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Chapter Text

The arrow landed inches from Nicole's foot, the marksman who shot at her would have had an easier time killing her with the angle they shot from. It was a warning. The rest of the caravan came to a halt with her. Nicole kept her face hidden in the hood of her forest green cloak, she wasn't surprised, Ari had warned them of the bandits hiding among the copse before they rounded the bend. This type of thing was to be expected sooner or later. A few bandits being on this road was the reason the caravan hired her party as bodyguards.

Their numbers on the other hand might have been a problem. Seven bandits against her party of four. In her mind she stood no chance. She was just a bard, sure she could cast some spells, but all she had was a lute and a dagger. Not like she could sing her way out of this fight.

Lucky for her she wasn't the brains of the group. That honor went to Emily, who had a plan to handle those seven bandits plus another four if Ari miscounted. And if that doesn't work they'll leave the merchants to the bandits and run for it. But this is an Emily plan. If you ever absolutely needed to put money on someone, it's her.

"The Braxton bandits have you surrounded, if you don't put up a fight, your deaths will be painless!" Their leader took a step from the tree line, he held a massive battle-axe high above his head. His armor was dull and worn down, he had been with that armor longer than Nicole was with this party. He had a lot of experience, but also confidence, too much confidence for his own good.

Emily took a step towards him, lowering the hood of her navy blue cloak revealing her platinum locks as she looked up the hill. She was dressed head to toe in form fitting dark leather armor. Four daggers secured to her hips, always tucked away in the safety of their sheaths until the last moment possible. Her gloves stopping at the knuckles exposing her fingers to the warm summer air.

Her second in command, Kelly, took her spot right next to the rogue. Her dirty blonde hair spilled from her hood, still draped low over her face. Her rust colored cloak hung behind her shoulders acting more like a cape. What she wore beneath could barely be called armor, her arms and stomach completely exposed. A sarashi around her chest binding her ample breasts and plain brown pants that stop half way down the calf was the only other clothing she wore. But she wasn't unarmed, In her right hand a long sword, and her left, a massive kite shield. She gave the appearance of an easy target, but that was her intentions.

Emily took a deep breath before addressing Braxton. "You look tough, and I'll admit I'm not much of a fighter, but we were hired for this escort. If you want to parley then offer something besides our lives."

Braxton chuckled and took a few more steps down the hill and away from the trees. "How about we give you another warning volley and see if that can change your mind."

Before he could give the signal to attack Nicole spoke up. "We know where you dipshits are hiding! If you wanted to be stealthy maybe try bathing! I can smell you from here!"

[Vicious Mockery ]

As Nicole finished her sentence a bandit archer fell from a tree behind Braxton, the spell had landed with lethal results. Before any of the bandits could register what happened, Ari, who was still hidden, gave a sharp whistle, and with it her tiger companion leapt from a tree with another bandit dead in its jaws.

It was now five bandits vs the party of four, and the bandits didn't see any of it coming. Kelly took her places in front of Emily, raising her shield to her front and sword up above her head.

[Guiding bolt]

A blinding radiance formed at the tip of her sword. She gave her blade a quick downward swing, and the bolt flew toward Braxton who was in full sprint towards the girls ready and more than capable of cleaving the both of them in two. Kelly's spell hit its mark dead on, burning away at his armor  and flesh, but did nothing to slow down the now enraged bandit.

Braxton covered the ground quickly and struck. Steel met steel as the axe glanced off Kelly's shield and buried itself deep into the road. Emily capitalized on the opportunity and quickly unsheathed two of her daggers and buried them in Braxton's neck, it was now four against four.

They breathed a sigh of relief as the hardest part of the plan was now behind them, but it was short lived. The two were quickly reminded of the rest of the bandits as a divine light intercepted a hail of arrows aimed at Kelly's deceptively well guarded sides.

Nicole raised her voice one more time. "Bandit seems like a poor job choice, why not try farm hand? A piece of shit like you could fertilize a field for the whole season!"

Another bandit fell from a tree feeling the effects of Nicole's spell. This one wasn't out of the fight yet, slowly standing back up and drawing another arrow from their quiver, only for Ari to finally reveal herself from the neighboring tree, diving onto the bandit with a sword in each hand, an ashen gray cloak flowing behind. Her shining blades cut through leather and flesh, another bandit down, everything was going as Emily planned.

What little remained of the bandits cut their losses and retreated. Emily was happy with that result. Ari could easily track down the remaining bandits, but it would take time they didn't have. Emily's plan played out even better than she had hoped, the fact no one got injured is a blessing too sweet to pass up.

Ari slid down the hill to meet up with the rest of the caravan. She hesitantly lowered her hood exposing her crimson skin and piercing white hair to the party. Ari wasn't proud to be a tiefling, she even trims her horns so they fit in her hood better. But she is one of the best rangers and trackers Nicole had ever met. The two had been acquainted for nearly a decade, but they had only been partied with Emily and Kelly for about two years.

The world isn't kind to people like them. Nicole wasn't a tiefling, though there are times she wished she was. She would probably be dead by now for one. No, Nicole is a half elf. She's well into her 40's but still a child to the seelie court. Not that they would acknowledge an impure halfbreed like her.

Humans see a half elf in slightly better light then the elves. At worst it's kill on sight, but at best she can form friendships like with Emily or Kelly. So Nicole grew up in human settlements, only getting beaten and ran out of town once or twice.

At least Nicole can pass for human, all she needs to do is hide her ears. It was even worse for Ari. To the tiefling, a city was a breeding ground for hatred, not rats. So she took to the wilds, only traveling to settlements when it was necessary. That was how they met, two social pariah's at birth banding together for some type of security.

As for Emily, she found Nicole. The blonde has a knack for finding exactly what she needs. When she found Nicole, the bard was playing music in taverns for pocket change, weaving a spell here or there on some of the stupider patrons with heavier pockets. Trick them into following her upstairs, then knock'em out and take their stuff.

Emily wasn't naïve enough to fall for Nicole's tricks. The blonde was there for business, she needed a second for a covert breaking and entering that her current partner lacked the skillset for. Nicole agreed to the terms, and the heist was a success. Then they did another, and another. By the 5th quest Nicole had incorporated Ari into the party. Not every quest was a stealth mission, and the extra muscle was useful in case Kelly lacked the firepower that was needed.

That's how they ended up here, in the middle of nowhere, on a dusty road to 'somewhere'. Hopefully. At least that's what Kelly thinks. The self proclaimed paladin is on a religious pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Braddock. The bodyguard job was something Emily set up to entice the rest of the party to go with her. So on they marched.

With everyone back in formation, Emily went to converse with the head merchant. He was an older gentleman with as much gold in his mouth as a single one of his pockets. "Old man, how far off is Braddock?"

The man let out a drawn out yawn letting his gold teeth shine in the soon to be setting sun. "Tomorrow my dear, I can guarantee it. We can make it to the borders today, but they wouldn't let us through customs at night."

"One more night on the road won't hurt anyone. Right?"

"As the sun rises so does my light on the corrupt city." Kelly chirped in response.

Nicole chimed into the conversation. "What do you expect to find there Kelly? Its a backwater fiefdom with mountains to three sides."

Kelly had a shining smile that would make the old merchant's look dull in comparison. "That's where the shadow of evil is plotting and where my light is needed. Just like the dawn casts the darkness away, I too spread the light of Lythander!" She eagerly ran past Emily who was still at the front of the caravan making small talk.

"Right, but what is the shadow? Some type of devil? I'm not gonna fight a devil for your god!"

"Fear not Nicole, I wield the power of the dawn, not even an archdevil can best me."

"You should know better not to ask questions when she gets this excited." Ari had snuck up to Nicole's side, hood hung low over her face. "Besides, we need to get past customs first. I don't think we can sneak over these walls."

Nicole had already talked about it with Emily. Lots of the rural castle towns don't let non-humans in. If the city was small enough Nicole and Ari would just jump the walls, but this city was big for how off the beaten path it was. "We have a plan B that we've used a dozen times. And why are you acting like you don't prefer it?"

"Its just risky. What if you lose concentration before I get in? They will kill me instantly!"

"Emily talked to the merchants, them bribing the guards for us is a bonus for the job. We each still get 30 pieces from it." Nicole took Ari's hand in hers. "And if I know you, you will spend that 30 by tomorrow night."

Ari pulled her hand away, burying her body deeper into her cloak. "I only need a few supplies this time, I think only a few arrows. I haven't even used the alchemist's fire i bought a month ago!"

Nicole took a single awkward step away from her friend as they continued down the dirt road. "Isn't it better to not use it? If your swords can do the job why waste it?"

"That's what I mean! I have nothing to buy so I get to save my reward money for once."

"Right, well you can always give me some of it."

"I hear you practice every night at camp! Why should I pay you for a tavern show? They are too loud to hear your singing anyway."

"Boo, you are not fun. Emily goes to my shows."

Ari rolled her eyes so hard that even her hood couldn't hide it. "Emily steals from the people too drunk to tip you."

"What about me?" Emily had finished her chit-chat with the head merchant and slowed her pace to match Nicole and Ari's.

"Have you decided when we are setting camp?" Nicole spoke up trying to feebly hide the subject from someone that can read people like books. "I assume we are planning to enter the city before noon."

A confident grin grew on Emily's face. "Yeah, less than an hour of walking and the walls should come into sight. We'll make camp just off the road when they come into view."

"And I assume it's me and Ari on fire watch again?"

"Hey you don't even sleep, just meditate. Plus Ari just sleeps on her pet the whole night."

"His name is Drum, and he killed just as many bandits as you did today." Ari's head would have jumped out of her hood if her horns didn't keep it in place. "And I only get to see him when we camp because he doesn't like cities!"
"That's fine, Drum is great at guarding camp, and he did a great job with those bandits too." Emily turned and ran up to where Kelly was still cheerfully leading the way. "I'll let Kelly know the good news."

"Emily just wanted to touch base with us. She wasn't insulting you."

"I know, humans just make me so angry."

"Emily is different though, and so is Kelly, in more ways than one. They trust us with their lives, i think showing them less animosity after two years in the party would be ok."

"Its different for you, you can pass for normal. Drum is the only one that can see me as normal."

"I see you as normal too, and I have since we first met."

Ari kicked up some dirt at Nicole's response. "I know. Cities just aren't the place for us. I guess I just prefer the journey to the destination."

"Speaking of destination." Nicole raised her voice a bit so Ari can still hear over Kelly yelling about the city walls creeping up the horizon. "We still have some daylight left. We can poke around a bit after we make camp."

Ari turned her head to Nicole, tufts of her white hair poking at the rim of her hood. A soft smile on her face. "That would be cool."

The caravan began to stir as the first rays of sunlight shown on the green meadows. Kelly woke up just as dawn broke, and quickly got everyone else out of bed, willing or not.

Nicole had been awake for about an hour. Because she was part elf she didn't need to sleep like mortal races, only a few hours of meditation each night. Her bitch of a mother did nothing right when raising her, but at least her genetics were good for something.

The more important thing about this morning was getting ready to sneak past the checkpoint. The caravan will bribe the guards so it was now time to find Ari and start plan B.

Ari enjoyed plan B, what that said about her is an issue on its own, but it meant Nicole didn't have to look far.

"I'm ready when you are." Ari was fidgeting a bit, but she wasn't wearing her hood, so it was definitely an excited fidget.

"Are we leaving so soon? I thought we could at least have breakfast." Nicole knew this caravan gets packed quick. They had just spent three days on the road with them, but messing with Ari was too good to pass up.

"You know this takes time so hurry up." Her purple eyes were pleading, she rarely shows them off, even to Nicole.

"Fine, fine, let me see your hands."

Nicole held out her palms towards Ari and the tiefling eagerly interlocked her fingers with the half elf's. They each took a deep breath as they began to synch their breathing with each others. As their breathing began to synch up, so too did their heart beats. A single step closer to one another, and another. They drifted closer and closer.

Nicole leaned forward, touching her forehead to Ari's. The bard took one more breath in tune with the ranger before she began the spell.

[Disguise Person]

Nicole felt the heat of the spell form in their conjoined palms. The heat grew for a second and then dissipated. The bard trying to admire her handy work, took a step back from the now human looking tiefling. Ari's skin, no longer the scarlet red of Avernus but the pale peach matching the one that cast the spell. Same for her hair, no longer an almost snow white. Now an almost obsidian dark brown color. If you were to meet Ari and Nicole right now, you could swear they are related.

Nicole was slightly taken aback by how well the spell worked. "You look great."

Ari didn't respond, only continuing to smile like a school girl and bounce on the tips her toes.

The pair grabbed the last of their gear and headed in the direction of Kelly's shouting. She was still eager to enter the city and thwart the shadow, or shine her light? Must be nice to be that cheerful and optimistic all of the time.

Nicole was looking forward to harsh words and a punch to the gut from the guards. Not carrying a weapon helps make the process smoother. Nicole used to carry a bow, but the guards didn't like when half elves have weapons. Running down to the temple to get her teeth back in her head every time she went to town wasn't worth it.

"Ari looks great, you get better at that spell every time." Emily ran up to the half elf with her own bag slung half over her shoulder. "She looks happier too."

"Yeah, she doesn't admit it though." Nicole kicked at the road and turned to her party leader walking by her side. "She hasn't talked to any of the merchants all trip and now she's best buds with mister golden teeth!"

"Most people are shit Nicole, that's why I'm a thief not a politician. Just let Ari have this, it's the only time she can hide in the crowd like us."

"Maybe I'm just tired of hiding. Maybe I'm just sick of only seeing her smile with a face that isn't even hers."

"You still like her don't you?"

"I'm twice your age, don't treat me like a kid."

"42 in elf years is what, 15? 16 in human years?"

"I'm 44, and so what if it is? I'm still older than all of you."

"And I'm younger than both Ari and Kelly, but I'm still the leader. I don't care how old you are, you're still a kid. I'm sure Ari sees it like that too."

"I already know that. That doesn't mean I have to like it though."

"Gods, I can't imagine being an angsty 'teen' for twenty-something years."

"Don't act all high and mighty! You were 19 when we first met!"

"I wasn't an angsty teen then either! Hells, I've been doing this well before we met. That's how I got so good."

"Yeah, don't break your arm patting yourself on the back."

"Cut the attitude, you are maturing just fine. Just look at how far your magic has come. You killed a bandit yesterday telling him to bathe! How about you pat yourself on the back for once?"

Nicole rolled her eyes at the party leader. "Thanks for the pep talk, how long until I get paid?"

Emily fluffed her hair out of frustration. "Soon, I think the merchants have a different queue than us so we should be in and out of customs."

As if on cue Kelly ran to the back of the caravan where the rest of the party was walking. "Now do you feel it? This is why we needed to come here." The walls of the city were now looming over their heads. The sun at their backs kept them bathed in light, but they can feel an unease seeping out of the city causing them to shiver. "Its almost as if the walls were built to keep the sun out, not just people."

Emily looked up at the towering walls then back where they had come with the sun just now fully breaking the horizon. "I sure hope we can handle this Kelly, because this is a tough nut to crack."

"Well let's get inside first. Ari is already at the front waiting for us."

As the party walked under the portcullis they were directed to a small side room. It was empty except for some chairs a desk and a soldier placed at the door. This was normal procedure for cities. Civilians aren't armed so cities had to make sure we were adventures and not some private army or assassins.

It was simple enough, the head of the guard talks to our party leader and we get waved through. All we have to do is sit in silence until they get here, and even when they get here only Emily has to talk.

The guard cleared his voice and spoke. "Everyone stand, chief of security Kyler has arrived."

The chief of security was outfitted in the same steel armor as the rest of the guard but it had a shine to it. The crest of the kingdom, 'LHS' was shown prominently on the armors chest and the sheath of his sword. The guard at the door exited the room shutting the door behind him.

Kylar thumbed through some paperwork before addressing the party. "Sup, bitches."

Emily was taken aback for an instant before taking a step forward and giving a response to the chief. "My name is Emily, I'm the leader of these three. Kelly, Nicole and Ari. We escorted the merchants from Polis. It was a four day journey total. One minor scuffle with bandits about 2 or 3 hours outside the city. Nothing else to report."

Kylar gave a healthy nod and looked through a few more papers. "How many bandits did you kill? Did any survive?"

"We killed a total of four, including their leader Braxton. At least two got away." Emily was stone cold, the total opposite of her usually animated self. She knew that anything that could delay entering the city was to be avoided.

