Kara says, “This is a different wagon. It has a cover we can put on.” Persi nods; Lines says, “Yes, Your Highness, the stables changed out the wagon earlier this morning, transferred over the supplies, and added some more.” Narri walks over to Lines, “Protect her brother. I will see you at Nexus within the year.” Narri and Lines embrace. Narri bows to Kara, “Your Highness, we will complete the mission here, then meet you at Nexus. I will send word to others of my clan to watch for you and to aid you if they cross paths with you.” Kara says, “Thank you, Narri; peace be with you.” Narri leaves.
Kara climbs into the back of the wagon with Ava, Aran mounts the warhorse, Shae mounts the riding horse, and Lines and Persi sit in the driver’s seat of the wagon. Private Cako tosses his pack into the back of the wagon, then Ava asks him, “What are you doing? You follow on foot.” He removes the pack, places it on his back, then follows the wagon out on foot. Shae leads the way, with Aran following the wagon. Kara is sound asleep before the wagon leaves the cover of the temple’s stables. Ava nudges Persi. He looks back, “How does she do that?” Persi shrugs.
He calls for a halt at around noon.
Ava shakes Kara, “Yeah, already? Okay.” Kara hops out of the wagon. Private Cako looks about to fall over, “You gonna live? I guess you didn’t get out and exercise a lot, standing down in the dungeon, insulting people?” Private Cako leans over with his hands on his knees, “No, Dame Cinderblade, I did not.” Kara says, “Well, you’re going to get a lot on the way to Flamegarden; it’s two hundred miles to Crossroads and about eight days. You’re going to get a lot of exercise.”
Ava jumps off the wagon, excited, “Where’s my kitty?”
Kara says, “One more thing, Private Cako, until we get to Flamegarden, you will call me Kara, and she is Ava. Clear Pim?” Private Cako says, “Yes Dame….” Kara interrupts, “Do you need to run the rest of the way to the Crossroads in front of the wagon to clear your mind, Pim?” He freezes in place, “Apologies. No, Kara.” She says, “Get in the wagon; I want to pick up the pace for a little way. When we slow to a walk, you walk until one of us tells you to get in the wagon.” Pim removes his pack and tosses it into the wagon.
Ava is bouncing with excitement, “Come on, come on.” Kara smiles and holds a hand up, “Chomasuke.” The marrowfang stalker appears; it licks Kara, then pounces on Ava, pushing her to the ground. Pim yells, “What the hells.” Then Chomasuke licks Ava while she laughs, “Let me up. I want to ride.” Chomasuke lets Ava up; she leaps onto the saddle, and the marrowfang stalker starts jumping and running around while she laughs. Kara leans forward slightly and says, “Fearless.”
The smell of brimstone fills the air as Fearless appears from the ethereal, with his forehead pressed against Kara. Pim screams, “Holy Mother of!!!! What is wrong with you people?” Kara turns and looks at him. Fearless looks at him. Pim scrambles into the wagon and moves as far away from Fearless as possible.
Lines asks Persi, “What is wrong with that one?” Indicating Pim. Persi shrugs, “You’ve got to admit, it’s not every day you see a human and a shadow elf riding a wagon side-by-side.” Lines looks at Persi and then starts laughing. Shae rides back, “Shae is impressed, Kara.” Kara says, “Shae, meet Fearless. Fearless, this is Shae.” The nightmare nods. Shae says, “Shae greets Fearless.” She looks at the nightmare in awe. Kara guides Fearless to the front of the wagon, “Lines, this is Fearless. Fearless, this is Lines. Lines and Shae are our two new companions. They speak for me if I cannot.” Again, Fearless nods. Kara mounts up; Kara points to Chomasuke as she runs around with Ava like she’s trying to throw her off, “That girl is Chomasuke. If you're not a friend, her bite can be worse than her lick.” Kara looks at Pim. She says, “Crossroads ho, we will have to push. Shae, take the lead with Ava; Aran, you follow behind with me.” Shae trots ahead with the riding horse. Persi snaps the reigns and the wagon lurches. Ava and Chomasuke eventually slow down and walk alongside Shae.
Kara falls back, and Aran rides up alongside, “How long do you plan on torturing him?” indicating toward Pim. Kara answers, “Until he proves himself, and we can trust him. Right now, I don’t trust him, so keep an eye on him, Aran.” Kara looks off in the distance at nothing in particular. “Aran,” Aran looks at her, and she says, “Crossroads can be incredible or deadly; there is no real authority there. Clear?” Aran nods. “Keep an eye on everyone, trust no one, and protect ourselves. Clear.” Aran smiles, “Yes, Your Highness, Dame, Princess Cinderblade.” Kara reaches over, nudges his shoulder, and rides up to the wagon to talk to Lines and Persi.
“Lines, Narri speaks highly of you.” Lines looks at Fearless, then Kara, “Thank you,,, Kara. My only wish is to serve.” Kara asks, “I’m curious about your tattoo; it seems simple yet complex at the same time. Is it magical?” Lines replies, “It is called a Barrier Tattoo. It provides me some protection, like armor.” She asks, “Would you allow me to look at it when we get a chance?” Lines expression changes, looking as if he has just been asked for permission by a goddess, “Of, of course. I would be honored. I, I,,,” Persi says, “Calm down.” Lines looks at Persi, “Yes, you’re right.” He looks back at Kara again, who seems amused. She says, “Lines, I’m just a person. Treat me the same as you would treat anyone here. I want to see if I can figure out how it works and what kinds of magic were used to create it. I can create spell-wrought tattoos but haven’t yet learned how to create permanent ones.”
Persi pulls up his sleeve to show Lines, “Warding Bond?” Persi nods, “How did you?” Lines replies, “I can feel the magic mixed with your blood.” Lines looks at Kara, “Would you honor me with a tattoo? You should be able to create something without disrupting the barrier.” She says, “I’d love to. Think about what you would like.”
She looks at Lines, Persi, and Pim, “Lines, what do you know about Crossroads?” Lines replies, “It is lawless. No rules exist there except for what the strong enforce.” Kara says, “Exactly. Pim, this goes double for you. If you insult the wrong person there, you will end up dead. I promised Arden nothing about keeping you alive. If you cost me a Raise Dead, I will expect repayment. Clear?” Pim nods, “No trouble from me. I will mind my own business in Crossroads.”
Kara rides ahead to catch up with Ava and Shae, riding side-by-side and talking. Fearless and Kara come up between them, “Are you two talking or watching?” Ava says, “Sorry, Ava was,, I was just trying to get accustomed to talking to Shae.” Shae says, “Shae is always watching.” Kara looks at both of them, “As long as one of you is watching, I guess. Anyway, I’ve warned everyone else about Crossroads,” Shae says, “It is a nasty place, full of horrible people looking for the vilest of things.” Kara looks at her curiously, “Kara remembers it can be sketchy. Is it that bad now, Shae.” Shae nods, “The slavers brought Shae through there. They allowed others to use Shae.” Kara says, “Kara is sorry, Shae. Would Shae like us to avoid it?” Shae shakes her head, “Shae is free now, but if Shae sees any of those…” Kara replies, “Let Kara know if there are any who will not see the sunrise the next morning, Shae.” Shae nods. Kara looks at Ava, “I assume you understand what Crossroads can be like now?” She nods, “Don’t turn my back, be ready at all times.” Kara says, “Just follow my lead when we get there.” She falls back, turns, and rides back to the rear.
The following eight days are mostly peaceful, with some light weather. Kara tries deciphering the tattoo on Lines but can’t seem to understand the underlying magic. She adds a Charm Person tattoo to Lines, in the appearance of a man proposing marriage to a woman. Lines seems very pleased with it: every evening, Aran, Ava, and Shae spar under Kara’s tutelage. Unless he is told to do something, Pim tries not to be seen. The road is heavily patrolled during the first week, but patrols drop off the closer they get to Crossroads, and eventually, the only other people they see on the road are other travelers. Shae's bow, which will warn them of attack, diminishes her fears of her brother. Kara worries about this silence from her brother. She knows it isn’t good. The longer he doesn’t make a move, the longer he is planning. She knows he once infiltrated Nexus before she arrived there and spent months planning and preparing a ritual to allow Azura to attack. They talk to some people coming from Crossroads. The news is mixed. There are many goods for sale, but a few guilds control different parts with varying degrees of persuasion.
They come into Crossroads on the eighth day, slightly before nightfall; the horses are tired. There are only a few permanent buildings, most structures are tents, and music of all kinds can be heard as bards perform. People come running out to see the marrowfang stalker and the nightmare. Shae rides back past the wagon, “Over there looks like a good spot.” Persi steers the wagon to where Shae pointed and stops. Pim jumps out of the wagon as Aran, Ava, and Kara ride over. Several people are standing around looking at them. Persi asks, “Was it a good idea to ride in with Chomasuke and Fearless?” Kara says, “I want the people here to know we mean business and to respect us. Watch your backs; don’t roam without someone with you.” Kara looks at Pim, “Take care of the horses, Pim. Ava, take Chomasuke around our perimeter and make sure everyone sees her.”
