Five days had passed. Hoped the Adapts hadn't moved to the summer city yet.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAyg5djD8qIX
She started to scratch her back and stopped; the healing scab stung.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAbIy3Y4qYY2
Was it morning or evening? She took out a sun shard from her pouch, holding it in her palm. The shard turned an orange yellow. Morning. So many leagues left to travel. Why couldn't they have let her use a portal? She didn't care about authenticity, meh.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAWWDriNu3AE
She stretched and stood, a glint behind a bush and the shaking of the leaves. Bushes don't glint. It moved again. She pushed down a shout.
925Please respect copyright.PENANABxFK8LeTlw
Daggers in hand, she padded toward it. It's over there in the thorn bush.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAzNJ0OTwzXW
The something was tangled in the bush and thrashed about. With smooth red fur or skin? There was no head to be seen.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAdLI77zZJz9
She went over and poked it with a jiggling dagger handle.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAAJmTq7WzHw
The creature straightened and became taller. An appendage ripped free of the bush. A hand. Huh?
925Please respect copyright.PENANAQGDfVmDHOp
She leaned in closer, just a silly human with a cape pulled over his face.
925Please respect copyright.PENANADevA5ZZhx3
Even more the fool was she, not him. Being scared of such a thing, shameful.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAuo8y8OoZFX
Her shoulders slumped. "Don't move."
925Please respect copyright.PENANADRCsWXuoMt
Leaning over, she worked free the cape. It took a while to cut though the bush, and she tossed several sticks behind him.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAZE5PhwcIma
"Wandering hero, you don't belong out here; go home." Did this guy listen to anyone?
925Please respect copyright.PENANAsm3LVTbBdO
"I didn't mean to follow you."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAB3WmQMQWIY
Parcival yanked a jerkin leg still stuck in the bush and toppled backwards on his butt hard. His eyes widened as he cocked his head like a lost puppy. Her long ears twitched. She repressed a smile, while holding out a hand.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAiXSTWnGwUm
He grasped her hand and stood up, dusting off his jerkin and bottom.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAzVWyeJg1bX
She straightened, while glaring at him.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAwSHbn0hWRg
"Leave now." Her voice sounded far too cold, even to her. He'd be far safer away from me. Everyone would.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAqcz5yc6ub7
His face became drawn, and the smile vanished.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAw3sFzJqwsN
"My most humble of apology's."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAtnnYtofUKF
Formality or sarcasm? "Well?" Was the man daft?
925Please respect copyright.PENANAscTxs3ptVR
Her stomach gurgled. Ticking her off when she was hungry and annoyed just ... pehh.
925Please respect copyright.PENANA25g2XFjCWX
He held out his hands out and moved them as he talked.
925Please respect copyright.PENANARHAHG9ECyb
"This is the fastest way back home for me. I can't allow any women, even one, as..."
925Please respect copyright.PENANA0WhPri1yvP
Parcival paused.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAzjVBg5HGml
"Dangerous as you are, traveling on your own with The Corpus Outlaws reported in the area, isn't wise."
925Please respect copyright.PENANA4v3YyE3BaA
She grinned when he referred to her as dangerous.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAvIhveodlc8
"I've no trouble with bandits, but plenty with would be heroes. "I can take care of my self." Most of the time. It's just the blackest luck that the few males left are all children; so few had the powers.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5LUmfUcu1
She spun and went towards the clearing; she had spotted before resting. He walked along beside her. She speed up as did he.
925Please respect copyright.PENANARlVdX6tGVS
"I've about had it."
925Please respect copyright.PENANA3B1D5B6eD6
She put her hands near her hips and put on a serious face.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAT4jNKoO093
He turned, and with slow, exaggerated moments reached out and held her shoulders.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAyQ6xfJVwBY
"Stop. My oath of truth can't be broken. Olenus punishments are swift. Have pity on me. If you wish it, I'll leave when we reach a town, but not before."