The chief of security found a blank sheet of paper and prepared to write. "And what type of weapons are you planning on carrying into my city?"

"I have 4 daggers, Kelly a long sword and shield, Ari has a scimitar, a short sword and a long bow with some arrows, and Nicole has a dagger and a lute."

After finishing his writing Kylar stood up and looked across the party. His eyes lingered on Kelly's clothes, or her lack of clothing, before turning back to Nicole and her excessive clothing. "Nicole, take off that headband bitch."

Nicole slowly removed the cloth revealing the sharp tips of her ears.

"I fucking called it. The rest of you can go. I need to have a talk with the half breed."

"I can vouch for her. She's an important member of my party." Emily knew it would have been easier to just follow orders, but she did feel responsible for this outcome.

Nicole just motioned her leader to the door. "Emily it's fine. We are just having a chat, right?"

"Yeah bitch, just a quick chat to make sure she knows her manners." Kylar walked around his desk as the rest of the party made their way out of the room. "Braddock is a great kingdom. Don't leave any of your filth here."

After a short pause the chief of security grabbed the sheath of his sword and dug the pommel deep into Nicole's stomach causing the half elf to fall to the floor.

"You're lucky you came with a party." Kylar spat on the floor. "Now go, and hide your ears. I don't need my citizens seeing you."

Nicole slowly got to her feet and made her way out the door to where her friends were waiting.

"You ok? Cause we need to talk." Emily held the half elf by the shoulders. Her expression still ice cold.

Nicole laughed before wincing at the pain in her gut. "I'm ok, if it was anything bad Ari wouldn't still look like she does."

The leader shot a glance over her shoulder, sure enough the spell Nicole put on Ari was still in effect. "Cool, let's get walking. The less ears the better"

"I was gone for a minute, what happened?"

Emily was still cool as ice, we must be in way over our heads. "I read Kylar's thoughts. There is more than one shadow in this city." 

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

Nicole had her money, but she could always use more. She wasn't saving up for anything really, but her usual plan when in a new town was to go to the tavern and mingle. Once the tavern keeper is chatted up, play some music and make even more money. Being a minstrel doesn't pay her as well as adventuring. If it did she wouldn't have switched professions. But spending your free time hearing the gossip of the town while you make some silver is a good plan.

Double checking that her headband was covering her ears properly, the half elf set off down the main drag looking for any inn or bar that looked like it had something to give her.

The sun nearly reaching its apex mixing with the crowded streets made Nicole want to scream. She was sweatier now than she was the past three days on the road. Desperate to get out of the summer sun Nicole dipped into the first inn she came across.

The main floor was mostly empty except for a few staff preparing the lobby for guests that wouldn't be showing up for at least another hour. Closing the door behind her Nicole realized just how much of a fish out of water this place was. The floors were tiled into a stained glass pattern depicting the many fields and orchards she passed on the journey to the city. The tables were all glass topped and the chairs were oak, this place wasn't just nice, it was extravagant. Nicole hesitated for a moment before taking another heavy step into the building. The heavy foot falls from her adventuring boots got her an awkward side eye from a boy slowly sweeping the entry hall. Walking past the boy without giving a second glance, Nicole made her way to the receptionist on the left wall.

Preoccupied with stacks of paperwork the receptionist ignored Nicole at first. They were probably right to though. With her ears covered Nicole looked more like a well off orphan than someone looking for a room this early in the day. Even if she was older than everyone else in the room combined, the hotel was beyond her budget regardless.

Not wanting to waste time Nicole broke the silence. "Excuse me, you wouldn't happen to be looking for a minstrel would you?" Nicole used every trick in her book. She dropped her voice to sound more mature, fluttered her lashes a bit. She even used some subtle magic, just in case.

"I'm sorry?" The receptionist looked at Nicole for only an instant before she grasped what was asked. Quickly returning to her papers she gave her response. "Our lobby is for business meetings not entertainment. If you are looking for work why not try the tavern at the end of the block?"

With a wide grin Nicole nodded. "Thank you for your time." That was everything she needed. She wasn't looking for this job. All she wanted was directions to A job.

Stopping in the entryway the bard braced herself for the scorching heat on the other side of the door. Nicole shook her head in amusement. From a fish out of water to a fish in the rapids, huh. Once outside Nicole felt like a carp desperate to make the swim upstream. People constantly bumping into her shoulder, or her foot getting stepped on made the journey in the summer heat all that much more unbearable.

The struggle to the end of the block took all of the fight out of the bard. She had the strength to open the tavern doors, but needed to take a seat and have a drink before she could do what she came here for.

In contrast to the last place she visited the tavern looked like a mom and pop shop that only locals would frequent. The tavern however was almost as empty as the inn, having an equal spread of staff and customers. Nicole had luckily beaten the lunch rush, but it couldn't have been by much. She needed to get a drink and sweet talk the barkeep before it gets too loud to play. Maybe Ari was right, she should play on the road more.

Taking a seat at the empty bar Nicole threw down 10 copper pieces. "A pint of water, please."

The older man, maybe even older than Nicole, filled up a pint and brought it to the bard in waiting. "Here you are lass." Taking his payment the man shot another look at Nicole. "Would you need anything else lass? Some bread perhaps? You seem a bit weary"

Nicole knew she looked like shit. While it wasn't intentional, she was still going to use it to her advantage. Taking another sip out of her water before digging out her coin pouch, Nicole threw 20 more copper to the barkeep. "Some bread and butter sounds lovely. That's all I have for now, if it would be easier I can pay you back with some music?" Nicole cast her line once more and the barkeep took the bait.

"Some music wouldn't hurt, and I can already tell you have a lovely voice lass." The man eyed Nicole and gave a nod and wink that made Nicole's skin crawl.

The guy wasn't old enough to be her dad or anything, but odds are he had a daughter that looked about her age. Whatever, if the size of this place is anything to go by it will be crowded in another hour. If the creep behind the bar doesn't have a lead for her then the many people that come by later should.

The barkeep returned with the buttered bread, placing the plate in front of the bard with a wink. "Enjoy it lass."

Nicole fought back a gag as she took a small bite of her meal and started some small talk. "Is there any news in town? I got in today, what are the townsfolk like?"

The barkeep screwed his face in thought. "Just got here today? Well what brought a lass out here in the first place?"

Nicole couldn't stop the habitual eye roll, so she closed her eyes in thought to hide it. "I'm traveling with a friend. She wanted company on the journey, but now that I'm here, I'm just a tourist." Nicole knew her words are more valuable than any bribe. The half truths she tells are worth her weight in gold.

"Ah, so you want to see the sights? The temple in our city has statues worshipping Tyr and Lathander. The castle interior is off limits but the walls themselves look as if they are made of gold."

Two things already on my to do list. Worthless. "What about the sights outside the walls? Any vistas worth the hike?"

"Its mostly farmland to the north and east, and I'm sure you got to see that on your journey here. Nothing else comes to mind that a lass like yourself would want to see."

"What about a minstrel looking for a muse? Is there nothing worthy of song, whether that thing be beauty or horror?" Nicole was buttering him up more than the bread she was eating.

The man looked a bit grim at Nicole's digging. "Aye, but I wouldn't send a lass there, not alone anyway."

Bingo! "I am more capable than I look. I am also not nearly as foolish as you may think." I'm way worse. "I traveled here just fine, and the road was full of bandits."

"That may be true," the barkeep replied with a somber nod. "but a few bandits aren't the same as the things you would see in the valley of undeath."

That sounds sick! "Interesting name. Is it full of skeletons or something?"

"And worse, it's the reason we stopped traveling to Brindle all together."

"Have you been to Brindle? How far out is it?"

"Your interest in this is concerning me lass. Braddock has forbidden travel to Brindle for years because of those foul things. And I say that's for the better. The city is safe because of these mighty walls and the brave guards that patrol them."

That sold it for her. Nicole was just a tad curious. No way is there a travel ban to keep citizens safe if Kylar of all people is the one in charge of that. Whoever is at the very top hid something in the valley, it's either very important or very valuable, maybe both. Almost certainly both!

"Thank you for the meal, and your kind words." Nicole had what she needed, a full belly. As well as what she wanted, a bit of information. Satisfied with both she stood up with the empty pint glass in hand, and with the other she brought the stool she had been using from the bar to the far wall.

The barkeep gave her an odd look as Nicole swung the lute she had over her shoulder and started tuning it. The lute was the only expensive thing she owned. She had been saving up for it for years. If anyone could actually tell that by its looks then Nicole's cover would be blown in an instant. Because there is no way a homeless 16 year old can own something like this. It was basically a violin modified so it had frets.

As the bard worked her magic on the lute she took note of the patrons that had shown up during her tuning. A handful of guards sat at a table opposite the entrance and a business man, probably some type of tax collector, was sat at the bar.

The tavern wasn't filling as fast as she wanted, but she could burn time. With twenty years of songs at her disposal Nicole could play all day if needed.

She wasn't planning on playing that long. Just an hour or two, or until she needed to meet with her party, preferably the first one. The bard wanted to preform during the lunch rush but be on her way before it's end.

Plus Nicole had information Emily and Kelly needed. The shadow or whatever is hiding something in the valley of undeath, so we can find it's lair and use what it's trying to hide as leverage.

Nicole plucked a string on her lute and sang a harmony with it. It was time to put on a show and make some extra cash.

Kelly B-lined it straight to the temple. This city was in dire need of purification, and only Lythander could bring that to them, and only Kelly can be his spear.

Arriving to her destination Kelly was left speechless. The temple was in disrepair, a stark contrast for how wealthy the city was and how extravagant the castle looked in the distance. The temple doors were swung open, but that only amplified the foreboding atmosphere. None the less, it was the only way she could talk to her patron god directly and get more information about the evil that these vile city walls are sheltering.

Making her way up the stairs Kelly stopped at the entrance, almost hesitant to cross the threshold. Usually temples would be lively. Visitors entering to pay their respects, monks chanting prayers, or a few devout followers at the entrance excepting donations. But none of that could be found. The massive doorway was almost a black hole, the sounds of the streets behind her a quiet murmur, hushed by the temples overwhelming nothingness.

"Hello!" Kelly called out, hoping to find someone left in the temple. She wasn't too late. She couldn't be, this was her mission, she couldn't fail!

"Hello!?" Kelly called out again as she broke the threshold and entered the building. The halls responded with her soft echo before returning to nothingness. The blonde fought back a shiver as she made her way through the empty hallway.

The hallways were well lit, each and every candle was burning just as bright as Lythander himself. So someone was still maintaining the temple, maybe they were meditating or something?

Reaching the end of the hallway, Kelly walked through one more door. Her smile beamed as she had finally found another person. They were dressed in the robes of the clergy, but they remained seated as Kelly entered the room.

"Hello? Are you alright?" Kelly was hesitant, she was certain her voice carried this far from the temples entrance.

Keeping silent the woman turned to look at Kelly, her old eyes mostly shut were hidden by her heavily wrinkled face. Slowly the old woman nodded, it took a moment for Kelly to realize that was a response to her question.

Keeping to a whisper, Kelly pressed the old woman for more information. "Are you the only one left?"

Another moment passed. Then the woman nodded once more, her face becoming more relaxed as Kelly showed her concerns.

"The divines have sent me here to defeat the shadows held inside these city walls." Kelly ran to the woman taking her delicate hands in her own. "I have friends on the way here, but in the meantime I need to pray to Lathander. Do you have a shrine for him?"

"This way." The woman spoke as if each word could be her last, but she still had the strength to bring Kelly to where she needed to go.

Kelly was a follower of Lathander, but that wasn't where she got her powers. No, she is merely a weapon of his underling, the Lance of Lythander. Through this she will blot out the darkness and shadows that plague this city.

After being shown to the shrine of her God, the old woman left Kelly to pray in peace. The warlock began her prayer, and her patron God was eager to respond. "You have done well coming here young one." The voice boomed in Kelly's mind like a thunderstorm, but it wasn't harsh. It was calming, almost fatherly. "I will grant you as much of my power that you can bare, but I am unsure it will be enough."

"How can that be? How is your power not enough?" Kelly spoke to the statue, but her patron is always listening.

"You are not yet strong enough to hold all of my power child."

Kelly was conflicted. How is she not yet strong enough? Her faith is what pushed her to become this vessel. Is her faith really no match for this villain? "What is this evil? How has it become so strong?"

"I do not know it's true identity, but it has many underlings. You have already met one."

So then Kylar isn't a separate threat, but a piece of a bigger picture. "What more can I do to better be your spear?"

"You are already doing it. Just as you don both a shield and sword, so too do you bring together the power of those around you. Your comrades are strong, but there are others willing to aid in your mission. Seek them out and you can bathe the city in the light of dawn."

"Thank you, I will help all who have faith in you, and in Lathander."

"Kelly!?"

Hearing her name woke the blonde up from her meditation. The urgency in the voice caused her to panic a bit. Running out of the room and starting her way down the well lit halls.

"Kelly!"

Another call echoing throughout the empty temple halls, ushering the blonde to the entryway.

Rounding a corner the owner of the voice came into view. It was Ari, still disguised as a human, the panic in her voice shown vividly on her face. The ranger ran to Kelly seeking the safety of her arms. Kelly was taken aback by the hug, it was the first time Ari had even touched her.

Kelly hugged the girl back. "It's alright, you're safe here."

The blonde tightened her hug as the tears hit her shoulder. Kelly had now experienced two firsts from Ari. Whatever the ranger had seen in town had just made and enemy of the Lance of Lythander. Or perhaps they already were one.

After another moment, Kelly held Ari at arms length and dried the last remaining tear from her face. "Are you feeling better? Can you talk?"

Ari gave a nod and took a deep breath. "I'm better now, thank you." Ari went quiet for a bit before continuing. "I saw someone I never wanted to see again. They were stalking me." Ari wobbled and began to slump. The lack of adrenaline making her light headed, but Kelly quickly grabbed the girl and propped her up.

Kelly let the ranger lean on her as they began to walk. "The temple dorms are close by, you can rest there."

Ari was moving her feet fine, but her voice was still shaky. "Thank you, Kelly. Thank you, so much."

Kelly chirped in response. "Don't mention it. I know you would do the same for me." The two made their way into the dorms and took a seat on a bed. "We can wait here until Emily and Nicole show up."

"I already sent my raven to get them. They should be on the way." Ari slumped onto the bed, her eyelids now feeling heavy.

"I'll go to the entrance to meet with them, you stay here and rest." Kelly began to walk away, but was quickly stopped by a tugging on her cloak.

Ari's grip was tight. She looked at her friend and pleaded. "Don't leave me alone. Just give me five minutes."

Kelly gave the girl a smile and nod as she sat back down on the bed. Five minutes is the least she could do for her. A party can't function without companionship. Supporting your comrades in combat means nothing if you can't support them in the off time too.

"Did you want to talk about it?" Kelly asked, like a mother consoling her child. "I won't force you to."

"I will, but right now I just want to rest."

Kelly grabbed Ari's cloak and pulled it over the exhausted ranger. "I understand. The past is always so scary. It seems overwhelming, once its in the past its there forever, but you should never let it control you." Kelly's voice hummed like a mother's reading a lullaby. "I wasn't always this beacon of light. Before my body became the weapon of a god, I worked in a brothel. I had good looks and a charming personality, I did the job well, but I couldn't do it forever."

Kelly drifted off, lost in thought. Her eyes focused on nothing in particular, a melancholy smile on her face. Her dirty blonde locks cascading over her bare shoulders. She was shining as brightly as her god, as if her beauty alone could illuminate any room.

Ari had to turn away from the blinding radiance of the warlock. She buried her face in a pillow, hiding the blush that was almost as red as her natural skin tone. Mustering up some courage, Ari spoke. "I don't really get it, but thank you."

Kelly's soft smile turned to one of pure joy. "There is nothing to get, you only need to keep trying something new. It's your future that you control."

As if on cue, Oswald flew into the room finding it's perch on Ari's shoulder. The raven stayed firmly planted as its master sat up and handed him a small berry as a reward. The bird eagerly took the treat as the ranger reluctantly stood up and checked the rest of her gear. "Let's get moving. He says Emily is waiting for us."

Kelly was the first into the halls quickly making her way back to the temple entrance. The ranger, still a bit shaken followed a few paces behind. They were barely halfway down the hall before Kelly slowed to a walk and turned to Ari. "I think someone else just got here."

