Once SJ had made some distance from the Wandering Ogre, she paused mid-flight, hovering over the town. The sun was high and warm against her, and up at the height she was, she couldn't hear any of the sounds from the street below. It was a strange feeling looking down on the once peaceful and idyllic town, knowing what was happening in the streets beneath her. The darkened, charred remains of several buildings were now prominent features.
She removed the communication stone from her inventory and called Cristy; it only rang twice before she answered.
"Hi Cristy," SJ said, before she had a chance to speak.
"Hi."
"So that you know, Kibble is on his way to you with the stone that can contact Petunia."
"Okay."
"And," SJ continued, hardly taking a breath or pausing for Cristy to finish replying. "Is Fran with you in the valley?"
Cristy didn't reply immediately. "I'm not sure; I can't see her, but there are so many of us here. I can try and find out. Why, what do you need?"
"I need Harrietta."
"Who?" Cristy replied, confused.
"Harrietta is her ghost familiar."
"Oh, sorry, yes," Cristy replied, realising who SJ now referred to. "Okay, what for?"
"Scouting. The draconians have moved into the Wandering Ogre, and I think Zigferd is being held inside."
"Oh..."
"Yeah. I want to check, and I don't think I could even sneak inside in miniature form."
"I will try to locate her. Alice is still in discussions with the troops from Asterfal. The strategists are trying to come up with a plan."
"The best plan would be a force that could attack from the air."
"I know, but they don't have one."
"Okay. I am carrying on my journey to check on Lythonian and Zej."
"I'll update you if I locate Fran."
SJ dropped the call and continued over the lake. The wyvern was still bobbing across its surface; it had now floated about halfway. It appeared to have stopped thrashing about as much and looked almost pitiful as the lake's current carried it. She wasn't sure how Kibble would react if it did go over the waterfall. She wasn't feeling much remorse; it was, after all, a predator that had attacked the town previously and even almost killed her in the past.
She skimmed across the lake's surface once she was away from the shore. It felt glorious, the water lapping gently beneath her as she flew.
As she neared the far side, she again rose into the air before spotting a small boat pulled up onto the shore of the western edge. It was pretty much in alignment with where Zej and Lythonian would have been on the island, and she swooped down, scanning the ground. Clear boot prints were visible in the softer ground at the lake shore, and she followed them as they wound into the forest. There was no direct route or hunting path to follow, so she looked for what could only be described as disturbed underbrush.
She hadn't been travelling far when she heard Zej's voice cursing. Following the sound of the crashing and cursing, it didn't take long for her to locate Zej.
"Zej. You really should be quieter," Lythonian said as Zej argued with a branch that had got tangled with his armour. He growled deeply as he dragged it off him.
Zej growled as he yanked on the entangling branch so hard it snapped back, whipping Lythonian's face. "This damn cursed forest," Zej complained bitterly.
"It's not the forest's fault. If you were a little more careful, rather than stomping through everything," Lythonian added, brushing himself down. "And be careful what you're doing. I nearly lost an eye."
"Aye, well, dwarves aren't built for forests, not like those slim elves and dryads," Zej grumbled.
SJ couldn't help but chuckle as she swooped down toward them. The pair jumped in surprise.
"SJ. Is everything okay?" Lythonian asked, seeing her.
"Yes. I just wanted to check on you."
"We're fine, or would be if Zej would take his time," Lythonian sighed.
Zej furrowed his brow, turning to look at Lythonian. His pristine armour was covered in grime, streaked with mud and shredded leaves. He wasn't going to win any prizes for camouflage.
"Why didn't you remove your armour?" SJ asked.
"I have no room. My inventory is full. I cleared what I could from the shop before we left. That's why we were still there, as Lythonian was helping."
"Oh. So you're pretty much a walking armoury then?" SJ asked in surprise.
"I wouldn't say armoury, but I have a fair few pieces of armour and weapons, which are just dying to taste the blood of those damn gnolls and draconians."
"That's great. I'm sure it will help the troops at the cave."
SJ opened her map and, with its upgraded features and no longer having the fog of war, she identified a clearing that appeared to have a pool of water a few hundred feet ahead, and what appeared to be game trails leading from it.