Kara rides around the perimeter, looking everyone in the eye so they understand this is not the group to mess with. Ava rides back to where the wagon is. Something catches Kara’s ear. She rides out to look at the rest of Crossroads. After riding around, Ava removes the tent and starts setting it up. Aran ties up the war horse removes the saddle and starts brushing it down. Pim says, “I thought she said not to go alone?” Aran says, “Does she look like she’s alone.” Pim looks at her as she rides slowly away, confused. Aran says, “Let me know when you figure it out.”
Aran walks over to Ava, “He’s not too bright, is he?” Ava looks at Pim, “No, he insulted us. That’s why he’s here. Why do you ask?” Aran says, “He’s still trying to figure out why Kara isn’t alone.” Aran runs the center pole up in the tent, “Hey, this is pretty nice. It beats sleeping under the wagon in the rain.” Ava starts pressing stakes into the ground with her hands while Aran pounds them in with a hammer, “Show off.” Ava smiles.
Someone nearby says, “These camping spots aren’t free.” Aran and Ava look to see who said that. They see four well-armed individuals: a human man, a half-elf woman with red and blonde striped hair, a halfling woman, and a half-orc man. Persi, Shae, and Lines are securing the supplies on the other side of the tent. Aran says, “And you are?” The halfling woman says, “We’re the ones you pay. That’s who we are.” Ava holds out a hand, and Dawnbreaker appears, “Yeah, I don’t think so.” The half-orc takes a few steps forward, and Aran unslings the shield, “That’s far enough. I don’t think you were paying attention when we rode in.” The halfling says, “A couple of little girls on scary mounts, a boy with a toy. We’re not impressed, now if you want to stay here, it will be ten gold per. That’s person, mount, and wagon, plus we inspect your supplies and take what we want.”
Ava notices a few people watching the exchange from the perimeter; most look afraid, and some look interested. Aran says, “You’re as stupid as Bind and Bloodhoods.” The halfling’s expression changes to rage as she pulls a short sword and a dagger.
Kara rides through the camp, looking for the sound that caught her attention and looking around for herself at what Shae said. People part way in front of Fearless, some out of awe, others out of fear. There is no order for the tents, vendors, or anything else here. Fifteen years ago, the Crownsguard kept some order here by occasionally coming through. This looks like complete chaos. She can hear a cacophony of bards singing and telling stories, and the smell is a strange mixture of pleasant foods, sweat, and stale booze, combined with piss and shit. She sees vendors hocking everything from potions to armor; all seem to claim theirs is enchanted by the most powerful magics. Then she sees a tall wagon; the sides seem to be made of wood, but she sees bars between the slats. It is backed up next to a large tent.
She grasps Misery, “Fearless, step into your plane, but stay near.” Fearless fades into the ethereal, Kara falls through the mist he leaves, lands on her feet, and starts walking toward the tent without missing a step. Three people stand outside the tent: a female goliath dressed in furs leans on a great axe, a male minotaur wearing a breastplate with a shield on one arm and a long sword on his side staring out at the crowds, and an elf dressed in colorful robes, calls out, “Come on, just a few gold coins and your wildest carnal pleasures will be fulfilled. We have the most exotic races. Come on. You sir, you’ve never felt anything like a water elementi wrapped around your cock.” Kara tries to get close enough to hear what’s happening in the tent, but the sounds around her drown out everything and blend into one. She has Em extend around Misery and drape over it to make it look like a large bolt of cloth wrapped around a plank. The dandy takes notice of her, “You there, girl.”
Ava extends a hand and forms a fist. The gravity around the four thugs increases, and their knees start to buckle, but half-orc manages to launch himself out of it at Ava, only to find himself trying to dodge a mace as it brushes by the hairs on his head. He swings at Ava, but she moves without any indication she ever looked at him, causing his sword to swing wide.
The halfling hurls the dagger at Ava and hits her with a glancing cut on the waist.
The elf fires an arrow but misses it horribly, and the arrow goes through the tent.
The human motions with his hand, and three tiny, yellow, barbed balls streak from his fingertips and hit her in the chest. Ava inhales deeply when the force missiles impact, “Shit!” She hopes some help is coming; she is hurt, and she and Aran are outnumbered.
She wants to go after the caster to stop him from doing that again, but that would put her alone in the middle of three opponents. She brings Dawnbreaker down on the half-orc’s shoulder, and he yells as the maul cracks bone.
The half-orc swings at her again. The instant his sword is about to cut into her, Aran’s shield is there to stop it. The mace comes over and glances against the same place Dawnbreaker hit. Then Aran plants his feet and shoves with the shield. The half-orc slides back from the force shove away from Ava, skimming across the ground but somehow managing to return to his feet.
The halfling and the half-elf charge around Aran to Ava with blades drawn. Ava twists, and the halfling misses a thrust, but the movement puts her in the direct path of the swing from the half-elf as the blade cuts into the same wound the dagger left.
Three more yellow barbs arc around the half-elf, hitting Ava in the chest and sending shock waves through her. Her vision starts to cloud, and the sounds are muffled. The half-elf is saying something, smiling at her, as a black mass of teeth and claws drives the half-elf into the ground.
The dandy elf looks at Kara, licking his lips, “You girl, you’re a pretty one, come on in. What’s your pleasure, a big hulking man or the soft caress between the legs of a woman?” Kara stops and points at herself. The dandy looks closer at her, “You are a true beauty. Come on into the tent, sample the wares.” She turns and walks toward the tent; the caller motions to the minotaur, who holds a hand out to her, “You’ll need to leave your merchandise, little lady.” Kara pouts, “But my, ma, will get mad if I lose it; I’ll just sit it down inside.” The minotaur places a hand on her back and slightly pushes her as he steps in with her. Inside, she sees several people, all naked, all terrified, standing against a curtain; now that she’s inside, she can hear cries from further back in the tent, along with insults being hurled as customers yell at the slaves, along with grunts and moans. All too familiar sounds from her past.
The minotaur shoves her, but he may as well try to push a mountain. She doesn’t move. He looks down at her, “What the h…” his rib cage compresses in as bones become knives cutting through his organs when Misery slams into him. The minotaur’s body flies backward out of the tent. She sees the looks of terror on the faces of the slaves start to change to looks of hope. She steps toward the slaves, and four others charge out from behind the curtain with blades drawn.
The halfling screams as Chomasuke tears into the half-elf. Ava sends healing energy into herself, knowing she can’t take another series of hits. She hears the half-elf screaming as claws and teeth rip through flesh. She thinks, “What were these idiots thinking?”
The half-orc swings at Aran, but the shield is there to stop it. Aran returns the swing but finds nothing but air. He shoves with the shield again, forcing the half-orc back again. Aran goes to a knee to brace with the shield between him and the half-orc. A wave of force projects out, sending the half-orc flying and sliding across the ground on his back. Aran sees Chomasuke with Ava and moves to where the half-orc is lying.
There is a crack of thunder, and then Ava sees Shae and Lines appear behind the caster, with Shae’s dagger drawing a wicked cut across his back, sending blood arcing through the air. Ava feels a hand on her shoulder; she feels some pain leave. She looks at Persi standing by her side. The halfling, seeing that things have suddenly turned to the worse, turns and runs toward the increasing onlookers and vanishes into the masses. The caster points a finger toward Shae and Lines to cast, only to find his spell countered by Lines. Realizing his mistake of not trying to run, he holds up his hands.
Blades come at Kara from every angle as she gives herself to The Dawn Bringer. Not one so much as finds cloth as she twists and tumbles between them. She sees three fire bolts come through the door at her from the dandy. She stops and doesn’t even try to dodge them as they explode against her. She brushes her chest where they hit as if trying to remove a speck of dust.
A great sword cuts through the tent but misses as Kara simply steps back. The goliath steps in for a second swing, and Kara feels the blade cut through the air below her chin. Then, a third swing cuts across her thigh, leaving a gash as she realizes she can’t play with this one.
She pulls Misery in close, spins, and brings the flat of Misery to a stop just as it impacts the goliath's thigh. She adds as much as she can to smite the goliath and pushes her back. The goliath sees the attack and braces as radiant power pulses through her. The goliath doesn’t budge. Surprised, Kara turns Misery on edge and shoves, again smiting. Radiant pain pulses through the goliath again, drawing a howl of pain from her.
Flaming hooves hit the goliath from behind as Fearless appears from the ethereal, pushing her forward a step.
Chomasuke continues to try to shred the half-elf as Ava yells for her to stop. Chomasuke stops and looks at Ava and licks her, leaving a smear of the half-elf’s blood across her face. The half-elf is lying under a paw, gurgling blood from her mouth, gashes in her chest, and bubbling blood out. Ava says, “I’ll let her finish the job if you flinch.” The half-elf looks at Ava without turning her head and gives a tiny nod as tears stream down her face.