925Please respect copyright.PENANA9TOTtZaFSJ
What was he trying to pull? She tugged on a ear-lobe. Still, the rumors of Paladins were generally good. She arched an eyebrow and gave her best steely glare.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAucEQ33x2j4
"I warn you; one betrayal and I will kill you." Have to let him come with; it wasn't smart to risk Olenus fury. For now, once back in a town, however ...
925Please respect copyright.PENANATjgdWmayhU
"Not everyone is out to get you."
925Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZDCepUOSO
Parcival stretched an arm towards the pathway.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAvtr9cy0QgY
"Let's go." His features were smooth, and his eyes held no darkness.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAHSddYb4vRA
He walked up beside her again. After a while, she stopped peeking at him and relaxed a fraction. The forest floor and the trees slowly changed to dry dead grasses and leaves; they crumbled under foot.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAkL7VUsuaJ7
The shadows and light cleared away to an open area littered with stumps. Off to the right, a large crumbling building, all but an arch doorway of stones left. Steam rose from inside the stone encircled ruins. Of what once was a carving of a great fish, all that was left was the tail fins.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAMe3BBwsjCY
Past that, where the head should have been, a jagged stump. It must have broken off and crumbled to dust long ago. An ancient spring bubbled. She went closer and bent down. One unbroken bench at the bottom; a carved metal rune sat caked with rust.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAjC03I7JQbW
"Odd."
925Please respect copyright.PENANACxcwnzqMc5
She jumped a little as he was close beside her.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAOffytxlVGz
She straightened up and rubbed her neck. The scratch was tender, and her neck and shoulders were stabbed with a hot needle, then it went away as fast as it came. As that stopped, the vines on the back of her neck thrummed. In a haze, she leaned over it with her fingers dipped in the water.
925Please respect copyright.PENANATmszWJl2WM
The rune pulsed a purple light. Each pulse was like a shock that traveled up her arms. It didn't hurt, but her hands and feet became numb.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAsD8TMZ2JVH
"I'm stuck." She managed to muddle out.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAoP39gyQZUd
He came over and pulled on her arm and again. On the third try Parcival planted his feet on the rim of the bath and yanked on her. Pain flared though her arm.
925Please respect copyright.PENANA6jBAMNWOxI
"You're pulling my shoulder out!"
925Please respect copyright.PENANA9DiM1ur1qB
Sweat trickled down her spine and itched on the edges of the leather.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAWeWa8MTEPQ
The rune glowed again. Another shock this time, it hit straight on her chest. Her back arched, and she screamed. It stopped as quickly as it started. She clamped down and bit her tongue; a metallic taste of blood pooled in her mouth. She spat it out. This day sucked. Come on, think.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAy2fOe6RKWC
He came over to her right side and tried to pull her arm out.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAYjKlisZbsa
The ground rumbled, a hungry beast intent on swallowing them whole.
925Please respect copyright.PENANABUfMWvOXhR
"Get out of here!"
925Please respect copyright.PENANAPMwcUuigUH
The lines of energy thickened and wrapped around her arm, numbing it. Oh, gods. She pitched into the water, grabbing a stone from the bath.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAa0IKIuVQQ6
"Forget I said that."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAICEj1NH3ZB
"I can't leave you to die; quit saying absurd things."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAw1HcNOBX1W
He stumbled back as the ground shook again; water splashed out of the bath soaking them both. He sputtered and started kicking the stones.
925Please respect copyright.PENANALVpQ40tigu
The ground split a foot in front of her. The crack zagged and ran into the tree line on the left. Water lapped over the edge of the bath, and the rune fell off the bench, sinking until it hit the bottom.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAkb3OCqPtPW
"Iyeee! Kind gods, spare your wrath!"
925Please respect copyright.PENANApNzgpwLyJ0
He fell backwards as the earth pushed up then slanted.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAOKko9SgV1f
"Are you bewitched?"
