Rhona

After Ban had shouted in everyone’s mind, any chance at decent sleep had vanished.

Rhona was like most soldiers. She could fall asleep on command, but after being rudely awakened, her body would be too riddled with nervous energy to relax any time soon.

So while Kai drifted back to sleep, and Ban curled up around him in his ponderous houndzard body, Rhona went through her baggage and sorted things out. In the past, she’d have been sharpening her sword. Without such an excuse, she spent an hour oiling her saddle, organizing their food stuffs, and preparing for the day to come.

Running through the list of items in her mind, she recalled her latest acquisition. She glanced at the bracelet on her wrist for the hundredth time since receiving it.

Blue and white stones wrapped around her wrist in an unbroken chain. Each stone was a perfect sphere but for the union between one sphere and another where they flattened out to accommodate the other stones.

Rhona was clueless as to how the bracelet functioned.

When she’d first put it on, it had shrunk down to fit her wrist. Now, if it wasn’t for the weight of the bracelet, she’d most likely forget it existed.

It simply fit perfectly.

What it did, though, was something Rhona wouldn’t soon forget. Having the ability to form a ward to protect herself when she had no armor, no shield, and no weapon… that was a boon worthy of a queen.

Rhona sighed and glanced around at the slumbering camp site. She’d done some good stretches when they’d stopped and her body still felt limber. Perhaps a bit of exercise then.

Remembering her kind friend from so long ago, Rhona decided to run through a few of the movements she’d learned from Palben.

Rhona began by clearing her mind of any distractions, and only when the canvas was clean did she begin.

The first set of movements were graceful and fluid, moving from one pose to another. Each time she transitioned, she would breathe out. Solidifying that pose, she inhaled as deep as she could. Then she’d move again.

After half an hour, her body was thrumming with heat, sweat burning away in the cool air.

Rhona craned her head up at the sky. Morning was soon approaching but not nearly quick enough for her tastes. Might as well get them up a bit early though, she thought. No sense in losing our lead.

But when she looked over to Kai cuddled up with a bovine-sized lizard dog, deep in sleep and carefree, she couldn’t make herself do it.

Breakfast then! I’ll make a fine breakfast, and when it’s ready, I’ll wake them both.

So, with renewed spirits, Rhona set about gathering a few nearly dry sticks. She pulled free her tinder kit, and managed to make a tiny fire. It was half smoke, but she hadn’t expected otherwise.

Then she rummaged through the food Imogen had sent them off with.

Filling a small pot with some water, Rhona poured in a few handfuls of grain to soften. Then she removed a large piece of smoked fish. Breaking the fish into pieces, she stirred it into her makeshift stew.

The rest was a touch of salt and a handful of savory leaves she’d kept dry in her saddle since finding it on the way from Creshon.

Soon, the water was bubbling away and a fine aroma settled over the camp.

Honor stirred first, so she brought him a few handfuls of oats and some water.

Then, with a satisfied smile on her face, Rhona strode over to Kai and gave him the tip of her boot. “Oi! You planning to sleep all day?”

Kai groaned and rolled onto his back. “Why? It’s barely light out. Maybe another hour or so, huh?”

Rhona laughed, enjoying herself a bit too much. Having had her own sleep shattered a thousand times in the call of duty made her less than sympathetic. “Fine then. Honor and I will get going, and you two can sleep here till the Vermillion guard catches up.”

By then, Ban’s champion had stirred. She’s right, Kai. Imogen may slow them down, but we can’t be sure if some were sent on ahead. Best we ignore our aches and pains and get on with the day.

Slowly, Kai pulled himself up and packed away his sleeping gear.

Ban, perhaps stirred by hunger, excused himself and tramped away into the swamp.

Kai and Rhona ate the stew she’d made and watched the sun rise. The trees of the swamp emerged from the gloom all about, and when they could see clearly, Rhona was surprised at how the terrain had already begun to change.

The black rot that poisoned the Mirin Swamps was fading.

Now, most of the trees were flush with green leaves. The ground was still damp and puddles pocked the earth in all directions, but they were getting close to leaving this waste behind.

I, for one, won’t miss one shivving speck of it.

Ban returned shortly after with a gleam in his houndzard’s eye. I managed to kill and eat two of those swine that live about. Delicious! I’m quite certain that a bit of roasting might have improved the flavor, but I won’t be complaining any time soon.

Looking between Kai and Rhona, the dungeon champion belched before asking, Are we close to heading off? I’m quite excited to see what Hintar has in store for us.

Suddenly, a flash of emotion crashed into Rhona’s mind. She braced herself but couldn’t quite keep her balance. In a practiced effort, Rhona managed to collapse over her knees, both hands pressed to the ground.

Distantly, she could hear Kai grunting and Ban’s champion roaring. Before she could say a thing, she was seeing through a different set of eyes. Eyes that flicked about a cavernous dungeon at the speed of thought itself.

* * *

Plate-clad soldiers, shields held forward and spears jutting between, shoved against a line of golems. Each of the minions was as strong as a horse, but the Vermillion Guard were known for their high ascension ranks. Besides, they outnumbered the minions at this point.