It was Nicole, she looked exhausted. She was short on breath and was damp with sweat. "We need to head to the castle. Emily is already there by now getting an appointment to see the queen. This is getting really bad really fast." Anyone besides Nicole would have tripped over their words with the speed she was speaking, but Nicole practically sang the words. Shortness of breath be damned.

"We already assumed as much." Ari said with a serious tone only to be joined by a sharp caw from her shoulder. "He said, lead the way."

Kelly had a knot in her stomach as the party left the the temple and made their way to the castle entrance. "This doesn't seem right. Why does Emily want us in the belly of the beast?"

"I think she just wants to see the queen," Nicole replied. "There is an undead valley we need to check out. The queen is hiding something there, and Emily wants to know what that is so we aren't just wandering around like idiots."

"So we are just going as Emily's bodyguards?" Ari chimed in from the back of the group. "No way are any of us expected to talk with a queen."

"We are there for credibility, we need to look like adventurers." Kelly said, "Alone she is just a thief, but with us she's a fearless leader with a seasoned party."

The group continued down the busy streets heading for the castle gate. The walls surrounding the castle were just as intimidating as the walls around the city. Almost like the city was designed to be two conjoined cages. One for the people and one for the royalty.

The thought sent a shiver down Kelly's back. As the party made their way past a small group of people, a splash of platinum caught the warlocks eye. Emily was at the castle gate talking to an older man with beady eyes. She was all smiles, but Kelly knew that facade of hers well. Throwing on her hood and withdrawing into her cloak, Kelly and the rest of the party fell in line behind their leader.

"Ah, and they must be your friends." The beady eyed man's tone felt mismatched with his words. The tone made Kelly feel like she was dirt in his shoe, but the words were meant to convey equals.

"Yes, this is Kelly, Nicole and Ari. We are a seasoned party. Two years of adventuring together, with Kelly and Ari having an additional year as mercenaries." Emily spoke with as much respect as she could muster. It was difficult though, guys gawking at Kelly was to be expected, intentional even, but his beady eyes were locked onto Nicole.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all. I'm The Chancellor of Braddock." The Chancellors said, his eyes never leaving Nicole. "I hope you are enjoying your time here."

"Hey creep. Can you look somewhere else?" Nicole spoke with such hate she nearly cast vicious mochary.

"I do apologize, I'm just curious, how is someone as young as yourself adventuring for so long?" The Chancellor's lips curl into what Kelly presumed was a fake smile.

The warlock was itching to fight whenever he spoke, if that was a genuine smile then she would slay any guard that got between her sword and his neck. As a front liner Kelly was used to being targeted, that was also the reason for her skimpy attire. Drawing attention during social interactions is just as important. So having the attention be on Nicole made her uneasy. But before Kelly could act and draw the attention, her leader spoke.

Emily said. "Nicole isn't as young as she looks. Believe it or not that girl is the oldest one here." It wasn't a lie, but hinting Nicole wasn't human may not be for the best.

The beady eyes now looking at the leader, the rest of the group sighed in relief. "Is that so? Well if we are all caught up shall I lead you to the queen?"

Emily one by one looked the party over, evaluating what they knew, slowly piecing the puzzle together in her head. Taking a deep breath and licking her lips their leader finally said. "We're ready. Lead the way Chancellor." 

Chapter Text

Chapter Text

[Guiding Bolt]

The piercing radiance flew through the air quickly finding its target. With a burst of holy fire the rotten corpse shambling after Kelly slumped to the ground.

"That was my last spell. We need to find this town quick." Kelly was short on breath but she forced those words out. She had her shield on her back and her hands tight around her swords blade. She has experience fighting undead, and using the hilt as a blunt instrument gave the best results. She was expecting to find undead, but not this many.

The group rested in the forest after escaping the castle, and made their way south the next morning. The mountains rising high to the west was the only landmark they could've used, but now with the dense fog they found themselves in they couldn't see any further than 30 yards. The party was walking blind.

"Did we overshoot the town? This looks nothing like a valley." Nicole called out from the center of the formation. Her voice shaky with fear.

"Once Oswald gets back we will have a bearing to follow. We just need to find refuge and wait it out." Ari called out from the front, her tiger Drum right by her side.

Making her way between a pair of boulders the tiefling gave a quick hand motion ushering the rest of the party to follow.

"The sooner we find the town the better. We just need to keep on our toes, and make sure none of the undead get the jump on us." Emily added from the back of the group, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs as an escape route.

Everyone was a bit on edge, but Kelly and Nicole were the most nervous. Kelly was the only one with a weapon effective against the undead. So if someone saw something, she was the one that fought it, no exceptions. Nicole on the other hand was looking forward to seeing the undead, but she quickly found that she was the worst equipped to fight them out of everyone, a majority of her spells only having effects on the living.

"I don't know why I believed that barkeep. There is no way a road was built through all of these rocks." Nicole whispered with a shiver.

"Nicole can you play something?" Kelly asked.

Nicole scrunched her face for a second before replying. "What? Like music?"

"Yeah, this silence is creeping me out too." Emily joined in. "Just make sure its light hearted."

"The music will carry well in the fog, maybe Oswald can find us faster." Ari nodded in agreement.

Nicole slung the lute over her shoulder and gave it a strum. It wasn't the easiest instrument to play with her trembling fingers, but it was an improvement to her forced chatter.

Just when Nicole was falling into the rhythm of playing she was interrupted by a deafening roar.

"Drum hears someone." Ari called to the rest of the group. "It's a person not a monster."

"We are in the middle of nowhere, for all we know it's Jeffery." Nicole said, giving her lute another strum.

"We should check it out either way. What if they need our help?" Kelly argued.

Fluffing her hair Emily came to a decision. "Let's see if we can help them. They might be able to lead us to town."

Ari let Drum take the lead, the tiger was effortlessly snaking its way through the forest of stones, following a sound only it could hear. Slowing to a crawl the tiger stopped 30 yards short of a boulder surrounded by undead, and on top of it was a fighter gripping a maul tight in both hands. As the rest of the party stealthily addressed the situation the man called out for help again.

"He's in trouble, we can't just stand by and do nothing. There must be something we can do." Kelly pleaded.

Emily licked her lips. "I know, but they outnumber us three to one." After a bit of thought she continued. "I might have a plan, but I need to get a bit closer, and I can't have them know I'm there."

Kelly shifted the sword in her grip, moving her hand up to her cross guard and having the flat of the blade run the length of her forearm. Taking her shield off her back and securing it to her other arm she moved to the front of the group. She had her hands raised like a pugilist, and she was prepared to fight like one.

With a dead serious tone, almost jarringly so, Kelly asked. "How close do you need to get?"

"Just keep them by the rock, I should only need a minute. As long as they don't find me while I reposition we're ok."

With a confident nod Kelly walked to the variety of undead, all clawing at the man's last refuge, trying to tear it down or climb to the top and attack him. Slowly they turned to face the blonde with her shield held high to her front.

The first to make a move was a ghast, out of this menagerie  they are the biggest issue. Their putrid stench and paralyzing claws make fighting them one on one a loosing battle. So Kelly needed to act first.

[Eldritch Blast]

Two beams of pure energy leapt from Kelly's sword hand into the ghast, knocking it backwards into a rock before it could reach her. It wouldn't kill, but it bought her time. Following behind the ghast were two skeletons, Kelly took a large step forward, slamming her shield into the first and shattering it to dust. The second came around to her right and swung it's rusty axe, but she parried it with her blade followed instinctively with a counter hit from her swords hilt.

With the second undead crumbling beneath her Kelly now had the attention of the rest of them. All she had to do was wait a few more seconds. Unfortunately that's always easier said than done. The ghast was already standing and making it's way back to the warlock.

The corpse was quick and it's sickly claws slashed at the warlocks exposed arm. The pain Kelly felt was instant and agonizing, but it quickly numbed to the cold. Likewise frost formed on the undeads cruel fingers as it staggered away again. The warlock's spell [Armor of Agathys] doing double by granting her vitality while also retaliating the attack.

[Eldritch Blast]

Kelly didn't hesitate, she hurled another wave of force at the ghast. The energy striking the unholy abomination hard, knocking it backwards into the other undead trying to wedge their way between the stones. Everything was in place, all she could do now is wait for Emily to execute the plan. And after that some well deserved reprieve.

Running up to the horde Kelly threw a haymaker with her sword hand, driving it hard into the ghast trying to finish it off. Kelly was hit with a wave of nausea as the ghast slunk to the ground. Swallowing hard to prevent herself from vomiting Kelly raised her shield up for one last stand.

Three more attacks directed at her and three more blocked by her massive shield. The warlock felt her body on the verge of giving out when she felt every hair on her body stand on end. The static was followed by a crackle of electricity, before a whole bolt of lightning ripped through what was left of the rotten husks.

"Way to go Kelly, you did magnificent." Emily congratulated her friend as she returned her sapphire dagger from the pile of corpses to its sheath. "I couldn't ask for better results."

Kelly was short on breath, her ears were ringing and her arms were jelly. With the last of her strength she gave a slow nod before motioning towards the reason they did this to begin with.

"You guys are literal life savers! I don't think I'd still be here if you didn't show up!" The man still gripped his weapon tight, but his smile and gratitude were genuine. The armor he wore was high quality scale mail, similar to what Ari wears. The armor was covered in mud and blood, but a symbol was still visible through it all. On the chest and left pauldron was an insignia in the shape of a golden dragon.

"We are adventures tasked with killing a necromancer. I'm Emily, and Kelly is the one that went toe to toe with the undead."

"Cool, I'm Trody. I'm the head of security for Brindle."

"You're from Brindle? Is it close by?" Emily's questioning was interrupted by a loud roar behind her. "Oh, right. You guys can come out. He's cool!"

Ari was the first to appear out of the fog, her white hair poking out of her hood. Nicole followed right behind, her hands shakily clutching the lute like it was her child. Drum took his time bringing up the rear. He wasn't being cautious, just being a bit lazy with all the zombies gone.

Once all three took their spots by Emily she continued introductions. "The tiefling is Ari, the half elf is Nicole and the Tiger is Ari's pet. His name is Drum."

"Hello!" Trody nodded along with each name before turning back to Emily. "So you know about Brindle? You couldn't have come from Braddock, and even then we've been isolated since I was a baby."

"We aren't associated with Braddock. We are fighting the undead for Kelly's god." Emily half lied.

Trody nodded. "Alright then, I can lead you to town, we can discuss more about this region then."

"Can we take a short break? I just fought zombies the old fashioned way. I need a breather." Kelly responded now that the ringing in her ears subsided enough to hear the others conversation.

She was laying on her back, she had collapsed some time during introductions. Her sword was lying on the ground beside her, the blonde didn't have the strength left to sheath it. The shield was still latched to her arm as well, she was too tired to feel uncomfortable.

"We can rest here. I think you two cleared out all of the undead north of Brindle with that work of courage and foolishness." Trody was still on cloud nine after being on deaths door not even five minutes ago.

Ari's attention was piqued. "Does it get better or worse in the south?"

"Worse, a lot worse." Trody's light hearted attitude vanished in the blink of an eye. "You will still find hordes like this one, but you will also see much scarier abominations."

"Cool, more shit we can't handle." Nicole chimed in. Her tone making it hard to tell if it was pessimism or honesty.

Kelly didn't want to believe her friend. She needed to be capable of this mission, but she wasn't. She was lying helplessly on her stomach after a normal skirmish. She had the will, but lacked power. Maybe another meeting with her patron can lift her spirits. If these run of the mill zombies were tripping her up, then how was she supposed to fight the villains they left in Braddock? Kelly was given this divine mission, her only options were to see it to the end or die trying.

The party was guided away from the rocky terrain of the mountains and through a small orchard before finally arriving at their destination, Brindle. It was mid-afternoon by the time the group got through the gates. There was almost no security for their entry since tourism wasn't a thing. The walls also lacked the menacing aura like those of Braddock. While Braddock gave off the impression a cage, Brindle had the air of a sanctuary.

The fact it wasn't just surviving but thriving was also uncanny. Usually once a village has more than 500 people you would need to start importing goods, but the city managed. The only real threat was from undead, which is where Trody and the other members of security came in. They maintained the perimeter as well as they could. It helped that inside the walls was mostly peaceful, allowing the guards to focus their time on the threats outside.

What really surprised the party was the diversity of the citizens. The city was still mostly human, but pick any street or avenue and you will find anyone from tiny gnomes to towering goliaths walking down a road or making a purchase in a store. Nicole never felt so normal before, that went double for Ari.

"It looks just like Braddock. Just a bit smaller." Kelly said, taking in the sights and sounds of the bustling city.

"I don't see a castle either. Do you not have a ruler?" Emily asked, turning her attention to Trody.

"Queen Lynn is our ruler. We aren't an independent settlement, just an annex they left behind." Trody kicked at a rock in the street before lifting his head and continuing. "We used to be co-ruled. A dragon in a castle to the south was an equal to King Lynn, but soon after the king passed and his daughter rose to power, the zombies came."

"So why doesn't this dragon do something?" Nicole said, throwing in her two cents.

"We don't even know if it's still there. Most of our people are too young to remember King Lynn's rule. The only person that comes to mind is Friar Colby."

Emily shrugged. "Let's head to the temple I guess, this friar sounds like our best lead."

"Mind if I go on my own?" Ari had her hood down, her trimmed horns on full display. "I haven't walked around a city with Drum in ages."

"Why don't you take Nicole with you? Maybe find an inn for us tonight?" Kelly suggested, a mischievous smile on her face.

"Fine with me. Come on Nicole, lets get moving." The ranger merrily shook her head as she started down the road to the business district of town. Drum was walking on her left, and after a bit of hesitation Nicole joined in on the tiefling's right.

Emily yelled to her teammates as they left. "If you need us just send Oswald again! We shouldn't be at the temple long!"

Ari just waved and continued down the wide stretch of road.

"They seem fine. Lets get this over with." Emily motioned to Trody to lead the way as the three set off to find The Friar.

Kelly was worried at first because of the state of Braddock's temple, but the temple in Brindle looked brand new! The group had to wind its way through a crowd of worshippers just to enter the doors. It was night and day to Kelly. Maybe since this temple is in better condition her patron could offer her a bit more power. The encounters with the undead still weighed heavy on Kelly's mind. She was accomplishing what she needed, but only barely so.

"This temple looks just as flawless as the city."

"Thank you, I wish I could give the people half the attention they deserve." Trody said, leading the pair of blondes into the temple.

Kelly scrunched her face. "But everyone seems so happy. I'm sure they know you are trying your best."

"That's the problem." Trody threw a punch at the air, frustration decorating his face. "All of my time is dedicated to fighting the undead. I end up neglecting the domestic issues, and they end up getting swept under the rug."

Now the conversation perked Emily's interest. "What types of issues?"

The fighter was hesitant. He knew that they were trustworthy, they saved his life after all. But the subject wasn't something that should be spoken in public. "There are a few missing people reports, we don't know if they just get lost in the forest, or if it's something else."

"Trody? What are you doing here? And where did you find outsiders?" The voice was from a young woman. She had the white robes of the temple, but she was also wearing a breastplate similar to the one Trody had on. Complete with the golden dragon symbol.

"Hello to you too Megan." Trody was smiling, but you could tell he was a bit annoyed. "I found them, or rather they found me by the western mountains."

"I'm Emily, and that's Kelly, it's nice to meet you."

"Are they from Braddock? How did they end up in the mountains?" Megan waved off Emily's introduction and pressed Trody further.

Trody was about to respond but Kelly interrupted.  "We are right here, you can ask us. We came here to put a stop to the necromancy in the name of Lathander."

Emily ran her hand through her hair before continuing Kelly's thought. "We are also looking for information about the valley and southern castle. Is The Friar around?"

Megan had a look like the blondes just spat at her. "Friar Colby is out at the moment, and Lathander is already aware of this threat. I've been tasked with keeping the undead away from this town for years."

"Keeping them away isn't good enough! Pacifism won't beat this ever-growing force! If you defeat the necromancer then the undead go away too!" Kelly was full of emotion, a cleric of her God doing nothing!?

"And what happens if I die trying to fight him? This city would be overrun in a month." Megan argued back.

"It already is! We found at least twenty of those things north of the city. You let them harm others just because you are safe in this bubble?"

Megan's violet eyes were burning with the intensity of the sun when she realized what Kelly was. "Are you even a cleric?! How dare a blaspheme lecture me on how I channel my faith!"

