bornwald marched forward. Blink thought it strange that he never saw a servant in the halls or the rooms with open doors. Aside from the occasional member of Daybreakers, stand to attention saluting Bornwald, there was almost no one around. Could they have sent the servants home for the day? No that’s ridiculous… they’re servants. They don’t go anywhere. After some meandering through the halls of the tower they came to a set of enormous double doors ornately decorated with a golden half sun with rays running to the top of the doors. It was the same design he had seen on the Daybreakers, however this appeared a little different. There looked to be a second half circle at the top of the doors, the rays of each colliding of their counterpart below. It was now that Bornwald finally regard Blink and Ra’Handa. He turned and looked them up and down examining the filth of their clothing. They had done their best to clean themselves up after the tunnels but the bucket of water they had been given did little to remove the stains and smell.

‘You are about to meet the Neverset King, our Honourable Lord Refrain Fautellion Twenty Ninth king of the Dawn and last of his reign,’ he paused and looked at Blink and Ra’Handa expecting to see understanding. They both simply looked back at him unsure of what to say. Blink had seen lords and ladies in his servitude to Horrog but certainly was not allowed to regard them in any way, let alone a king of an entire country. Bornwald cleared his throat in annoyance.

‘I should’ve known neither a thief nor property would know the honour they’re about to receive,’ he said.

‘Oi! There ain’t no honour in taking people prisoner that haven’t done anything wrong,’ said Ra’Handa snapping back at the captain. As soon as she spoke, he struck her with the back of his mailed hand. It left a cut along her cheek and blood ran down her face.

‘Hey! Don’t touch her!’ yelled Blink moving to strike at Bornwald himself. The chains got in the way and prevented him from raising his hands. Blink too felt that hot sting of pain and throbbing as his own face connected with Bornwald’s fist. Blink and Ra’Handa did their best with their limited movement to wipe the blood from their faces onto their sleeves. Bornwald’s face never changed, he simple looked at them awaiting obedience to come. His face threatened further punishments if they could not bide their tongues carefully.

‘Good. The best teacher is experience they say. Excellent to see it filters down to the lowest born. Now listen here and listen carefully. You are not to speak unless spoken to. You are not to show any of your common rudeness in front of the king or I personally will ensure you regret it. Do you understand me?’ Neither Blink nor Ra’Handa spoke a word, they only stared in blind hatred at the man before them.

‘I’ll take that as a yes I suppose,’ he said and turned banging the mailed fist on the doors. After a moment they opened enough for the escorts and prisoners to walk through comfortably. Inside Blink and Ra’Handa were struck by a sight that neither could have ever imagined. The walls of the room were adorned in white and gold stone pillars with the same level of ostentation and wealth as the rest of the spire. Windows of stained glass as tall as buildings accepted in arrays of rainbow light from outside. The ceiling of the room was so high they both craned their necks to take in the full expanse of the room, if a room it could really be called. They were guided along a carpeted stone floor to stand before the throne of the king. It looked almost out of place in the spire, unlike everything else, it was plain and unadorned. Sitting upon the throne was a corpse, the skin was so old that it had taken on the leathery quality of mummification. A crown rested upon its head and lavish robes of red and golden trims hid the rest of the body. Blink wondered how a corpse could still be a king at all.

‘He’s dead,’ said Ra’Handa stating the obvious. Bornwald turned to her as if preparing to hit her again. He was interrupted by another presence in the room.

‘Yes he is,’ came the sounds of a voice Blink had heard before. It had the same quality of silk and Blink could smell faint aroma of flowers on the air. Blink swallowed hard as the owner of the voice walked out from behind one of the columns. She was robed as she was before, black with a hood, and elegant silk robes wrapping her form. Unlike before Lady Jadissa no longer hid her face. Her hair hung loosely around her dark face framing her in silver. As she walked toward the dead king on his chair she looked to Blink and gave him a wink and wry twisted smile. She was not alone however as following her came Demera. Blink started with shock at her appearance. But I killed her… she’s dead. How? No, she can’t be here. I can’t go back there, his thought reeling. Demera didn’t speak and only glared at him. If she took him with her back to Bonny he was not sure he would survive the trip.

