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Archives: A New Balance

Chapter 17: Novice: Assassin Attacks

    Once Lorien and Sevrina were safely locked in their room, the dark elf removed the cloak she hid under for most of the day. She tossed it aside, then began to unbutton the lacy black gown she wore. As she stripped out of the mourning dress, she dressed the part underneath as well, but soon she would be back in her familiar assassin’s clothes. They would wait two hours before striking, giving their targets enough time to fall into a deep sleep and hide under the cover of almost total darkness. The moon was half-full, but Sevrina would have preferred a new moon.

    She would kill some time with her apprentice though. Turning to Lorien, she revealed the enticing black corset and stockings she wore and put her hands on her hips. “So, what do you think?” she asked coyly.

    Lorien smiled, appreciating every lovely curve and inch of the dark elf woman. The apprentice assassin rose and stepped over to her, then spoke in a soothing slightly singing voice, “As lovely as ever. Sexy, deadly and ready to strike when one least expects. So what and how may I pay my humble respects?” The young man smiled and gave his mentor a slight wink, as he wondered how they’d kill a bit of time while they waited.

    Sevrina strode toward him, swaying her hips. She still wore the knee-high high-heeled boots that went with the dress, which only made her figure that much more appealing. The dark elf wrapped her arms around the waist of her human apprentice, but before she could go further, something battered against their window. Sevrina quickly had a throwing dagger drawn from somewhere in her corset.

    However, what was at the window was nothing to worry about. It was just a raven—which Sevrina knew was the emissary of their sorcerer employer. The dark elf went to the window and pushed it open, letting the raven in. The bird flew in and landed on the bedpost at the head of the bed. It gave its feathers a ruffle and gave a low call, almost a purring sound.

    Sevrina walked over to where the bird landed and bent to meet it at eye-level, giving Lorien and eyeful of her backside at the same time. “What do you have to tell me?” she cooed to the bird and locked eyes with it. Sevrina and the raven both seemed to fall into a trance for a moment.

    Suddenly, the trance was broken. Sevrina stood upright, and the raven launched itself into the air and glided out the window. “It seems we have a new order,” Sevrina replied.

    The dark elf sat on the bed, crossing her legs. “The sorceress is to be captured and taken outside of town. Our employer will send an emissary to meet us and take her. Apparently that sorceress is a seer.”

    “A seer? Hmmm, very well then that is easily done. If our employer wishes her alive then alive she’ll be and intact for his purposes.” The young man stepped over to his mentor and knelt then gave her a quirky smile, “We have some time to prepare, and I must say an impressive arrangement of clothes as always.” The young man rose, stretched, and smiled at Sevrina. “A foot rub perhaps?”

    Sevrina chuckled. “Sometimes you are simply too sweet to be an assassin,” the dark elf commented. “A foot rub isn’t what I’m interested in,” Sevrina added with a sultry tone as she laid down on the bed on her side.

* * *

    Mia made sure everyone had gone to bed before she joined Aiyanna and Veriss in their shared room. As she entered the room, she felt the concentration of magic with in it. Aiyanna sat on the center bed, removing her boots, belt and armor.

    “Did you set up wards on the room?” Mia asked the sorceress.

    “Yes, I did,” Aiyanna replied, looking a little surprised that Mia could tell.

    “Against what?”

    Aiyanna seemed to hesitate for a moment, but she explained herself as she untied her boots. “I am wary of the group that was downstairs, so I set up a ward that will make their equipment as heavy as stone if they use it in aggression.”

    Mia nodded. So Aiyanna was suspicious of them too. Mia didn’t think they would be involved with them, unless they were competitors for the treasure. Or unless there was something about Aiyanna they didn’t know. Mia decided not to push the issue. Aiyanna hadn’t revealed much about herself to them, but she seemed to be deep in thought sometimes, and looking very concerned. Perhaps it was just over her brother?

    Mia took the bed to the left of Aiyanna’s and dumped her gear at the foot of the bed. The elf unbuckled her belt and dropped it to the floor with a heavy clank from her daggers. Without a shred of modesty, she began unlacing her leather vest when it was obvious she wore nothing underneath.

    Like a loyal guard dog, Veriss followed Aiyanna up. Veriss knew her duty, which was to protect Aiyanna, since she was in her employment. It was the job of an knight, recognized as that anymore or not. So, when Aiyanna finally took the steps upward towards the possibility of rest, Veriss joined her, but not after one last wary look over her shoulder at the steps. Mia seemed to be getting things organized for the group, but Veriss needed no prodding to do her job.

    Mia came in shortly after, saying something about wards. The giantess was meditating again. Of course, she had taken off her armor as she would soon be sleeping, but Veriss never put her sword out of arm’s reach. She performed a traditional form of elven meditation, which, this time, consisted of standing and slowly moving from one stance to another. It was said to bring peace and focus to the most disturbed of hearts. It worked for the berserker very well, it seemed. It was an odd thing to watch for sure. The movements she made were expected to be on a graceful person, not a bulky one as she was. Not only that, but a human doing it seemed to have an awkward look for it.

    Her body twisted at the same consistent pace, bending this way and that without a loss of balance. Sometimes, she would rise to one foot only or even bend backwards to a point where it looked as if she would fall. All the while, her eyes were closed. But her focus was not complete, because every time she heard a noise, her head cocked just a little...

    Mia watched Veriss out of the corner of her eye as she undressed. The berserker seemed to meditate as often as possible, which Mia found comforting. It meant Veriss had good mental control. Perhaps they wouldn’t see her go berserk.

    Mia took a worn tunic from her pack and put it on. It was what she slept in sometimes, while staying at inns. While camping, she just slipped into her bedding mostly dressed, but when she had a bed to sleep in, it was the tunic or nothing. She slipped under the covers without saying a word, so as not to interrupt Veriss. Aiyanna changed into her own sleeping garments, and kept silent as well.

    Veriss found her resting position, standing straight with her arms pulled up in front of her. For a moment, she maintained that final position as she exhaled all of the air in her chest in one steady stream, slowed by her focus. She dropped her arms to her sides and opened her eyes. Her heart was still, unmoving and in harmony with itself, as it was every time she conducted her meditations. Her teacher had once warned her that such meditations held her back from breaking the bond to Hyuri, since it stilled all emotion, not just anger, but it was the most potent and the best to keep both the spirit and the anger it built upon down. Veriss had made a conscious decision that it was better to avoid losing control and give up the hope of emotions that she couldn’t even remember than to fight to get something back that she could live without.

    “Am I keeping either of you awake?” she asked with her trademark monotonality.

    “Nah,” Mia grunted, not moving from where she laid, her back to Veriss. Whatever keeps Hyuri under control, I don’t care, she thought.

    Aiyanna shook her head. “No, it’s fine Veriss,” she said, then rolled over. No doubt that it comforted her to see Veriss focusing so hard on mental control.

* * *

    Since Azala joined them, Dralock was generous enough to pay to upgrade them to a three bed room, which was right next door to the women’s room. The dwarf led Azala and Nessa upstairs to their new room.

    “Well, here we go,” Dralock said as he found the door and unlocked it. Pushing the door open, he examined the room in the dark, though with his dwarven eyesight, it was easy enough to see.

    The dwarf selected the bed on the far right and set his equipment aside to prepare for bed.

    Nessa was happy to be able to sleep in a bed for the first time in a while, but at the same time he wasn’t thrilled about being in such close quarters with Azala. Even though the elf never responded to the boy’s earlier aggression, for that matter, he had yet to acknowledge Nessa’s presence at all. He couldn’t help but feel a little insulted, even if it spared him a beating.

    Without wasting much time the young farmer began to shed his armor and laid it out as neatly as his patience would allow. He then sprawled on the middle bed and let his mind drift to a place between asleep and awake as the lack of rest from the night before slowly crept up on him.

    Ever aware of how far away Thalia was, he was still contemplating just how he planned to seduce her. Despite that, that wasn’t on the top of his list. In reality, those people were at the top of his list. Looking over as Nessa stripped out of his armor, and immediately went to bed. Well, so much for any sort of camaraderie. Still, it was expected, the boy had tried to pick a fight with him. Bravery was one thing, but recklessness was another entirely. “Make sure you keep your sword within arms reach...” he said rather absently, not in a threat, but a matter of fact tone of voice. “I have a bad feeling about tonight.”

* * *

    After a hearty meal served by Cyrla and Ialin, Thalia was ready for bed. Ialin led then upstairs and to a pair of bedrooms on the top floor, directly across the hall from each other.