"There is a clearing up ahead, with a pool and game trails. The game trails lead to the northwest towards the cave, by the looks of it."
"I hope so," Lythonian sighed. "The sooner we get out of here, the better."
"Aye, the sooner the better," Zej agreed.
SJ directed the pair of them the best she could through the forest to the clearing. Zej was still cursing regularly. Once they reached the clearing, the game trail cut neatly through the forest, and they proceeded along it, making much better time. It didn't take them much longer to break from the forest and enter the sparser area leading toward the fissure and cave entrance.
On reaching the opening, the cursing started again, as Zej realised his squat, broad, armoured form couldn't just slip into the fissure. He may not be very tall, but his width was problematic. With a lot of head shaking and sighing, Lythonian helped his friend through. Long before they even reached the cavern, where the others were, voices had called toward them, hearing them approach.
The look of relief on Lorna and Darren's faces was immense.
"I thought you could do with a healer," SJ said, smiling at them.
"Definitely," Lorna smiled, walking up and clasping Zej's forearm in a welcoming grip. "Lythonian," she added, nodding her head respectfully towards the cleric. Lythonian smiled back.
"Are any injured now?"
"No, everyone is well. Darren was the only one who injured himself, but he has since healed fully."
Darren's cheeks flushed. "Tripping while escaping," he muttered.
"So what has happened in town?" Darren asked.
"Not much. I believe the draconians are using the Wandering Ogre as their base. The families that had come to the valley appeared to be set up around it, and I watched the leader leave there."
"Zigferd?" Lorna asked hopefully.
"No, I didn't see him. I believe he has been moved from the jail to the Wandering Ogre."
"What about everyone else?"
"Terrible," SJ said, her voice deflated. "They have them packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the jail yard, and those that don't fit are lined up, cross-legged, outside the barracks."
A guard sitting nearby, overhearing the conversation, called over. He was a young-looking ent. "You didn't see my father, did you?"
SJ turned to look at him. She had seen him in town, but didn't recognise him. "Sorry, who is your father?"
"Lareqous, he is a town councillor, he was with Zigferd, I believe."
SJ's heart sank. The only ent councillor she knew had been slain in front of Zigferd as an example. "I don't know him. I know several of the councillors managed to get away, but I'm not sure. I'm sorry," SJ said. She couldn't be certain, not knowing his name, even though in the pit of her stomach, she knew it must be.
The young ent looked down, crestfallen.
SJ stayed with the group for some time as Zej emptied the contents of his inventory. The guards, seeing the gleaming weapons and armour, perked up, and several walked over to browse.
"Get back, you heathens! You will wait for the lieutenant here to say who gets what," Zej scolded them.
Several of the guards grumbled as they returned to their previous seats.
"Anything for something shiny," Zej muttered.
"I know someone else like that," Lythonian said, as he finished emptying his inventory contents as well.
Zej scowled at his friend. Ever since the pair of them had helped SJ fight the necromancer, they had become much closer as friends. It was a strange relationship; Lythonian, the upright and humble priest, and Zej, the brash blacksmith.
SJ smiled at their interaction. She had her map open and minimised as she watched Kibble on it. He was down in the valley by Farleck Cottage, and she wondered how he was getting on with the wyverns and the skeletons. Hopefully, there hadn't been any problems.
'Dave, is there any way to add Carlito to my map?'
"You never partied up in the desert region, and you're not wearing your earpieces, which worked in Asterfal. That was how I managed to get you to see each other previously."
'Would the earpieces work in Killic?'
"They may do so if the distance is short enough. They are limited only by their mana throughput, nothing else."
'Thanks,' SJ said as she called her communication stone with Fas to her hand. SJ moved away from the others to the edge of the cavern as she pressed the gem.
It rang several times before a tired voice answered.
"SJ."
"Hi, Fas. Do you have your earpiece with you?"
There was quiet for a few moments. "Yes."
"Excellent, can you put it on, and I will do the same. I'm hoping that it will show each other our locations."
SJ removed hers from her inventory and placed it on her ear. The small clip was almost invisible under her long hair. After several moments, Fas's dot appeared on the map. He was east of the plateau, in the mountains. Not too far away, thankfully, the clips worked. SJ dropped the call from the stone and tapped the small gem on the clip. Moments later, Fas answered.