‘To see you once again is most certainly a pleasure young one,’ she said to Blink.

‘What do you want with us and the city? I won’t go back to being a slave. Never!’ he yelled. Bornwald turned and punched him hard in the gut knocking the wind out of him. He gasped for breath on the floor holding back the desire to wretch.

‘I have no interest in slavery or handing you over to your old master young one. I am here for a far greater purpose,’ she said never moving from the king’s side. Demera quickly turned on her.

‘That is not the agreement we made. You are to return the welp to Master Horrog,’ she said the old slur cause by her scars making Blink shudder. How he hoped to never hear that again.

‘Your Master failed us and our bargain was forfeit. I said we would find the boy and that was all,’ she said looking at her wickedly.

‘Master Horrog is not one to be taken lightly. Return him,’ said Demera anger flaring briefly but was chocked by the fear of Jadissa.

‘Do you think I am to be taken lightly?’ said Jadissa waiting and daring a response. Demera noticeable withdrew taking a step back and looking down.

‘No I do not Lady Jadissa. My apologies. The boy has been trouble, and we wish to punish him for his escape and theft,’ she said obligingly. Blink had never in his life heard her be so cordial, even to Horrog’s noble guests she had remain a stalwart figure to be feared. Horrog had liked it that way. It made him seem more imposing and reasonable by comparison.

‘Very well. Have him when we are done. It matters not in the end,’ she said with a performative sigh.

‘Blink ain’t going nowhere!’ growled Ra’Handa. Bornwald turned and nodded to his guard. They struck her hard and she gasped for air.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

‘Blink isn’t going anywhere dear. Manners please. Speaking of you have both made our tasks difficult since your escape. Have you any idea what you took?’ she said looking at them both. Blink gritted his teeth trying to hold back the inferno and fury that craved release. When neither answered her she went on.

‘You see we were expecting you to deliver something of great value to us. When you said another held it in that cesspool you call Bonny, we sent guards to find them and retrieve it. That street child told us a Magpie had taken it far away,’ she said reading their responses. It was Ra’Handa that reacted.

‘If you hurt him …’ she started to say.

‘The boy is fine,’ she said waving away her aggression. ‘I assume you are the Magpie he meant,’ she added.

‘And if I am?’

‘Wasn’t a question dear,’ she said dismissing Ra’Handa. ‘I looked into his mind and saw all I needed to,’ she added.

‘What do you want from us then?’ asked Blink. ‘Can’t you see I don’t have the sword?’ he added.

‘You lost the sword slumdog!’ cried Demera, her scowl further twisting the scarred features of her face.

‘Don’t call me that Demera. I’m not a slumdog and I’m no slave anymore,’ he said staring her down. He held it as best he could but a small part of him wanted to cower, wanted to make himself insignificant, invisible, quiet, so as not to be punished. He hated himself for that part.

‘I will remind you of your place slave. When we return…’ she clenched a mailed glove threateningly.

‘Enough!’ said Jadissa, as a whirl of colour emanated from her. She channelled the flows of The Torrent and before the eyes Demera mouthed silently. Shock showed on her face, and she spoke; or at least tried to. Not a sound escaped her lips.

‘We will her no more from you today. Be silent and watch or you will have nothing for which you came,’ she said. Demera resumed her place at the base of dais giving herself some distance from Jadissa. When she had composed herself, serenity and foreboding, Jadissa went on.

‘I will admit that the blade certainly intrigued me but no… it is not the thing we seek. I believe you have a small figurine with you. It would be carved of ebony, a woman holding a raven. Where is it?’ she said.

‘Shouldn’t you know? You took all our things and locked us in a cell,’ he retorted.

‘True we searched your belongings but found no such thing,’ she said with layers of silked words wrapping her dissatisfaction.