    “Well, here you are,” Ialin said to the pair, point to both rooms. “Take which ever you like. If you need anything, Cyrla and I are next door,” Ialin then pointed to the doors behind them, near the top of the stairs. “Sleep well,” the priestess bid them goodnight, then retired to her own room.

    Thalia turned to Avion with a blush and leaned toward Avion to place a kiss on his cheek. “Goodnight, Avion,” she said warmly. With a beaming smile, she entered her room and closed to the door behind her.

    She had enjoyed their time together, even if he wasn’t the most knowledgeable about her life. He was so sweet and innocent though. Thalia wasn’t ready to marry, but if she ever did, a man like him would be her choice. Perhaps, if she kept him near as a guardian, they could fully nurture a strong relationship. The priestess disrobed and changed into a simple night shift before crawling into bed.

* * *

    “Uh, um... Goodnight Thalia!” Avion was too slow to react and ended up bidding a closed door good night. He paused for a moment, before realizing his cheeks were flushed with a deep crimson. He waddled over to his room and closed the door as gently as he could. His eyes barely registered the room around him, instead he took the sole unoccupied bed and sat down, staring at the wall. His face was still flushed and hot as he pondered on thoughts of Thalia. His thoughts formed into fantasies and he soon caught himself in the middle of wanting to take a peek into Thalia’s room.

    “Gah!” Avion shook his head violently, hoping to literally shake the dirty thoughts from his head, “Oh, Avion you big oaf: She’s a priestess!” Avion finally began to sober up, “and I’m a farm boy. She has her job to do.” He stretched out over the soft bed. The cool blankets were welcome after such a long day and such a big meal. He tried to think of tasks to be done tomorrow, but Avion’s thoughts kept sliding back to Thalia. The way she walked, the way her voice glided in the air. Her delicacy and her smiles. It was enough to drive a man crazy with desire.

    Flustered and frustrated, yet satisfied, Avion forced his eyes shut, hoping sleep would come soon...

    ...But it never did.

* * *

    Two hours had passed, and the inn was mostly silent. The innkeeper and his family were in bed now, as were most of the patrons. Sevrina slipped out of bed with Lorien and redressed in her assassin’s gear.

    “It’s time to get ready,” she said softly to her apprentice.

    Sevrina rose before Lorien did, and as soon as he heard the soft voice of his mentor he moved. The young man said not a word but nodded at her comment and dressing silently and quickly. This was what he was trained for and this was where they made their pay, it was time to get the job done. And he intended to do his job very well if it were left to him. He had no intentions of disappointing her or failing. A soon as he was ready, he turned towards Sevrina and waited. Now came the best part....

    Sevrina stood by the door and waited for Lorien to join her. Before leaving, she raised her hand to cast a spell. “Spirits of Invisibility, let thy form become our own.”

    The spirits cloaked Sevrina and Lorien, and they vanished to each other’s eyes. The only thing Lorien could track his mentor by was sound and touch. “Sylph, spirit of the wind, surround us in a veil of silence,” Sevrina spoke again. There was no visible sign of the silence spell, but Sevrina and Lorien were surrounded in a bubble that would keep any sound they made from leaving the bubble.

    Sevrina opened the door a crack and made sure no one was in the hall. Seeing it was safe, she opened the door fully, then lead the way out into the hall. She didn’t silence her footsteps—there was no need. Lorien could follow her that way.

    First, Sevrina passed by the rooms of the other assassins and slipped notes under their doors. As soon as the paper left her hand, it became visible.

* * *

    Nafisa and Radira had been waiting in their rooms for the signal when a slip of paper slid under their door. Nafisa’s hearing was sharp for a human, but she heard nothing behind the door. Their employer was a shaman though.

    The Flame tribe assassin silent rose from her seat on her bed and crossed the room to pick up the paper. Crouching down near the door, she read it over. “Get your gear,” she spoke softly, but loud enough for Radira to hear.

* * *

    In the room shared by the four male assassins, Terild was the one who picked up the note, just after it slid under the door. “It’s time,” Terild said, then crumpled the note up and shoved it in his pocket to discard later. The young man then went to fetch his weapons from his bed.

    “Emery, go outside and meet Sevrina in the west side yard,” Terild told the blond assassin. It was included in the dark elf’s note.

    Emery closed his eyes for a moment and began to shut off his emotions. Once his mind was clear, he picked up his weapon and threw a dark hood over his face. He walked softly to the door, and opened it as quietly as possible, then made his way outside the inn.

* * *

    After delivering the notes to her underlings, Sevrina passed by the two rooms occupied by their targets. At the women’s room, she sensed a strong magical barrier, but she wasn’t sure what for.

    Still enclosed in their bubble of silence, she whispered to Lorien, “There is a magical barrier in there. We’ll let Emery enter first.”

    After that, they found a way out of the inn, then walked around to the side yard underneath the room’s window where they met Emery waiting patiently. Sevrina moved close to him, enclosing the young man in her silence bubble.

    “Emery, I am going to...” Sevrina began to speak, but was interrupted.

    “SHHH!” the young man hissed when she spoke rather loudly.

    “Don’t concern yourself, the three of us are enclosed in a sphere of silence. We can hear each other, but no one can hear us from the outside—like I did in the inn,” Sevrina spoke calmly. “Now, I am going to levitate us to the window using Sylph, and you will enter first.”

    “Oh, yes ma’am,” Emery replied.

    She glanced over her shoulder at Lorien, then spoke in dark elven. {“Remember, take the sorceress and run for the woods.”}

    Lorien kept silent the entire time making sure to use touch and sound to track his mentor by and staying close enough to her within their bubble of silence as not to break its barrier.

    When they linked up with Emery, and Sevrina spoke to him Lorien nodded and replied in dark elven, {“I understand. I’ll meet you there.”} He removed the rather heavy ended hilted dagger, he’d use it to render the sorceress unconscious as she was wanted alive. If that didn’t work there were places on the woman’s body he could strike that would knock her out without doing serious damage. Sevrina had taught him well, and Lorien didn’t intend to fail.

    “Spirits of invisibility, cloak our forms. Sylph, spirit of the wind, lift us above the ground,” Sevrina chanted. They disappeared again and the bubble of air they were already encased in began to float upwards. Emery gave a start, despite knowing what was going to happen.

    The three assassins floated up alongside the building until they reached the window. Emery was poised at the front. He couldn’t see himself, and it was rather unsettling. He reached out to feel the window so he could gage the distance properly.

    “I will create a breeze, then push it open while the wind blows,” Sevrina ordered. She summoned the air elemental again, and as a breeze picked up, Emery jabbed his elbow into the window pane and knocked it open.

    Quickly, the invisible assassin slipped into the bedroom and paused for a moment, to see if anyone had woken.

    Silence pervaded over Veriss. Traveling on the roads alone trained her against waking up so slightly. Others riding through the night or animals moving about was not uncommon. Neither was her highly valued mount staying awake for some of it. So, most noises did not rouse her. But the window pane broke her rest somewhat. She was not completely aware of what was going on, just that something had fallen or broken in the room. The possibility of a thief crossed her mind, though she made no move. Veriss only maintained her grip on the dauntingly large blade...

    Mia sat bolt upright in bed at the sound of the window blowing open. Just the wind... she thought, then fell back to her pillow. However, as she tried to fall back asleep, she could feel a concentration of spirits... Sylph. Invisibility spirits. Bloody hell, someone had better not be trying to break in and steal anything... she thought, annoyed at having her rest disturbed. She couldn’t let this stand.

    She quietly reached up to her bed post where he belt hung and drew a dagger. Then she drew her finger to her lips, closed her eyes and focused on the invisibility spirits. {“Spirits of Invisibility, reveal what you hide,”} Nothing changed. A strong shaman was behind this. A dark elf? {“Spirits of Invisibility, reveal what you hide,”} Mia whispered again, then began to chant it under her breath until she felt a change.

    Emery saw the elf sit up in bed, but she laid back down. His target, the large berserker woman, lay in her bed. Cha Za, why do I have such poor luck? Emery thought, sneaking up to her bed. At the edge of her bed, the invisible assassin reached for his dagger. He drew it slowly, and silently from the sheath, the began to raise it...and suddenly it weighed at least ten pounds. The surprise caused Emery to drop it, and the invisibility spirits lost their hold. The dagger clanged on the hardwood floor, enough to wake the entire room.

