Cold water splashed Parcival's face and he sputtered. Han held a opened water skin. He stood up and wished he hadn't. The pain flooded him and he passed out.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAS0E8KeQrwA
"Are you alive? Come on, my friend wake up!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAfc6JwJ2MZG
He felt his shoulder being patted but just wanted to go back to sleep, blissful quiet.
926Please respect copyright.PENANARH0G4dByKL
That patting again.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAHRyBR3Puzd
"Ten more minutes."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAbjjwTL94LB
"You can't go back to sleep from the beating they gave you, you might not wake up. Sit up, now!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAEmCXNgiRxc
Han pushed on his chest and rolled him back and forth.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAinNQcvXChB
Merryn. He had to bring her home, dad should be able to help.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAla1q2RYqR4
Parcival opened his eyes.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAyj7udFlnBg
"Here we go--again," Han said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANATbwB4X92zF
"Quite sick of this, after we find her again, there will be no further stops. Any more delays could be fatal." He ground his teeth and spat on the grass.
926Please respect copyright.PENANABt0SjmGL8H
"Agreed. I can only heal so much, am only a third tier priest."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAihcGP3bnVQ
"As soon as possible, we are to go back to my home city. Those men must be dealt with."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAkHNpk21Qwc
He stood up and wobbled. Han moved over to help him, but he put his hand out in front of his face.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAxXAqfVJ9Xs
"No."
926Please respect copyright.PENANA2F1e3U13HH
"Well, you'll just have to tell her then," Han said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAUFwqFlikjw
He shook his head. "We will just take her, the illness seems to be taking away any rational thoughts at times."
926Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZmbnZqRte
Han scowled.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAfDoEhlwgGk
They headed off to the West following the horse's tracks. A week passed the tracks vanished.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAbgjb6rG6Tb
I still think she should not be trusted fully, given that she's a thief. They are a shifty lot."
926Please respect copyright.PENANA1h0GcxBBl6
"Yes, but thieves don't use prayers, there's something off about her."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAdGTIRycX4v
Han jump onto the horse. "Trickery, she has a darkness to her, you just refuse to see it, blinded by a pretty face!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANArf700sjvOW
Parcival pointed to a pathway that split off the main road.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAAfNiydsJT9
Near the side of the road, a flock of sparrows landed, surrounding a rare blue Amarryllis. Some said they gave luck, she needed more that's for sure.
926Please respect copyright.PENANADlxXolUjLs
He bent down and picked it and wrapped it in a handkerchief. Han shook his head at him as he placed it in the horse pack.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAIkx3fdPgtN
The way her hair swirled in that first meeting came to mind. The way her touch jolted across his skin, and her voice soft and low. She's not evil, just rough and coarse at times.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAumygmv3iP8
"Fine. I'm not paying for your coffin though," Han broke him from his thoughts. His ears twitched and he looked at him. His feline eyes glinted with hardness. He didn't blame him, after all, she had tried to kill him earlier.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAZMUI3A08Eq
The long miles gave much time to think, too much, it was confusing another week passed before they found the pathway that lead to the town on the map, was a good investment purchasing one from the merchant in the last town.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA1KNc3ywZXF
Parcival crossed his arms over the chest for a while and then continued down the pathway. Another hour later, they came across a small town, this one had a sign at the end of the path.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAP81Bp6r5Ho
Welcome to Badgervill!
926Please respect copyright.PENANAjA2ZCcNFy2
Home of the Darker-kin law abiding need not enter.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAn3Eg15ul1q
Parcival and Han exchanged looks.