Kelly was defeated. Worse than defeated, she was broken. Is that the reason her powers were stagnating? Why she didn't have the power to beat the darkness? Because of her pact? Would channeling her faith like Megan give her what she needs?

A hand on her shoulder snapped Kelly out of the depressive spiral. Emily gave her friend a reassuring smile. Kelly didn't speak a word, but she knew Emily heard it. She heard all of Kelly's insecurities, all of her self doubt.

"Let's get out of here. We can meet with The Friar tomorrow."

The warlock forced a smile. She didn't want to be in the temple, but she didn't know where else she should be. This was still a temple to Lathander. Of all places, this is where she should have felt welcome.

"If you are heading out i can show you a nice tavern." Trody wasn't trying to invite himself along, merely extend an olive branch.

"Thanks, but we would rather try and get some sleep." Emily replied. "After what you went through on that boulder, It's amazing you haven't done the same. If you want we can meet here tomorrow." Emily was happy to have met an ally, but right now her friend needed her.

The pair were quiet as they made their way out of the temple and back to the streets of Brindle. The sun was setting soon but the city was still bustling, naïve of the threats that were outside their walls. Maybe Megan was right to prioritize their happiness.

"Did you want to talk about it?" Emily had a worried look, it wasn't a look of pity. It was a look of genuine concern, she wanted her peppy friend back to normal.

"Do I need to talk? I know you can her it." Kelly spat while fighting back tears.

Emily linked arms with her best friend. "Letting it out is healthier than keeping it inside."

Kelly began walking down the stairs of the temple, dragging Emily by the arm. "I just want to be stronger. I collapsed today because I wasn't strong enough. If that happened five seconds sooner we would all be dead."

"You are the strongest member of our team Kelly." Emily said, giving Kelly's arm a squeeze. "The problem is you going at these things alone."

Kelly threw her free hand up in frustration. "What choice do we have? You and Nicole don't have access to holy spells, and Ari can only shoot so many arrows before she runs out."

Emily stewed on that for a bit, combing her hair with her free hand before responding. "It sounded like Trody will come with us when we do recon tomorrow. He knows the region and has experience with the undead."

"I don't want to put more people in harms way. Others shouldn't be risking their lives because I can't handle it."

"Kelly, he's already risking his life, that's his job. He chooses to fight just as much as you." Emily took a deep breath, wishing she could take out that vial in her poison pouch. "Maybe if I was a bit quicker you wouldn't have passed out either."

"But-"

"Stop arguing with me!" Emily tugged Kelly's arm bringing her to a halt. "You aren't the only one that needs to get stronger. I've been adventuring longer than you, do you really think I should just stop improving because you have responsibility or destiny or whatever?"

Kelly's eyes were locked to Emily's, neither of them wanting to blink first. It was a competition of stubbornness and pride that wouldn't be over until one admitted defeat.

The sun was setting behind the pair as they hardened their faces into a grimace. Emily was about to give up when Kelly leaned forward and embraced her friend in a hug that Emily happily reciprocated.

"Thank you." Kelly tightened her hug, almost squeezing the rogue in two. "This is why I'm still following you."

"Because we're friends?" Emily's voice was oozing with sarcasm.

"No, because we're best friends." Kelly released the rogue from her grasp only to link arms again. "Lets grab something to eat, I'm starving."

Emily was about to speak but her attitude grew serious as she pointed behind Kelly. "I would have loved to, but it looks like Ari found trouble again."

Kelly turned around just in time for a raven to land on her shoulder. With a loud kaw the bird jumped to Emily and back to Kelly. The warlock rolled her eyes as the perfectly timed arrival. "Let's find her so she can pay for dinner." 

Chapter Text

"You don't mind I came with you right?" Nicole said, jogging up to the ranger's side.

"I said I was fine with it, the company will help with the absurdity of this city. No disguise needed! I'm allowed to be a tiefling. I've never been normal before." Ari was walking side by side with Drum, giving the playful tiger a healthy scratch behind the ear.

"I know what you mean, this city seems so wild. No one has left in twenty years either. It may as well be its own realm."

"It won't be for much longer if we have any say in it."

"Don't hold your breath, Kelly can only drag our dead weight so far."

Ari gave her pessimistic friend a playful shove. "Speak for yourself. I'm gonna stock up on arrows. Next fight I'll have the best kill count."

"So we're going shopping? I thought we would be sight seeing."

"We can do both, what did you want to do first?"

Nicole scratched at her pointed ear pretending to think. "Let's see the sights. We can get arrows any time."

Ari agreed to sight seeing and started walking to the center of town. She was fighting the urge to put her hood up and hide her face. Most people didn't notice the bright red tiefling walking down the road. At least not because she was a tiefling. Being stuck in one city for 20 years means you get to know most of the residents, not only did Nicole and herself not look like locals, but they were very obviously dressed like adventurers. While a majority just saw her as a tiefling they haven't met before, a few were gawking at her and her equipment like sheltered humans do with her bright red skin.

"Safe haven my ass."

Halfway down the street Ari caved in to the odd looks and threw her hood up over her head. She wasn't hiding, people still knew she was an outsider, but seeing the occasional look of shock as she passed was upsetting to say the least. Block them out. Close them off. They can't hurt you if you can't see them.

All the hope Ari had for this city was gone after being there for ten minutes. She thought that she wouldn't be an outcast since there were probably other tieflings in town, but people will just find a new reason to look at her like she doesn't belong.

Nicole called to the tiefling, urging her out if her thoughts and to the fountain in the center of town. Only then did she realize how far she had been dragging her feet. All the way to the town square like some feeble old man.

"We didn't get to see the sights in Braddock either." Ari added as she caught up to where Nicole had stopped at the edge of the fountain.

"A lot of cities look the same after a while. They all need the same shops and what not." Nicole responded, taking a seat at the fountain's edge. "But this is the first time I can walk the city with you, with the real you."

Ari felt her face warm at that realization. Had this really been the first time they had been on a date without hiding as humans?

SHIT.

Was this a date? Was that why Kelly was smiling so hard?

Ari removed one of her gloves to splash some fountain water on her face. She still felt a bit warm as she dried her face and took a seat. As the pool of water settled an almost familiar face stared back from inside an ashen hood. Purple eyes were shining back at her, and purple blush darkening her always rosy cheeks. The rose tinted skin making the sanguine shade of her lips stand out. Her horns were chipped and worn from attempts to keep them short. Ari didn't love how she looked, but she knew who did.

Ari took Nicole's hand, slowly linking their fingers. She knew what Nicole was doing. She was a bard after all. Some sweet words for a vulnerable girl, her specialty.

Ari didn't care though, Nicole didn't look at her like a circus freak. So if a kiss can keep her around, so be it... at least it was sweet...

...Ari pulled away taking her hood off and laying her now exposed head on the bards lap. "Do you love me or just miss what we had?"

"Is that not the same thing?" Nicole ran a hand over one of Ari's horns. Her fingers searching out every jagged edge, every imperfection, every flaw. "I miss what we had because it was love."

The ranger's heart ached at that reply, it didn't sound like Nicole, or maybe too much so. It sounded like she was feeding Ari what she wanted to hear. That's how it was when they first dated too, and why they broke up. She didn't have many romances after they went back to being friends. She can count them on one hand, and Nicole was still the best one she had. What that said about Ari is to be decided.

"Maybe we can be nostalgic, just for today." Nicole added hopefully.

Maybe. Maybe just for today she can relive a childhood with her first crush. Resting her head on the girls lap, the delicate fingers of a musician combing through her hair.

Ari reached down to her feet where Drum had hunkered down for a cat nap. The tiger peacefully purring, or the tiger equivalent at least. Maybe living in the past isn't so bad?

-----

As the tiefling was starting to nod off in her serenity, she shot up, almost amputating Nicole's hand with one of her horns. Ari's hand was combing through Drum's thick fur when the tiger tensed up, sensing danger in this anything but threatening town.

Nicole shot a concerned look at the now panicked girl that up until now was lost in a day dream. "Everything okay?"

"It will be." Ari gave Drum a nudge and the tiger bolted down the road. "Follow him."

Ari put her glove back on and took the bow out of its sling and habitually readied an arrow. She knew she shouldn't draw a weapon in town, but this was an emergency. Keeping the arrow knocked the ranger felt around her quiver for more. Only two arrows left, maybe shopping would have been better than that trip down memory lane.

The crowds were easy to navigate since no one was stupid enough to stand in the way of a tiger going full sprint. Maybe people will think that's the reason Ari had her bow out. 'Sorry mister guard, I was chasing after this random tiger!'

They were running for a bit when Nicole started to bitch, but she was right. They had run a good distance from the fountain by now. Whatever Drum was after, it knows it's being chased...

Fuck.

[Jump]

Ari vaulted into the sky, trying to look ahead of her companion and see what they were pursuing. It wasn't easy to pick out from the crowded streets, but Ari wouldn't overlook it again. The stray tabby was in the crowd trying to make an escape. Hunter was in Brindle.

Ari landed with her usual finesse, and continued her pursuit after the shape-shifting druid. With Drum slowly gaining ground on the bastard she felt confident on catching him this time. She launched into the sky one more time, drawing back her knocked arrow.

She released it and heard nothing. Not the bow flexing or the arrow cutting through the air to the target. The arrow moved like a thunderbolt, hitting its mark before it could even blink.

[Ensnaring Strike]

Vines grew from the road at Hunters feet. The druid, now in his human form was bound in vines. Vines even a druid had no power over. Ari and Drum were standing in front of him a second later. They had an audience, but Ari couldn't care less.

"Why are you here?!" She forced a serious tone, but she was struggling just to keep looking at him.

"I can't even get a hello?" Hunter was looking at Ari like he had won, or maybe just had something up his sleeve.

"Why can't you just leave me alone?!" Ari was both pleading and demanding. Whichever would get the dick-head to leave her alone. They haven't seen each other in five years. Why is he stalking her now after all this time?

The ranger gave a sharp whistle, and Oswald flew down from a nearby roof and perched on her shoulder. "Go find Emily, hurry!"

As the raven flew off a very out of breath Nicole joined in on the interrogation. "Who's the dick-head?"

"I know right! He just oozes dick-head energy." Ari relaxed a bit. She was happy to have some back-up this time.

"Let him go, I have an idea." Nicole readied her lute as she walked up to the hostage. She strummed a note before giving Ari a reassuring smile.

[Charm person]

Ari hesitated, but ultimately agreed. As the vines shrank back into the cobblestone, so did the vile grin on the druid shrink back to a neutral expression.

"Who are you and why are you here?" Nicole spoke directly, almost sounding like Emily. As she spoke she motioned Hunter into an alleyway behind a nearby bar for some privacy. Ari followed along with Drum, she wanted to make sure she didn't ask questions that Ari couldn't answer.

"My name is Hunter, and I came to make sure no one gets in The Butcher's way."

"Who is The Butcher, and why can't anyone get in his way?"

"The Butcher gets bodies for Jeffery, Princess Jessica can't return."

Nicole flinched at the mention of Jeffery, but she stayed focused. "Where is Jeffery now?"

"His lair deep in the valley."

"You were in Braddock too, why?"

"Following Ari, my ex."

"She's your ex? But you're a guy."

Nicole lost focus after hearing his response, releasing him from her spells effects. The druid capitalized on the confusion of the two, wildshaping into a bird and flying out of sight before they could respond.

Ari tried to move, catch him one more time, but the magic in her boots already ran out. Hunter had ran away, but he wasn't gone, and now Nicole knew about their past. Ari was ready to crawl into a ball and die.

"How is he your ex? You would never date a guy." Nicole was so taken aback by his answer she didn't even realize their hostage escaped.

"He's not my ex, and it's not something I want to remember,  none the less talk about." Ari leaned into her fluffy companion for support. Her knees were weak and her eyes started to sting.

"He was under charm person, so he thought you two were a thing." Nicole pressed further. "Was it a one night stand or something?"

Ari wasn't happy about what Hunter did to her, or what she did with him. No one would be happy about it. Just thinking about their past made her skin crawl. Those memories are always there, haunting her...

But she won't let them keep controlling her. "Its complicated, okay? Just drop it."

"What? Did he use a charm on you or something?" Nicole regretted those words as soon as she spoke them.

For the first time in her long life Nicole was speechless. She had no idea what Ari had been through. That something like that could happen to her. That something like that would happen to her. Nicole was aware that people can be disgusting. She couldn't walk down a road without getting seen as a young piece of ass. And here was her best friend suffering from those same people. And Nicole was acting no better than them.

They stood silently in that alleyway for a while. Ari's tears soaking into her companions fur, Drum doing the best he can to comfort his master. The tiefling was letting it all out, crying as much as she can, because this will be the last time she will cry over him. A true ranger grows by treading new ground, not sticking to the familiar. Whether the familiar was good or bad. Ari needed to move on from Hunter, and move on from Nicole.

"I'm sorry." Nicole took a step towards her friend but was greeted by fangs and a low growl. Drum was in full guard mode, friend or foe. No one was getting close to Ari until he allowed it.

The ranger stood up giving the tiger a reassuring scratch behind the ear. "Thanks Drum, but I'm fine now. I promise." Drum reluctantly moved to the side, emptying the space between the girls. "Apology accepted."

"A-are you alright?" Nicole forced out.

"I will be." Ari walked right past Nicole and onto the busy avenue, not even sparing the half elf a side glance. "Let's get moving, I still need arrows."

"And a place to sleep. I haven't slept in a bed all week." Nicole awkwardly added joining the tiefling in the road.

"If you need a bed I know a good place."

The raspy voice made Ari and Nicole jump out of their skin. He was an older man wearing a simple monks robe. However, the way he was eyeing Nicole reminded Ari of The Chancellor.

"Who are you?!" Nicole spoke up in a feeble attempt to divert his gaze away from her chest.

The man gave Nicole a confused look, like she just asked what the sun was. "I'm Friar Colby. Are you from a farmstead or something?"

"We're adventures." The tiefling said trying to divert his stare away from the half elf.

Ari had a hand on Drums forehead. It was the only thing keeping the tiger from attacking. Though she would love to see her companions jaws around his neck. She wanted him to keep blabbering. Oswald had just perched on a nearby roof so Emily and Kelly should be showing up soon. All they had to do now was wait.

Colby grew pale when he heard that word. "Adventurers? Why would you come to Brindle?"

"We want to kill a dragon." Nicole lied. "Do you know where the southern castle is?"

"That dragon has been long dead. If you are looking for glory I would suggest heading back to Polis." The Friar flashed his teeth trying to sound convincing, but fooling no one.

Nicole took a single step towards the man and pitched her voice up. "If there is no dragon then there must be something fun for us to do here. Were you talking about a nice place to sleep? Or were the beds for something else?"

"W-well there is this little place on the east side, across from the gamblers den." The man put his hands on his hips and stuck out his beer gut. "If you're interested I could get us a room."

"Sounds cute, what's it called?" Ari added.

"Cozy Comforts, why don't the three of us head there now?"

"Can I come too?" Emily had appeared out of thin air, not even Drum had expected her to be there.

"Three is a bit too crowded for my liking." Colby was looking more guilty by the second. Or maybe just panicked. "I think I'll stay at the temple tonight, nice to meet you all." The Friar barely finished his sentence before dashing away.

Emily scratched her head. "But the temple is the other way..."

Ari turned to her leader and cheered. "Thank you for being normal."

"I was gone for two hours, what happened?"

"I'll tell you at the inn." Ari coming down from her adrenaline high took a quick look down the road. "Where's Kelly?"

"At the fountain. I wanted to get the jump on whatever you called us for."

"Can we just get going, I hate this town almost as much as the last." Nicole pleaded.

Emily looked at Nicole in surprise,  then back to Ari. "Yeah, you need to tell me everything if Nicole is preferring the zombies to the people." The rogue turned to lead her party back to the center of town.

"Don't worry, I'm prepared to bitch about the zombies all day tomorrow."

"So I should buy some earplugs, got it."

"Shit! I still need to buy arrows!" Ari called from the back.

"Anything flammable would be helpful too." Emily combed her fingers through her hair, tucking a lock behind her ear. "Get Kelly, get supplies, get sleep."

The sun setting below the horizon by the time they collected Kelly and their supplies for tomorrow's mission. It was almost comedic comparing the trip to Braddock to everything that has happened since. And it shows no signs of stopping.

Ari was ready for it though, no more hesitation. Following the directions she got from the Friar, she lead the party through the east end of town.