    {“There. The barrier around the room would make our weapons too heavy to wield,”} Sevrina explained to Lorien, watching Emery from the window. They were still encased in silence, and invisible. Mia’s attempt to break the spell only worked on Emery. Once Sevrina felt her control begin to slip, she began countering Mia to protect herself and Lorien. {“Let him distract them,”} Sevrina said. She would have to use dark spirits to break Aiyanna’s barrier.

    Once the spirits dropped on the assassin, Mia sprung out of bed with her dagger, hopped to Aiyanna’s bed, then flung herself at Emery. The assassin turned as he saw her coming, but he only had time to throw up his arms to block her attack. Her dagger clashed against his steel bracer, knocking him back onto Veriss’s bed.

    Aiyanna woke at the sound of the dagger hitting the floor. I knew they were up to something! she thought as she recognized Emery from the table downstairs.

    The sorceress turned in bed and grabbed for her staff. She paused when she saw the brightly glowing orb. It only shone that bright when the black cloaked woman was near. And it was getting brighter. Was she getting weaker too?

    As the fighting began, Sevrina began to call upon the dark spirits. {“Powers of Darkness, come to your dark sister. Drain the strength of the Sorceress. Break her spell,”} Sevrina continued chanting. {“Get in there,”} she ordered Lorien in between chants.

    Before Emery had a time to move back up, he found himself locked to the bed. A huge, muscular arm wrapped around his torso, holding him down on top of her. A twang of anger struck her and it was already enough to start a chain reaction. The same arm that held him down pulled up and her hand soon held the man’s face in her hand. Like a team of snakes, her fingers began to put crushing weight on his skull, threatening to shatter it altogether. Blood was running down his face and onto her own as the wide-eyed berserker listened to his muffled screams. He flailed about as her hand gripped tighter and tighter around the fool’s skull until a gut-wrenching snap could be heard. Veriss then slung his head so far to the side that his neck snapped. In one final move, the warrioress tossed the demolished assassin off of her bed and into a pile on the floor.

    What was left of Emery laid at her feet as she stood up, muscles flexing. Her hands shook a little. Emery’s face was driven into his head in a bloody mess. The head itself dangled at an unnatural angle. His blood dripped down the side of her face, like a tribal warrior. Veriss’ eyes were not the depthless pools that they normally were. In her was the first hint of a bloodlust...

    Lorien moved as soon as Sevrina’s orders hit his ears. The sorceress was down and the young assassin moved in towards her. He wasted no time and tossed her over his shoulder, then made for the door racing with all his strength and speed. Time was of the essence and he wasn’t about to fail, not now. Lorien kept his ears and wits about him as he realized they’d need to gag and tie the girl up later. Any spells she cast would be done by mouth, will and hand gestures. At least, that was what he had learned from Sevrina over the time she had taught him over potential threats he would face in this line of work.

    Mia watched with a grimace as Veriss crushed the young man’s head, but she barely had a chance to think on what was happening before sensed someone cloaked in invisibility spirits pass behind her.

    “What the bloody hell?” she growled, spinning around. Aiyanna was suddenly yanked off her bed and looked like she had been slung over someone’s shoulder. The elven mercenary turned to give chase, but before she even took a step, an invisible force slammed against her, pinning her to the wall.

* * *

    Nafisa scouted out the room in the hallway, while leaving Radira and Hakim to wait. Apparently their three male targets had taken one room. Nafisa didn’t like the idea of fighting three men in such close quarters.

    Once she found the room, she silently returned to Radira and her brother.

    She motioned for them to huddle together so they could whisper, but all hear each other. “Radira, I want you to try and lure your target out the room first, lead him outside. Hakim and I will wait in the shadows and take the two remaining when you’re gone,” the Flame tribeswoman explained.

    Hakim nodded and searched the area with his eyes then found a likely spot to hide. The assassin removed his favorite weapon of choice and then stayed in the shadows as bidden, quiet as a mouse. It was all up to Radira and the others now.

    Radira considered, then spoke, “I understand perfectly. Give me some time to try something and stay out of sight.” The young woman prepared, removing parts of her uniform except for some well hidden daggers, which was common for anyone in the day and age. Even a commoner carried a dagger for several purposes. The beautiful young woman unlaced the upper portions of her top just enough to let the obvious thoughts of what she appeared to wish to do to her target be seen. She tested the door a moment, moving the handle gently and slowly. It was locked. Radira smirked and removed lockpicks from hidden pockets in her footwear, then set about picking the lock.

    Nafisa found a shadowed place to hide where the door would be in view. Once she was out, Nafisa would turn to her target, the boy Nessa. He was probably an easy kill, but she would toy with him.

    After a few moments Radira had it unlocked. She knelt and opened it quickly, then closed it as she slipped inside. It was obvious where he was sleeping and Radira made her way over to the handsome elf’s sleeping form and crawled up on the bed beside him. She’d once been a woman of the night, and used her body as her tool. Pressing against him sensually, she blew in his ear before licking it. “I saw you earlier...I couldn’t resist. I had to see you again, so I decided to find you and see just how good you are at night time pursuits,” she spoke softly, cooing into his ear, and waited to see how he’d respond.

    Azala hadn’t gone to sleep, ever a bit nervous about the whole evening. Something just didn’t seem right, and at risk to a very bad tomorrow was an acceptable consequence. He had heard the entire event from the moment she had begun to pick the lock of the door. His sharp ears heard it, and he frowned, grabbing the hilt of his blade. He was waiting for the telltale signs of unsheathing... which never came. As the soft footsteps approached his bed, he had his sword ready. He had to suppress a shocked gasp as she pressed up against him and licked and blew his ear. Sheesh, a very direct woman... who picked the lock to get in. A bit strange. Rolling over, he gave an amused smirk, then sat up.

    “Is that it?” Looking back, she was indeed beautiful. Just one he might seduce himself. Unfortunately, this left a bad taste in his mouth. “And you took the liberty to pick the lock in the process eh?”

    Radira had to keep from gasping herself, he was so beautiful and his eyes... she nearly lost herself in those eyes, but the girl caught herself and thought quickly. Damnit, no! Don’t let him get to you, keep calm and follow the plan.

    She smiled and moved finger up to his chest, touching him gently, and then caressed one of his ears with her pinky and spoke, “I do what I want to do; when I see someone or something I like. And you pretty sir, I most definitely like. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a whore or some tramp. It’s just...” She paused and looked down, truly blushing. “It’s just...I saw you and felt I had to ..to have you,” Radira spoke and it was partially true, she had to have him dead. The girl looked back up at him then spoke, “I meant no harm... Besides, had I just approached you, would you have given me even a second glance?” Radira smiled, “This way you know I’m direct, honest and not afraid to go after what I want. Well, do... you want me to leave?” The beautiful assassin pressed closer to him and kissed his neck, then breathed on the very tip of his ear, waiting for his response.

    “I don’t know to many honest individuals who know how to pick locks, hun.” Azala smirked, although didn’t move away. Something about this struck a nerve, and he had a bad feeling about this. Especially since he recognized the woman from party downstairs earlier. “And where do you intend to ‘have’ me? After all, you don’t strike me as an exhibitionist, even with your current undressed state.”

    “I never said I was an honest individual, I just said what I wanted. And that I am honest about. As for picking locks, everyone has their little skills here and there. You don’t expect a girl to get by in this world without learning a few tricks do you?” Radira smirked at him then leaned closer to kiss his neck and chin. “As for where...I like things private, at least more private than here...another room, or outside somewhere where people won’t disturb us. And I’m not an exhibitionist, I merely wanted to give you a peek at what I’m offering you freely.” She could feel his body’s reactions and that was working in her favor. The young woman spoke again and blew into his ear gently, “So, what say you?”

* * *

    Hetle woke up as she heard voices from the next room. Holy Marfa, why did you give me so keen hearing? To leave me without a wink of sleep? She rose from her bed slowly and went out to the corridor as she was in her night-dress. Oh my, why did I ask father for another room? The young grassrunner heard sounds of scuffle inside the apartment and some strange feeling of danger made shiver go up and down her spine. “Light Valkyrie please help me…” Hetle chanted and opened the door that was unlocked for some reason...

    Lorien knew exactly where to go and moved fast, the young woman’s body slung over his shoulder was light enough and he wasted no time moving. Heading out of the room and through the door, he was surprised to see another figure in the small hallway. A small figure, in the wrong place at the wrong time, though to Lorien it presented little problem. A child or grassrunner, it didn’t matter as he put the full tilt of his weight and his captive’s into a smashing running bash.

    Lorien literally ran over the grassrunner, making no attempt to step gently and kept going. The body bash and running over the small figure was briefly satisfying. But he had no time for frivolity, this was deadly serious work. The young assassin immediately headed for the agreed rendezvous point, which Sevrina had indicated.