Seeing his friends down or running away, the half-orc turns to escape. Aran braces and uses the shield to pull the half-orc, but he manages to resist knocking over several onlookers as he runs through the crowd.
Lines says to the caster, “On your knees, if you try to,,,” The caster vanishes in a puff of shadow and reappears at the edge of the onlookers, an arrow slams into his spine, sending him forward into the ground, and he tries to move, but his body refuses to respond as his vision fades. Several people in the crowd rush in around him, kicking at him and ripping at his clothing. Shae starts to run in his direction, but Lines puts a hand on her arm, “Don’t, Shae, they’ll tear you apart trying to get at him. Let them have their revenge.”
One of the guards grabs a slave, “Give up, girl, or I gut them all.” then he plunges the blade into the slave’s side. Kara reaches out with divine magic, and the blade instead cuts into her, leaving the slave unharmed.
The other three swing at Kara as she twists and turns around the blades. The one that tried to stab the slave says, “Don’t swing at her fool…” his body explodes as radiance explodes from the sky, through the roof of the tent, his head, and through his feet. She rises from the ground on light. Her eyes blaze light white-hot stars.
The goliath swings recklessly at her, cutting her once across the back out of three swings. The dandy points the finger at Kara, and a sickly green beam of light extends from his finger; she barely manages to counter the Disintegrate spell before it hits her. Fearless, hits the goliath, knocking her away from Kara and trying to place himself between Kara and her two assailants.
Ava sees the beam of radiance from the sky hitting somewhere deeper in Crossroads. She jumps on Chomasuke and then leaps away. The force of the jump knocks the breath out of the half-elf. Shae reaches out as the two bound by catches Ava by the arm and pulls herself onto the saddle. Chomasuke easily leaps over the people, kicking the caster, lands, and tears up the ground as she speeds toward where she sees the radiant beam. Persi kneels next to the half-elf, “Don’t even think about it.” as he presses his dagger against her throat. The half-elf closes her eyes in defeat. A few tears run down the sides of her head. She tries to say, “I’m sorry.” But starts choking on blood.
The other three guards panic and run after seeing their companion explode. Kara turns her attention from them back to goliath and the dandy. She slides under Fearless and hits the goliath, again pouring all her strength into a divine smite. This time, she sends the goliath out the tent door, sliding toward the dandy. She pursues the goliath with another hit, this time knocking the goliath off her feet, and the goliath lands on her butt at the feet of the dandy. She presses forward toward the dandy and calls for another beam of radiance that hits him, visibly hurting him as he tenses up from the strike. He lifts a hand and mutters some arcane words, and Kara’s world goes black.
Chomasuke bounds over people, kicking up dirt every time she touches the ground, and another radiant beam hits somewhere in front of them. Ava is holding the saddle as tightly as she can, and Shae has her arms locked around Ava so tight it’s hard for her to breathe. People are running in all directions, some of them half-naked. Ahead Ava sees a man cast something at Kara, then Kara is not there anymore. A female goliath stands up, grabs the man, takes off, runs into the crowd, and disappears into the mass of people.
Chomasuke slides to a halt and Ava and Shae leap off, looking for any sign of Kara. Shae runs into the tent, where she sees several people chained together, all terrified, covered in blood and gore, huddled together. Shae runs back out, shakes her head, and then runs toward the back of the tent. There are several makeshift rooms with beds, some occupied by slaves trying to hide next to the bed, chained to posts.
Ava runs around the tent. She sees several partially dressed people climbing from under the tent and running away, but no Kara. When she returns to the front of the tent, Shae is standing there looking around, screaming, “KARA! KARA!” Shae sees Ava; tears start to stream from her eyes. Ava yells out, “KARA!” Fearless is stepping into and out of the ethereal, getting more agitated every time he returns.
Ava runs to the nearest person she sees and grabs them around the collar. “What happened? Where is Kara?” The man looks confused. “I don’t know, Kara. There was a fight.” Ava pushes the man to the side. “KARA!” Chomasuke growls at anyone who comes too close.
Ava runs over to Shae. “Do you see anything, Shae?” Shae shakes her head, trying to wipe away tears. “KARA!” Fearless comes back out of the ethereal, looking angrier. Ava runs over to him, puts her hands on either side of his head, and says in infernal, “Keep looking for her.” Fearless fades into the ethereal again.
Persi gives the half-elf as little healing as possible, and then he and Aran bind up the half-elf. As the crowd approaches, they can hear, “Give her to us.” “She robbed us.” We’ll take care of her.” The half-elf digs her heels in and presses backward against Aran and Persi, “I surrender to you. Protect me, or let me run.” There is a loud crack of thunder as Lines casts Thunderwave at no one, trying to disperse the crowd; then, with a booming voice, he yells, “LEAVE HERE NOW OR FACE MY WRATH!” The crowd stops and backs away, unsure of what to do. Lines yells again, “LEAVE, WE WILL TAKE THE OFFENDER BEFORE VELERIS OR SEND HER TO THE RAVENTH OURSELVES!” This time, the crowd begins to disperse. Where the caster was is now nothing more than a bloody lump of flesh. Persi can see from where he is that there is no reason to check it for any signs of life. Aran asks, “Those radiant beams, Kara is okay. Right?”
Ava and Shae continue to look around at everything and nothing. There is no sign. Then, as suddenly as she vanished, Kara is there again, holding Misery, ready to swing. Ava and Shae both leap on her, crying, “We couldn’t find you., Shae didn’t see Kara. Shae thought Kara was gone to the After.” Kara sighed, breathed out, and relaxed when she didn’t see the dandy or the goliath; she stood there and let Ava and Shae hold her. Then Ava steps back and yells, “WE DON’T GO OUT ALONE! CLEAR?” Kara holds an arm out for Ava, who again hugs her. After a moment, Kara says, “There are people in that tent. They need our help.”
Ava and Shae release Kara from the hug. Kara swings Misery back on her shoulder, and then Fearless appears in front of her, looking very angry. Kara stops and says to everyone, “I’m sorry. I found this place.” Fearless lets loose with something that sounds like a mixture of a neigh and growl but clearly displays anger and frustration. Kara says, “I’m sorry, I should have returned.” She looks at Ava and says, “What happened to you? Did they hurt you?”
Ava shakes her head. Shae says, “Others came to the tent looking for trouble. They attacked Aran and Ava but have been taught a lesson.” Kara wipes the blood off Ava’s face with her hand, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I left all of you. I’m sorry I got it into my head that I could take these on myself. It won’t happen again.” Ava puts a hand on Kara’s stomach and casts cure wounds. She feels the life inside her for the first time and looks at Kara in amazement. Some of Kara’s wounds heal. Kara sends healing energy through herself; the rest of the wounds heal. Shae asks, “What happened, Kara, Shae saw Kara vanish?” Kara starts walking back into the tent, “He Banished me. It doesn’t hurt. It just sends you to a pocket dimension where you can’t do anything. Thankfully, I countered the disint…” She stops before she finishes the word, but it’s too late.
Ava yells, “THE WHAT?” A wave of anger hits her so hard that she shakes. “WHY DO YOU DO THESE THINGS?” Kara looks at Ava. “Let’s talk about it later. There are people in here who need our help.” Chomasuke and Fearless patrol around the tent, ensuring everyone stays back.
Inside, they find the slaves still huddled up in the front. There are six women and one man. Kara says, “We’re here to free you.” She sets Misery down and gets on a knee with the attached chain. Ava and Shae head into the back. They find four more, three more women and one more man; all are of different or mixed races. Kara holds up the palms of her hands to the ones out front, “You are safe now.” One cries, “We’ll never be safe. They will come for us. I’ve escaped before, and they found me.” Kara says, “I will release you. Stay with us. We’ll find out if they can track you and stop them.” They seem to calm with these words. Kara grasps the chains and twists the links apart, leaving just a shackle on their legs. She points to the shackles, “We’ll get those off too.” Ava and Shae come walking out with the ones they freed. One of the women from the back runs to the man in the front, holding each other. Kara looks at Ava and Shae, “Worth every cut.” Ava glares at Kara.
Ava and Kara walk Chomasuke and Fearless, with Shae following the eleven people. Persi also sees Kara smeared with blood. Walking with a female water elementi, a female and a male high elf, a male halfling, a female nightsylvan, two female gnomes, two female half-orcs, and three female infernis. For some reason, Fearless looks mad. Aran, Lines, and Persi come out to them. Persi asks, “What…” Kara holds up a hand, “I’m sorry.” Fearless fades into the ethereal, “He’s mad at me.” Aran asks, “Why?” Kara says, “I went in without coming to get all of you, but it sounds like all of you had your hands full, too. I’m sorry for not being here for that.”
Ava rubs Chomasuke’s head, “We thought she was dead.” Shae walks by Kara and shoulder-checks her, “Shae is not happy.” Lines stands there watching. Persi asks again, “What happened?” Kara sighs, “They banished me, Ava and Shae thought…” Ava says, “She managed to counter the Disintegrate spell they cast at her.” Persi says, “WHAT!”