‘Well then, we don’t have it. In case you hadn’t noticed we were in the sewers and barely got out alive,’ said Ra’Handa. Lady Jadissa never took her gazed from Blink and said, ‘I am aware that you came that way. I have spent these days past searching the minds of the others for some answers. It seems they were too busy running away from the Shad’ahgar to pay much notice to anything else,’ she said. Blink noticed that she never mentioned who the others were.

‘Are the villagers still alive? Did you hurt them?’ he asked not sure he wanted the answer.

‘Some… not all made it out of the sewers I’m afraid. They have been ushered toward The Torrent for rebirth and renewal for I could not reach them,’ her words spoke of regret yet there was no sign of it in her tone.

‘That’s not what I meant!’ he barked back.

‘Boy, you’ll watch yourself or I’ll take that tongue from out your head. You understand me?’ said Bornwald threateningly. Blink glared at him.

‘Those that did not fight me were unharmed as I searched, it is best that way. Those that did… well… they have not yet regained themselves,’ she said. Blink was thinking of Danu and Brigid as she spoke. From what he had known of them they would most certainly have fought back. Or at least Brigid would have. Blink wasn’t sure Danu had any fight left in her without her staff.

‘So, what are you going to do to us then?’ Ra’Handa broken in.

‘That is the question now isn’t it. If you cannot tell me where it is, then another may be able to. Bornwald is she here?’ she asked.

‘That mewling blightling of a priest Pavreck wanted to talk to her again. She should be here soon,’ his nose visibly wrinkled at the mention of the man. Lady Jadissa too seemed repugnant to the thought of him. Blink and Ra’Handa knew of the creature they spoke of. Danu had said Pavreck was a blightling, a fey-tale horror thought only to exist in nightmares of children. If these two named, it so than it must have been true what Danu speculated in the tunnels. Though even now it was hard to believe they truly existed. There was so much of this large world that they didn’t know about. And now may never have a chance to see.

‘If our plans did not require that foul creature, I’d have thrown him from the battlements into the ocean long ago,’ spoke Lady Jadissa.

‘Then we shall begin without her. Bornwald bring the half-orc here,’ she said indicating the lower step before the corpse king on the throne. Ra’Handa fought against them as they dragged her. Blink called after her layering threat upon threat should they harm her. The guard roughly made her kneel and held her there in place. Lady Jadissa stood before her and withdrew a small figurine from her robes. It depicted the body of woman with three owl heads. It was similar to that of the raven figurine that Ra’Handa and Blink had taken with them when they started their journey.

‘This is a numinian piece. It will allow me to look inside your memories. If you fight me, it will hurt all the more. Now head back,’ she instructed, and the guard obliged her request pulling Ra’Handa’s hair so that her head bent forcing her to look at the gilded ceiling. Blink was calling out from behind continuing threats and protestations. His calls went ignored excepts for the guards that held him at bay. With effort they drove him hard into the carpeted floor placing knees in between his shoulder blades. Lady Jadissa spoke several words of power to the figurine. None of them in a language Ra’Handa had ever heard nor understood. Once she was done the figurine gave off a faint glow of radiant light and mist. Lady Jadissa’s eyes turned as silver has her hair and she drew breath as the power entered her. Still holding the figurine, she placed her free hand over Ra’Handa’s face. Ra’Handa wanted to scream and shout but was silenced by the power.

Ra’Handa fought against probing power of the numinia. She felt it search her memories and couldn’t help but let some of them through. She found herself standing by an alleyway in Bonny, she saw children brawling over minor trinkets they had filched. There was a small half-orc girl in the fray, she was taller and older than most of them and breaking them up. She was scrawny but her orc heritage made her much stronger than the human children. One of them cried out in pain as she threw him off another child. He landed awkwardly on the stonework alley pavement. He began to cry.

‘It’s not fair you big ugly pig!’ he yelled. The other children had stopped and were joining in.