    “Ah!” Hetle squealed, falling on the floor. Thank gods he didn’t step on my face! Otherwise who in the world would like to marry me then? She snuck in the room filled with a gloomy atmosphere of spirits’ presence. Hetle could sense a powerful shaman, but first of all Mia was helpless against invisible foes. “Light Valkyrie, please free her from the dark chains!” Hetle cast.

    The grassrunner’s Valkyrie summon startled the invisibility spirits cloaking Sevrina, but the dark elf let them go. It wasn’t a spell holding Mia down, but Sevrina herself. The beautiful dark elf smirked at Hetle. “Well, I see we have a new player,” she said. However, now she had to concern herself with the berserker. Emery was dead, and now Veriss had no one to keep her occupied. Sevrina had to get out of harm’s way, and bring Veriss into the open.

    The dark elf released Mia, but punched the mercenary for good measure, then leapt back. She didn’t summon invisibility spirits, she wanted to draw Veriss out of the room. She suddenly took off, out the door after her invisible apprentice and the sorceress.

    Like a beast on a hunt, Veriss’ muscular neck jerked around as the slim dark elf burst past her. The last thought the knightess had was; no more games. If these people wanted a fight and employed spirits, perhaps it was time that she allow her own to step up to the plate. A principled berserker was a thing to be reckoned with and, to a certain extent, she could focus her anger on particular targets.

    The air around Lady Trelem tensed as her powerful legs launched her from the room. As she ran, her muscles began to bulge. Sweat began to roll down her face and her facade could no longer show a inch of human response. The last sign, though, was the last to come. Her eyes faded to white as she ran straight through the door to the outside. The beast that now stood in the knight’s place let out a roar that could only match a dragon’s in its fear-inspiring sound. All her body, mind, and heart knew was revenge. Bloody, destructive revenge...

    Mia’s cheek ached from the punch, but when she felt Hyuri latch onto Veriss, she didn’t even notice it. She reached forward and snatched the grassrunner girl by the arm, pulling her out of Veriss’s path. The berserk knightess stomped by them, not even noticing the elf and grassrunner crouched next to the wall.

    “Well honey, it looks like we’re going to owe your folks a lot of money for the damages,” Mia murmured after Veriss crashed out of the room. She was single minded in following the kidnappers, which was far better than her just killing every thing in sight. “Let’s go, maybe three shamans can soothe the beast,” Mia said, then stood back up, releasing Hetle from her protective embrace. No doubt Azala felt Hyuri and would come to join the fight.

* * *

    Dralock had been awoken by the intruder in the room, but the dwarf didn’t move. He laid quietly, letting the woman think he was asleep while she attempted to seduce Azala. You had better not take her in here, damn elf, Dralock thought as he overheard the whispered conversation.

    Suddenly, he overheard the commotion in the room next door. Thuds, feet stomping, the door bursting open. Now he wasn’t going to keep up the act of sleeping. The dwarf sat up right in bed. “Something is happening next door,” he said, choosing to ignore Azala’s visitor. The dwarf reached for his axe beside his bed.

    “Ohh?” Azala smiled coyly. Getting up, he looked towards the door. “Outside, or another room eh? What about your friends, are they joining us, or or are they planning on stopping by and entertaining the members of my party?” Pointing idly at his ears, he gave a light smirk.

    “As tempting as your offer is, these aren’t just for show, my dear. I could hear both you and your companions quite well. At first, I thought it was just a couple of servants, but seeing you, I would imagine that its a bit more dangerous... am I correct?”

    Right then, he heard some commotion, and the use of spirits of an unfamiliar nature to him. Dark spirits, no doubt. “Well, it seems some entertainment is going on right now. Now, my dear, this can go two ways. Either you turn violent, and I’ll be forced to restrain you through less than pleasant methods, or...”

    Looking over at the two others sharing his room. At least the dwarf had risen. “Nessa, wake up, would you!?”

    Turning back to Radira, he took out a strip of rope. “Or we can deal with you in a less lethal way. Choice is yours, but make it quickly, I’m rather pressed on time, you see.”

    Radira eyed him still, then sat on the bed. He meant to tie her up, and for a moment the young woman considered attacking him then and there, but he was obviously expecting something. Foolishness wasn’t something Radira booked, besides her other two companions were outside hiding and waiting. It meant there were opportunities and she had the perfect way to start things off. “If you truly intend to tie me up, then you’ll have to conquer me. My offer stands. I’ve nowhere or reason to run from you. I’d sooner just wait here while you go tromping off, you’ll know where I am at least.”

* * *

    Out in the hall, Nafisa and Hakim could hear the conversations in the room, as well as Lorien bursting out of the other room next door. However, the twin assassins were hidden in the shadows. It seemed like they would have to play this by ear. After the hall cleared, Nafisa signaled to her brother that they would still wait for Azala to leave the room.

* * *

    “Well, aren’t you just a little minx,” Azala said, rolling his eyes. He doubted she would act that way if he tried to overpower her. Besides, despite her undress, who knew what she hid. He would play things safely for now. Raising his hand, he concentrated on the effect. “Let slumber take you... myra, dyra vera don... silence... death... gentle slumber... myram ryiam.” He doubted any in the room would recognize the spell, but he took a step back just in case. A sleep spell would do the trick, for now. Then he could start to deal with whatever was going on.

    “One of you should stick around, but I think the other should go and check the fairer members of our party. Be careful, I heard at least two more hiding, and whoever is out there knows some fairly powerful stuff.” What he failed to mention was the sense of Hyuri. He just hoped his senses were off on that one. A berserker would not be a good thing at all. He had confidence in his abilities as a shaman, but that was one spirit that was just not pleasant company.

    Nessa woke when Azala called him and was confused to see the situation in the room. It took a few moments to get his bearings, but when he did, he was starting to feel the rush of adrenaline. Something was wrong, very wrong. He picked up his new sword from beside his bed and began to head to the door. “I’ll go,” he announced. Suddenly, a battle-axe blocked his path.

    “No, wait here,” Dralock ordered. If there were two more waiting outside, he didn’t trust the boy to handle them alone. The dwarf stepped forward and went to the door. Besides, he could see better in the dark than elves and humans.

    He checked outside the room, scanning the dark hallways with his dwarven vision. Suddenly, Veriss burst through the door of the room next door. Her muscles were flexed far larger than normal, and he could almost see the aura of rage wafting off her. She had gone berserk, but she was going the opposite direction, towards the stairs. The dwarf leaned back into the room. “Veriss is berserk,” he informed them, then looked at Azala. “You sensed it, didn’t you elf?” he glared a bit. He knew elves could sense spirits, but Azala had said nothing.

    Nafisa sighed in relief from her hiding spot. She knew how well dwarves could see in the dark, being cave dwellers after all. However, her brother’s target was too distracted by the berserker going the opposite direction than to notice them. The elf hadn’t left yet, and both Nafisa and Hakim knew the dangers of an elf. Apparently Radira had failed and was captured. What the hell do we do now? Nafisa thought in frustration. They may know we’re here, perhaps we should withdraw.

    She motioned to her brother for them to make a tactical retreat down the hall, away from the berserker, and their targets. Perhaps they’d find another chance. Nafisa turned and ran lightly down the hall to keep from being heard, her brother following at her heels.

    At last Nessa put the puzzle together and realized Veriss’ condition. He couldn’t see her but he heard the door being smashed to splinters and the animalistic snarl coming from the hallway, it reminded him of the spear wielding goblin that confronted the boy with true blood thirst.

    “Well how do we calm her down?” Nessa said to anyone who cared to answer.

    “Yeah, and? What did you expect me to do about it?” He snapped at the dwarf. Any elf would say the same thing. It was impossible to predict just when Hyuri would decide to make its entrance. “Well, we can do several things... me, I suggest getting out of her line of sight before your a bloody spot against the wall,” he said, deciding what to do. Slashing would work, and his specialty was water spirits, not spirits that could potentially distract Hyuri. Now was not a good time for it to appear. “I might have to kill her. But we’ll leave that as a last option.” only option, he thought, grasping at a water pouch. What would Kraken do in a place this enclosed?

    “Well, she’s already downstairs,” Dralock replied. “Let’s go check on the women.” Dralock stepped back out into the hall and looked about. There was no sign of anyone else. He left the room, and with his axe ready, he led the way to the room next door.

* * *

    After being told rather sternly that the folks of the town weren’t going to take kindly to him bedding down on a roof he had begrudgingly taken a room. At least something interesting was happening inside.