926Please respect copyright.PENANACOfu33MqqO
"Could be a good place to gather information," Parcival said. If they don't kill us first.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA0qDAEEytpH
They pulled the hoods of their cloaks up over their heads as they enter the town. They try to blend in with the assorted riff-raff that milled about. A blond haired man sat on the barrels near the town entrance to the right.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA7iZBjZt923
The man had a startling wide scar. It started from his right eye down to his upper lip, two long Bagh Nakh on each of his hands. The Nakh were of two blades running down about four inches in length.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAKHsVAA1Vtc
They pushed through a crowd as they entered a marketplace. He seemed to be trying a little too hard to act relaxed.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAcoYpCAs4xN
It took up most of the town center as it had vendors packed, booth to booth on both sides, offering their wares of clothing, carpets, weapons, foods, and exotic goods.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAVtUie21IU4
The vendor merchants had large gray hoods pulled past their faces hiding their features. Except for the eyes, that glinted with malevolence.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAuxM5VCBgMr
"Best watch our backs in here as well," Han whispered.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAgaD90qIg9e
Parcival nodded and continued through. A young girl streaked out of a tented stall, running down the middle of the Bazaar, and collided right into Han knocking him over.
926Please respect copyright.PENANABAbT1PCwBQ
"Ooof!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAcs8fl1zwq2
The young girl spilled a bag full of tiny egg shaped candy. Several rolled near Parcival's foot.
926Please respect copyright.PENANArHJobVdEOK
"Dang it girl! Cannot you watch where you are going?" said Han.
926Please respect copyright.PENANACJhV0nCkYd
"I'm sorrys!" Turning her large brown eyes, brimming with tears up at him. "Don't beat me!" the waff said. She whimpered.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAbM24vRonvQ
Han patted her on the back.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA6mOZJacGcs
"Now, now, no one will do that to you."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAZS2BXpBzHW
The girl jumped up and grinned. "Thanks, mister!" she ran off past them.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA1vTxsFR3XG
He stood up with an amused look on his face. This disappeared, as he pointed to Parcivals waist.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAZkOgmTHFxy
"Your pouches are gone."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAd4nuSjty3H
"Give me back my pouches you bilge rat!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAtaSsWazlEI
The girl was gone, she had disappeared as fast as she came.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAFvxLoZala2
The merchants in several of the stalls snickered. One that is close by, bent over his counter.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAtyv3rJN1QU
"That is Bolt, one of the best thief's in this town. You're lucky she didn't take your boots too!" he said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA9OrbopjuGr
"Gerr ... I guess so," Parcival said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAAtstjPomGl
He stepped over to the merchant.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAf7qz8SU3XM
"Have you seen a tall Elven woman around here?"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAOP4BoCkm7T
The corners of the merchant's eyes tightened, and all humor drained from his face.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAOHAvlFqeH5
"One watches what they say carefully around these parts. Also, I find it is hard to remember things some days ..."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAimEoswyVhg
"Of course, one must be careful with what they say. I propose an exchange?" Parcival took off an emerald ring and slid it over.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAzRlHaB8QWz
"Perhaps, I have heard what some would say is a woman weeping, somewhere ... ah, my memory fails me so, please excuse this foolish old man," the merchant said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAekRmgjSJaW
Parcival reached out and yanked him over the stall, then leaned in close.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA8eCplr7Zkb
"That ring is worth over a thousand gold, take it or I'll pound the greed out of you." He let go of him.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAw0ggrD9aKT
The man snatched it up and waved them to follow.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAuvXiyqsOnK
"Come back here, quickly now."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAgb3K62ThKR
Pushing back a long tent flap that is behind him. Parcival and Han step behind the counter into the tent. The man closed the flap. And, went to the other end of the tent undoing a button that held that end closed.