925Please respect copyright.PENANAoMFwGc5y8m
A yanking of her arm from behind, along with several mild curses.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAbu4drsMXtB
"My apologies."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAVJlEnbzR4Q
From behind, he wrapped his arms around tugging hard, flattening her chest.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAZ6YK9gFZCs
The ground cracked and split again. The arch doorway on the left a few feet away fell apart. This knocked into other parts of the ruins and fell into a gaping sinkhole. Light flashed from the bath. She turned her head and scrunched her eyes.
925Please respect copyright.PENANALVn07HczWd
A vast black sinkhole with the doorways stones sticking at all angles looked more like that of an almighty maw intent on swallowing her whole. Her heart slammed in her chest to the point that her body shook with it. Grab it, grab, it come on. The stone she reached for crumbled to dust in her hand.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAavUQO9cLNz
Another quake reduced the last of the stones to broken fragments. Another tug from him with more force. The strain of it pained her shoulder and side.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAE41IxDBbpb
"Stop, you'll break it."
925Please respect copyright.PENANACMz1SOyemh
Parcival worked his way in front of her. His hands on the top of his head, gripping his hair. "What the hell am I to do?"
925Please respect copyright.PENANA1jETRAaet8
Her stomach flip-flopped, and acid rose into her mouth. She swallowed it back down.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAy8fWzZgQ5z
"I don't care what you do, just do something," she yelled.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAWWsSeHKAJx
The rumble of the falling earth increased and blotted out her voice.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAeNMQ4xnvXF
Earth crumbled and fell away on all sides. The bath tilted and slid, stopping on a large root that stuck straight out.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAp4q7OIv7V1
She slipped closer to the edge. "Yaaa!" Clawing at the dirt did little.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAFbzuP611hO
He leapt over onto the remaining stones, pulled out his sword, his hands wrapped tight around the handle. Jumping into bath, he rammed the sword into the water, piercing the rune. It shot out another bolt that spit and encased both of them. She ground her teeth and clamped her jaw from the fresh spike of pain.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAiJV41n5no1
Parcival strained against it and stabbed at the rune. There was no change. His brow sat deep, and his lips tightened.
Is this a sick joke? Tell me! She screamed this in her head.
I had no cause in this, child. I'm not to blame for every misfortune you go through. I do find this humorous you would let yourself become caught so easily. Unnamed chuckled.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAmuE4RlcUFL
You will not confuse or trick me. You're a monster. I know you did this.
925Please respect copyright.PENANASxbtGuhebO
Don't anger me, or this will become so much worse.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAD3lWt4Mhtp
A rolling wave of heat roared up her back and boiled into her arms. Just as it started to intensify, it disappeared.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAXFPQVAJRhx
I do you more good than, you know, but continue to anger me ... With that he became quiet.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAAifNS1ot5S
Thoughts floated up and back down again as did warnings from her mother. There wasn't much time to dwell on this, as the ancient bath dragged her further towards the hole.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAlFo4wRcds2
Her hair fell over the sides of her face, and several of her bags unwound and spun into the depths. Laboring now, she fought to grab the edge of the bath with her left hand. Her arm quivered though still locked in place.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAzPDqXRfJsb
"We. Are. Going. To. Die! Do something!"
925Please respect copyright.PENANAjBL91gXUEq
Parcival, with effort, turned his head. "If we make it out of this, you owe me an ale."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAFBjMvr7PuA
He leaned back and pulled on his sword. His muscles bulged, and his face turned red. Sweat streamed down the sides of his face and dripped off. He gulped in deep breaths.
925Please respect copyright.PENANANaHWdgR9WW
"Now is not the time for jokes."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAJJ16P1mE36
Parcival straightened his shoulders and again fought with the sword.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAMEXgmbIRKA
"Garwaaahhhh!"