    Jinn had faintly heard something, not being quite sure what it was and being very bored of being stuck inside he swung the door to his room open. The edge of it caught something. First he thought it was some sort of wind but it turned out more like a ghost. After a moment the ghost materialized into a person, a person carrying a lady.

    “Hey!” Jinn broke out in a quick trot after. “Does that girl need medical assistance?”

    Lorien ignored the comment and wasted no time, but kept moving as he raced out of the inn and headed to the meeting point Sevrina had indicated. The assassin kept his mind on what he was doing, there could be no mistakes now. If anyone followed and tried to interfere he’d do what was necessary, he’d remove them if he had to. But his best bet was to keep moving as fast and far away as possible.

    “Hey!” Jinn quickened his trot after the man, genuinely concerned now. If the man didn’t even have time to explain the situation must be serious.

    Sevrina dashed out into the hall after Lorien, and saw that he was being followed. As the dark elf reached Jinn, she shoulder-checked the one-armed swordsman, then kept running after her apprentice. “Pick up the pace, boy!” she ordered Lorien as they rushed down the stairs. “The berserker snapped!”

    As they entered the common room, Sevrina’s escape was blocked by the locked front door. She stopped long enough to try and summon Sylph. “Spirit of the Wind, gust through this door!” she called. Nothing. Sevrina sneered. Sylph wasn’t happy with her. She didn’t have the strength to bust through the door with her own body, so she picked up a chair and threw it through a window.

    The dark elf gracefully leapt outside, missing the broken shards of glass, and tumbled onto the ground outside. “Hurry!” she hissed at Lorien.

    Lorien didn’t say a word and kicked it into overdrive, shifting the unconscious woman’s weight to offer him better freedom of movement. The long and rigorous training Sevrina put him through was paying off as tightly muscled legs and hips began moving in concert and the young man was through the window Sevrina had broken through, and out with his burden. A crazed berserker wasn’t something he wanted to face, they were nigh-unstoppable physically when in a blood lust and only magic could slow them. That or physical damage from something so great that they could no longer move, and he didn’t have a balista he could use and certainly not the time. Running was their best option. He fully trusted Sevrina to handle their tail should she deem it necessary, if not he’d handle the fellow once they were far enough away from the crazed warrior he was sure that would be searching for them, craving their blood.

    After making a quick recovery from the blow to his back, Jinn followed the two out the window. At this point he was certain they weren’t in trouble, rather, were the trouble. He quickly rolled upon hitting the ground and came back onto his feet and after the two ruffians.

    He had heard something loud behind him. Rather than risking a look, he kept up his pace. It would be better to deal with one thing at a time he convinced himself.

    The door exploded but a few feet from the window that Lorien and Sevrina had broken through only a moment before. Splinters and chunks of the thick wood fell around something that could only be described as a monster. With soul-less eyes, bulging muscles, and a mouth drooling as if it planned to make a meal out of the two, it swung about, searching for them. Just as they began to move away from the window, it spotted them.

    Veriss let out a horrific roar and shot from her place. Her massive legs threw her with each footfall, bringing her closer to them every second. Without hesitation, her huge sword was swung upwards as if it was but a stick, ready to slice them in half...

    Sevrina knew the berserker was right on their heels, and Veriss bursting through the door didn’t exactly hide her presence. The dark elf was ready for any attack. When Veriss swung, Sevrina leapt far back out of reach.

    “Lorien, get to the forest!” Sevrina called, then turned and ran down a street, heading toward the woods outside the town.

    Lorien didn’t have to be told again, and moved with all the speed he could muster. Hefting the woman over his shoulder, he made for the forest as fast as possible, taking a separate route. He didn’t dare look back at Veriss as he knew that would delay him. Fortunately, he was in very good condition and even running with the burden over his shoulder wouldn’t be too much of a problem for him.

    Jinn however had no issue with rounding corners and took the lead in front of the crazed woman. Which only inspired him to run faster after the mystery man and mystery gal for fear of being trampled by the human stampede.

    They split up, but the bestial warrioress made no hesitation. Despite the fact that Sevrina seemed like easier prey, the monster’s focus lay on Lorien. Ripping her sword from the ground, her rush carried her right after the man who chose to steal Aiyanna.

    Lorien flew down a smaller alley with the berserker on his tail. Her bulk and the force that she needed to carry herself onward was both an advantage and a disadvantage. In a straight line, her muscles could propel her to him, but she had a hard time turning. All the while, Lorien could hear her snorting and roaring, calling for his blood...

* * *

    Hetle hopped up and gave her nightgown a tug. Being man-handled by the elf was a little awkward, but Mia did have the best intentions. “Let’s go,” Hetle said, and headed to the door.

    Dralock stepped into the doorway, causing Hetle to jump. “Oh, it’s just you. Some invisible man took Aiyanna while a dark elf attacked Mia. Veriss went berserk and chased them downstairs. We have to hurry and get Aiyanna back!”

    Mia stood. Apparently, all the danger was downstairs now. She quickly picked up both her daggers while talking to the dwarf. “The dark elf is a strong shaman, I think she cast an invisibility spell on herself and the two others. Where’s Azala?”

    Stepping in to the hall, Hetle did a quick scan of the area, then she looked back. My sword!? I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached. She quickly made her way back to her room to gather her gear. “Be right back!” she called.

    “Right here,” Azala said, coming into the room. From his looks, and mannerisms, he could have been walking through a field of flowers, rather than in the presence of a berserker and assassins. “I just had to make sure that assassin woman was unconscious and tied up. Didn’t really feel like killing her...” Looking around, he chuckled. “Well, I know you’re kinky when your drunk, but don’t you think you went a little to far? Getting a berserker all riled up, and causing a couple of assassins to appear... the trouble you get into!”

    Mia frowned at Azala. “This is not a time for jokes! An assassin took Aiyanna, and we need to try and bring Veriss back down. Three shamans might be able to subdue her, and it seems like she has some amount of control. She ignored Hetle and I and went straight after the assassins.”

    The elven mercenary snatched up her belt and sheathed her daggers, then headed out the door. “Let’s go!” she said and dashed downstairs.

    “Excuse me, but it’s better to make fun of the situation rather than to say ’well, this is just bad’.” The common elf shrugged, watching as Mia got her gear own with a sidelong glance. “Fine, I’ll help out. But if it seems like the berserker is getting out of control, I’m ending it. I’m not putting lives on the line just for the life of one woman who never should have been exposed to this type of situation.” Following lightly, he gripped a water pouch. Not yet, but he had it ready just in case.

    Hetle’s face grew flush with embarrassment as she gathered her things to meet the rest of the group. “I’m here!” she said gathering her breath. With all the commotion she hadn’t noticed the door but saw the glass. Daddy’s going to have my head for the mischief, the thought sickened her at first, and then she gripped her sword tighter. “Right then, should we follow?” she asked Mia.

    “Yeah,” Mia said, then stepped through the shattered front door. She didn’t see the dark elf break away, but she did see Veriss chase the man with Aiyanna, and another man tearing off after him. Mia took off from the inn porch after Veriss.

    Hetle pranced over the glass shards and tried to keep up. Her legs were small but she moved as if the wind itself was carrying her. With her heart at full force she was ready for battle, although the noises she was hearing made her believe that this was no mere spirit, but a beast.

    As the grassrunner returned, Mia leapt through the broken door and began to lead the charge. They didn’t know that the two assassins had split up, but they could easily follow Veriss’s trail. Mia led the way down the main street until they reached the alley that Veriss had taken. Eventually, the path led them out of the town and into the woods behind it.

* * *

    Terild and Dart made their way out of the inn and across town to the Marfa shrine. They scouted out the building further, and found that Dart could easily enter Thalia’s room through the window. Meanwhile, Terild’s only option for silence was to sneak in through the back door, then upstairs to Avion’s bedroom door.

    So, the Marmo assassin did so. He picked the lock of the shrine’s back door, then slipped in through the kitchen, then up the stairs.

    The two priestesses had to be subdued as well. Terild had a chemical that would release a gas to knock them out, but he had to break into their rooms first. He picked the lock of Cyrla’s door first, and the old priestess was sleeping too deeply to be woken by the small clicking and door opening.

    Terild stalked into her room silently. He soaked a strip of cloth in the poison and laid it over Cyrla’s lips. There wasn’t much visible effect, but she didn’t wake, and Terild slipped out to repeat the process on Ialin.