Rhona’s gaze shifted, and in a flash, she scanned the upper tunnels of Imogen’s dungeon. All around, the shattered bodies of her minions lay broken, random silver and gold coins scattered around them feeling like nothing more than an insult.

What else will they take from me? What else can I give? Imogen’s thoughts rang through Rhona’s mind, and with each word, a pang of remorse.

The elegant bodies of ice wolves were strewn between heaps of rubble from her golems.

Up near the lake, dozens of eel crocs lay dead, their corpses pale from blood loss.

Among her own losses, too few of the soldiers could be seen. Rhona could sense how eagerly Imogen had fought for her life, but the Vermillion Guard had healers in their ranks as well. This had made for a one-sided conflict.

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Then Rhona was staring at the bristling shield wall once more. In lightning flashes, Rhona read the cores of the men before her.

An entire rank of Golden 2 soldiers glared at her. Their yellow cores scorched Rhona’s eyes as she faced them down. At the corners of the formation, and directly behind, others stood who burned brighter. Golden 3 corporals and shield sergeants flared to either side, their own dense cores seeming like forge fires.

The colors blended together into a garish display of raw power.

Beyond the common soldiers, two lieutenants flanked a colonel. Both lieutenants were Emerald 1 as was the colonel. Oddly, Rhona noted the man in charge of the prestigious Vermillion Guard appeared far too young for his power, the lines on his face nearly as soft as her own.

Yet none seemed to consider him weak or question the order he issued next.

“Split Shield!” he bellowed, and the two lieutenants and the shield sergeants echoed soon after.

The interlocked shields defending the soldiers broken in two, opening wide enough to allow skills to be triggered from the second line of soldiers.

Four of the elites launched Earth attacks. Ripples broke the even expanse of the dungeon floor, tearing up shards of dense stone that hovered a moment in the air. A moment later, the rock shards exploded as one, blasting apart the golems.

With chilling efficiency, the shield slammed shut, and the soldiers advanced.

A final line of golems was summoned, and the hulking champion strode forward.

Imogen had done what she could to prepare for this last moment. The commander of this force was experienced, though. The group spotted the floor trap and wove around it. Then they engaged the golems from a distance, blunting their assault with the shield wall while a contingent of burly men wielding war hammers flanked them.

The golems were busted apart with terrifying efficiency.

Finally, Imogen’s champion roared. It used the skills it had at its disposal, breaking apart the formation of troops. A few of the men were killed instantly as huge spikes were torn up from the dungeon floor, impaling the soldiers.

Her champion held up its hands and a ball of icy ether formed between them. It turned its focus on the center of the soldiers, but before it could release the spell, the mighty golem was struck in the chest by a counter spell.

Rhona had no idea what she was seeing, but in a way, it did seem a little like Kai’s confusion spell. A sphere of black and purple energy splashed over the golem’s chest and torso. The liquid power seeped into its ice and stone body, turning portions of the creature black.

Regardless of what the skill was called, the effect was close enough.

Imogen’s champion froze in its tracks. The ether burst in its hands and dissipated into the air.

Then the soldiers fell on it, pounding its body apart with fell hammer strikes.

The sound of collapsing stone announced the champion’s death.

All fell quiet.

Rhona felt a spike of panic as a single man walked through the crowd of soldiers. He cried out in a voice as sharp as a whip. “Cover the exit! Third platoon, send two squads ahead! See if that tunnel leads to the surface or if this shivving Earth Core blocked the way.”

He made his way to the pool in the center of Imogen’s core room. Rhona felt her perspective flip a half dozen times as Imogen inspected the man from every angle.

He wore fine armor though the sword at his hip remained sheathed. His face was pale, and his eyes as green as Rhona’s. She’d have called him handsome but for the cold greed that filled his gaze.

This man was hungry.

He coveted the power Imogen held in her core.

In a voice only Imogen could hear, he spoke to her. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you. Normally, I’d ask if you might consider lending your strength to the king’s mighty empire. But I think we both know what I’m really here for.”

Imogen’s gaze shifted, focusing on the strange gauntlet that linked up into his vambrace and pauldron. Rhona noticed something was off about the armor. Lines of ether were running up from the steel glove, as if the equipment were somehow powered.

The man leapt over the pool of water in a display of strength and power beyond Rhona’s own abilities. How high is this man’s ascension? she wondered. Or is it this device that makes him stronger?

As if to answer her personally, the man held up his gauntleted hand and held it above the surface of Imogen’s glowing core. “Really, you are lending your strength to the Brintoshi. I serve the king, and now you will serve my needs. Thank you for your sacrifice.”

Panic shot through Imogen’s mind as the man’s gauntlet finally touched the surface of her core. The man’s vile grin filled Rhona’s mind. Then he faltered, a look of confusion passing over his features. “How many minds are here? How is this possible?” he asked, eyes searching the depths of the stone for answers.

He ground his teeth, somehow sensing Rhona’s connection to Imogen, but not understanding it. “No matter. I have what I’ve come for.”