926Please respect copyright.PENANADwRBvEfn2v
"This way, and be quiet, I will lead you to where I heard the weeping."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAfiAiO8s2Bd
The merchant brought them down a long alleyway way between some houses and takes a turn to the left. They both followed him to the edge of the town. The man leading them stopped at a house that was at the end of the ally.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAizlUsPmMO8
"This is the house. The men that live here just built this .... out of nothing. I would be worried about even entering such a place."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAjlp26Xd3Kd
"Thank you," Parcival said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAJPKRV5id2p
As he turned around, the man had vanished.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAn6nKXHCV6E
"This place is unnerving the sooner we find her the sooner we can get out of here."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAgu6YE6JxhG
Striding over to the small house he knocked on the door. Hope she's still alive if she's even here.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAkEDxKpZyw4
Han mumbled something about seekers under his breath.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA43IFFUBFTU
The door opened wide. Jason snapped his fingers.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAXAI26HSQMW
Parcival tried backing up but was frozen in place. Han the same with a paw on a hip.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAQMiS60nO2Y
"Well, you two are refreshingly direct, stupid, but direct. Oh, spide-bun has your tongue? What is it? You both cannot move? Aww. Hey, boss, they came to the door just like you said they would!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAoR2bBY9VuO
"Ah, a bit earlier than expected, but no matter. Bring them in here, and close the door," the guard from earlier-Maxwell.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAoyYHqJTam8
Jason dragged them both inside and dumped them near a long table. Maxwell seated himself on a chair that floated into the air.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAqFru8EFNdw
The table from the off kilter position Parcival could see was covered in scrolls, weapons, and jars of assorted animal parts. Along with Merryn's weapons, and pouches in a corner of the desk.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA0oZFEvrRJx
He floated down off the chair and looked at them shaking his head. A dry, sly smile spread across his face.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAXsgNfzU4sc
"You know, this day just gets better and better."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAcX7aBCKURV
"I don't know what to do first, what with so many delicious ideas running through my head right now," his grin was unsettling.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA1RHu2mGhfl
How did he know we were going to be here?
926Please respect copyright.PENANAvdc1d8DqLg
"Humm, I could force her to watch you both die, and afterwords just barely keep her alive until she dies of old age," Maxwell said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAk6LOg29jqv
He paused for a moment. "Considering she is part Elven this would take ... quite some time. Or, I could ... let Jason take over. He has particularly good ways, to drive people to madness."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAmyJza4aN0Y
He sat down again and steepled his hands. He looked down at Parcival with a sly smile.
926Please respect copyright.PENANATsVNvrxpk4
"I do not think you would like what he would do to your precious wench."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAJmIH9lsci7
"Jason! Bring the wench up here."
926Please respect copyright.PENANALKqSpBysEs
Tossing him a ring of keys. Jason caught them and went down a hallway. Jason later carried up Merryn; her cheeks were sunken in and her skin once a warm permanent tan now ashen.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA12CiCGmH09
He winced at the faint cracks that webbed her once warm brown skin, it looked as thin as paper; about to break. Her head was hanging down, her once lustrous blue hair was a tangled into a dull mess that covered her face.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2IpPQUgHh
On her wrists a pair of shackles, that had an abominable dark red glow. Jason dumped her in front of Parcival. They will die by my hand, and their bones ground to dust and mixed in an unholy ground. For now, all he could do was glare.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAiifGlNJWj0
Maxwell kicked her sharply in the thigh jolting her.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA6B3lwQ2DXe
"Sit up now!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANALpq2d2stX4
She attempted to push herself up, but fell back down several times, before sitting up with her knees bent under her.
926Please respect copyright.PENANASl4Ll8bVdM
like a broken doll she fell back down several more times, before sitting up with her knees bent under her. Her head was still bowed, she made no sound. Monsters both of them. He tried again to move.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAOx4jSTnuf4
He knelt down next to Parcival.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAiSvvnclMDM
"You'll wish soon you'd had stayed out of this."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAVZT4G659B7
Going over to Marryn he pulled her in an upright position.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAXRDP1gk9Ij
"If you care for these men you'll tell them. If you do not I will hang them both above the city forge. While they cook like squealing pigs."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAlUQAh22lD6
Her voice came out thin and raspy. "I will tell them. If you allow them to move. So they can talk."
926Please respect copyright.PENANA3i9AI6ccFu
She looked up through one slit of her hair at Parcival for a few seconds, her gaze was intense. She wanted something?
926Please respect copyright.PENANAOFvzpxeK6i
He rubbed his chin for a while, and paced back and forth, between the heroes to the fireplace. On top of the mantel was a thin long vile, and next to it was a syringe.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAQESiOdmSZC
He uncorked the vile, and green gassy vapors wafted out of the top of the vile. He blew the vapors away, being careful not to breathe them in. He tipped the pointed end of the syringe into the vile, drawing up the green liquid.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAaDqtMHerym
He walked over to him and bent down.
