Blink and Jadissa were thrust apart in the throng of the fighting that ensued. To Ra’Handa it had seemed like they were together just moments before the burst of light occurred. She rushed to Blink’s side checking that he was alive. He opened his eyes and sat up looking about.

‘You and that witch were locked together after you stabbed her,’ Ra’Handa said looking toward where Lady Jadissa had fell. She didn’t move, and blood was pooling around her body. She saw that her staff had clatter aside and the stone figurine that she held was in two pieces, one still in her hand and the other on the stone paving beside Blink. She picked it up and lifted Blink to his feet.

‘Oi there! We’ve got the gates open now!’ Wick called to them. Ra’Handa looked and indeed the gates were open, and the villagers of Tory were making their escape into the city streets. The Daybreakers that had remained to fight off Danu in her new form had died under her feet or were skewered on her tucks. Ra’Handa saw that Bornwald too was dead on the ground, a gaping wound in his gut where she must have landed her long curved spear-like tusks. His face a death mask of awe and horror at his defeat.

‘C’mon mate. We gotta go now,’ she said and pulled him away toward the gates. Danu followed them and they continued to make their way through the city. Many of the villagers of Tory dispersed at that point. They were free and made their own way to where they thought might be safest. When they had made their way to the Iron Lionesse Guild, they paused at the front garish doors knocked in. Woven amongst them were thick vines, the same as those from the village of Tory. Danu was herself again now and helped tend to any of the wounded whilst Ra’Handa and Blink ran inside. The guild itself was a small building on the exterior yet was spelled to have an expansive interior that belied the outside. The only sign on the outside that there had been a struggle were the blown in doors and iron wrought lions strewn across the pavement in pieces. Inside was different, the vines had grown crushing and destroying everything in their path. There were people entwined in them still, lifeless in the needle grasp of the vines. Others lay on the floors amongst some the remains of Daybreakers that had lost their lives in the struggle. It was a terrifying scene of death and destruction. There was no glory in this. No heroic tale to be told. Why didn’t anyone warn you of this? Utterly defeated and death all around didn’t really make for an uplifting story or revelling bard’s song. They never said it would be this way, thought Ra’Handa looking around at the destruction.

‘Brigid! Where are you?’ called Blink hoping she hadn’t ended up like the others they saw. He heard noises from the back office from which Guild Master Innais had first emerged when they had come for The Proving. It seemed an age ago that they had come seeking refuge and sat in this very room. It had been so full of excitement and joy then. Or was that too an illusion. Blink had not wanted to come here. He had wanted to keep running in search of his quiet safe little life. We believe and remember what we want to, he thought. Coming from out the doorway was Brigid and the dwarf woman Brinn. They appeared as though they had fought hard yet were mostly unharmed.

‘What in me gamgam’s granite are you lot doin’ ‘ere?’ exclaimed the dwarf. Brigid simply ran to them and before Blink could even say anything, he found Brigid embracing him and squeezing him hard. Blink winced in pain as his side flared from where Jadissa had hit him.

‘You’re hurt!’ she exclaimed pulling away from him.

‘I’ll be ok once I’ve sat down for a bit,’ he said, his face flushing red from her touch and concern. It had only been a moment of an embrace and certainly nothing of the romantic sort as he soon realised. Brigid called over Brinn to examine his wounds and went to offer them same hug of gratitude to Ra’Handa. It was odd, she certainly had never seemed the affectionate type. She had always been more likely to hit him over the head with her hammer for not coming sooner than being grateful you survived at all.

‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ said Brigid noticing. That scowl on her face said to say no more.

‘Oh! Nothing. I was just surprised is all. I’m glad you’re safe,’ said Blink awkwardly.

‘Of course I’m safe. You shouldn’t be surprised by that. I know how to take care of myself,’ she said misunderstanding him. Perhaps I misjudged her affection more than I thought, Blink wondered, embarrassed and wanting to flee the conversation. Blink hoped that Ra’Handa had not noticed his face growing redder and turned away from them. Besides, he didn’t even like this bossy spoilt girl. All she had done since meeting them had been to put him in place and tell him what to do. So then why did it feel so good to have her hold him like that?

‘Enough of that you lot. We’ve plenty to do and not the time to do it in. Come lad. Let me see you over,’ said Brinn pulling him away. Blink wanted to thank the gods for this respite. Why must I always say something to annoy her. Women made no sense at all, he thought with an exasperated sigh.