    Then, he went to the door of his target. He assumed Avion was asleep when he began picking the lock. Dart had watched him through Cyrla’s window, so now he should have been slipping into Thalia’s room.

    Tiny metallic scratching sounds robbed Avion of any peace he would have this night. He rose in his bed, looking around to find the source of his annoyance. These shrine mice sure are noisy, he thought to himself.

    Avion stretched his body around and looked under the bed. Finding nothing but undisturbed dust and wooden planks, he looked up at the door and finally found the source of the scratching at the door’s knob. “Wait a minute... Mice don’t know how to open doors...” Avion whispered quietly, hoping his voice wouldn’t awaken Thalia or any of the other priesthood.

* * *

    Everything was in place. Dart waited until he was sure the things wound down and people had likely gone to bed. When the time was right, he moved, keeping to shadows and stepping lightly. The assassin had come with only light clothing, a few daggers, and a short sword. He had cloth strips he used for ties and a gag, and a rope and hook, should he need it. But hooks were noisy and Dart had to make his way up the side of the wall to the room window he was sure Thalia slept in by hand.

    He almost slipped several times, but providence and luck allowed him to make his way up the wall until he was at the lip of her window sill. It took a bit of gentle fiddling with the window’s lock to get it to open, but placing a cloth over the lock worked to muffle the sound and he moved with sureness and stealth as he gently pushed the window open and crawled in.

    Dart kept to the floor, crawling like a snake slowly and breathing as quietly and evenly as possible. She was in bed, sleeping and vulnerable. The assassin moved slowly then rose until he noticed the priestess’s sleeping form. There you are sweet meat...heh... I’ve got a bit of time and hmm yeah...why not? Sure put a kink in her bloody god’s disposition. The assassin moved slowly and easily, crawling on the bed until he was on top of the priestess, and in moments clamped a hand around her mouth. It was obvious what he intended.

    Thalia was sleeping deeply. Dart could have walked to her bedside if he wanted to. She didn’t wake until he was on top of her and his hand over her mouth. She shrieked as loud as she could, though it was muffled by his hand. The priestess thrashed, punching at him and trying to kick. If she couldn’t get him off, the sound she made would likely rouse someone in the quiet shrine.

* * *

    Avion’s door creaked open, revealing a lean man clad in black. The same man who visited the shrine earlier with two friends, claiming to be a mercenary and devout worshiper of Marfa. Terild’s eyes widened as he saw that his target was still awake. It looked like there would be a fight. Terild drew a pair of short swords and stood ready to take on Avion.

    From across the hall came the sound of a muffled scream and quite a bit of thrashing. It sounded like Dart was having a hard time with the priestess.

    Avion, seeing his aggressor, leapt from his bed, his heavy feet crashing onto the wooden floor with a fleshy thud. It was then Avion heard the muffled screams. “Thalia!” Avion cried past his attacker.

    Reason and self preservation gave in to passion, and with a roar that startled himself, Avion barreled through the doorway, hoping the force of his sheer mass and the suddenness of his bull rush would knock the attacker off balance long enough to rush to Thalia’s aid. He could hear the sounds of struggle in the room beyond the doorway, but could not see beyond the man clad in black. “Damn you! Outta my way!”

    Terild was knocked off his feet by the bear of a young man. He was going to help the priestess. Well, Terild wasn’t going to let Dart get interrupted with his assassination—or whatever the hell he was doing.

    Terild hopped to his feet and readied his weapons again. “Face me, boy!” the assassin snarled, then charged Avion. He struck at Avion’s stomach and back from the side in a sweeping motion with his two short swords.

* * *

    Thalia heard Avion shouting from outside her door. She tried to scream again, though with all the noise he was making, she wouldn’t be heard now.

    Dart grunted from a sharp blow to the ribs. The priestess might have been small, but she was a firebrand. The struggle seemed to excite him all the more and the assassin slapped the helpless woman across the face to try and quiet her. A feral grin crossed his face and another idea came to mind, “Well sweetness looks like you like to fight. Let’s see how feisty you are in other ways.” A rough hand found purchase on Thalia’s nightgown and Dart proceeded to rip the cloth as he pressed down on her with even more force. “Don’t worry, it’ll get better—for me that is.”

    Thalia yelped when she was slapped, this man was definitely too strong for her to fight off physically, but could she could use magic. However, that meant stopping her struggles to focus, but she didn’t want to let him get any further. He ripped her gown, she had to act fast. Avion, hurry! she pleaded, before beginning a prayer in a whisper, “Marfa, mother of all creation, banish his lust,” was all she could think of for a prayer. Thalia whispered the mantra it over and over, as fast as she could, desperate for some sort of help.

    The priestess and assassin were soon enveloped in a holy barrier. Peace and calm pervaded into Dart’s mind, urging him to cease and draining his strength slowly.

* * *

    The blows from the assassin struck with a vicious sweep, biting deep into Avion and shearing the flesh on his left flank. Despite the pain, and the crimson gouge in his side, Avion threw himself into a frenzy of bulky limbs and animalistic roaring.

    “Thalia!” Avion roared.

    Advancing toward Thalia’s room, Avion threw his arm full force into a backhanded swing, attempting to sweep the assassin away like a child would to mosquitoes. The single minded drive to reach Thalia was all that mattered to Avion. Blood, pain and his wounds would come after Thalia’s welfare. It was his sole consuming thought, his sole burning desire. It was not a passion driven through rage, or through hate, but something deeper. Something that called him towards Thalia, it was irresistible. It was true terror. The fear of losing someone precious. It consumed his sense of wellbeing entirely. There was but one objective in Avion’s mind: Thalia, get to Thalia.

    After his subconscious backhand towards the dark assassin, Avion’s body kept rumbling towards the room where Thalia’s voice cried out. A dim warm light erupted from underneath the door frame. And with his weight pressing into his full-barreled charge, he shattered through the door, sending splinters of wood and flecks of warm blood into the room. Avion and the hallway behind him was bathed in the warm brilliant light of the priestess, fending off her attacker.

    Dart grinned and proceeded to tear more of the Thalia’s gown, he could see a very shapely form underneath that cloth and it set his desire burning even hotter. But something happened, she stopped struggling as hard as she was before, and then the entire area was bathed in some sort of light. “Damn!” The assassin covered his eyes as the sudden spell surprised him. “You ...you wench! Use magic will you, you’ll pay for that!”

    The attacker was loosing his composure, he’d figured a shrine priestess would be an easy target, however things weren’t going as well for Dart as he might have hoped.

    Thalia opened her eyes. She had succeeded in casting a spell, but before she had to try anything else, Avion crashed through the door. “Avion!” she cried. Dart was still on top of her though, so Thalia kicked underneath her blankets and landed a hit squarely in the assassin’s groin.

    He should have expected it, but it made no difference just the same. It hurt, it hurt a lot. Dart was so shocked by the blow he exhaled sharply and instinctively curled into a semi-ball. “UHHHH!” Things were looking difficult for the assassin, and worse, it appeared his actions had woken someone as one of the priestess’s companions smashed through the door. Dart didn’t stay shocked long, but he was slow moving as he’d had enough of this and grabbed for his short sword. It was time to end this, provided he could catch his breath...

    It was all happening so fast. It was like swimming in slow motion for a second. The sounds of shattering wood, the cursing of his attackers, even Avion’s own animalistic roaring seemed so... distant. His eyes leveled upon the assassin that had been the source of Thalia’s cries. Within the next moment, Avion felt the slender almost graceful neck of Thalia’s assailant slowly being crushed within his grasp. For a brief, fleeting second Avion stared back into the eyes of his victim with a frenzied half-mad look. His teeth clenched together and his fingers slowly beginning to dig into the assassin’s neck. The life in the eyes of his prey began to slip out. And in one terrifying, almost hauntingly gruesome moment, Avion gave one final squeeze, hearing a cracking sound.

    ...And the assassins body went limp, the head rolling over to the side in a rag doll fashion...

    Dart lay lifeless on the floor as he’d been dully dealt with. And somewhere the mercenary’s soul went screaming into the depths of the Underworld as punishment for attempting to assault on one of Marfa’s own. If one could’ve seen the shock on the face of his astral form it was one of horror and the last thoughts that might have been were lost known only to Dart as he went to his fate.

    Terild had been knocked against the wall when the boy backhanded him. His head hit the wall hard enough to leave him dazed for a moment, unable to see straight. Luckily, his target had gone to help the priestess, leaving Terild a moment to recover. The assassin pulled himself to his feet. He was beginning to second guess this job. There wasn’t enough room to take on that kid, and his strength was incredible. However, most threatening was the Marfa priestess. Terild didn’t want to tempt the gods into smiting him by killing a Marfa priestess. Was this job really worth it?