"They seem to be working," Fas said.
"Yeah. It will make it easier to talk this way. How are you feeling?"
"Tired, but better than I was."
"And Aletheia?"
"Don't ask. She has been walking around touching everything that's living. There are bushes here now that look like they should be in a flower garden."
"Oh... When do you think you will be fit enough to travel again?"
"Another couple of hours. I doubt I can transform currently, and we are too high to make our way down to the plateau."
"Yeah. I can see where you are on the ridge edge from the desert." SJ said as she zoomed in on her map. The improved clarity, now that the fog of war no longer blocked it, was impressive.
"Now I know exactly where you are. As soon as I am able, I will head down."
"No problem. We need to go on a killing spree, but the biggest problem will be dealing with Aletheia while we do."
"Remember, she can still threaten the lizards."
"I know, but I want to cause more damage to the enemy first. The lizards are being penned in a clearing to the east of town. I think that will be the best use of Aletheia. If she is able to control them, or whatever she can do and hold them there. It may reduce the number of draconian riders we need to deal with."
"Remember I..."
"I know. I will have to deal with the draconians," SJ sighed.
Fas paused before replying. "I'm sorry. I wish I could do more."
"I know. I know. It's just frustrating. I've been trying to think of the best approach. I've spoken to Asterfal, and we hopefully have some support that will be on its way, but that's likely to take a few days, so in the meantime, I want to keep picking them out as much as we can."
"It sounds like a plan, and now that they are in a town, it will be much easier to do than on the open plains as they were," Fas replied.
"Okay, I'll let you get more rest. Call me when you are leaving."
"I will," Fas answered as he dropped the call.
SJ thought she could fly over there and give some rejuvinatus to Fas, but another couple of hours wasn't going to make much difference. It already appeared that the draconians thought they had the upper hand with the way they had already moved the young and old into the town. She doubted that they believed themselves to be under any threat.
The time passed quickly as Lorna worked through the various items that Lythonian and Zej had brought with them from the smithy. New weapons and armour were handed out to the guard force. For many, the items Zej was donating to the town defence were of a much greater quality than they could probably afford in normal circumstances, but Zej wasn't asking for any recompense.
"What's the plan then?" SJ asked.
Lorna was just replacing her bracers with a set from Zej's stock she had chosen for herself.
"I think we need to start working around the northern edge. At least that way we are moving closer to the crags,” Lorna said.
“I am going to take a party to scout the river,” Darren said.
“It’s a shame there are no druids who can send a familiar,” SJ added.
Darren nodded in agreement before moving to speak to some of the guard force.
SJ felt the vibration of her ear clip and, tapping the gem, accepted Fas’s incoming call.
“I’m good to travel,” Fas said once SJ answered.
“I’ll head outside so you can mark the location on your map,” SJ said as she moved to the exit.
“Okay, this area is clear enough for you to land,” SJ said after she had made her way outside.
“Got it. I’ll be there shortly. Come on, Aletheia,” Fas said as the call dropped.
SJ watched on her map as the dot from Fas’s earpiece vanished. It was obvious that once in dragon form, the clip wouldn’t work. She wasn’t sure how long it would take him to reach her, but knew it wouldn’t take him too long. Darren and the three guards who would join him, scouting the river, appeared from the fissure as SJ sat patiently.
“Did you want me to come with you?” SJ asked as they went to depart.
“No. We will be fine. You have more important things to consider when your friend arrives,” Darren smiled.
“Be careful.”
The scout group soon moved across the open ground before disappearing into the treeline of the forest.
It was only moments later that SJ could see the dot of Fas; he was so high in the sky that he was easily visible above the treeline of the forest, yet to most beings, he would have looked like a bird. Only after he had crossed the lake and reached her location did his form grow as he flew down to where she waited. The down draft of his wings buffeted her as he came into land, his scales having retained their previous colour. He looked much healthier than he had when she had last seen him.
Aletheia jumped down from his back, and it was at that point that SJ realised she hadn’t even mentioned this strange being to the others in the cave.
‘Bah. I should have informed them,’ SJ thought.