‘Are the others here? Danu and Wick and Yirranna?’ Brigid asked scowling and then turning to Ra’Handa.

‘They’re outside. They could use a healer if there’s anyone left,’ said Ra’Handa.

‘That’ll be me then. But first the boy, settle yourself down and I’ll get to work,’ she commanded. ‘Oh, and Rhett’Sa I’ll be needing you to bring the others inside. Come now,’ she called, and the tall and powerful bartender followed her. Blink noticed that a portion of his right ear was missing. It had been bandaged and no doubt the bleeding stopped by whatever healing Brinn possessed. As the dwarf looked over Blink and places hands on his side there came a familiar warmth wash through him as she worked. The dwarf used prayers like that of Demera. It made him shiver thinking of the times this healing warmth had been followed by more pain as Demera taught him her version of obedience. When she was done the pain and heat was gone from his side and he stretched feeling able to move again. The dwarf worked on Ra’Handa next despite her protestations and insistence that she was fine. When she was done, she left them to assist Danu with those from Tory.

‘Go in the room back there. It’s Innais’… just try not to scare her ok. She’s pretty shaken up by the whole experience,’ said Brigid leaving them to help Brinn and Rhett’Sa. Don’t scare her? I didn’t think it were possible to scare a woman like her. It shook Blink to think that someone as powerful and indominable as Innais could be scared by a battle. Then again, he supposed that death would shake anyone, and there was certainly much of it around them. As Brigid reached the doors to the guild she called back.

‘Oh! And there’s someone there to see you too!’ she said with something almost akin to a smile but lost it catching a glimpse of the scene about her. She moved to bodies and began laying them out and finding sheets with which to cover them. Tears would have to come later.

Blink and Ra’Handa walked into the room, it was damaged much like the rest of the guild although in one of the small adjoining rooms was a bed and Guild Master Innais sitting in a chair beside it. She looked worried at the sight of them until they explained they were friends of Brigid’s and meant no harm.

‘Friends of Brigid? Aren’t you a little old to be friends with a little girl?’ she said looking them up and down. Little girl? Brigid looks to be about my age. I think she would thump anyone that called her a little girl, Blink thought with a confused expression.

‘We aren’t here to hurt anyone in any case,’ added Ra’Handa trying to smooth past the strangeness. Innais looked them up and down assessing them.

‘No I suppose you aren’t. You don’t look at all like the Daybreakers… whatever has gotten into them,’ she wondered to herself as she spoke. She seemed to become confused suddenly and began touching her face and muttering to herself.

‘What happened here?’ Blink asked, which brought Innais back into the room and the conversation. She looked at them like they had woken her from sleep. It took her a second to remember where she was.

‘Something happened? Oh yes. The guild was attacked, and they took something from us… something,’ she tried hard to remember but whatever it was, it just wouldn’t form into words. Blink and Ra’Handa swapped glances. There was something very wrong with Innais. This wasn’t the strong confident woman that had welcomed them to the guild and addressed all those wishing to join. She was smaller somehow, less imposing, she was missing something of herself. It was then that a groan came from beside the bed. Innais started and turned, ‘Oh! I had forgotten all about you. I’d forget my feet if they didn’t carry me about,’ she said half-jokingly. She moved aside and showed Blink and Ra’Handa the figure laying in the bed. They were bandaged in places and looking as though they hadn’t eaten a proper meal in days, yet they were very much alive. Laying there with their elaborate braids strewn about their beautifully androgenous features. They furrowed their brow and groaned again in their sleep. It seemed they were having a nightmare.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

‘Nessus!’ both Blink and Ra’Handa exclaimed at the same time. Ra’Handa rushed to their side and gripped their hand as they slept. They both almost knocked Innais over as they pushed past her. Nessus groaned softly inside their dream. Their entire arms and some of their neck rippled with the shifting colours of light. The Torrent had consumed more of them since their last meeting.

‘How is this even possible?’ asked Blink looking to Innais. She had a worried look on her face and a hand pressed to her mouth.

‘Two young men brought them here. A peacekeeper of the Watchdogs and a Daybreaker would you believe?’ she said moving a little toward Blink and then thought better of it and turned away. What is wrong with her? She isn’t acting at all how she did when I saw her last.