‘Yeah, you green monster! We’re smaller than you!’

‘You’re nothin’ but a bully!’

‘Get outta here! You stink!’

Ra’Handa watched as the small half-orc girl began shielding her face. The children had begun throwing things in the alley, scraps of food, tin cans, papers and the like. Ra’Handa reached out to the girl and tried to tell the children to stop however she moved right through them as though they were made of mist. The half-orc girl didn’t run away, didn’t fight back, she just stood and shielded her face.

‘Ra! You there?’ came a small voice from outside the alley. A small boy appeared. He had dark tanned skin and scraggly brown hair that kept getting in his eyes. ‘Hey! Leave her alone!’ yelled the boy running forward and swinging punches at the other children. He was fierce in his defence of her and fought with a ferociousness that was rarely seen in a child. When the children had run away there was only the one. It was the boy that had been hurt after the half-orc girl had thrown him. He looked afraid and unable to move. The scraggly boy stood over him with his fists clenched and blood on his face.

‘You see her there?’ the scraggly boy said. ‘She’s my big sister and no one is allowed to ever hurt her again,’ he said pointing at the half-orc girl.

‘But she hurt us!’ said the boy on the ground.

‘Well then you should listen to her when she tells you what to do and she won’t have to,’ said the scraggly boy. ‘Maybe she can be your big sister too,’ he added.

‘I don’t need no big sister!’ said the boy.

‘Oh yeah! Well then if you don’t listen to her then I’m gunna come and break your head open til you listen!’ said the scraggly boy. The threat seemed to do its job and the boy on the ground scrambled away to his feet and ran. The scraggly boy came over to the half-orc girl and touched her face checking to make sure she wasn’t hurt too badly. It was then that she spoke.

‘Ya didn’t have to do that ya know. They’d have worn ‘emselves out eventually Blink,’ she said. ‘Promise you won’t hurt nobody like that again. Promise!’ she added. The scraggly boy named Blink nodded, his face turned to his feet.

‘Alright Ra… but you gotta make ‘em listen to you next time,’ he said. Suddenly the image around Ra’Handa faded and was replaced with the searing pain from the numinian piece again. It was searching further for answers, for the things they sought. Ra’Handa fell to her knees and pushed back with her mind.

She opened her eyes again to find herself standing by the ships at the docks. She saw her herself a little older with Blink standing beside her. They were watching the ships come in.

‘Who d’ya think they are?’ the young Blink asked.

‘Who ya talkin’ bout?’ her younger self responded.

‘Ya know. Our parents,’ he said. Ra’Handa’s younger self thought about the question for a moment before answering.

‘I bet they’re adventurers. They travel around the world fighting monsters and saving people. I recon my mum must be the greatest of all treasure hunters,’ she said excitedly.

‘Then why’d they leave us here?’ asked young Blink.

‘Well cos’ we’d just slow ‘em down ya know? We was only little and they had to leave us behind,’ she explained.

‘Yeah, but Ra, I clean floors in Master Horrog’s place, and you live on the streets…’ he said solemnly.

‘That was cos they wanted us to be tough ya know. Like as strong as they are so that when they come back, we can go on adventures with them. At least that’s what I recon,’ she said, her excitement masking the doubt in her heart.

‘Yeah, maybe that’s true Ra,’ young Blink said. He didn’t sound convinced but the thought of their parents being heroes and coming back for them was preferable to the lives they lived. ‘One day I’m gunna get outta here and go find ‘em,’ her younger self said staring at the ships on the horizon of blue water. ‘I’ll go out there and be the best treasure hunter and my mum will be so proud. She’ll tell everyone about me, and I’ll be able be a hero too,’ she said. Ra’Handa smiled at her younger self, how many times have I told myself that? I must have said that every night and day of my life. She reached out to touch the young half-orc girl before her but was again stopped by the searing pain. No matter how hard she tried there seemed no end to pushing it back. The visions around her faded and she felt herself giving in.