"Well here we are, Cozy Comforts."

"I get that. I'm not illiterate." Nicole said, adjusting the lute on her back. "But why the fuck is it a whore house?"

"The other inns must have gone under once people stopped coming to Brindle." Emily concluded. "These rooms should be plenty big for the four of us."

"You guys can share a room. I need a warm pillow that will play with my hair." Ari said, opening the door of the brothel.

The main lobby was lively, workers were weaving in and out of rooms making preparations or delivering goods to customers. At the front counter was a receptionist, an older halfling, either the owner of the place or a retired worker. Next to her were a few younger girls dressed in lingerie; a human, a dwarf, and a tiefling.

Seeing another of her kind made Ari's heart skip a beat. She was smaller than Ari, or maybe just slimmer? The purple hue of her skin was reflected in the ranger's eyes and blushing cheeks. Ari never considered herself beautiful. She never gave a second thought to how attractive a tiefling could be, but this girl was drop dead gorgeous! Ari was so stunned she didn't notice the rest of her team enter behind her.

"Still looking at the menu?" Kelly walked past the gawking tiefling with a wink. "Just order something, you can try something else next time."

"Shut it Kelly, I know what I want." Ari said through gritted teeth. "How are you so calm about this?"

Kelly let out a laugh that could lift anyone's spirits. "I used to be part of the menu, remember?" Kelly took a quick look at the girls and their skimpy outfits before returning to the ranger. "But if you're this nervous about it ask for someone older."

Kelly was about to walk away when Ari grabbed her hand. "Wait, can you help me order?"

"Ari, are you sure this is something you want to do?" Kelly was still smiling, but her tone was much more serious. "Don't force yourself when you aren't ready."

"I'm nervous, you said it yourself. I just want to sleep with someone I can say 'no' to." Ari was shaking a bit, but she knew this would need to happen sooner or later. This wasn't to get over Nicole or Hunter or anything. It was to break down her own walls. She needed to reassure herself that skinship was not just safe, but fun too.

"Alright, but I need you to do something for me too." Kelly added with a clever smile. A smile that was more Nicole or Emily than anything Kelly would show. "Let your horns grow out."

"No, they barely fit under my hood as is. Think of something else." Ari wasn't lying, and the horns fully grown would add a lot of weight too. Just looking around with the added weight could easily pull something in her neck.

In a less peppy mood the blonde admitted defeat. "Fine, I'll think of something later. What type of girls do you like?"

"I thought you said someone older would suit me?"

"I mean body wise. Or are you expecting all of us to be hourglass figures?" Kelly outlined herself with her hands to drive that last part home.

"I mean..." Ari was hesitant to say it, but Kelly was very attractive. The tiefling wasn't sure she had a type, but if she has to guess, Kelly's figure would be a safe bet. "Just to be clear, I don't want to sleep with you."

Kelly laughed as she grabbed the girls hand and brought her to the receptionist.  "A lusty body for a lonely girl. I'll see what I can do."

"Evening ladies, who or what can I set you up with today?" The woman spoke with a voice expected from one of the workers. Her words hinted at pleasure, but made it known it wouldn't be for free.

"My friend here is looking for a relaxing night. Do you have any eye candy that can pamper her a bit?" Kelly spoke with confidence, but it sounded like gibberish to Ari.

"A shy girl that likes being spoiled, huh. I know just the girl," the woman turned her attention to Kelly and continued. "and for you miss?"

"I'm all set, my other friends already purchased a room. The blonde girl with the pouty half elf."

"Oh, you're their third? It's room 218, up the stairs and to the right. Second to last door on the left."

Kelly wished Ari the best of luck before running up the stairs to meet the others. Ari waited by the counter as the older woman went to grab her escort. To say she was nervous would be an understatement, she swore her heartbeat could be heard echoing off the walls. She knew she could just say no, but knowing you can and actually saying the word are night and day. Besides there was a more important word on her mind.

'YES'

As the older woman returned she was followed by a girl about Ari's age. The horns stuck out among the locks of her rosy blonde hair. Her build was somewhat petite, but the black lingerie she wore gave her an hourglass figure that could humble Kelly. As the ranger's eyes followed the curves of the girl down to the waist and below, hooves caught her attention. The girl was a faun. Snapping back to look at the girls face, the subtle goat traits began sticking out to Ari. The flat nose and animal ears accentuated her already feminine features. The girl didn't say a word and already turned the ranger into putty.

"I'm Rachel, and who do I have the pleasure of serving tonight?"

Ari knew the answer. Anyone with an intelligence of 5 knew their own name, but Ari needed to fight to have that be heard over her heart pounding in her ears.

"Ari, my name is Ari."

The faun giggled and grabbed the tiefling's hand. "Well Ari, shall we begin our night?"

"Yes." 

Chapter Text

The city was still dark when Nicole left the inn for some fresh air. The rest of her party would still be asleep for another hour, and standing around watching them sleep was more than awkward. But the birds were awake and singing their songs. Songs she loved to strum along to on her lute. Their singing is the reason she picked up music, and she has turned more than one of their songs into her own.

Nicole wasn't quite ready for the day to start. Its important to find time to relax when your life gets put on the line every other day. Aside from her cloak she was still mostly in her lounging attire. Enjoying the breathability of the linens before she needed to squeeze back into her itchy cotton-cloth armor. Lute in hand she began to harmonize with a thrush, joining in as a duet.

"Enjoying the view?"

Startled by the comment, Nicole turned to see Kelly had just woken up. Her long blonde hair was still down, draped over her shoulders in place of her cloak. She was still wearing her pajamas, not yet in her 'armor'. It was a black linen shirt and linen pants. It was a humble look, and almost prudish on someone like Kelly, but the blonde made it work.

Nicole laid her lute down and stretched her arms up over her head, acting like she just woke up herself. "Better than watching you sleep. Why are you up?"

Kelly yawned a response while rubbing the last of the sleep from her eyes. "My patron called for me. I need to be at the temple for sunrise." After a moment of pause, she continued.  "Want to come with me?"

Nicole scrunched her face. "Would I even be able to talk to them?"

Kelly laughed, joining in with the birds for her own duet. "I meant walk with me to the temple."

"Oh, sure. I have nothing better to do."

Nicole put her lute on her back and took out her dagger as Kelly enchanted it with [Light]. The sleeping streets were still covered in the blanket of night. Guided by the magical glow the two set off.

"So what happened yesterday?" Kelly started.

"We met some people." Nicole ran a hand down her ponytail. "Probably what your god wants to tell you about."

"I already know that, I meant with you and Ari." Kelly shot Nicole a look that would scream disappointment if Kelly was capable of that. "You two went from being balanced on the 'will they won't they' scales to being so far in the 'won't' that Ari slept with a prostitute."

That opened Nicole's eyes a bit. Her and Ari had always been teetering on the friends with benefits line, but now they drifted so far apart they may as well be acquaintances.

"Its not just me, we both just subtly agreed she is better this way."

"And what about you?"

"What about me? If she doesn't want it I should respect that."

Kelly let out a laugh to rival a cherub. "At least you got something out if this. I would hate for you to be this miserable while also missing the lesson."

"What lesson? That I shouldn't manipulate people to be emotionally dependent on me? It wasn't a 'will they wont they' scenario. Ari was holding back an emotional reservoir that I was intentionally trying to overflow. Ari is better off now."

"But why did you do that in the first place?"

"Why do you care? Ari is on to better things and I'm here being a brat like always, but good for her."

Kelly draped her arm over Nicole's shoulder and rested her head on the short bard. "I don't know how you convinced yourself you only needed her, but you don't. You have friends that will care for you just as much."

Nicole fought a losing battle to free herself from the blonde's grapple. "Thanks Kelly, but I'm fine being alone too, I promise."

"You know Nicole, just because you can be alone doesn't mean you should be alone. And to be honest, if you really wanted to be alone you wouldn't have joined me on this walk."

Nicole had thought nothing of it. Her options were to take a walk or listen to the thrush sing her favorite song. Choosing the former wasn't something she would have done in the past. Maybe she is growing up.

Kelly finally released Nicole from her grip at the base of the temple. The warlock silently climbed the steps leading them into the dimly lit building still in slumber. Nicole followed the best she could with only the light glowing from the dagger to aid her through the dark halls. Kelly was leading the way a few paces in front of the bard moving as quietly as she could. Her eyes seeing just as well in the near pitch black as she could in the daylight.

Kelly poked around the cloisters looking for one room that called to her the loudest. Once she found the proper shrine she told Nicole to wait outside and locked herself in.

There Nicole sat, waiting for her friend to exit the room so they can return to the inn. Feeling a bit awkward she took out her lute and began to play as quietly as she could manage. The twang of her strings barely a whisper on the hallowed walls. The light of her dagger had gone out but she knew the feel of her instrument like the back of her hands. As she fell into the rhythm seconds turned to minutes turned to what felt like hours. As the first touch of red and purple were painted across the sky a voice came to Nicole.

"Are you alright? What brings you to the temple?"

It was a cleric of Lathander, and by the looks of it she was rising with the sun as well.

Nicole put her lute down and stood up from her spot near the door. "I'm fine, my friend is praying inside. She should be done soon."

"Are you not a worshipper yourself? Just as the dawn welcomes the sun, Lathander welcomes people from all walks of life to his temple."

"I would rather not get mixed up with the Gods, but thanks for the sunlight I guess..."

The cleric gave the girl a skeptical look over. Nicole couldn't tell if she was being judged on her words or her wardrobe. Sitting in a temple in your pajamas playing music was odd, but what else could she do while waiting?

As if to answer the clerics puzzled expression Kelly exited the room with a hopeful look. She was dazzling to look upon, her blonde hair was still draped over her shoulders, but it had a sheen that mirrored the snowy peaks. Her eyes beamed with a purity and passion that could rival Lathander himself. She truly was the vessel of a god.

"So, you associate with that heathen?" The cleric spat in a flat tone.

"Good morning to you too Megan. May you bask in Lathander's radiance." Kelly didn't even flinch at Megan's harsh words.

Nicole on the other hand had the feral urge to put that bitch in her place. "Heathen? You gaze upon her with the same awe and splendor as you would a sunrise. Yet you choose HEATHEN?"

Megan brushed the biting words away like a fly. "Only a heathen would take Lathander's light for themselves instead of giving it to the needy."

"Megan, I'm not just a follower, I'm a weapon." Kelly lips quivered, but she stayed strong. "Let the people remain ignorantly happy of the lives you gift them. I will gladly be the lone soldier in this army if it means no one else goes to battle."

Megan was silent. The glare she shot at Kelly was no longer of anger, but of endurance. The warlocks radiance was near blinding, but the cleric was stubborn to say the least.

A warm hand grabbing her shoulder woke Nicole from her musings. "Let's head back, Emily should be awake by now."

Nicole had more to say, both to Megan and Kelly, but silence was what needed to be heard. No matter how much silver was in Nicole's tongue the two of them would never see eye to eye.

As they were exiting the temple someone caught Nicole's eye. "Hello Colby, did you get a good nights sleep?"

The man flinched upon hear his name called. Subtlety wasn't to his strength, but he still made the conscious attempt to sneak past the vigilant bard. "Good morning to you. I uuhh, I slept well enough."

With a grin that was up to no good Nicole pressed the suspicious friar further. "I slept at Cozy Comforts last night. You are right about those beds. They are to die for."

"That's good to hear." Colby scratched at the stubble on his chin. "I really should be getting back to the temple."

Without waiting for a response The Friar dashed into the temple and out of sight.

"So he's part of the temple?" Kelly was quietly thinking aloud.

"Yeah, he's one of the creeps that gave me and Ari trouble. Do you know him?"

Kelly looked to Nicole in shock then back to the temple entrance. "My patron told me to watch out for the butcher. I didn't expect him to be part of the faith."

Nicole went from jovial to pale as a ghost when she heard Kelly mention the butcher. "We should head back. We can't do anything about him in the city none the less in the temple."

With a silent nod the two started to walk back to Cozy Comforts, but ended in a near sprint before the end of the trip back. Emily was awake and almost ready for the day, only needing a few finishing touches to her equipment before she would be ready for their quest.

"How are you still in your pajamas?" Emily was as confused as a telepath could be upon seeing the two close the door to their room.

"You act like we wear real armor anyway," Nicole retorted.

"I don't need armor because my patron protects me," Kelly corrected. Her body still glowing with the power of a god.

"Don't 'um actually' me. It's too early for this." Emily combed a hand through her hair.

"Anger this early in the morning is bad for your skin."

"Kelly, I hear people's thoughts and we slept in a brothel. I can be angry if I want."

"I can hypnotize you later if that would help, " Nicole said half joking.

Sounding defeated, Emily walked past the pair and out of their room. "I'm gonna check on Ari, meet me downstairs in half an hour."

"I was getting worried you wouldn't show." Trody was sitting on the stairs of the temple his massive maul leaning against the banister. In addition to the equipment he had last time was a small crossbow and a handful of bolts.

Sitting behind him was another soldier in a similar set of armor. A small mace dangled from his belt, and a heater shield with the golden dragon was strapped to his right arm. He wore a helmet that obscured his face but Nicole could tell he was even younger than Emily.

"Sorry for the delay," Emily said taking a deep breath. "and I see you brought back-up."

"With where you want to go it's still not enough." Trody motioned for the young man to stand. "This is Kyle, he's one of my best scouts."

They concluded introductions before heading to the southern gate. The sun was still low to the ground but the summer heat was in full force. It was mostly grazing land for a dairy farm to the south, and the lack of shade made the walk to the valley more tiring then it should be. The roads were more like glorified cart tracks and even they died down about a mile or so south of the gate. A few more minutes of walking and the soil started to look sickly, almost rotted. The transition from pasture to valley wasn't instant, but it happened fast. Ari could be standing on the green grass and fire an arrow that would land in nothing but bone dust.

As Kyle lead the team farther south, the western mountains crept up on them giving the party some shade to rest in, but they could only relax physically. Their minds focused on the looming threat that the valley births. They were hesitant to count their blessings, the monsters of unlife could be around any corner.

Silently continuing south another ridge raised up on their east creating a narrow gully. The air was as foul as the earth, like even the elements of nature had been killed and brought back by the cursed magics. The unholy union of life and death was everything Nicole never wanted to see or feel.

"The gully goes for about 200 yards. After that it widens back into a valley." Kyle was at the front of the group guiding the party. "You want to bait the undead here so they can't use their numbers to surround you."

"How many of them are out here?" Kelly asked.

"Look at your feet," Trody called from the back of the group. He poked at the ground with his maul, kicking up dust and shards of bone. "The skeletons alone number in the hundreds. Every time we think we saw them all, we just find more."

"Have you been to the castle? Or seen a lair?" Emily was only half listening, her eyes darting from rocky cleft to shadowed boulder, her hands resting on her daggers to keep her grounded.

"We don't stay in the valley for long," Kyle called from the front. "We don't have the power to hunt the undead, only keep as many of them in here as possible."

A shiver ran up Nicole's spine. She was already scared, but now she felt horrified. And she wasn't the only one.

"Something is up ahead," Ari said petting her companion. "and its big, Drum is spooked."

Reluctantly the party pushed forward, taking another turn through the narrow gorge, only to come face to face with their nightmares.

"Look what the cat dragged in." A gnome was standing hunched over, undead to every side of him. "The Butcher told me about some adventures, so I thought I should introduce myself. I'm Jeffery."

Jeffery was big for a gnome. Even hunched over like a shrimp he was still almost 4 feet tall. It also made the menagerie of undead following him look all the more intimidating. Two wights to either side as his body guards and a giant of flesh stitched together by threads and magic.

Nicole's party had numbers on their side, but that didn't mean much if a single hit from that golem could shatter bones.

Then the rattling came.

It started like a trick of the wind. A soft breeze through the rocks, or some loose bone shards shifting on the ground, but it kept growing louder and louder. Eventually it was all that could be heard. The marching of an army coming down from the north.

They were trapped. At their front a necromancer and his bastardization of nature, and behind them skeletons and zombies that outnumber them ten to one.

"No one will get in the way of my revenge against Brindle. After how they humiliated me, drove me out if the city, left me to starve!" The gnome was speaking loud enough to be heard, but talked as if he were alone.

"And what did you do exactly?" Nicole called out.

Jeffery looked to the half elf puzzled. "Why do you care? You'll be dead as soon as I give the signal to attack! Maybe you should start with an apology?"