‘He said he knew Brigid too. Even thought Freyanna was her and tried to tell me so,’ she was muttering to herself now.

‘Who… who is Freyanna?’ Blink asked.

‘Did you not see her? In the armour… she’s the best fighter in all the guild boy. Brigid is her little girl,’ she said turning and looking at him over her shoulder.

‘I thought Brigid’s mother died,’ he responded without thinking. He regretted his comment immediately as Innais looked away from him and held her hands to her temples muttering. Here I go upsetting her. She’s clearly unwell and it was the one thing Brigid asked me not to do.

‘Is everything alright?’ Blink asked softly trying to bring her attention back.

‘All right?’ she said turning back to him. Her expression had change so suddenly from fear to confusion to anger that Blink was taken aback.

‘Nothing is all right. Have you seen my home?’ she moved closer to him and stood over him. She was suddenly tall again and seemed to grow taller still as she spoke. Blink felt Ra’Handa behind him touch his arm lightly.

‘I just mean… I mean you… you seem,’ he stammered.

‘You’re just like him, aren’t you? He tried to confuse me too,’ she had a wild look in her eyes. Blink thought that they might burst from her head at any moment.

‘No Master Innais. No… I didn’t mean to upset you,’ he said hands up and trying to back away from her. Ra’Handa moved with him until she bumped into the bedside knocking teacups and various glass vials.

‘She is not dead… She… You must stop trying to confuse me,’ she faltered at the clattering of the jars and her face showed waking confusion. She stepped back a moment and Blink realised that there was a faint glow coming from her hands. It flowed like the currents of The Torrent he had seen others use. Ra’Handa saw it too and moved him aside drawing her daggers.

‘What is going on in here! Put those away this instant Ra’Handa!’ yelled the rising voice of Brigid. She was standing in the doorway. ‘Innais its ok. You can let it go. You’re safe,’ she moved to Innais and lightly touched her arm. Innais looked about dazedly and stood behind Brigid. There was marked fright on the face of the Guild Master. What is wrong with her? Blink asked himself again with incredulity. It made no sense at all.

‘Ra’Handa I said put them away,’ she repeated sternly.

‘What’s wrong with her? She sick?’ said Ra’Handa slowing sheathing her blades.

‘Sick! How dare you!’ spoke up Innais. Brigid quickly turned to her. She gently pushed her toward the doorway.

‘Innais I think we need some tea to calm everyone’s nerves. It’s been as tough a day as we’ve ever had. Remember how peppermint always made Jarrett easier to talk to. I think it’s time for tea and mendings, don’t you?’ spoke Brigid with a crooning motherly tone. Innais’s expression changed and took in Brigid whole heartedly. It was as if there were no other person in the room.

‘Yes, yes; I never can talk to your fool husband without it in the room. I’ll go fetch some then,’ she nodded absently and wandered from the room. Brigid waited for her to leave before turning on Blink and Ra’Handa.

‘I said do not upset her or scare her and what do you do? You brandish daggers!’ Brigid said through scolding clenched teeth.

‘She’s the loon that started yellin’ at us,’ said Ra’Handa. Blink glowered at her, that isn’t helping the situation Ra.

‘She isn’t a loon and there isn’t anything wrong with her!’ said Brigid defensively.

‘What’s wrong with Innais? She called me Valna and asked me to fetch her water?’ said Danu joining them.

‘There isn’t anything wrong with her,’ snapped Brigid repeating herself. Danu looked taken aback and unsure of what she had just walked into. It was then that she saw Nessus on the bed.

‘Nessus is alive?’ she exclaimed and went to their side.

‘Yes. Dellwier and Terrick brought them here. They said they found them by one of the sewer gates. Said they blasted right through it and collapsed,’ Brigid’s tone changed at the mention of Dellweir and Terrick. There was something solemn about the way she said their names. He noticed she wouldn’t make eye contact with any of them. She simply looked through Nessus as she spoke.

‘How long ago was that?’ Asked Danu.

‘About a day after they took you to the spire. There were rumblings below the city before that. I suppose it was Nessus and that thing,’ she answered.

‘How many cups dear?’ called Innais from the kitchenette off from her main office.