926Please respect copyright.PENANABhnUTXCPS5
"You know what this is? He asks him. The man's words caused his hair to stand up on his neck.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAKHlyzHZQi3
"Stop. I will tell them," she said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAezuu940vtn
Turning around, he looked at her through thin slits. Before turning again, Maxwell tapped Han and him on the solder.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAexq341lQz4
He stood up, and went over to a bench, laid a wooly sheepskin on it before sitting down. He motioned to him.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAYg5AbuNTDi
"Go on, tell them," he crossed his arms, silent.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA9cJu5lGgb0
She still faced the floor. After a time she spoke almost too low to hear. "This isn't an infection, I am not ill."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAqsHShsEQ7f
"Then what is it?" Parcival said.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAIpzTZ6lecB
"I am a spirit adapt, able to call on them when in need. This is but one job my main purpose why-I exist at all is to carry the wretched god Unnamed to its death."
926Please respect copyright.PENANARWEeiXCPuY
"What? Can't it be destroyed some other way instead of making you go through this."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAqDMWUnaYpb
"Not possible, I am the only vessel born this generation."
926Please respect copyright.PENANASIMaYMslW4
Maxwell poked her with a boot, "Finish it."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAQoneEOTEBp
She shifted away from him. "Unnamed body was destroyed long ago, the way to destroy him is if he has a physical form again."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAHGghAQf7sR
"Meaning?"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAZdq5SpT5yO
"For him to die, I too must die." She turned away and wiped the sides of her face with her hands.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAMkHqtdPBhx
His chest pinched and blazed like a hot poker was jammed into it.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA9EloM4M3kd
"No."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAxLcZ26aB9h
"That will do."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAOuaaHDYMsx
Maxwell leaned over taping Han on his head twice.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAZUYy9urkOX
"What she didn't and can't tell you as they didn't tell her, is if the god isn't destroyed it will push her soul out and take her body. I couldn't think of a more satisfying revenge."
926Please respect copyright.PENANAU2qU72vZKf
Han's face took on a look of shock. "Maxwell? The only one I knew of that name betrayed King Darathan a millennium ago!" who immediately froze again after speaking.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAaiZmip20nR
"No, that was my great grandfather."
926Please respect copyright.PENANA7ko6l3kq3y
Maxwell grabbed Merryn by the back of her head, forcing her to look at him, he held out the syringe in front of her face. Merryn stared at the syringe for some time, like she was in a trance.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA3OfsStBXBS
The spark returned to her eyes, she burst up and snatched it, then jabbed him in his shoulder, breaking off the tip.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAqmIRbqBqsX
His hands shook from the strain of fighting the urge to throttle the man. Not yet.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAP1sDlE8nke
"I can't believe you had the energy left to do that. Vile woman!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAydYScBqWkZ
Jason came running behind Merryn intent on skewering her with his spear.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAXxHRENcg29
Now!
926Please respect copyright.PENANAviWNdBTZaz
Parcival jumped up and wrenched the spear out of his hands. "Merryn!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANAkjnU9KGGeL
Maxwell spun around tapping him on his forehead before he could even dodge away.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA2m164q19KH
He then froze into place with both his hands gripped on it in an uncomfortable position pointing at an upwards right angle.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA3oHHWTSST0
Maxwell grabbed her by her throat, and with his other hand started chanting.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA6zFtsAb5BW
A large black crackling portal opens in the room. "How many times must I punish you, before you submit?" He heaved her into the portal. The portal closed with a blinding flash.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA4Q6xjdSPbw
Maxwell slowly dragged himself over to the table, pulling himself up slowly.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAef2MaretAy
"Throw those two down into the cellar, I must make an antidote, and do not want to be disturbed!"
926Please respect copyright.PENANApNqMrzDUgh
Jason silent picked up Han by his left arm and tossed him down the steps, where he crashed into the wall, landing on his side with a loud thump.
926Please respect copyright.PENANA9QueAQrYiU
Going over to Parcival, he tried pulling out his spear, but was unable to; so he dragged Parcival and pushed him down to crashing into Han.
926Please respect copyright.PENANAdR0FIlY7XS
Jason locked the door and shut out the remaining light.