Kara looks at the ground, “I saved these people, Persi.” The female elf says, “She saved us from a fate worse than death.” Persi ignores her and shakes his head, “Did you capture any of them?” Kara continues to look at the ground and shakes her head.
Aran and Persi step around her to help the people without saying anything else. Kara stands there, looking at the ground. Lines walks over, places a hand on her back, and hands her a water skin. “Thank you, Lines.” Lines says, “I’m no less angry with your decision.” He escorts Kara into the tent, where she sees the half-elf tied up. Kara says, “Thank you again, Lines.” She feels like a child again, getting scolded for doing something stupid.
The half-elf looks at Kara, “What, is Pinky mad at you?” Kara sits on a fur, buries her head in her knees, and ignores the half-elf. Then Sasha’s voice is in her head, “Hey beautiful, things are improving here. What’s new on the traveling front? Have you started this way again? Hope you are staying safe.” Kara lays back, saying to herself, “Fucking great, just fucking great.”
She stands and walks back out of the tent. Aran and Shae are in front, Ava, Lines, and Persi are walking toward the back, and all five have some people with them. Kara just looks back down at the ground again, “I fucked up again, Babe; we’re safe. Ran into more slavers, and I went in alone. Rescued eleven, everyone is mad at me. I love you.”
Kara sees Ava’s feet in front of her. She looks up. Ava grabs her in another hug and starts crying, “You scared me. I thought we had lost you.” Kara puts her arms around her, “When he cast Disintegrate at me, I thought it was over. I didn’t know if I could counter that. My only thought was Camiella. I won’t go off on my own again. I promise.” Ava holds Kara back at arm’s length, wipes some tears away, and says, “I heard you answer the Princess. I guess we’re going to get another scrying from Sasha.” Kara laughs through tears, “We’ll be lucky if that’s all.” Kara hears Sasha’s voice again, “Tomorrow night after sunset for you. I want to hear what happened. No more heroics or I will send an army. I love you.” Kara looks at Ava, “Now she’s mad at me too.” Kara closes her eyes, “I’m sorry, everyone is mad at me, it won’t happen again, I promise. I’m sorry, slaves were being raped. It just happened so fast.” Kara rests her forehead on Ava’s shoulder, “Would you bring everyone here, please?”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Ava steps back and looks at Kara. She is getting that look again, defeated and overwhelmed, “I’ll get everyone. You sit down and write everything that happened in your journal.” Kara nods and sits down on a stump. Ava motions Aran and Shae over, “Keep an eye on her. I’ll be back with the others in a second.” Ava runs to the back of the tent, “Persi, Lines.” They turn from talking to the people Kara rescued and see Ava motioning them over with a worried look. Persi tells the people, “Just find a place; food is in that crate. We’ll figure it all out.” Ava meets them halfway, “She isn’t looking good; the Princess just contacted her, and now Sasha is mad, too. She asked me to gather everyone.” As Ava finishes the sentence, Persi and Lines are walking toward where Kara is. Aran and Shae are already standing there. Kara is sitting, her journal is closed, in her lap as she looks down at it. Ava says, “Everyone is here.”
Kara looks up, her face still streaked with blood and tears, “I can’t do this. I can’t lead us home, not with this going on. It feels like the world is closing in around me.” Everyone looks at each other, “I need one of you to make the decisions.” She looks at them, “Persi, we need cautious decisions, not my hot-headed charge into everything; my friends will eventually show up, decisions.”
Persi says, “I can’t, I have no. I’m not a commander. I have no rank.” Kara reaches down, takes Misery in her hand, and stands, then says loud enough for the rescued people to hear, “Everyone, gather around me.” Everyone gathers, a little confused.
Kara looks at Persi, “Kneel Persival.” He stands there, looking at her, figuring out where this is going. He shakes his head, “Kneel Persival, I should have done this in Everwind.” The authority in her voice drives Persi to a knee. She lifts Misery with one arm, and the blade begins to glow. The holy symbols of The Dawn Bringer and Veleris appear on the blade. Then, the holy symbol of Galathor appears. She smiles, knowing her friend approves, “Normally, something like this has to take place at Nexus, but in times of great need, I can make this official in the field. I, Dame Karael Cinderblade, First Knight of Nexus, proclaim Persival Lonepeak a Knight of Nexus. From this time forward, all land and titles shall be afforded him. Rise Sir Lonepeak.” The area around them begins to glow. Persi feels all the frustration from the last hour leaves him, but a new weight presses down. Kara says, “I abdicate all my authority as leader of The Wandering Mountain Trading Company to you, Sir Lonepeak. You command this company now.” Everyone applauds. The holy symbol of Galathor fades from Misery.
Kara sits back down, “Sasha will be doing another scrying on us tomorrow after sunset. We also have other problems. Persi?” He stands there momentarily before he realizes everyone is looking at him; he looks at everyone. “We have eleven people Kara rescued; Flamegarden is still far away; that’s too far for them. Lines, Ava, and Shae, check with the caravans at the camp here. See if any are headed to Cragcall. Make sure they are trustworthy. These people may know some of the others we rescued. The three of us, Aran and Kara, will get these people settled for the night. We have another problem. A few of the ones we fought got away, and so did the ones you fought, Kara, so they are still out there. Half up, half down tonight.” Ava, Lines, and Shae walk away together. Aran says, “Lonepeak?” Persi says, “That’s Sir Lonepeak. Come on, let’s get these,,,” He looks down at Kara and sees her starting to fall over.
A cloaked figure in the crowd on the camp's perimeter smiles as he walks off. Ka’Amas swings up onto his horse and rides to the north.
Aran gets to her first and catches her, and Persi checks her. She is breathing normally, with a steady pulse, “Carry her into the tent.” Aran scoops her up and carries her in. Persi hefts Misery and follows. The half-elf says, “Oh, did the poor little gir….” Aran glares at her, “Shut up if you want your jaw staying attached to your face.” Aran lays Kara down on the fur, “What happened?” Persi casts cures wounds, feels the life within, and everything seems normal, “I think it’s the same as last time, just not as bad, I hope. She needs rest. Aran, can you see to the people outside? I’ll stay in here with her.” Persi pulls out one of his elixirs and starts administering a drop at a time. Aran leaves, pausing at the tent door. The half-elf says, “No, serio….” Persi glares at her like he’s ready to kill her.
The half-elf says, “No more wisecracks, I promise. What’s wrong with her?” Persi looks at the half-elf, “First you attacked us, now you’re suddenly concerned. What is wrong with you people?” The half-elf says, “Sylnoa.” Persi looks at her confused, “Sylnoa, that’s my name. Look, I wasn’t with them by choice. I was with them to survive. Over time, it just became the thing to do.” Persi continues to glare at her, “How many people have died because it was just the thing to do?” Sylnoa says, “I’m willing to bet everyone here has blood on their hands.”
Persi grits his teeth, “There is a difference between the blood of the innocent and the wicked. Now watch what you say, or I’ll turn you over to those people out there. Where did your friends run off to?” Sylnoa shrugs, “Probably still running, Kashan,,, the lump of meat out there. He was the muscle, and they're nothing without him backing them up. For the record, I never killed anyone that didn’t deserve it. Back to my question. It’s her mind, isn’t it?” Persi says, “She is fine. She needs rest.” She says, “I can feel it. Her mind is injured.” Persi looks at Sylnoa. Her eyes are glowing as she stares at Kara. He reaches over and grabs her, “What are you doing? Stop now!”
He pulls out his dagger. Sylnoa’s eyes return to normal, and she looks at Persi, “Nothing, I promise. I can read auras and see surface thoughts.” Persi grabs a cloth and ties it around Sylnoa’s eyes. She says, “Look, it would be suicide for me to hurt her or try anything. I can help her.” He says, “Say another word, and I’ll gag you too.” Aran enters the tent and sees the blindfold, “What’s going on?”
Kara wakes, gagging and spitting up sewage. It’s finally over. “I must have passed out.” She is tied to a rack in the cesspit. “Great, now I have to stay awake or end up breathing it in and eating shit.” She looks up at the sadistic shifter; Flax is watching her, “You enjoyed that, didn’t you, little bitch.” He starts untying his pants. Kara looks away from him as he pisses on her. Saying or doing anything to agitate him will get her pulled out, and they will start over. He laughs at her, “He’ll be up there watching me until the next one comes in.” She looks at the sewage and thinks briefly about whether she can drown herself before they pull her out.
Sylnoa says, “I know you said shut up, but she’s diving deep into a bad place.” Persi slides over to Sylnoa, grabbing another piece of rope. Aran asks, “What is she talking about?” Persi says, “She’s a mystic. She can see into minds. Now give me a hand.” Aran says, “What do you mean diving into a bad place?” She struggles against Persi, trying to get the rope around her face. She says, “She’s in a memory, deep; she thinks she’s awake. She can’t tell the difference between where her mind is and where she really is. Something pushed her into a memory, a bad one. I can pull her out,,,, mmmph” Persi forces the rope into her mouth as she speaks and pulls the knot tight.