Suddenly, a piercing pain cut into the Earth Core, stripping away the protective barriers that held her ether in place.

Then a crack resounded, and ether gushed from Imogen’s core into the man’s hand. It filled the stones embedded in the gauntlet’s palm. The power bled into the vambrace and into the pauldron. Finally, Rhona stared into the man’s eyes as they began to glow with the pale blue of pure ether.

Terror, cold and unyielding, clutched at her heart as her mind tore apart.

Rhona came to, sweat pouring from her face. Her fingers had sunken into the mud like claws, and her body was cramped and shaking.

She looked up into Kai’s face, and they both knew their friend had died.

* * *

* * *

* * *

There wasn’t any good way of knowing if the Vermillion Guard were closing in on them. Rhona had tossed the idea about in her head for some time.

They could no longer communicate with Imogen.

They’d all witnessed her chilling end.

Rhona’s stomach knotted up in the too-familiar sensation of losing a comrade. After calming down for a time, Ban had admitted he could no longer peer into her dungeon even with Soul Sphere’s help.

Still, Rhona knew if she were the commander, and had confidence in her strength, she’d sent a small contingent to scout ahead.

“I have a new spell,” Kai had offered at last. “It allows me to project my soul out of my body. I should be able to spy for us without being caught or harmed at least. I’m really not certain how it all works.”

Rhona had mulled it over. Eventually, she’d urged the group onward instead of scouting for their position. If there were soldiers coming up behind them, they’d have at least a little notice, given the squelching earth of the forest.

Risking the use of an untested spell at a time like this felt unwarranted.

She trotted ahead on Honor’s back, keeping her eyes focused.

A rough trail had begun to form and the soil was firmer now. She knew they were capable of a much faster pace. Honor could most likely gallop at top speed and not risk injury, but she wasn’t worried about the road.

It was what and who they might meet at the border.

As she considered the possibility of running into Hintari resistance, Rhona recalled a conversation she’d had not so long ago.

The herbalist half-gnome back in Mindonne had given her two vials of Briga’s Tears.

As quick as she dared, Rhona reined in Honor and wheeled around.

Kai and Ban adjusted their course and stopped beside her. Kai’s eyebrows asked the silent question that was most likely on his mind.

Rhona leapt down from Honor’s back and dove into her pack. “I forgot something. Gods, might have cost us our lives!”

She bit her lip, wincing at the reference to death. The loss of Imogen was all too soon.

When she found the vials, she ran over and showed them to Kai. “I doubt Honor will be recognized as a Brintoshi war horse. He’s never had that build, and Ban’s champion will stick out no matter what. The vials will help the two of us, however. Here, take one.”

“Slow down, Rhona. What in Andag’s green land are you talking about?” Kai pressed.

“In Mindonne I met with the herbalist to stock up on medicines and the like. She gave me these. Called ‘em Briga’s Tears. They infuse the body with ether which helps to defend against magical attacks. But, as a side-effect, they make you glow!”

Kai nodded pragmatically and took the vial from her hand.

It was Ban who needed more explanation. Pray tell, friend, why that should be considered a benefit to our party now?

“Because the Hintari might recognize it as a sign that we are not Brintoshi. That’s what she claimed at least, and I’ll be damned if I don’t give it a shot.” Rhona drank down her vial and nudged Kai on the shoulder. “Your turn, Kai!”

The liquid tingled as it went down her throat, flashing between cold and hot like some chemicals do. The sensation transformed into an itch that covered her body.

She spared a glance at Kai who was scratching his neck and looking a little uncomfortable. More important, however, was the discovery that her riding companion had a faint glow about his face.

Seeing her in return, Kai gave a reluctant smile and a thumbs up.

Into Eastern Hintar we go, and shimmering like a moon moth to boot, she mused. Why not go for the authentic experience though?

An expression her father used to say made her smile despite the association. She could even hear his gruff voice and see her mother’s shocked expression. Eat, drink, and sleep with the locals. Best way to experience the soldier’s life.

If only the man could see her now.

Despite the heavy mood, she allowed herself a thread of satisfaction. She’d been an obedient and loyal daughter for many years. Since turning away from her father’s path, however, Rhona found she was delighted by acts of rebellion.

The trail ahead wound underneath a sprawling canopy of trees. These were vibrant and strong, their trunks massive. How long they might have lived here, she could not know. Rhona simply appreciated them. Grandfathers, she thought. One and all, they’re grandfathers of this forest.

A twig cracking a few paces away made her reach for a sword that wasn’t there.

She cursed and put a heel in Honor’s right flank. They turned and faced the tall man standing a dozen paces away.

Rhona froze, taking in the newcomer’s appearance in a blink.

He wore clothes dyed a dozen colors of the forest. A smile rested on his lips, and she saw his eyes flick to a position behind her. He isn’t alone. We are surrounded. And I led us into this mess.

She sighed, knowing there was little else they might have done, and held up her hands.

The man’s bow was drawn, the glinting steel arrowhead threatening. “Hold, friends. What business do you have in Hintar?”