"I already know you're an idiot, I'm just looking for a metric to see how right I am."

"Ha. To think an ounce of sympathy could be found in this cruel world," Jeffery gloated. "But if you must know, they didn't like my necromancy hobby. They didn't realize that I needed the bodies from the graveyard to improve my skills. They called me a monster!"

"You were grave robbing, and got mad they exiled you for that?" Nicole called in disbelief.

Jeffery made an attempt to stand straight only to hunch over again. "Why would I expect someone to understand what I've been through. It's always the same, say I'm to blame-"

"Because you are to blame dipshit! If you don't want to get exiled, then maybe don't defile graves?! I was exiled because my mom couldn't keep her legs closed, but sure keep playing victim!"

Jeffery hesitated for a second before looking over the party. "You wouldn't understand, you've never been alone! Let's see how you fare when you are put in my shoes!"

The ground began to rumble and shake as Jeffrey spoke the words of a spell. A wall of bones sprang up from the ground reaching high over their heads. It stretched from the eastern wall of the gorge to the west. The party was split in two. Ari, Emily and Trody were pinned between the wall and the undead army. While Nicole, Kelly and Kyle had the abomination of flesh standing over them.

"Have fun with my pet, I'll see you never." Jeffery was already walking away from what was left of their party. His undead bodyguards sticking close to him, but the tower of flesh still stood in their path.

"What do you think Kyle?" Kelly asked, her cheerful tone almost completely gone.

"What choice is there? We kill it, or it kills us." Kyle had his shield up and his knuckles were turning white around his mace.

The two ran at the titan of flesh with a war cry that could put fear into the heart of anything that had one, and the golem had no reaction.

Kyle reached the golem first, his mace hitting the magically hardened flesh and bouncing off. The creature didn't even sway from the impact.

Kelly was next, her silver sword hit the creature in the calf and tore at the rotten flesh. The golem silently stumbled, but that was only the first of the many blows needed to take down this goliath.

Without warning, a savage roar escaped the the golems mouth causing shields to be raised. Only for the beast to slam it's fists into the ground, sending both Kelly and Kyle tumbling back to the wall of bones.

Staggering to their feet they turned to face the monster down. They had the means and will to fight. All they had to do was make it last longer than the golem can withstand.

[Mirror Image]

[Protection from Evil and Good]

The warlock and paladin reinforced their armor and dashed back into the fray.

Fumbling a bit, Nicole took out her lute and gave a strum. She knew handfuls of melodies that she could give form: Charm Person, Heat Metal, Hypnotic Pattern, Sleep, Disguise Person, Hold Person, Fear. She was a manipulator after all, but this THING couldn't be manipulated. She needed a new song, a new spell, a new muse.

With their added defenses the two stuck to the monster like sap on a tree. They were witling away at its lower half, but it was only growing irritated at the attacks. The swinging of its arms becoming more chaotic, leaving imprints in the splinters of bones on the valley floor.

[Guiding Bolt]

[Divine Smite]

The two worked in tandem effortlessly as the golem flailed around, slamming it's arms and kicking its feet like a toddler's tantrum. A kick landed hard on Kelly, sending her tumbling back to Nicole's feet.

"Kelly, you need to take it easy."

Kelly laughed, but quickly winced at the pain her body was in. "I need to defeat it Nicole. If I don't, it will kill you, and I will never let that happen."

[Healing Light]

The light formed at Kelly's chest and soon covered her body, rejuvenating her aching body to a more tolerable threshold.

Nicole looked to the battle. Kyle was cowering behind his shield, barely able to stand, but he was more prepared to die than to run away. Kelly got to her feet with a laugh. The laugh echoing in Nicole's mind. Her fingers mimicked those notes on her lute and began to weave her spell.

[Haste]

The notes flew off her lute and danced into Kelly's ears. The blonde covered the distance to the titan in a flash, burying her sword in the golem down to the hilt. The monster roared and thrashed at the ground with thundering force.

Kyle tumbled to the ground, but Kelly was already behind the beast ready to sink her blade into the rotten flesh again. Another strike from her blade and followed by an angry swing of the beasts arms in response. The warlock was moving faster than the monster could keep up with, dancing to and fro, keeping in time with Nicole's playing. A song the golem could never dance to.

Nicole looked over to where Kyle was laying. She couldn't tell if he was stable or on deaths door. All she could do was hope Kelly was enough to finish the fight.

[Healing Word]

The bard flourished her song trying to get Kyle back on his feet. A weak cough escaped his body as he forced himself to his knees. He couldn't fight, but at least he was alive.

Another strum of her lute and another flash of silver. The duet of Kelly and Nicole whittled down the golem. The chunks of enchanted flesh began to pile at the abominations feet. The creature began to roar and stomp in frustration. Bone shards flew and dust began to blur Nicole's vision of the fight, but that did nothing to slow Kelly down.

Raising her sword high, she delivered a decisive blow. The warlocks blade cut clean through the golems left forearm. The monster howled as the rotten limb dropped to the ground. A smile formed on the girl's face. The beast was almost slain.

But to everyone's horror the monster grabbed its fallen limb and threw it at the beaming blonde. The attack was unconventional, but it struck when Kelly's guard was at its lowest. She tumbled away from the hit, loosing her cloak in the process, but the golem wasn't done. It ran to Kyle, crushing the paladin in its grip sending the sound of armor shattering and bones breaking echoing through the valley. The abomination without missing a moment wound back and threw the crushed paladin with all its might.

The body rolled through the air on a direct course to hit Kelly. The blonde was quick, laying flat on the ground as a flash of light deflected the body inches above her. The beast, still panicked, started making its way to Nicole. It was desperately looking for anything to throw at the only threat left to its unlife. It was faster than either of them remembered. Kelly stood up and dashed as fast as she could, aided by the song Nicole was still desperately playing.

She reached the monster at the same time it got to Nicole. It's morbid fingers reaching out to crush the bard like an egg.

Kelly jumped and swung her blade. A flash of silver cutting the monstrosity's head clean off. The body slumped to the ground as the two remaining adventures stood in their hollow victory. They were alive but with a fatality, and the wall of bones still separated them from the rest of their party. They're alone and with no way of knowing how to get back to town.

"What do we do now?" Nicole was speaking at a whisper, like she wanted this to all be a bad dream.

"We rest," Kelly chuckled. "We hope they survive their battle and see what we can do from there."

"How do you do that? How do you get yourself to laugh at times like this?" Nicole was sitting on the ground her head in her hands.

Kelly sat down next to Nicole and took the bard in her embrace. "I've been doing it for so long I don't even notice it anymore. I dont mean to do it as much as I do."

"No, I wanted to thank you for always laughing." Nicole leaned into the blonde, nuzzling her shoulder. "Its what got us through that fight. It's what got ME through that fight."

Nicole inched a bit closer to the blonde who was beginning to shiver. The lack of sunlight and clothing finally taking its toll.

"Thanks for not leaving me alone." Nicole took her cloak off her back and laid it over herself and Kelly like a blanket.

With the adrenaline gone Kelly couldn't stop herself from yawning. "I would never leave you alone."

"I may not be a follower of Lathander," Nicole said through a muffled yawn. "but you aren't alone in this either."

The warlock took the bards hand in her own. "That means more to me than you think. Now let's get some rest." 

Chapter Text

Emily was feeling around in the alchemy pouch strapped to her belt. She had basic poisons and some potion components, but she was looking for something throwable. A wall of bones split her party in two, and she was stuck with an army of skeletons and zombies that could wear them down with numbers alone.

The wall of bones was too thick to break through and too tall for Ari to jump. Not that having Ari jump would help kill the army staring them down. They walked right into a trap on what was only supposed to be reconnaissance.

Taking a deep breath of the belladonna coating her lips Emily found the vial she needed; alchemist fire. It would deal with a lot of these undead, the unfortunate thing is, it still wouldn't be enough.

With the same thought Ari dug out her own vials of the liquid flames and was ready to throw them as soon as the undead made their move.

"What else do you have to throw?" Emily asked.

"I have some lantern oil, but it's in metal flasks." Ari shook her head in disappointment. "I have some rope and ball bearings too, but I don't think they're useful now."

"Keep them on standby, I'll think of something." Emily nodded to Trody. "What about you?"

"I have some holy water," the fighter shrugged. "but we should save that for when we run out of fire."

"Sounds good," Emily relayed her plan. "Throw the fire to the left to funnel them more to the right. Trody and I will engage them there. Ari, you and Drum pick off anything that make it through those flames." The rogue didn't wait for confirmation.

Closing her eyes Emily quietly listened, not for anything real, but for the voices. Even with a wall separating them, Kelly and Nicole's thoughts carried to her. They were in the same boat. The odds didn't look good for either group, but Emily will have to trust they'll make it through.

A deafening roar from the other side of the wall woke up the undead army from their temporary stasis. Individually they started to take steps, but slowly it turned into a hivemind, advancing as a wave of undeath looking to break upon the wall. And here she was again, in the wrong time and place.

With a nod Emily tossed her vial of liquid flames and ran to the right. Plan A is they die in the fire, plan B is they walk to her and Trody, plan C is she will throw her sapphire dagger again. Unfortunately there are easily five times the amount of horrors as they saw by the mountains yesterday. Mostly the weaker skeletons or zombies this time, but it's still a lot. The numbers were against them.

The vial shattered, throwing the burning liquid over a good area, a bit over half the distance between the cliffs. Another one would close them off completely, but that would be temporary. The fires will die down and the undead would keep marching. This wasn't a battle that could be won by being passive. Undead have all the time in the world after all.

Trody was right next to her as they got to the bottleneck. The first few undead were making it around the flames, mindlessly advancing toward the living. Trody swung his maul with everything he had. The less than fortunate zombie was launched backwards into it's kin. The undead ballistic returning a few of its fellow skeletons back to the grave.

Emily was a bit less efficient when it came to horde killing. She was skilled enough with her daggers where one strike could finish a zombie, but with these numbers it would be like eating rice one grain at a time. And unlike Trody her armor wasn't meant to take repeated hits. Their numbers alone made it impossible for the rogue to evade every blow, and trying to evade them all would mean she stopped stabbing them. Their numbers needed to go down. Good thing the rogue had more than one trick up her sleeve.

[Shield]

Emily's spell intercepted the undead assault, the jagged blades and grotesque hands glancing off her leather armor like she had been wearing full plate. The spell was strong, but it didn't make her invulnerable. Even if her chance of getting hit was 5 percent, the undead being so plentiful were guaranteed to land a few blows. She would just have to put up with the pain. Tending to the scrapes and bruises could wait, keep attacking.

Emily lost count, but at least a dozen of them were killed just by her. Trody and Ari were doing an even better job, but the wave of undead just kept swelling. Ari had used both of her vials of fire and half her arrows, but the advantage was still on the army's side. Emily was used to hit and run tactics, the onslaught had it's win condition from the start; numbers. Emily racked her brain for anything that can slow the zombies down to a crawl.

The last of the alchemist fire would only burn for a few more seconds so she needed to try something. Up the ante and hope it's enough to fold the undead.

"Ari, toss me the ball bearings!" The desperation in Emily's voice ringing like a bell.

Loosing one more arrow from her bow, Ari dug the pouch out of her bag and tossed it to the rogue. The pouch tumbled through the air with decent enough precision for how nonchalantly it was thrown. It's trajectory only an arms length in front of the blonde.

Emily wasn't planning on catching it anyway. With a flick of the wrist she sheathed her normal dagger replacing it with her ruby one, cutting into the pouch with one swift motion.

[Thunder Wave]

The tip of her dagger rang for an instant before the spell fully manifested. The bag of ball bearings exploded with the thunderous force, turning the pouch of lead into a cloud of death. Bone was shattered and broken, rotten flesh was lacerated and dripped to the barren ground. What was a horde of thirty undead had returned to the sickly earth in an instant.

Only a handful of undead remained, mostly the more hardy of the skeletons, but it was easy pickings for Ari and Trody. Even Drum was eager to finish off the undead stragglers.

Emily had other things on her mind though, or rather she wished she did. She gave a moment to listen, hear how Kelly was fairing with her fight.

Silence.

Emily quietly but her lip. She can't panic, not now. Think, don't act, anything could have happened, Kelly could just be unconscious or out of range. Her best friend is smart enough to run and fight another day. But what if...

"Trody, is there another way into the valley?" The blonde was frantically fluffing her hair, inadvertently pulling a few platinum strands free.

"Its farther to the east, but it's out of the way. Nearly a days journey to get around that wall, and that's not including getting back to town afterwards." Killing off the last undead, Trody dropped his maul to the ground and took a seat next to it. "We should head back to town after a breather. We can restock and head that way tomorrow."

Emily was about to argue, but was cut off by Ari. The sound of her bow firing an arrow echoed through the valley. As the valley returned to silence the wall stayed strong, not a single mark could be found.

what the fuck was that?

"What the hells happened?" Nicole's voice echoed twice in Emily's mind.

"Nicole! You're okay!" The rogue was ecstatic to hear her friends voice.

"A bit of an overstatement Emily! It's just me and Kelly left, and this wall is a big problem!"

The reality of death shook the rogue to her core. "Trody knows another way to you, but we won't get there til tomorrow."

"Are you serious? Just knock a hole in the wall!"

"We tried that, what do you think woke you up?"

"Do you honestly think we can survive the night? I'm not Ari, I can't build a fire." Nicole's usually calm voice broke as panic began to take over. "Hells, I don't even think we have anything to burn."

"Kelly has enough grit to keep the both of you safe until then. She's still there, right?"

Nicole went silent for a bit, but only one thing was on her mind; worry. "The golem gave her a beating, she passed out as soon as the adrenaline wore off. I'm not a doctor, but I think her shoulder is busted too."

Emily's veins ran cold. This wasn't supposed to happen, not like this. This was supposed to be a fun little vacation, bring her friend to a temple while the rest of the group party at a local tavern. This wasn't supposed to be a real quest with real stakes. But it was, and everyone that gave them trouble has been a murderer a rapist or a pedophile. Most some combination of the three.

"Emily." Ari had closed the distance, standing at arms length hesitant to console the blonde. "We need to start heading back to town. There is nothing more we can do for them."

"I can't just leave them here." Defeat was the only thing that could describe the rogue in this moment. It didn't matter how many more fights she had won. The one that mattered was that her friends were safe, and she failed them.

"Emily, I understand what you are going through, but our only chance to help them is if we head back and look for them tomorrow." Trody spoke up, his voice as hard and strong as his maul. "Making small talk is just wasting time."

The blonde took in one last breath of the belladonna, the drug putting her already sharp mind on a blades edge. "Nicole, once Kelly wakes up, try to find a cave or something to hide in. Don't fight anything you don't have to."

"Emily! No, please! There has to be something! Anything! Just don't leave!" The bards words had desperation hanging on every word. Emily had never seen Nicole cry before. And somehow only hearing it was worse.

"Let's get going. It's only for a day, I swear by it." Trody started down the path, fresh bone shards bending and breaking under his heavy boots.

The four of them left the gorge in silence. Even Drum looked more like a kicked dog than a fierce tiger. Nothing was lost yet, but the 'yet' is what terrifies them. Everyone dies eventually, but when you pass away in the realm of a necromancer, it's the second time that will hurt the most.

The transition of bones and rot to a living field lifted their spirits ever so slightly. It had been an eventful day, the party had survived. They were tired, both physically and emotionally, but they didn't stop on their way back, reaching the grazing land late afternoon.

"You did the right thing." Trody spoke in a whisper, but the cool summer breeze carried the words unhindered to the blonde.

"Don't lecture me! One of your people did die today! How about you show some empathy!" Emily's words had an edge that rivaled her daggers. "You, Lynn, your precious dragon, all the same. Use people like pawns until you run out, then just run away!"

"Don't compare me to that bitch Lynn! Kyle knew what he signed up for. He wasn't risking his life anymore than I was." Trody lifted his maul, reflecting on himself in its murky sheen. "Yesterday I would have been just as dead if not for you and Kelly. Kyle gave his life fighting with her, and now I want to make sure he didn't throw it away for nothing."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night Trody." Emily bit her lip drawing a bit of blood. Digging into her pouch she was looking for another hit of belladonna. The vials contents causing her to clench her jaw. She purchased it two days ago, but it was almost empty already.

"Emily, you know what he means." Ari was fiddling with her quiver, her heavy equipment starting to show its weight. "Adventuring has its risks too, I choose to go with you because I know you have my back."