“The last time I tried, they pulled me out, then raped and tortured me again for nearly a day.” She weighs her odds, “It’s not like they haven’t done it hundreds of times before or won’t do it again.” “Doesn’t that piss,” Flax laughs at her, as he pisses on her, “you off? Look at me, you little bitch, or I’ll pull you back up.” Kara looks up, trying to look afraid. Any defiance will lead to more torture. She hears someone else screaming, probably someone new to this place. Screaming motivates them. Flax looks away from her. He looks in the direction of the torture chamber, yelling, “Hey, save some for me.” Kara watches him, and when she thinks he’s captivated by watching whoever is screaming, he looks back down at her. He cranks on the chain. Terror shoots through her like a knife. “No, no, no, not again. Please, not again.”
Aran yells at Persi, “Let her speak. If she can help, let her. Nothing else has worked.” Persi looks at Kara, then Aran, and releases the rope, “Explain?” Sylnoa says, “I don’t do it voluntarily, and I don’t see the dream unless I can touch them. I can feel if it’s good or bad, and I’m telling you, she is going down a rabbit hole. I might be able to pull her out.” Persi says, “If you harm her, if I think you’re harming her.” Sylnoa says, “I want your word you’ll release me if…” Persi says, “No deal.” Sylnoa says, “Then down the rabbit hole she goes.” Aran says, “She’s starting to sweat again and breath fast.” Persi sighs, “Fine, but if you run, I’ll make you envy that pile of flesh out there.”
He removes the blindfold as Aran unties her. Sylnoa says, “I need to touch her.” Aran stands over her and holds his mace at the ready. Sylnoa slowly slides over to Kara, warily eyeing Aran, “Your word, I’m free.” Persi says, “My word we won’t tie you back up or kill you if you help her. That’s all you’re getting.” Sylnoa looks at Aran, “You too.” Aran says, “My word. Now help her.”
Flax keeps cranking the chain, raising Kara. She tries to slip her mind away, but it’s not working. That fucking Ka’Amas did something to me to keep me from slipping. “You’re coming up, little bitch; I’m not watching them have all the fun.” Kara starts struggling, banging the back of her head against the backboard, trying to knock herself out. “No, no, I’m covered in shit.” Flax says, “The hose will take care of that. I want some of that cunt.” He keeps cranking. She tries to leave again as she approaches eye level with him. She looks to where the screams are coming from; it’s another woman strapped down to a table as Broma and Brokar work on her. Kara cries, “Please, no.” Flax says, “That’s what I like to see, cry, little bitch, cry for me instead of lying there like a lump of sod. It doesn’t matter. I’m gonna fuck you either way.” She closes her eyes. She feels a soft touch on her cheek and hears a soft voice, “Come with me. I’ll lead you out.” She opens her eyes and sees a ghostly figure in front of her, but through it, she sees Flax picking up the hose, “No, no, no.” The ghost says, “Don’t look at him, look at me.” Flax points the hose at her and reaches down for the valve. The ghost says, “You’re not here; this is a memory, and this has already happened. Come with me.” The ghost grasps her hands as the ice-cold water hits.
Kara’s eyes come open, and the half-elf’s nose almost touches her nose. She grabs the half-elf’s head. Aran and Persi both yell at her, “STOP! She’s trying to help.” Kara sees them standing over the half-elf, now frozen with her hands wrapped around her throat. Kara releases her. The half-elf inhales as Kara releases the crushing pressure on Sylnoa’s throat. She looks around the tent; it’s just the three of them with her; she falls back to a sitting position, “What happened?” Persi says, “You passed out again. She pulled you out of whatever you were in.”
Kara focuses on the half-elf, “Why would you help me?” Sylnoa says, “To keep myself alive, I hope.” Persi says, “She’s a mystic, like Khive. She said you were going down a hole in your mind. I didn’t know what else to do.” Kara replies, “The last time, everything just went black, more or less. This time I was,,, in the past. I couldn’t get… I was there. The present didn’t exist.” Sylnoa says, “You’ve blocked off your past; it wants out, and something is pushing it out. It’s going to get out, one way or another. What the hell was that place? I mean, I’ve seen some bad places, but that.” Kara says to Sylnoa, “You could have just watched me go, and there would have been one less to deal with.” Sylnoa sets up, “You were giving me a headache.”
Sylnoa looks at Persi, “Is our deal still good?” Persi says, “No.” Sylnoa yells, “WHAT!” and starts to stand. “You gave me…” Persi says, “I have a better deal.” Sylnoa sits back down, “You can walk out of here and back to the life of surviving. Or. You can stay, help Kara, and start a new life. We can’t protect you once you are away from us.” Aran hangs the mace back on his belt. She looks at each of them, “Why would you trust me or forgive me?” Aran says, “Because that is what we do.” Pim sticks his head in the tent, “Dinner is done,, what’s going on?” Sylnoa feels chills down her spine when she sees Pim. An inky, blood-colored aura surrounds him.
Kara starts to get up. Sylnoa lays a hand on her shoulder, “You should rest.” Kara says, “I feel alright now, at least good enough to…” Sylnoa says, “I. Think. You. Should. Rest.” Kara looks at Persi. Persi looks at Sylnoa and then at Aran. “Aran, would you bring some food in for us so Kara can rest?” Aran shrugs, “I’ll be right back.” Aran walks out with Pim.
Sylnoa says, “As I very quickly explained to this gentleman. I can see auras around people; your auras glow a bright blue, like the one with the mace. Aran? His is white. She looks at Persi. Yours is tainted somehow but feels like it’s becoming cleaner.” Persi says, “But?” Sylnoa says, “The one that just stuck his head in, I’ve seen the same aura around the slavers. He is pure evil.” Persi says, “Weren’t you working with pure evil?”
She shakes her head, “No. As I said, I did what I had to do to survive. Yeah, the slavers paid us to keep order and to collect payments. We also shook down people coming here. But I had nothing to do with them. I couldn’t stand being around them. It got me sick every time I got near their tent.” Kara listens to every word Sylnoa says. She doesn’t hear any lies in it. Persi says, “So if I ask those people out there, they will say they never saw you?” Sylnoa shrugs, “I don’t know if they ever “saw” me. I know I never had anything to do with the slavers or the slaves. Just being this close to them makes me queasy. It’s their memories.”
She looks at Kara, “They are like yours, only raw, fresh, and leaking out. They’re trying to deal with them but don’t know how.” Kara says, “Apparently, I don’t know how either.” Sylnoa shakes her head again, “No, you seal yours off, like…” Kara says, “A past me and a present me?” Sylnoa nods, “If you leave that monster with those people, something bad will happen.”
Aran comes back in with a bowl for each of them, sits them down, and then starts to sit. Persi says, “I’m not trying to be rude, Aran, but would you eat with Pim?” Aran looks at Persi, “What’s up.” Persi says, “I’m not sure yet, so don’t say anything, but keep an eye on him for us.” Aran nods, “No problem.” He takes his bowl and goes back out. Persi asks, “Can you read his thoughts? You seemed to be able to step into Kara’s nightmare.” That memory gives Sylnoa the chills, “I have to see him, and if he senses it, he will know someone is trying to look into his mind.” Persi nods, “I think we need to take that chance.” He hands Sylnoa his dagger and points to the wall of the tent.
She raises an eyebrow and looks at him like he’s crazy for handing her a dagger. Sylnoa gets on her knees, moves next to Kara, and makes a tiny slit in the tent’s fabric. She hands the dagger back to Persi and then puts her finger in the slit, just enough so she can see out. She moves a little to left, then to right, “I see him,” she shivers, “trying now.” She inhales, “He’s wondering why Aran is there. Aran is bothering him; he wants to talk to the people and figure out which one will be the easiest to control, so, so he can rape her. He’s angry. You came along and ruined his fun. He and Cilah were having so much fun. They would threaten prisoners and promise them easier times; in return, he would rape them while she would watch. Now, he has to start over again.” Sylnoa leans back, then spits in the dirt, “No more. I saw images while he fantasized about the people you rescued.” Kara looks at Persi, “He had me fooled.” Persi says, “He had us all fooled. Now what?” Kara says, “My first instinct is to go out there and bash his skull in.” Ava steps in; she sees the half-elf free and next to Kara. Dawnbreaker appears in Ava’s hand.