‘Four please! And one for yourself!’ she called back. Brigid turned on the others. The fiery defensiveness had left her voice, ‘call me by my mother’s name, Freyanna. Innais has the memory sickness. She’s still in there somewhere and will come back to herself eventually. Got it?’ the question on the end was pointed directly at Ra’Handa. Blink had never heard of the memory sickness before, but he supposed it made sense given her behaviour. Soon after Innais called them away from Nessus into her office and managed to find chairs for all of them. She poured tea and they all did their level best to refer to Brigid by her mother’s name. Brigid explained to Innais that she had been fighting with them at The Boarder Lands and that they wished to join the guild. This seemed to quell her anxieties and she sat and listened intently.

Brigid spoke of what had happened at the guild. She told them of how the Daybreakers arrived with Pavreck and several other priests. They had demanded to see Innais and that they hand over their belongings. Of course, they refused and Brinn and Rhett’Sa stepped in along with some of the guild members. Danu seemed different when Brigid spoke of Pavreck. Where before she shrank in on herself at the loss of her staff, she now wore an expression of hard determination. Blink was glad to see this change in her. When they had first met, she was so sure of herself. She seemed to know something of everything and the idea that she would feel small, despite her stature felt foreign. She had powers stranger than Blink had ever seen before in his life, smallness just did not suit her. Brigid went on with her telling of the events, there was grief in her voice as she spoke of the guild members that fell in the fighting.

‘There was something wrong with them, the Daybreakers I mean,’ she said looking up from her tea. It had grown cold in her hands. She hadn’t taken a sip since she started telling them what had happened. ‘Dellwier was with them too,’ she added.

‘Your friend?’ asked Ra’Handa.

‘I suppose you could say that. We haven’t been friends for a long time now but yes, you could say that,’ she said and placed the tea on the table.

‘I tried to talk to him and beg him to stop but it was like he couldn’t hear me. His eyes were all glazed over like the rest of the Daybreakers. He said… he said things weren’t what we thought they were. If only I had listened to him when he tried to tell me,’ she said with guilty frustration.

‘Sounds like he needs a hard knock to the head this mate of yours,’ said Ra’Handa. Brigid smiled a little at that. She had often thought of giving him and Terrick a hard hit to the head and on more than one occasion she had done just that.

‘I suppose so,’ she said softly.

‘So what about our things? Did they take them?’ asked Blink.

‘I gave it to them in the end. I had to or else they’d have destroyed the whole guild,’ she said. ‘Why do you look so worried? What was in there?’ she asked mirroring Blink’s expression.

‘A numinia piece, I think. A woman holding a raven,’ the air became heavy as he spoke.

‘We fought some dark elf woman and Bornwald when we were trying to escape. She had one of them numinia things. Could make you relive your memories. Hurt like hell,’ said Ra’Handa. As she spoke, she took the broken figurine from a small coin purse on her belt. She placed it on the desk for them all the see. It had been sliced in two by Blink’s sword and where there had been three owl heads there was only one and a little of the middle head attached to half of the robed body.

‘You must be talking about Jadissa. She’s not long been part of The Council and mostly acts as an advisor or sort. I’m not surprised she’s caught up in all this,’ said Brigid.

‘She’s powerful and terrifying. She and Bornwald followed us here looking for numinian piece. They want to use it to free someone… and now that they have it…,’ Blink’s voice trailed off remembering how Jadissa had offered him the chance to have his people back; to have his mother and father. He couldn’t bring himself to tell the others of what she had offered him, let alone that he had considered accepting it. What would they think of me if they knew?

‘Ey’Vennara…,’ said Innais staring intently at the figurine.

‘Sorry Innais?’ said Brigid reaching out to her. They had all but forgotten her in their talks. She had remained quieter than ever and had barely moved.

‘She is the… the… it’s there… on the edge of my mind I can feel it,’ Innais never even looked at Brigid. She reached out a hand to the broken fragment of figurine and the moment she touched it a glow filled the room. They all stood up from their chairs as the glow from the broken figurine reached up into Innais and filled her. After a moment the glow subsided and Innais gasped for breath as if emerging from deep underwater. Brigid touched her arm again and looked her over for any sign of harm.

‘Brigid… it is you,’ said Innais through heavy breaths.

‘You remember who I am!’ Brigid exclaimed and found herself holding Innais. It had been the first time she had chosen to hug the woman since she was a youngling.

‘Yes. I am myself again… and more I think,’ she added that last part speaking to herself and looking at the broken figurine in her hand. ‘We have much to discuss it would seem,’ she added regarding the others with a regal composure.