    Terild went to the door of the priestess’s room and leaned against the frame. His equilibrium was thrown off, and he had to have a concussion. He looked in the room to see Dart being strangled. That was it. In his current state, he couldn’t handle the job. Terild pushed himself away from the door and staggered downstairs.

    Thalia scooted back against the headboard as Dart fell off her, and clutched her torn nightgown closed over her chest. As Avion came in and grabbed Dart by the throat, she looked away, suppressing the urge to vomit as her guardian choked the life out of the assassin.

    Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement at her door. Looking up, she saw a man stagger away from the door. “Avion, another one!” she gasped, pointing at the doorway.

    Reality began to sink back into the perceptions of Avion. Avion’s gaze bolted to the door, locking eyes with the assassin for a brief second. Avion could not see himself, but judging from the queasy, half broken look on the remaining assassin’s face, Avion probably looked like an incarnation of Kardis or Myrii. The fallen assassins body at his feet, blood ran along his left flank down his legs onto the floor in flecks and drops.

    Avion turned to give chase to the assassin, but the energy inside him was simply spent, and he was slow to react. The assassin made off long before Avion could even make an effort to move.

    Then came the pain. The adrenaline, mixed with the animalistic instinct to survive and protect, had worn off. Avion gave a choked yelp as he crashed to the floor, doubling over in agony. “Gaugh!” Avion clenched his teeth as he covered his fresh wounds with his hands. It took him a moment to realize where he was. His eyes, half-drunken with pain lazy inspected the room. The windows were open, the sheets and blankets from the bed were tossed aside, what looked like some remains of a night gown...

    “Th-Thalia?!” Avion’s thoughts had come full circle as he realized he was in Thalia’s room. He bolted up suddenly. “Thalia? are yo-” He gave another cry and crashed back down onto the floor, leaning on the foot of the bed for support.

    Holding the front of her nightgown shut, Thalia hopped out of bed and knelt beside Avion on the floor. Without hesitation, she laid her hands on Avion’s head. “Holy Marfa, lend me the power to heal my guardian’s wounds,” she prayed. Marfa granted her request and holy energy coursed through Avion. His wounds knitted and healed completely, but Thalia fell back on her butt with a heavy sigh. She had cast two strong spells now, and without a full night’s sleep, she was rather exhausted. Even with faith as strong as hers, the body had limits.

    Suddenly, she realized that Cyrla and Ialin had not appeared. There was no way they could have slept through that, and Thalia feared the worse. “Oh no, the priestesses!” she gasped. Reaching for the bedpost, she pulled herself up, but staggered as her head suddenly felt light.

    Avion reached out to steady the now overly-exhausted Thalia. “Will you be alright?” Avion slowly rose to his feet, the pain had subsided considerably, but the leg ached still. He would have to limp on it for a while. “Come on, let’s hurry and get the others.” Some instinct in him told Avion that the worst had subsided, but the other priestesses could be seriously hurt or under some spell. Still, caution was the order of the evening, and slowly, limping, Avion made his way down the halls with Thalia, leaning slightly on her for support.

    “Yes, but first I must take care of the others,” Thalia replied as she tiredly led Avion along to the bedroom next door. The door was unlocked, though everyone had locked their doors. As Thalia entered, she saw Cyrla laying peacefully in bed with a strip of cloth over her mouth.

    Pulling herself away from Avion, she went to Cyrla’s side. “Maybe it’s poisoned,” she said, looking at the cloth. She pulled it off Cyrla’s mouth delicately with her forefinger and thumb, found it slightly damp and tossed it aside. She checked Cyrla’s pulse and found it sluggish, but she was alive. “Holy Marfa, cleanse your servant’s body of the poison afflicting her,” Thalia prayed. Holy light enveloped Cyrla’s body as she was healed.

    Moments later, the priestess groaned as she woke. She looked up at Thalia with furrowed brows. “What’s wrong Thalia?”

    “Don’t lick your lips, mother Cyrla. I need to check Ialin now, Avion will explain,” Thalia told the high priestess, then clutched the front of her nightgown shut again and hurried across the hall, forcing herself to ignore her exhaustion. Just one more spell, just one more, she pleaded with herself.

    She entered Ialin’s room to repeat the process, leaving Avion to explain to Cyrla.

    “Mistress Cyrla, I...” Avion felt rather odd, trying to explain the situation, when most of it happened in Thalia’s room. So taking a deep breath Avion attempted to explain the situation from his perspective, “Some sort of thieves or thugs came in and then there was this metal scratching, and suddenly a thug with swords attacked me, then I heard Thalia scream and then there was all this noise. I was so scared. Then I was in Thalia’s room and she was almost naked and one of the thugs was dead and the other disappeared. I think they put poison on your lips so don’t eat anything yet.” Avion’s rapid summarization of the nights events sounded more like a child’s nightmare than an actual attack. With his last ounces of conscious strength, Avion turned and limped over to Ialin’s room.

    Thalia stepped out of Ialin’s room as Avion left Cyrla’s. From the hallway, he could see Ialin sitting up in bed and wiping her lips with a cloth. The willowy blonde priestess looked tired and drawn as she crossed paths with Avion. She reached out to pat Avion’s shoulder. “Ialin is fine,” she told him, though it was loud enough for Cyrla to hear, then entered Cyrla’s room again, this time collapsing in a chair.

    The elder priestess seemed a little confused by Avion’s explanation. “Now...who was it that attacked us?” Cyrla asked.

    Thalia shook her head. “I don’t know. What thieves would be foolish enough to...oh gods...They were the two men who came into the shrine earlier!” she suddenly realized. Where was the woman though?

    “The mercenaries?” Cyrla asked. Thalia nodded. “I believed the man who led them, but the other two were very suspicious. Where is the woman?”

    “I haven’t seen her,” Thalia said.

    At that, Cyrla climbed out of bed. “Let’s go check the shrine to see if they were thieves,” Cyrla said. She slipped her feet into a pair of slippers, then headed down to the stairs. It appeared that the old woman had more energy left than young Thalia. Reluctantly, Thalia pushed herself out of the chair and followed Cyrla. Ialin joined them in the hall and the priestesses began to go downstairs.

    Avion, now filling out the duties of bodyguard, came to Thalia’s side placing a comforting hand on the weakened and overworked priestess. The other hand was used to keep himself steady on the walls. The limp was gone, but it still hurt a little. “I thought those thugs that came in earlier were suspicious.” Avion spoke softly, “But I didn’t think they’d attack us...” Avion scratched his head in thought. “What did we do to make them attack us? It’s not like we made anybody mad at us?”

    Thalia still clutched her torn nightgown shut as they walked downstairs, accepting Avion’s help. “I don’t know, I don’t understand. We don’t have much wealth in the shrine. Who would be foolish enough to attack Marfa priestesses and risk the wrath of our goddess?”

    “Perhaps they came for you,” Ialin turned and said to Thalia. They paused in the small chapel while Cyrla went to the rooms in back.

    Thalia’s eyes widened and she blushed in shame. “Oh my, that makes sense. They subdued you and mother Cyrla, perhaps they were going to subdue Avion next while the other...”

    Thalia paused, having a hard time saying what Dart almost did to her. “Why would they rape me here though? Why not kidnap me first?”

    Ialin shrugged. “Maybe he couldn’t resist.”

    Thalia looked down at the floor. “I am sorry for what I brought here upon you.”

    “Don’t apologize, sister,” Ialin said sharply. “Be thankful you had Avion to protect you. Mother Cyrla and I will be fine, don’t worry yourself with guilt.”

    Thalia nodded to Ialin, unable to lift her eyes from the floor. Cyrla returned into the chapel, looking worried. “They didn’t touch any of our gold,” she informed them. “Absolutely nothing of value is missing. The back door was ajar and I bet they picked the lock.”

    “Mother, I think they were after Thalia,” Ialin said to Cyrla.

    “I suppose you must be right,” Cyrla replied with a heavy sigh. “Well, there is nothing more we can do but return to bed. Perhaps we should take shifts to make sure they don’t come back.”

    “One is dead,” Thalia informed them. “The other was hurt and ran away.”

    “Oh dear, we have a body to take care of then. We should rouse the local undertaker,” said Cyrla.

    “I don’t think we should leave...that thief is still out there,” worried Ialin.

    “Well, we can’t leave the body in here,” Cyrla replied.

    “Perhaps we can store it somewhere for the night? The stable? Or the basement?” Thalia suggested.