Kara and Persi hold their hands up, “What’s she doing free?” Sylnoa tries to move behind Persi. As Shae steps in, Shae draws her daggers. Kara says, “Please, calm down.” Ava and Shae stay on guard, watching the half-elf. Persi says, “Ava, Shae, this is Sylnoa. After you left, Kara collapsed again. Sylnoa helped her.” Ava drops Dawnbreaker and kneels next to Kara, “What happened? I thought you were…” Kara says, “I went into… It’s hard to describe, but Sylnoa came in and pulled me out.” Sylnoa looks at Ava, “Sorry about cutting you. If it’s any consolidation, I was trying to miss you.” Kara looks at Sylnoa, “You cut her?” She nods. “In my defense, I swung to miss, but she got in the way of the blade.” Shae is behind Persi before he can react, “Shae will cut this one to make things even.” Persi says, “Back off, Shae, she is helping us. Plus, I think what Chomasuke did more than makes up for the cut.” Ava says, “Someone needs to explain things.” Persi says, “Long story short. Kara collapsed. Sylnoa could feel Kara slipping away, dying. She went into Kara’s mind and pulled her out of whatever hell she was in.” Ava asks, “If she can do that, how do we know she didn’t put Kara there in the first place?” Everyone looks at Sylnoa. Kara says, “I trust her. Plus, we’ve got another problem.”
Persi repeats what Sylnoa said about Pim. Ava says, “Well, Pim is easy. We knock him out, then turn him in when we get to Flamegarden. Cilah is another problem. We don’t have a way to contact Arden, do we?” A voice from behind Ava says, “I do.” Ava and Sylnoa jump as Lines fades into view. Persi looks at Ava, “Go get Aran, walk off with him, and update him. Lines, go with them and contact Arden. No better. Contact Narri and let her know, and she can inform Arden. Shae, stay with Pim, don’t let onto anything. I want to lure him in here and take him down fast.” Shae says, “Pim will go down fast; trust Shae on this.” Everyone leaves Kara, Persi, and Sylnoa in the tent. Persi looks at Sylnoa, “While we wait. You had to have seen us ride in. What made you think you could take us?”
Sylnoa shakes her head, “Kashan, he convinced us it was just a show, illusions, whatnot. Mururk was more than happy to believe him. But Neola and I tried to talk them out of it.” Persi asks, “I assume Neola was the halfling, and Mururk was the half-orc?” She nods, “About a week ago, another group rode in like that; they were just a bunch of bards putting on a show, pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes. When they rode off, they revealed themselves. Kashan was pissed. He threatened to trade me for someone who could see through things like that.” Persi says, “Your friends didn’t waste time leaving you.” She says, “They weren’t “friends,” I had a talent. They took me a while back and were going to sell me to the slavers. I convinced them otherwise. I’ve been looking for an out since. I’m sorry about being a smart-ass before. I was trying… I don’t know what I was trying. Maybe I was becoming one of those animals.” She looks at Kara, “That place, that, whatever that was?”
Kara looks at the ground. Sylnoa says, “Never mind, don’t go there now.” She places a hand on Kara’s forehead, “Shut it out for now; we can look later.” Kara closes her eyes and then opens them when Sylnoa removes her hand. Sylnoa looks at Persi and shakes her head very slightly. “Mururk and Neola won’t be back. Kashan had whatever gold they had. He liked being in control.” Kara rubs her eyes, “Do you know anything about the Dandy and the Goliath at the slaver’s tent?” Sylnoa shakes her head, “Nothing other than you don’t mess with them.” Aran, Ava, and Lines walk back in. Lines says, “It is done. Narri is looking for Arden.” Aran asks, “Who gets the honor?”
Persi says, “Ava, you go call Pim and Shae in. Just say we’re assigning watches for the night, then follow them in. Let’s trust Shae will take the cue.” Sylnoa says, “I can tell her telepathically.” Ava says, “When you tell her, state it in the third person. That way, she will know it came from us.” Sylnoa shrugs, “Okay? That doesn’t make sense to me. I assume it will to her.”
Sylnoa looks through the tiny slit, “Ava is approaching Shae and Pim to tell them to come inside. When Shae comes in Sylnoa asks that Shae knock him out.” She sees Shae look around. She knows it can be weird when, for some, “Sylnoa asks Shae to look at the tent if Shae understands.” Shae looks at the tent and then directly into Sylnoa’s eye. Sylnoa sits back, “I won’t ever try to hide from her.” Persi nods to Ava. Ava walks out; they hear Ava say, “Pim, Shae, come on in so we can discuss the watch for tonight.” They hear Pim say, “I’ll take the last two.” Ava says, “Pim, you know we go over it every night, so everyone understands who is on watch and when. That way, there is no confusion. Clear?” Pim says, “Okay, whatever.” A few moments later, Pim walks in with Shae behind him. His eyes roll to the back of his head, and he faces plants, with several teeth shattering on a rock when he goes down. Everyone looks at Shae. Shae shrugs and then touches his neck, “Pim is still alive.”
Persi says, “Well, that was easy. Why can’t everything be that easy.” Aran and Ava place manacles on him and tie him up. Persi asks Ava, Lines, and Shae, “How did it go?” Ava looks at him, confused. Lines says, “We found two caravans going into Cragcall tomorrow, leaving at dawn.” Ava says, “Oh, yeah. One had some people I saw escaping from the slaver’s tent; the other, I wasn’t sure, but I don’t think I saw anyone I recognized.” Shae says, “Shae saw no one she recognized in that group.” Lines waits for them to finish, “The second group said they would escort them in. I took the liberty of telling this to Narri.”
Ava says, “We bought them some clothes too.” Kara lies back against Sylnoa and listens, realizing she feels much better now. Persi asks Ava and Shae to help them with the clothes and settle them down, then announces that instead of half up and half down, Aran and Ava will take the first watch, Lines and Shae second, and then he’ll do the last watch alone. Kara says, “I’m more than capable of handling a watch.” Persi looks at Sylnoa. She shakes her head and says, “I can take the last watch with you if all of you trust me.” Everyone looks at each other. Sylnoa says, “I understand.” She looks at Kara, “How about we take a look at what’s happening.” Kara says, “I’d like that.”
Everyone gets busy with the tasks at hand. Kara asks Sylnoa, “What do we do?” Sylnoa says, “This is strange.” Kara looks at her questionably, “A few hours ago, the inferni’s pet was tearing me apart. I thought I was going to die. Now you’re trusting me, and they are trusting me to dig around in your head.” Kara smiles, “Welcome. A little over a month ago, Aran, Ava, and Persi were falling to their deaths. I watched my best friend die, and Shae was a slave. A few days ago, Lines came to assassinate all of us.” Sylnoa says, “Crap.” She sits and turns to face Kara’s back, “Lay back with your head in my lap and hold my hands. I’ll ask you a question or four. When we go in,,, well shit.” Kara says, “What.” Sylnoa says, “You may feel the sensation of falling.” She looks at Kara. Kara says, “It’s okay. What will you ask?” Sylnoa says, “I can’t tell you yet.” Kara lays back in Sylnoa’s lap and holds her hands up. Sylnoa takes her hands, “Ready?” Kara nods, “What was your first memory of that place?”
Kara feels the world disappear from beneath her; she doesn’t know the meaning of fear or thought she didn’t. “Where am I? How did I get here?” There is nothing to grab onto; there is no up or down. She hears a voice, “Take my hands.” She sees the ghostly figure and remembers Sylnoa. She reaches out and takes her hands. She looks around; she is standing in a cage with Sylnoa. They are looking at herself lying on the floor naked, trying to cover herself.
Sylnoa asks her, “Is this when you first arrived?” Kara nods, unable to speak from the shock of seeing herself. Sylnoa says, “Be calm, this has already happened. Nothing can harm you here; we’re trying to deal with the memories so they don’t hurt you anymore. We’re only observers.”
Kara breathes, “They stripped me and threw me in here. I was terrified.” Men keep walking around the cage, leering at her; someone reaches through the bars from behind and grabs her. She screams. He holds her tight against the bars, grabbing her arms and painfully bending them back. Three others enter the cell: two more men and a woman. The men hold her legs and pull them apart. The woman carefully opens the jar, takes some tongs, reaches into the jar, and removes a nightmarish-looking bug. They are all laughing at her. The woman holds the bug between Kara’s legs.
Sylnoa starts to ask a question, but when she looks at Kara, she averted her eyes and covered her ears. Sylnoa jumps the event ahead and freezes it. Then she puts her arms around her, “I’ve jumped it ahead. It’s over.” Kara looks again; she is hunched over in the cell, sitting in a pool of blood, crying. Soon, the door to the cell opens, and they throw an inferni woman in. She has been stripped, too. The inferni looks just as terrified. Sylnoa asks, “A friend or just another victim.” Kara shakes her head, “Neither. At the time, I thought she could be a friend.” Sylnoa looks at Kara, “A betrayer, no, far worse.”
She gives Kara some time, and when she has regained some composure, Sylnoa says, “Remember, Kara, all of this has already happened. It’s painful to see it, but it gives you a path to deal with it, so it doesn’t suddenly slam into you when you see something that reminds you of the past.” Kara nods, “I know. I still don’t understand why this is happening now. Arden thinks that after I went to Nexus, my life became so happy that I forgot it. I talked to Anya about it many times, and she told me about facing the years she spent alone in the dark. She helped me find happier things to think about. I like to think I helped her.” Sylnoa says, “That’s probably part of it, but we’ll find the rest. Now, let’s talk about what just happened. What did they do that was so horrible?”