925Please respect copyright.PENANA8HnNL0tPFd
Water became like of glass. Fine cracks appeared across the surface and spread. Light streamed from the cracks, blinding. She tilted her head further away on her right side. Squinting now, she wasn't sure what was worse, the light from the pool or from her bag. Wait.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAgcATASRi86
She strained and flipped the flap. The pear inside was as bright as the light from the pool. After a while, she managed to pull it out.
925Please respect copyright.PENANA3sXoaNpRBb
Come on, stop being stupid. The merchant did say it wasn't for eating. On closer inspection. It had lines that separated the top and bottom half. A device of some kind. It fairly hummed with magics too.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAklZrwbvZBV
Really, stop stalling and do it. She hefted it in her palm and tossed it into the pool.
925Please respect copyright.PENANA7OSntZg2me
It drifted down in the water. Hope it does something. Exploding, however, wasn't on the scroll today.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAZ47JulTvLR
"How is that going to help?"
925Please respect copyright.PENANAndIGGIwcnh
He leaned back. "Is it supposed to bubble?"
925Please respect copyright.PENANALAsZx3OQT1
"I don't know."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAG3qaKweziS
"How can you not know? What if it explodes?"
925Please respect copyright.PENANAxhhJ5vPupx
Light streamed out from all sides. The bubbling water swelled and overflowed and steam cooked the back of her neck and ears. Hells dogs, it's hot.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAc7e5VXb7DC
"Try, again," she said. The words were like an embedded burr and hurt speaking them.
925Please respect copyright.PENANATj6bPBBdTr
The bath tilled further.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAlkHbmHtiqe
The pear spun about, and at the same time, split into shards of ice that now floated on the water.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAgvvFR99SS7
He repeated the effort from before, this time lifting the weapon past his face. Water frothed about and shot upwards. He pulled back.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAUtny03Tui6
"Now. Do it."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAHQ2JMV2nLZ
Her arm was turning red and blistering. The lines of energy worked towards her shoulder and then around her torso, numbing it further. Her arm slackened, and she was pulled towards the water; it went over her wrist.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAxrkVXIr8cd
Unable to brace her feet on the root, she dangled from the edge of the bath. Out of the water, one ice shard burst and dragged the water onto it. It turned to steam that froze and arched down to the ground.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAJmJ4gDmQK5
If I get out of this. I'm hunting down that merchant. That lying sack of scorpo-dung!
925Please respect copyright.PENANA2pB1RAuFEi
He slammed down again.
925Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ocqe5lFfI
She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAhITmEpAELd
The bath rumbled, and most of the remaining stones fell into the sinkhole. Instead of falling, the stream of water carried her with it.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAhU7MGy3oPH
Parcival dropped the sword and dived at her. The expression stamped on his face as his mouth pulled back into a soundless yell drowned out by the caustic water.
925Please respect copyright.PENANApJfXRDkudM
"I'm sorry," she mouthed.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAJf49ZPLjTd
An odd breaking and hissing above, looking down the water frozen and extending into a curve, Parcival dived at her and grabbed her wrist, and they collided onto the ice and were launched over the treetops.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAQbjXz4h1zl
He landed on the edge of the sinkhole and dug his free hand into its edge. She grabbed the edge with her left, while he pulled them both up. He rolled on his back, gasping.
925Please respect copyright.PENANA0kKN9dtVAQ
"See? You need me. Ha. High and mightily Elves." He shook his head.
925Please respect copyright.PENANAfCS2H1ZN0k
"I've had a lovely time. Next time, can we book a getaway that doesn't involve death? He makes a terrible travel companion."
925Please respect copyright.PENANAWUhrK98K3W
He stared at her then started to chuckle.
925Please respect copyright.PENANA2iYRGM1hvl
She laughed with him until her cheeks hurt. Sometimes, you just have to laugh or go mad.
####
Thank you for reading!
It'll be a while though. Please tap like on the chapters if you enjoyed it. I appreciate both positive comments along with negative; if worded politely.
ns52.14.165.32da2