A bit of optimism flashed across the fighters face. "You're a good leader Emily. If I had died and Kyle lived he would have told you the same thing. He followed me because he believed in what I did. He risked his life, hells he gave it, because he knew I would have done the same."

Emily knew they were right. She wasn't quite in the wrong, but at the very least they were right. But that just made her all the more angry. She hated kings, queens, lords, all of that. Emily knew she wasn't like them, but after today she wasn't so sure. Their brilliant leader walking into an ambush? She was better than that, and now Nicole is trapped with an injured Kelly in enemy territory. Just saving them won't be enough to make it up to them.

Putting the vial back in her alchemy pouch, the rogue instead dug out her canteen and took a long sip of water. Usually the stray thoughts were too much for her, but hearing the minor inconvenience of a passerby was favored over brewing on todays shortcomings.

Following suit, Ari dug out her own canteen, offering the water to her animal companion before taking a sip herself. "How early can we leave tomorrow?"

"As soon as we wake up." Trody stretched his arms over his head. "The farmland is safe at night-"

"Because of that cleric." Emily finished.

"Wait, something doesn't sound right," Ari said, cutting back in. "If you have such a strong cleric why is Jeffery still a problem?"

"She's not an adventurer, none of us are. We find his lair and die in some spike trap, or get eaten by a mimic? All we can do is take little victories and pray to Lathander."

Emily scoffed. "And he answered your prayers with Kelly, good job."

Trody couldn't help but laugh at the rogues quip, his spirits being lifted by her observation. "All the more reason to save her. If Kelly is the answer to our prayers then her and Megan working together would be enough to stop the necromancer."

Passing through the gates of Brindle Trody was quickly pulled to the side by another guard. It should have been a normal update, but the dire look on the guards face said otherwise.

Emily paid it no mind at first thinking it was just a formality, nothing deeper. It was the words on the tip of their minds that kept buzzing in her ears like a mosquito that finally got her interest piqued.

Another one

Another one

"Its Colby."

Ari gave her leader a perplexed look. "What?"

Emily motioned to Trody and the guard still deep in discussion. "Another kid went missing."

The tiefling blinked, then blinked again. "Explain it like someone who can't read minds."

Rolling her eyes Emily stomped over to Trody and the guard. "We need to find Colby."

Trody gave Emily a double take before responding. "The Friar?"

"Friar, Butcher, doesn't matter. He has the kid."

The other guard took a single step towards the rogue. "That is an unwise claim for an outsider to make." If he was trying to be intimidating he needed to try harder.

Trody was skeptical, but he knew Emily enough to hear her out. "When did you hear about a kid? When did you meet The Friar?"

Ignoring the guards questioning the rogue pressed the tracker of the group. "Ari, can Drum track down The Friar? He knows Jeffery closed off the southern route, he'll be taking the long way back so we have time."

Emily's lips curled into a smile, Colby wont be expecting them to be alive none the less back in town. Jeffery said it himself that The Butcher was the one who tipped him off. They had the opportunity to spring their own trap.

The ranger and tiger duo quickly doubled back out of the city. Following the outer walls to the east they lead Emily and Trody across the fertile farmland. They continued far east even after the city walls turned north. The fields of grain with only irrigation ditches to slow them down was far from the worst thing they encountered today.

The fields came to an abrupt end, rows of trees taking its place. The off season orchard was overgrown, dark green leaves casting heavy shadows over the thin foot paths between the sturdy trunks.

Ari slowed to a walk, her breath slightly labored, but she kept her voice a whisper. "He's just ahead. I think he's with someone."

"It might be Hunter, will you be alright Ari?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine. What's the plan?"

"We use the shadows." Emily gave Trody a pat on the back. "Talk them up a bit, when you give the signal we'll spring our trap."

[Invisibility]

"What's the signal?" Trody turned around just in time to realize he was already alone.

Trody trudged along the path crossbow in hand, continuing without a word. With the help of her spell Emily remained a single footstep behind him the whole time. They didn't need to go far to find the friar struggling to stand up and make off with a heavy sack.

"Trody? I was expecting... someone else."

"What's in the sack Colby?" The fighter was skeptical when they started on this run, but even under the heavy shadows the panic covering the friars face was clear as day.

Trody's hands were wound tight around his crossbow, the bolt set and arms pulled taught. With the bolt and death at the end of a single trigger pull, Trody addressed the panicked man again. "Don't do anything I can make you regret."

Weighing his options Colby took a single step before a bolt was fired from the crossbow and lodged into his leg. The older man slumped over instantly with the sack dropping next to him. Trody took a step towards the screaming man, but was frozen in place before dropping down on the soft leaves covering the floor. Hunter was here alright, and he is not happy about the uninvited guests.

"I know you are here, the guard wouldn't have wised up to The Butchers scheme this quickly."

The fey voice came from what looked like a tree, then it started walking toward Trody. The dryad was elegant to look at, each step it took being a thing of beauty. A potent distraction for how deadly of a creature it is.

"I know you're out there! How about you don't spit in my face this time. Ok?" The dryad spoke, it's voice sounding as thick and sweet as honey.

Emily was still invisible, two steps in front of her Trody was face down on the ground. Catching her breath Emily dug through her poison pouch. Fishing out a vial of green liquid the rogue coated her weapons with the poison before tossing the bottle across the forest as a distraction. The bottle shattering on a tree trunk made the dryad flinch for a second.

Emily gladly took the opportunity it earned her and closed the gap unseen and unheard. Her poisoned daggers sunk deep into the dryads chest before just as quickly backing away. It's face contorted from a playful grin to one of pure agony, but its beauty never wavered. It's fey laugh turning more panicked as it hunched over, feeling the sap dripping from the fresh holes in its bark-like skin.

"Where did you-" A flash of green and the dryad was gone. It was a summon, a distraction. The real Hunter was still out there hiding, watching, waiting.

Emily held her daggers high, preparing for an ambush that could originate from any rock or tree. Behind her Trody was beginning to get back to his feet. He was shaken a bit by the charm, but he still had fight.

"Check on the kid." Emily didn't even look Trody's way, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow looking for any sign of Hunter.

Trody ran to the sack, easily maneuvering it away from Colby, who was preoccupied by the blood hemorrhaging from his leg. Looking inside the sack the fighter went pale.

"She has no pulse, but she's still warm." Trody choked out the words, almost doubting how bad things have gotten inside the city. Right under his nose.

"Focus Trody!" Emily called to the man lost in grief. "I can handle this, just get her to the temple, if she's still warm you have time."

With a nod Trody took the girl in his arms and ran. He was leaving behind his weapon, but that didn't matter. He had the chance to do right for the citizens, in a way that they deserved. Not just cleaning up undead, but actually helping and saving them. To do what guards are meant to do.

Once she was certain Trody was out of earshot Emily began her real plan. The ruby dagger slipped effortlessly from it's sheath, her translucent mage hand wielding it naturally in her minds eye. The invisible hand gripped it tight as it floated over to the still bleeding friar and buried the blade deep in his neck.

Emily never lowered her own blades, never dropped her guard for a second. The hand did what she willed of it bringing the friar to justice.

Emily knew Hunter was still watching her, she could hear his thoughts here and there. He was waiting to see if Emily would break her guard. Or see if there was another member of her party hiding. He was right to be cautious. One on one Emily wasn't sure she could beat him, not with so few spells left anyway. But Ari and Drum were hiding, watching Emily just as hard as she assumed Hunter would be. So she needed to goad out the druid.

[Prestidigitation]

The subtle sound of a twig snapping above her head was just the start. A fake panic accompanied by a roll to the side sold the charade. Her hair was tossed about, a few leaves sticking in her locks from the thick leaf litter on the forest floor. Emily looked panicked and off balance, she looked it anyway.

Hunter took the blondes bait and plunged from the shadows at the rogue. His massive bear form swiping at the crouching rogue with the power to rip a tree up by its roots, but he only swiped at air.

[Misty Step]

Emily was standing over Colby's dead body, ruby dagger sinking back into it's sheath on her hip. The bait worked, the druid was out of hiding.

With a roar the bear charged the blonde, closing the distance almost too fast for her to react.

[Shield]

With her defense strengthened Emily prepared her counter attack. Her poisoned daggers carving through fur, fat and muscle as the beasts mighty paw landed hard on her side. The blow hurt, and if it wasn't for her shield spell a few of her ribs would have been broken. Getting tossed to the ground by the hit, the rogue tried desperately to get the air back in her lungs as she slumped to the ground.

The bear roared in pain as it lumbered over to the rogue, Emily's poisons slowly doing it's job. The beast loomed over her, ready to make another attack when an arrow hit it hard in the face. It burst into splinters making the bear stagger. Ari was still hiding, but she was in the fight now. Her arrows finding their mark again and again, pushing the bear backwards until a tree blocked its path.

Once the fifth arrow hit the bear began to fade and a new form took its place. The human was scowling, anger and frustration decorated his normally nonchalant face.

"There, it's me! Now what are you gonna do?" Hunter looked around as he spoke, trying his best to address the unseen ranger. "Or are you gonna keep hiding and make your leader finish me off?"

Hunter was in a bind, but he knew when to play to an out. Emily was still hunched over on the ground from his earlier attack. If he could get Ari to argue with her party again then he's one wildshape away from freedom.

"That's not working this time." Ari crept out of the shadows, her hood was down exposing her white hair and red skin to those around her. "This was our plan from the beginning. Emily can take a punch or two if it means you lowered your guard. And look at you now? Cowering into a tree trunk with nowhere left to run or hide."

Ari kept her guard up as she got within a few feet of the druid. Her bow at full draw, and her previous fatigue nowhere to be seen. She gave a sharp whistle and Drum leapt from around the tree, pinning the druid on the thick leaves of the forest floor.

"You think a human would help you out of kindness?" Hunter was desperate, but his voice was steady, even with the weight of a tiger on his back. "You belong to the wilds, just like me!"

"I am nothing like you!" Ari nearly fired her arrow out of frustration. "You are a human, not a bear or dryad. You belong in the cities where you can lie and deceive and manipulate."

"And you belong nowhere! Keep playing pretend, acting like you are welcome with people."

"Ari belongs with me." Emily had finally gotten to her feet and made her way next to the tiefling. "I have more respect for her than you can imagine. I will take another mauling to the face if it means she can have the pleasure of ending your life."

Hunter was at a loss for words. He should have had this fight in the bag. The fact the rogue was even capable of standing was mind boggling to him. His only option now would be turning into a bird and flying away, it wasn't likely to work, but it would be better than nothing.

Before he could alter his shape a sharp whistle filled Hunters ears, and it was the last thing he heard as Drums massive jaws snapped the humans neck.

As hunters thoughts disappeared Ari's thoughts grew into a tangled thicket. Happy, sad, angry, frustrated, relieved. The shadow creeping in the back of her mind for years had finally faded to nothing, but it had been there for so long its presence became a part of her.

Emily limped over to the girl wrapping her arms and cloak around her, holding the girl close and hiding her from this harsh reality.

"What now?" Ari's voice was soft. She wasn't crying, though a single tear stained her red cheeks.

"Nothing. You did it. Its done." The blonde awkwardly ran a hand through the tiefling's hair.

Emily held her another moment, trying to make sense of her own thoughts as well as Ari's. She got mauled by a bear to free her, but finding the words the tiefling needed to hear was the real challenge.

"Are you gonna be ok?"

"I will be." Ari shook herself free from the blonde and started making her way out of the forest before calling back. "And I mean it this time."

Peace

Emily grabbed Trody's maul off the ground and stumbled after the ranger, the injuries from today starting to throb and ache. But now wasn't the time to slow Ari down. She has a new found confidence and Emily wants to see it blossom and grow. That's why she could never see eye to eye with kings and lords. They do everything they can to stay in power and keep people under their rule. Just the thought could make her gag. What she did for Ari today, literally putting her life on the line for someone else's benefit would make even the humblest of lords faint.

Leaving the orchard behind them the two girls took a look at the sun slowly setting behind the mountains. Its peaks casting long shadows over Brindle, bringing the city an early night.

Emily thought aloud as she began fiddling with the heavily used maul in her hands. "Thanks for coming along with me."

The tiefling gave a soft giggle that surprised both of them. "You freed me from a cage I didn't even know I was in. Not just Hunter but humans in general. I always saw myself as a piece in the wrong puzzle. No matter where I tried fitting in it never worked." Ari gave the blonde a playful shove. "I didn't need to fit in with you, or Kelly for that matter. You did the fitting in for me."

The sun had set by the time they reached the temple. The two dashed through the wide doorway, passing the last of the worshipers leaving the building for a late supper. The halls were filled with the soft chanting of a cleric. Following the voice they snaked their way to the baptismal pool.

Crossing through the doorway two glances were shot their way. Trody and Megan were quietly sat, the girl was in the clerics arms, a blanket wrapped tight around her. She was alive, sleeping soundly in the clerics embrace.

"You made it," Trody whispered. The excitement to see the girls return showed heavy on his face.

"Looks like you did too." Emily motioned to the sleeping girl. "Glad to see you did something right." Emily silently crossed the room and gave the fighter his weapon. "I think you might need this for tomorrow."

"And what about The Friar." The cleric spoke directly, waiting for an answer she would never be ready to hear.

"He's dead. He was working with Jeffery the whole time. We plan on killing him next." Emily was stern, she had the confidence to back up her claims. Jeffery messed with the wrong party, and he needed to pay for that as soon as they could manage.

"I'm going with you." Trody tagging along was to be expected. What the rogue didn't expect was the cleric offering to come along too. "Trody said you three killed a hundred undead today. I'm not an adventurer, but I want to help bring this nightmare to an end."

The blonde paused for a bit, trying to get a handle on the thoughts in her head.

Savior

Hero

Resting her hands on her daggers she found her answer. "Ari and I will rest here tonight. The four of us will head out as soon as we wake up. We rescue the rest of my team then find the necromancer."

Emily knew what she was; a rogue. She also knew what she was not; a hero. Adventuring was a way to put money in her pockets and have some fun along the way. This whole quest was supposed to be Kelly's hero moment. But with her favorite blonde lost in a valley she had no choice but to play hero, and everyone was so eager to rally behind her she had no choice but to be their leader too.

Chapter Text

Kelly woke up to what she assumed was rain. The warm droplets dancing down her cheeks before rolling off and disappearing into the dusty ground. As she opened her eyes a blurry Nicole slowly came into focus. The girls dark blue eyes were bloodshot and swollen, dropping tear after tear from her red cheeks onto Kelly's face.

With a soft groan the blonde made an attempt to sit up only for a sharp pain to shoot into her left arm. Still tired and a bit defeated she returned to the soft lap of the bard who was quickly drying her tears.

"Kelly, you're awake." The bard fumbled for her dark green cloak covering her injured friend like a blanket. Nicole was eager to leave both the valley and the awkward situation she found herself in.

"How long was I asleep for?" Kelly attempted to sit up again fighting off the pain shooting through her shoulder. "And where is everyone else?"

Fastening her cloak she gave a reply. "They need to take another route to us." Nicole fought back another wave of tears. "They'll be here tomorrow."

Kelly was hunched over holding her shoulder tight. She had no clue where her own cloak or even her weapons were, not that she could wield them. But The Lance of Lythander can't break.

The blonde fought to stand up, only to fumble backwards into Nicole's arms.

"Slow down Kelly, you can rest a bit more." Nicole's voice sounded a bit hoarse, though she wouldn't admit it.

"I need my things, and I need to make us camp for the night." Kelly shifted her weight off the bard and stood as tall as she could manage. Even injured she refused to be a burden. "I did enough resting already."

"Are you sure? Because the way your arm looks says otherwise." The bard flinched at the accidental venom in her words.

"Fine," Kelly said through gritted teeth.

With her good arm Kelly began to unravel the sarashi around her chest. The cloth was filthy with sweat and dirt, but it was still strong. With the cloth fully unraveled she began to make a sling for her arm only to have another wave of pain shoot into it. Gritting her teeth she tried one more time getting the cloth around her chest only for the cloth to slip from her hand as she tried to pass it around her back.

Feeling even more defeated Kelly picked up the cloth and shot an embarrassed glance at the brunette who had wandered off. She was standing tall, her back to Kelly staring down the wall of bones.

"Nicole."

"Mhm?" Nicole gave a half hearted response, her full attention on the massive barrier between them and civilization.