Kara walks over to herself, still sitting in the blood, “That was a fiendish parasite. It feeds on reproductive organs. They needed to make sure I could never have children.” Sylnoa asks, “Was having a family important to you back then?” Kara nods, “It was my dream to find someone I love and pass on our names. They laughed at me, telling me what the thing would do. Then they stood there and watched me writhe in agony while the thing ate my insides. When it was done, they removed it, healed me, and left.” Sylnoa leans against Kara, “But you overcame it. You have a family now.” Kara nods. Sylnoa waves her hand, and they watch while the inferni girl sits and holds Kara, rocking back and forth. Then the men open the cell door and storm in, kicking Kara in the head and knocking her back. They grab the inferni.
Sylnoa waves a hand, and everything freezes. She looks at Kara. Kara says, “They dragged her out first. I listened while they raped her in another room. When they finished with her, they threw her back in. We held each other for hours while we cried. She told me her name was Satari; we talked about anything to get our minds off what was happening, growing up, friends and family, anything but what was happening. Then they came for me. I’d never been more terrified; I’d also never been touched before. I don’t want to remember that, so don’t show it to me.”
Sylnoa says, “We don’t have to see it. You know it happened.” Kara says, “They threw me back in the cell when they finished with me. Satari held me this time. We barely slept; we talked to keep our minds occupied. They would throw food in, make us crawl to it, and lick it off the floor. This went on for days. Satari and I knew everything about each other.” Sylnoa says, “Then something happened.”
Kara nods, “Satari managed to steal a key from a guard when they dragged her off to rape her. She said she got a look at the way out. We had both been watching the guards. Sheer terror had taught me when they were around and when they weren’t. We made a break for it. We got out.” Sylnoa says, “And?” Kara says, “Before us was a frozen wasteland. Nothing but death was in front of us. That’s when Satari started laughing at me, and the guards draped a coat over her.”
Sylnoa thinks, “You’ve never allowed an inferni to get close to you since, have you?” Kara shakes her head at first, then stops, uncertain. Sylnoa says, “You’ve done a little of this and that with infernis but never had one you’ve had to live with or work with closely. Until Ava.” Kara asks, “Is this it? It can’t be this simple.” Sylnoa shakes her head, “No, but this is a step.” Kara says, “I love Ava like a sister or a daughter.” Sylnoa says, “You.” She puts her hand over Kara’s heart, “Love Ava, but somewhere deep inside, you don’t trust her. I think now you can consciously see the difference between Ava and this Satari or whatever her name was.” Kara says, “I only knew her as Warden after that. If I called her anything else, I was severely punished.” Sylnoa says, “I’m going to let go of your hands now. You will dream of your… Princess?” Kara smiles as Sylnoa says, “When you open your eyes, you will feel well-rested. You will have a new trust for Ava. This trust will be both in your mind and your heart.” Sylnoa releases Kara’s hands.
Kara dreams of when Sasha and all three children fly over a world of lush green forests and dinosaurs in the Phoenix Rising with Captain Bloodhammer at the helm. He let each of the children take turns steering the ship. They spent all day laughing and pointing at the sights to be seen.
Shae and Lines sit at her feet and head, meditating when she opens her eyes. Ava is sleeping next to her. It’s still dark outside. She puts her arms around Ava and pulls her close. Ava lets out a little snore. Kara goes back to sleep.
Ava walks through the ruins of what was once a shining city that could be seen from orbit. Now, the towers are covered in broken glass, and no light shines from them. Her backpack holds some cans of whatever she found in the last market she walked through. She looks back, and they are still there; her mother, little brother, and sister are still following. They want to attack her but can’t. The monster that created them has had them following her since. She has tried to lose them many times, but they always manage to find her when she sleeps. Sleep, the constant moans, screeches, and growls from the undead make that nearly impossible. The stench doesn’t bother her anymore. She’s become numb to it. Ava looks around for a place to take shelter. She sees a girl staring at her. The undead don’t stare. They’re in constant motion. The girl starts walking toward her, not lurching.
She gets closer, “You’re in a memory, Ava; come out.” Ava opens her eyes. Sylnoa kneels before her, “Sorry, Pinky, it felt like you wanted to be elsewhere. The sun will be up soon. Persi said to wake you and Kara.” Ava says, “Thank you.” Kara says, in her ear, “Time to rise and shine already? I was having such a good dream.” Ava says, “Yeah, me too. Me too.” Ava says louder than intended as Sylnoa steps outside. She asks Sylnoa, “Why did you call me Pinky?”
Sylnoa stops and looks back, “That was your nickname, right.” Ava says, “Yes, but only my mom called me that. Don’t call me that. Ever.” Sylnoa says, “I’m sorry. By the way, I’ve never seen a city like that. Maybe…” Ava says, “No. I never want to go back.”
Kara reaches up and puts a hand on Ava’s arm, “Maybe she can help you too.” Ava pulls away as she stands, “I don’t need any help.” Then, she walks outside, brushing past Sylnoa. Kara walks out, “She is from a death world. She is probably the only survivor. I’ll talk to her. Thank you for last night. I feel like I’ve slept for days.” Sylnoa walks beside Kara, “Did I hear you right yesterday about your Princess scrying you tonight?” Kara nods. Sylnoa says, “I can telepathically link with you, and then she can see, hear, and talk through me. I can even feel emotions. It may make things easier.” Kara looks at her, unsure. Sylnoa says, “I..,” Kara says, “No, it’s not that. I trust you now. It’s just that Sasha can be a little, well, a lot intense. I don’t know if you understand what you would be getting yourself into.” Sylnoa says, “As long as it’s not bad stuff, I can handle it. I love experiencing new things.” Kara says, “Come with me then. I think you’ll enjoy this.” Then she turns to face Sylnoa, “Trust me, Sasha will be a new experience.”
Kara and Sylnoa walk to where Ava is sitting, facing toward where dawn will break. Ava asks, “What is she doing here.” Kara says, “I invited her.” Kara sits and looks up at Sylnoa, “Make yourself comfortable, and link with me like you did last night.” Sylnoa sits behind Kara and places her hands on Kara’s back, on the tattoo. Kara feels the fall, like last night, but not as intensely, but she returns to herself this time. She feels Sylnoa with her, “touching her soul?”
Kara begins saying the tenants, and Sylnoa instantly begins saying them simultaneously, their two voices as one. Ava is a little put off by it and joins on the second time around. On the third, the dawn light touches them, and Sylnoa inhales deeply as a feeling of ecstasy and euphoria nearly overwhelms her. She starts crying as everything wrong she has done in the past wells up. When she opens her eyes, Kara sits behind her, holding her. The sun is up, and Ava is nowhere to be seen. Kara stands and helps her, “What you felt, what you confessed to Elirae. That is for you.” Sylnoa takes a few stumbling steps with her hand on Kara’s shoulder before her head clears completely, “Can I do that every morning.” Kara smiles and nods. Sylnoa says, “I always felt ill around Kashan and the others. I forgot what it was like to feel good.”
Everyone is helping the freed slaves get ready. Aran is handing out some food to them to get them through the day. Ava is passing out water skins she purchased yesterday. The people are thanking them over and over. Kara asks Sylnoa, “What do you see?” Sylnoa says, “Gratitude, happiness, joy that goes beyond happiness. By the way, Ava’s aura is the same as yours, but just a single aura, except when she looks at me, it turns to distrust, but that’s okay. I’m used to it.” Kara looks at her, “You can see?” Sylnoa nods. Kara asks, “What about Lines?” Sylnoa says, “His aura is,,, it’s strange, not evil or bad, I don’t think. It’s odd.” Kara says, “He is a devout follower of Raventh. What does Shae’s aura say.” Sylnoa looks, “Hers is innocent and determined, but she is hiding something. It’s not evil. Something is haunting her.”
Persi says, “Aran, Lines, and Shae, make sure they get to the caravan, then come back here.” Kara says, “Sylnoa and I will go also. I want to see the people leading this caravan before we let them leave.” Kara gives Sylnoa a look, saying, “I want your reading on them too.” Sylnoa nods. Persi looks at Kara like he’s judging if she’s strong enough, then says, “Okay, but stay close.” He looks at Ava, “We’ll start breaking down the camp so we can leave when they get back.” Ava looks at him and waves to acknowledge him. Sylnoa says, “I heard your ceremony yesterday. You made him a knight and abdicated your authority.” Kara says, “And?” Sylnoa says, “I think that was a good move. He sounds like a natural leader.”