“A little late now, and you still haven’t checked your levels,” Dave said.
‘I was a little busy helping Lorna out.’
“Sometimes you have to prioritise yourself,” Dave said with an excited edge to his voice.
SJ frowned before replying. ‘Fine, once we are back inside, I will look.'
Fas finished transforming into his now usual elven appearance and walked over. Aletheia was staring around her at the new landscape. The sparse trees that dotted the area by the fissure and rough gorse bushes immediately drew her attention as she walked towards the closest.
"Aletheia, where are you going?" SJ asked.
Aletheia turned and looked at SJ with a casual smile. "This area has a lot of work that needs doing."
"Not now, please. I need to introduce you to some other beings first."
"As you wish," Aletheia said as she approached.
"We can chat once inside," SJ said to Fas as she led them back into the cave.
As the three of them entered the cave, they were once again met with a wall of weapons, which immediately relaxed on them realising it was SJ.
"I see you brought your friend," Lorna said, looking at Fas.
"I did. I need to update him on everything, and also, I need to ask you to look after Aletheia here," SJ said.
Lorna frowned, looking at the strange-looking being that had entered with SJ and Fas. Her appearance was a complete contrast to the dark interior of the cavern, her pure alabaster skin, vibrant green reptilian eyes and beautiful dress contrasting with the grim dark cavern. She appeared as a beacon of light, almost luminescent in the cavern's shadows. Without speaking, Aletheia walked over to Lorna, her hand held out as though to shake it, and then, with uncanny speed as Lorna reached to return the gesture, she grabbed her wrist.
Lorna attempted to pull back but was too slow as she cried in surprise. Before Lorna could say another word, a bright light appeared around Lorna's wrist.
"Aletheia. What are you doing?" SJ asked in shock.
"Her mana is maligned. It requires correction," Aletheia replied matter-of-factly, her face impassive and calm.
Lorna attempted to pull away and free her wrist, but she couldn't break from Aletheia's grasp. Her free hand moved towards her dagger on her belt.
"Wait," SJ said urgently to Lorna, reaching out to stop her. Several guards, on seeing Lorna being grabbed, immediately drew their weapons, eyes fixed on Aletheia.
Lorna looked at SJ, her brow furrowed and a sneer on her lips.
"Please," SJ said, reiterating.
Lorna's fingers froze mid-reach for her dagger before lifting her hand to warn off the guards.
The white light increased in intensity, then, within moments, as fast as it had appeared, Aletheia released her grip, and the light faded.
Lorna pulled her wrist back, rubbing it, glaring at Aletheia.
"You should ask someone first," SJ snapped.
Aletheia's mesmerising reptilian eyes blinked. "She required healing."
"She may have, but you can't just grab hold of living beings without asking permission."
SJ turned to Lorna. "Are you alright?"
Lorna looked at her wrist, then at SJ, and back at Aletheia. "Yes. It doesn't hurt."
SJ then stared in absolute amazement as the transformation occurred. Lorna, who had been looking tired and withdrawn, with dark rings under her eyes and her hair looking knotted and unkempt, suddenly appeared as though she had just woken up after a refreshing sleep. The rings under her eyes vanished, her hair lightened to its vibrant orange and straightened, and she suddenly appeared to stand taller than she had moments before. Her skin glowed, and her cheeks tightened. She stared at her previously calloused hands, now free from wear.
"What was that?" Lorna asked.
"Your mana was fractured, as I said. It needed to be realigned."
"But I didn't feel ill?" Lorna replied, confused.
"Oh, you weren't ill or sick, just broken," Aletheia said.
"Broken!" Lorna said, shocked.
"Yes, broken," Aletheia shrugged.
"Who is she?" Lorna asked SJ, staring at this being in disbelief.
Lythonian, having witnessed the scene, had walked over, looking at Aletheia with curiosity. "What magic was that?" he asked, his voice tight, almost scared.
"That's what I need to explain to you," SJ said. "Fas, can you take Aletheia over there, please, while I inform Lorna?"
Fas smiled caringly at SJ, seeing the weariness in her face as he took Aletheia by her elbow and guided her away.
"Okay. Where do I begin?" SJ said with a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. Nothing was ever straightforward.