    “Yes, let’s put it in the basement and worry about it when the day breaks,” Ialin agreed.

    “Alright, we’ll wrap it in a sheet and carry it downstairs. Avion, we will need your muscles for this,” Cyrla said, looking to the young man.

    Avion prawdled over to Thalia and wrapped a thicker blanket around her small back and gentle curving shoulders. “Thalia...” he paused, attempting to find the words to say, “I don’t think it’s very safe either, perhaps its best if you sleep with Cyrla for the rest of the night.”

    Avion would have felt infinitely more assured if Thalia slept in his company for the evening, but that would be simply out of the question. It would look unseemly if a priestess bunked with a man, especially after almost being taken advantage of. Certainly, Thalia would need some time alone to gather her wits. “You just get some sleep,” Avion spoke with a hint of concern, “I’ll take care of everything here.”

    Avion closed his eyes, took a deep breath and gently lifted his hands from Thalia’s shoulder. Tonight turned out to be one hell of a night. And the prospect of dealing with the corpse was a grim one indeed. He paused again, “Um... Thalia... Is there anything more I can get you?”

    Thalia tugged the blanket tight around her shoulders. “Thank you,” she told Avion. “I think I will just go to bed. I’m exhausted.”

    The elderly priestess sidled up to the much taller Thalia and wrapped an arm around her. “Come on sister, you can share my bed if it will make you comfortable,” Cyrla said. With a nod from Thalia, Cyrla began leading her to the stairs. “Ialin, take care of that man with Avion and lock up the shrine. I hope we don’t get anymore surprises tonight.”

    Ialin did as Cyrla asked. She and Avion wrapped Dart’s body in a funeral veil, then carried the body out to the stable where they would leave it until morning when it could be properly buried. Despite Dart’s crime, Ialin said a prayer for the assassin. They would be disturbed by no more assassins that night, as Terild’s life was obviously worth more to him that whatever price he’d been offered.

* * *

    Sevrina made it out of town on the road she escaped down, which led her by a small farm and ended. From there, it was just a run through the small pasture to the forest. However, at the edge of the forest, she waited just within the shadows for Lorien to join her. She could sense Hyuri some distance behind her, but the long-legged dark elf had out sprinted her human apprentice and the berserker. Hopefully he had at least outrun the berserker...

    Lorien moved and kept moving, he knew the plan and a general realization as to where he was supposed to be to link back up with Sevrina. For several minutes he kept running, moving, dodging, and ducking as he kept his breath even. Once he thought he had gotten deep enough into the woods and he was fairly certain there was no danger of being followed, he walked into a patch of woods, moving silently and evenly. The young man checked the shapely form draped over his shoulder now and then to make certain she was still asleep.

    The silence was ruined as soon as it was created. Despite a forest in her way, the berserker was much closer than he thought. Not only that, but the monster didn’t seem to have to dodge trees most of the time. If a branch was in her way, it shattered like so much straw. Veriss didn’t even bother to shield herself or bash the brush away with her arms. She ran straight through it. A low roar matched the anger of a tiger as her massive form broke through a line of trees. Her blank eyes locked onto the wisping movement of Lorien and she bolted forward. reaching out to rend Lorien limb from limb.

    Sevrina burst out of the shadows as Lorien entered the forest, the berserker right behind him. She threw all her weight at her apprentice, knocking him out of Veriss’s path. The three bodies crashed to the forest floor, Aiyanna’s unconscious form tossed like a rag doll off Lorien. Sevrina didn’t spare Lorien a glance or word, but quickly pulled herself to her feet and snatched up the petite little mage by the back of her collar. She drug Aiyanna into the shadows, then tossed her over her shoulder. Lorien had better know that he needed to distract the berserker now. Sevrina did all she could to get out of sight before Veriss could turn and see what she was doing.

    Veriss went careening into a nearby tree with a resounding crash. Bark and wood exploded from the impact, and, without even needing time to recover, Veriss rose from the tree. Her face was dripping blood, but there was no pain. Sevrina had disappeared within the shadows and Aiyanna was gone. Her thoughtless anger only grew with the realization that she had failed her mission. As Lorien recovered, the murderous berserker grabbed hold of a rock that was half her size and threw it dead on towards Lorien at a speed that even an ogre could not manage. As soon as it was thrown, she started rushing towards him, ready to attack should her catapulted rock fail in crushing him like a bug...

    Sevrina breathed a sigh of relief from her hiding place in the shadows. Hopefully Lorien could escape, but she needed him as a decoy if the job was to be finished. “Spirits of invisibility, let thy form become my form,” she whispered, and was cloaked by spirits. Adjusting the unconscious form on her back, the dark elf silently treaded a path into the heart of the forest, leaving behind the berserker’s rage.

    Lorien only felt a haze of pain, the female berserker had proven to be more relentless than he had expected. The young man barely staggered out of the way of the massive rock Veriss hurled. The tree shuddered as the thrown object shattered with a thunderous impact and for the first time in a long time, the young man almost lost his calm composure. There was nothing to do now but run and hopefully link up with Sevrina at a later date…if he survived. And with that thought, he ran, tripping, crawling, and gathering himself to his feet without a moment’s hesitation of looking back at his foe. For to do so would mean death…

    The guttural growl of an unleashed beast was accompanied by the crashing of wood not far behind Lorien was a sign to him that he was not succeeding. They could shake the strongest of warriors, if only for a second. From the sound of it, none of the obstacles that he tripped over even slowed her down. She simply ran through them, kicking away old logs and bashing tree limbs right off of the trunks. Though it was hard to make out anything that came from her rambling mouth, Lorien could almost hear her repeating the word “die”...

    What was worse was that because he had tripped and scrambled, it sounded like all that was on his heels...

* * *

    Far from the conflict near the edge of the forest, Sevrina walked at an easy pace to where she was supposed to meet her employer’s emissary. She was not as strong as Lorien, so running while carrying Aiyanna’s dead weight was out of the question. She was safely cloaked under the invisibility spirits, and certain she had left the fight far behind her. There was a large old tree almost dead center in the woods, and that was where the sorcerer told her to make the drop-off.

    Jet patiently waited for the drop off as Karla had instructed. He wasn’t pleased to have to be securing bait but as long as the job paid well, and it did, he was in no mood to complain with such a generous boss. Just wait at the tree. He recited in his head. He placed his back against the tree and waited as instructed, his hands idly on the hilt of his sword.

    Spotting the emissary, Sevrina released the invisibility spirits and reappeared with Aiyanna’s unconscious body on her back. “I assume you’re the man I’m supposed to meet?” she asked of the handsome, slim fellow leaning against the tree.

    “Yes,” Jet stated softly. “I was sent by...” Him? Her? “...the employer.” He moved his glasses up his nose and looked at her with bored eyes. “I assume your regular duties don’t stoop as far as kidnapping, however there are exceptions to every deal.”

    Sevrina dropped Aiyanna rather carelessly, but not enough to seriously injure the unconscious sorceress. She wouldn’t let him take her captive until she was paid though. “Not really, but there should be a little bloodshed to make up for it. Payment?” she asked.

    Jet tossed her a bag of coins unceremoniously. “I trust that is the payment you and the sorcerer agreed upon. I don’t bother taking the time to count other people’s money, even if their wage is in my hand. It’s impolite, you see,” he stated nonchalantly. Although he was intrigued by looks and possible skill alone with this dark elf, he would neither voice it nor give it a second thought while she was around, he preferred a slightly stoic reaction as to give the illusion of having no interest at all. “If you are satisfied with the payment, I’ll receive the package now.”

—-END—-

* * *

    It wasn’t hard to follow Veriss’s path; she had basically torn through the forest chasing Aiyanna’s kidnapper. As the roars became louder, Mia slowed her run to a jog. The last thing she wanted to do was get in a berserker’s way. As the mercenaries stalked into range, they could see Veriss fighting with a young man, but Aiyanna was nowhere to be seen. Since Lorien was invisible when he took Aiyanna, none of them recognized him, but the fact he was the focus of Veriss’s rage told them enough. Everyone was hidden out of sight within the shadows, but what to do about Veriss?

    “We need to split up to try and find Aiyanna,” she whispered to her companions. “Azala, Hetle, we’ll need to combine our shamanism to try and control Veriss, but first I think we should let her handle that guy while we look for Aiyanna.”

    Hetle looked up at Mia and gave a nod in agreement. Then she stalked over to the side to begin her search for Aiyanna. She stepped lightly so as not to draw attention.

—-END—-

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