Walking to the other caravan, Lines walks beside Kara at the rear, Shae leads the way, and Aran walks midway up. Lines says, “If there is trouble, I expect you to hide.” Kara looks at him like he’s joking. Sylnoa says, “He’s not joking.” Lines says, “No, I’m not.” Kara asks Sylnoa, “What do you see.” Sylnoa says, “The usual, a mix of good, bad, and indifference. Nothing malicious towards us. I’ll let you know if I see anything.” Sylnoa asks, “Where is that marrowfang stalker at? I haven’t seen it yet.” Kara says, “I let Chomasuke go home last night. I can summon her back.” Sylnoa says, “No, that’s alright, for now.” Lines laughs, and Kara and Sylnoa look at him. Lines says, “What? Yesterday, the marrowfang stalker nearly killed you and, from the looks of it, brought you to the light. In the worst case, you would have stood before my goddess and been judged, and it would be pooping Sylnoa today. I think it was a win, win.” Sylnoa says, “Your view of win, win is different from my view of win, win. I could have done without being brought to the light like that. Being eaten is not on my list of things I want to happen to me.” Lines laughs again. Kara moves to the outside of Sylnoa, “Stay on this side of me, Sylnoa; I’ll summon Chomasuke.” Sylnoa says, “No, no, that’s okay. I can wait.” Kara says, “Okeydokey, but you’ll meet her before the end of the day.” Lines points, “There is the caravan.”
Ahead, Kara sees a caravan of about twenty wagons. As the wagons are prepared, several mercenaries ride up and down the line. Kara looks at Sylnoa, “Good, bad, about the same. I don’t see any auras the same as I saw around Pim. I don’t think they will be in danger traveling with these people.” Kara walks up the line. She sees nothing related to the Temple of Veleris. Shae walks up to the apparent leader of the caravan, a dwarf, and starts talking to him. He looks at the people and starts pointing at wagons. Sylnoa says, “He’s all business. His concern is about gold.” Kara, Lines, and Sylnoa walk up to him. Kara says, “These people have been through a lot. I’ve let High Priest Stormhaven know they are on the way.” The man looks at her, “And whom would you be, little girl?” Lines says, “This is Dame Cinderblade.”
The dwarf coughs, “Apologies, My Lady. I expected someone older.” Kara says, “I get that a lot. Your name?” He says, “Rotnar, Rotnar Deepbranch My Lady. I’ll be sure these people get to the temple.” Sylnoa nods, and Kara says, “Rotnar, could I ask another favor.” Rotnar replies, “Of course, My Lady.” Kara says, “I have a prisoner; he must also go to the temple. I’m willing to pay you; I’ll pay you for helping these people, too.” Kara reaches into her bag of holding and pulls out five platinum pieces. Rotnar holds a hand up, “No, My Lady, being on the good side of the temple is enough for me.” Kara knows better than to argue once a dwarf makes their mind up, especially if they turn down payment. She drops the coins back into the bag. She turns to Lines, “Go get Pim. I’ll send Chomasuke with you.” She looks at Sylnoa. Sylnoa says, “I’ll go talk to Aran.” Kara waits until she’s away, holds a hand up, and Chomasuke appears. “Go with Lines and bring Pim back here.” Lines and Chomasuke run back toward the camp.
Ava drags Pim out of the tent so she can collapse it, and he wakes up. “Hey, what? Thwhere’s my theeth? Why?” Ava says, “Shut up.” We know what you wanted to do last night; we know what you’ve done. The temple will judge you.” Pim says, “You thon’t know anything, what are you thalking about?” Ava says, “You and your former sergeant. We know. You were raping prisoners. We know you wanted a crack at the people Kara rescued. We know.” Pim yells, “YOU AIN’T GOT ANY PROOF BITCH!” Ava looks around and sees a bloody scrap of cloth that came off Sylnoa when Chomasuke tore into her.
She picks it up, “Excuse me?” Pim says, “I SAI….” Ava shoves the scrap into his mouth and ties a piece of hemp rope around it. Persi walks over, “Sounds like a wholesome conversation.” Ava smiles as Pim tries to mumble through the gag, “He’s going to piss me off.” She looks at Pim, “Keep going, and I’ll knock you out.” He tries to lurch at her. Ava’s fist collides with his jaw, his eyes roll back, and he slumps over. “I warned you.”
Ava looks at Persi, “Kara seems to trust her, but I don’t. What’s your take?” Persi says, “What?” Ava says, “The half-elf, Sylnoa.” He answers, “As you walked away yesterday, Kara slumped over. At first, she seemed okay, but then she started to go down. Sylnoa, whatever she did, went in and pulled her out. She also could read what this little monster had been doing.” Persi sighs, “Can we trust her? I don’t know. I watched her last night with Kara. For the first time, it seemed like she was at peace. If Kara trusts her, that’s good enough for me until it isn’t.” Ava says, “I still don’t know.” Lines and Chomasuke come running up.
Persi says, “What’s wrong?” Lines, breathing hard, says, “Kara,,, she,,, made,,, a,,, deal,, to, send Pim back with the caravan. She sent us to get him.” Ava says, “Thank the gods, I would have killed him if I had to listen to him again.” Lines looks at Pim, “I see he’s still out.” Persi laughs, “Yep.” Ava picks him up, throws him behind the saddle, and ties him down. Lines takes a deep breath, “Okay, back,,,” Ava says, “I’ve got it.” Lines says, “Merciful lady of beauty, thank you.” Ava giggles as she gets on Chomasuke and rides off toward the caravan.
Persi looks at Lines, “You’re unlike other shadow elves I’ve met.” Lines asks, “In what way?” Persi says, “Well, plenty of shadow elves would come from High Throne to visit or serve the Princess. They were always so, I don’t know, stiff, stuck up, I don’t mean any insults. You and the others you were with always seemed loose, carefree.” Lines says, “We’ve never been to the Shadowfel. Our kin there are as far removed from us as wild elves are too high elves.” Lines and Persi continue breaking down the camp.
While they wait, Rotnar goes back to making sure everything is ready. Aran helps the last people settle and then walks to Kara and Sylnoa. “Did I hear right? We are getting rid of the trash.” Kara nods, “I was hoping he just needed some direction, but what he’s done. The Temple must deal with that and see how far the roots go.” Aran says, “Being a slave is no life. You’re used however someone else deems it and live until someone else decides you don’t. I was the slave of slaves, so I was lower than the shit beneath the outhouses.” Sylnoa says, “But you rose above it.” Aran replies, “I escaped and found a good home. Even if the rulers of the home didn’t know I was there.” Sylnoa looks confused, and Kara says, “Trust me. Anya knew the second you decided to stay and watched you. You would have been gone if she had determined you were a threat.” Aran says, “Now I’m confused. How?” Kara says, “Nexus is alive. It knows everyone there. Anya talks to, no, that’s not right. Anya feels everything Nexus feels. It’s like they are the same. If you are speaking to Anya, you are speaking to Nexus.”
Sylnoa says, “You people are so confusing. Oh, SHIT!” Sylnoa jumps behind Kara as Ava and Chomasuke stop next to her. Ava glares down at Sylnoa. Kara reaches out for Chomasuke and pets her, “Chomasuke, this is Sylnoa. She is helping me. I know the two of you got off to a shaky start, but she’s a friend.” Chomasuke nudges past Kara toward Sylnoa. Sylnoa backs into a wagon and starts screaming. Kara pulls her back, “Give her some time, girl.” Rotnar comes running over, “What’s going on here? Oh.” He sees Sylnoa trying to become one with a wagon, “It’s just a marrowfang stalker girl. It won’t hurt you unless you give it reason.” Ava cuts Pim loose, and Kara catches him with one arm, holding him in the air as he flops down. Rotnar looks at Kara in disbelief.
Ava says, “His mouth started moving when I removed him from the tent, and it wouldn’t shut up. He’ll probably be out for the rest of the day. I punched him pretty hard when he called me a bitch.” Rotnar looks at Ava. Kara says, “She is almost as strong as me.” Rotnar wipes his forehead, “The second wagon there is for prisoners and people who stir up trouble in the caravan.” Kara carries Pim over, a guard opens the door, and Kara tosses him in. She looks inside at two other prisoners, then back to Rotnar. He says, “One was stealing from others. The other tried forcing himself on a girl when he had too much to drink. Since I’m taking yours to the Temple of Veleris, I’ll drop these two off with them, too.” Kara says, “We’ll let Arden, High Priest Stormhaven know they are coming.” Rotnar laughs, “On a first-name basis with the High Priest, too, remind me never to get on your bad side.” Kara smiles, “He’s my father.” Rotnar and Sylnoa nearly choke. Kara says, “Thank you, Rotnar. May Elirae watch over you.” Rotnar says, “And may the Allhammer watch over you.” He turns and barks out orders at some driver who is having problems with her team. Sylnoa walks on the far side of Kara, away from Ava and Chomasuke, heading back. Lines and Persi have everything loaded and ready to go when they return. Ava and Kara ask almost simultaneously, “No breakfast.” Persi tosses them sticks of jerky, of which Chomasuke snatches Ava’s out of the air. Kara asks Lines, “Could you send another message and let Narri know that the caravan is bringing three prisoners, one of whom is Pim?” Lines nods in acknowledgment.