Kelly took a deep breath and swallowed her pride. "Can you lend me a hand?"

"What?" The half-elf went stiff at the request.

"I... I need help with the sling." Kelly winced a bit as her shoulder throbbed in pain. "Just help me get the cloth around by back."

Stiffly turning around Nicole now had interest in her shoes, never looking up as she shuffled over to where the blonde was standing. "What exactly do you need me to do?"

Handing over the cloth the blonde turned around. "I'm just going to re-bind my chest along with my bad arm. Hold the cloth in place and pass it around my back."

Fumbling with the cloth a bit Nicole held one end to the blondes back and passed the other to her good arm.

With cloth in hand Kelly made the first pass around her front. "Hold it a bit lower, and you can pull it tighter too, I don't want my arm shifting around when we walk."

Nicole adjusted the cloth bringing it's end to Kelly's waist. "Is here ok?"

"That's perfect, here grab this end." Kelly passed the cloth to Nicole, giving a small tug before stopping at the blondes spine for a moment. "Did something happen?

"N-no, I got it." Nicole awkwardly ran one hand through the blonde ponytail using her other to bringing the cloth around the girls naked back making sure it wasn't twisting.

By the third pass the two found their rhythm and finished the binding. Stuffing the top end of the cloth into her cleavage the blonde gave a satisfied nod. The sarashi sat an inch or two lower than Kelly was used to, but it held her arm tight to her chest so she can chalk it up to a success. With a smile she turned to Nicole. The young half-elf jumped a bit when facing her, like she wasn't expecting her to have that much mobility already.

"There, it's perfect! Now I just need my cloak and weapons."

"If you want I can carry something for you," Nicole said, looking around the valley and giving her pointed ear a scratch.

"No, I caused you enough trouble as is. Besides my sword and shield are easy to carry."

Nicole looked a bit upset, but Kelly knew her limits. If it was absolutely necessary she would ask for help again, but only if it was necessary. Her sword was easy, the sheath was still on her hip. All she needed to do was put it away. Her shield would be a bit awkward since it's sling is left handed, but she can just wear it backwards over her right side.

Looking over the valley a splash of red caught her eye. Taking confident strides the injured girl found her rusty cloak, and right next to it was the remains of Kyle. The cuirass warped and nearly turned inside out. The heater shield on his arm was covered in blood and dirt, but the dragon crest was miraculously untouched.

Kelly gave a soft prayer before picking up her cloak and fastening it around her neck. She was familiar with these situations, death wasn't uncommon among adventurers. Though it's always sad to see someone go before their time, she is thankful his passing was instant.

Turning back to the bone wall, the blonde saw Nicole jogging up, sword and shield in her arms. The image caused Kelly to giggle a bit. Kelly's blade was enchanted so only she could wield it, but Nicole was giving it her best effort to not fumble the blade before she reached the owner.

"Thank you, Nicole," Kelly giggled. The sword and shield were effortlessly handed to their owner and stowed, even with one hand. "You don't need to keep helping me though, one arm is plenty."

"I just want to make sure you heal ok." The bard's eyes wandered to Kelly's arm slung to her chest only to look back into the distance.

With her spirit lifting a bit she decided to tease the girl. "If you can cook me a warm meal at camp tonight I would appreciate it."

"How do you expect me to do that? All I have is hard tack and dried berries." There was the slightest hint of disappointment in her tone.

Kelly playfully rolled her eyes before heading in the direction Nicole was looking. "It was a joke. We'll be lucky to find firewood out here."

Nicole eagerly took her spot on the injured girls left. "Emily told me to look for a cave or something to hide in and lay low."

"She would be right, as always."

Kicking at the dusty ground Kelly gave a soft groan. Her arm was fine, fine enough anyway. She was worried. Keeping safe until tomorrow would be a challenge. They needed wood for a fire and a shelter safe enough to sleep in. They would be lucky to find one of those things in this barren valley. Feeling a bit hopeless Kelly let out another soft groan.

"If your arm hurts we can rest, we have a few hours before the sun sets."

Kelly glared at the girl, but quickly softened her expression. She knew Nicole was only offering because she was worried, but that was also the thing annoying her. Kelly wasn't weak, finding a campsite should be the concern, not her arm.

Kelly faked a smile to keep the peace, the concerned Nicole was a bit odd, but an angry Nicole is a nightmare. "I would rather rest by a warm fire, a fresh mug of tea in my hands."

Nicole shot the arm another look before looking Kelly in the eye and giving an understanding nod.

The two continued through the valley in silence, the only interaction between the two being Nicole shooting side glances to Kelly. The steep walls were staying close enough to affect visibility, but never getting as narrow as the earlier gorge. The bones littering the ground became less plentiful as they walked, being replaced with dried earth. A few yards further the eastern wall sunk into the earth turning the gully into a massive valley.

Seeing the open valley gave the injured girl a second wind. A cluster of dead trees can be spotted to the east. They now had a real goal. Once there, making it through the night was guaranteed.

Kelly was about to speak but was caught off guard by Nicole's stare. Following the girls gaze revealed a massive castle built into the southern walls of the mountain. It was scarily close, but it was also clear there was no direct path to the structure. The footpath from the castle gate wound west along a ridge before disappearing underground.

Kelly turned to her left, giving the brunette an awkward tap on the shoulder. "Lets leave that for tomorrow."

"I expected it to be big, but I didn't expect it to be THAT big." Nicole took a step, but her eyes never left the castle. "A dragon lived there, no other reason for it."

Kelly was so excited she was almost jogging to the tree line. Nicole threw her hood over her head and resumed her place next to Kelly. The half rotten woods quickly taking up more and more of their vision. As they reached the tree line the blonde maneuvered her shield onto her good arm. It fit loosely since it was on the wrong arm, but it was enough to snap branches and push her way in.

"Kelly stop being stubborn." The bards patience finally running out. "Even if you weren't hurt, forcing your way through is still fucking stupid."

"What do you plan on doing then?" Kelly frustratedly broke one more branch off of a dead tree before turning to face Nicole.

"How about we walk around the outside." The bard glance once more to Kelly's arm before taking the lead around the trees. "There has to be a less dense patch we can move through. Or if we're really lucky a deer trail."

Kelly kept her shield strapped to her arm as she followed Nicole along with the tree line north. The pair walked a good distance around the dead forest. The old trees looked like a graveyard, the rotting wood stood stiff like eerie tombstones.

After some more walking they found what they needed. A half dozen of the mightier trunks toppled over knocking some of the smaller saplings along with them. The forest was still dense, but the fallen trees would be much easier to move through.

Feeling satisfied the brunette led the way into the forest, dipping below bent and broken trunks. Despite how she held herself Nicole was nimble, moving fluidly and quietly with a finesse that Kelly rarely got to witness. The injured girl pushed to catch back up only to tumble over a log.

A yell escaped her as her arm slammed into the ground. Struggling to her knees Kelly began wiping the dirt off herself but was interrupted by a hand on her back.

"Nicole stop! If I need help I'll ask."

"You are injured! Why can't you just let me help you?" She was intentionally putting as much bite behind her words as possible.

Kelly's face turned red, her usually lighthearted attitude was gone as she began to shout. "Because if I can't do it myself that means I'm broken! I'm the weapon of a god. What good is a broken weapon?"

"You're a person Kelly! And you're injured not broken!"

Nicole wasn't someone that used physical violence. She would rather play her lute and cast a spell then throw a punch. That made her right hook all the more surprising. The open palm landed crisp on Kelly's already red cheek.

"I don't care that your god needs a weapon. I don't need a weapon, I need you." Nicole turned away, her own cheeks almost as red as the mark she left on Kelly. "I think I see a clearing up ahead. Can we rest there? Or should I smack you one more time?"

A bit embarrassed Kelly silently followed her friend the best she could. Her body may have been hurt, but after their argument the blonde's mind was in a maelstrom. She was aware people didn't like her for being a warlock. Giving up a part of yourself for a greater being was taboo to say the least. Emily was supportive of her decision, she could understand that's who Kelly is. Nicole was different though, she didn't want to see Kelly as a weapon, but she was still caring for her.

The clearing was tiny, keeping the fire a safe distance from the trees left them with little room of their own. Nicole was already busy clearing out the sticks, twigs and rocks. Kelly wanted to help but didn't know where to start. Her usual contribution to camping was refilling water skins. Luckily the clearing was small enough where Nicole had it swept in under ten minutes.

The brunette began stacking the stones she collected into a small circle. "I can throw some sticks and rocks together, but don't expect a fire."

Kelly nodded in response but remained silent, not sure how to assist. The bard was quiet, lost in thought trying to make sure she didn't miss something crucial.

Satisfied with her work Nicole stood up. "Not sure how we light it, but the wood is dry so there won't be much smoke if we get it lit."

Kelly knelt down by the ring of stones, a puzzled look on her face. "You got this far, why are you doubting yourself now?"

Stepping over to her bag the bard started getting her bed ready. "Ari showed me how when we started dating. I've only started a fire myself twice."

"But if the wood is so good shouldn't that make starting the fire easier?"

Taking a blanket out of her bag and placing it on her bed roll Nicole shot the injured girl a crass look. "If you think it's so easy start banging rocks together." Nicole took a seat on her bed and began strumming a tune on her lute.

With the bard quietly playing a tune Kelly turned her attention back to the fire pit. It was tiny, less than a foot across, but the nights were cold even in the middle of summer, and she was sure that the valley would be even colder. If worse comes to worse the two would just share blankets and Kelly would have to hope Nicole didn't hit her arm if she rolled in her sleep.

Looking one more time at the bard softly playing her melodies a feeling of inspiration bloomed in Kelly's mind. Walking over to her own bag she dug out one of her whetstones before returning to the fire pit. She had found a solution, only for a new problem to come to her attention.

"Hey Nicole," Kelly said confidently. "I need your help."

A sour note was played as Nicole's attention was now fully on the blonde. "Sure, what do you need?" The bard laid her lute down and took a few steps to stand where Kelly was happily waiting.

Handing over the whetstone the warlock explained the plan. "If you hit the edge of my blade with that it will always spark."

"Won't that damage the blade?"

"I don't need a weapon right now, I need a fire." Kelly drew her sword and laid it across the tinder, holding it tight so it wouldn't move.

"I'm not sure I feel right doing that, what if I do irreparable damage?"

"Even if you mess up it won't be as bad as you think. Trust me, it will be fine."

Nicole was hesitant with the whetstone, like she wasn't sure if she really wanted a spark at all. Her arm was raised, the stone held tight in her hand. All she had to do was take action, she glanced at Kelly who responded with a welcoming smile. All she had to do was act. So she did.

As the stone struck the blade a small spark was lit between the two girls. The tinder caught quickly and Kelly smiled wide, gleefully withdrawing her sword from the soon to be campfire and putting it back in its scabbard. A soft glow was forming, slowly crawling to the rocks surrounding it before rising to its full height. The quiet crackling of the wood was almost as beautiful as Nicole playing her lute.

"I guess I owe you an apology." Nicole was scratching her ear, a dusting of red was on the very tips. "How about I make you some tea?"

Kelly gave the bard and warm smile. "I would love some."

Kelly enjoyed her tea while the two ate some rations. The warm tea and full belly did wonders for the girl's mood. Even her arm was feeling better, though she wanted to keep it in the sling overnight just to be safe. Time passed quickly the sun dropping below the valley walls before the two even realized.

Kelly was in bed laying on her side, her good arm propping her head up. She was staring at Nicole right beside her. The brunette was laying on her stomach watching the fire slowly fade. They weren't more than a whisper away.

"I owe you one Nicole."

The brunette scrunched her face. "For what? It was you that got the fire going."

"For breaking me out of that sour mood. I've been a weapon for so long I forgot I was a person first." Kelly ran a hand through her golden ponytail, earning her a side glance from Nicole. "If you need anything from me don't be afraid to ask."

"I'll keep that in mind." Nicole was still facing the campfire, but her eyes were now locked onto Kelly.

That's when it clicked. "You're staring again."

"Huh?!"

"You've been looking at me all day." With a wink the blonde continued to tease the girl. "You can stare all you want but he arm wont heal any faster."

"Kelly... I..." the brunette's attention returned to the fire quietly fading out. "I don't know."

The fire was still burning softly, but Kelly could swear Nicole's face was turning red on its own. Wrapped tight in her blanket Nicole inched a bit closer to the blonde. The two were hardly a breath away, the fire dancing in the bards blue eyes. She was almost convinced Nicole wasn't a kid anymore.

With a bit of embarrassment and a soft laugh Kelly lifted her blanket. "Here, but only for tonight."

The bards eyes went wide at the invitation, her lips caught somewhere between a smile and a frown. Kelly's embarrassment only grew as the girl hesitated to move, instead deciding to stare deeper into Kelly's violet eyes.

Kelly began to shiver without the protection of her blanket, but before she could lower it the brunette moved. Closing the distance she buried her face into the blondes shoulder as the blanket fell around the two.

The blonde ran her hand through dark brown hair. "Sweet dreams."

Chapter Text

Nicole was wide awake, the campfire had burned out hours ago but she was still feeling it's heat. She laid motionless in Kelly's embrace, too scared to move. To act.

Kelly had already nodded off in spite of the fact that Nicole's heart was practically beating out of her chest. It was pitch black, but their faces were so close that Nicole could still make out the sleeping girls silhouette. She needed to do something, anything to get the 'what if's' to stop flooding her mind.

She had seen Kelly in a different light ever since the sun rose that morning. And now with the the sun having set, she was unsure if what she saw was real. She had wanted this, to snuggle up by a dying campfire and fall asleep in her arms, but she couldn't figure out if her feelings for Kelly were genuine or just a result of her and Ari growing distant.

Kelly was right, loneliness wasn't something Nicole could tolerate anymore, not after adventuring with this party for so long. She needed them, all three of them. But she knew Kelly was different, or at least she had a feeling that was the case.

Nicole took a deep breath and held it. Her nose filling with the smell of a sleeping girl with a hint of campfire. It made her heart race just a bit faster. Focusing her eyes the brunette tried to make out the features of Kelly's face; her strong eyebrows always hidden behind her blonde bangs, her puffy cheeks turned pink by the cold night air, and her lips, plump and red like a perfectly ripe strawberry.

The brunette's eyes locked onto those lips, she wanted a taste. She only needed a sample to know if she really wanted more. It was eating at her like a bad vice. Just take a shot, and if you don't like it then quit cold turkey. It was so simple too, Kelly was already asleep and there wasn't another soul for miles. It could be her secret. This wasn't the result of uncontrollable lust, she just needed to put her bottled up emotions to action, put her own doubts to rest. Validation that this was something she wanted.

Carefully shifting her weight to not wake the sleeping girl Nicole moved her face a tiny bit closer. Just a peck on the lips is all she needed, to see if a spark was real between the two of them. She hesitated at the thought, if there is then what? That answer terrified her. She couldn't bring herself to do it, the fire was out.

For the first and maybe only time in Nicole's long life she woke up after the sun had risen. Kelly was already dressed for the day, her bad arm out of its sling and doing tasks effortlessly. She was still faintly glowing, not as noticeable as it was yesterday, but she was still divine.

Left speechless at her companion, Nicole continued to watch as the girl went through her morning ritual. Her hair was already tied back and her sarashi was redone leaving a bit more room for imagination. The pot of water on the fire was beginning to simmer as she prepared a mug with a fresh bag of tea.

Nicole was happy to see her friend back to her usual self, but wanted a bit more time with the Kelly that needed her. The one that held her until they both fell asleep.

Just a bit more time... such a funny phrase for someone that will live so long. To a human the night was just that, a night, but for Nicole she will cherish it for centuries.

Stirring a bit and climbing out of Kelly's bed, Nicole was greeted by the voice of an angel. "Good morning, you must have slept well. I don't think I've ever woken up before you."

The words made her heart skip a beat. Still a bit nervous she replied. "Morning, you look happy as always."

"Why wouldn't I be happy?" Raising her left arm and giving it a shake, Kelly cheered. "All better after a single night."

Nicole wanted to ask her about last night. If she really meant for it to be just once. If there was a chance for them to be something more, but the answer was terrifying to hear. If it's a no then she will eventually move on, but if it's a yes, then what? Kelly was in her mid twenties, their relationship won't last a fifth of Nicole's life. Only one of them would get to grow old. It was tempting to leave last night there, in her memories. Stay friends, and in 70 years move on.

Feeling melancholy the brunette stood up and wrapped her arms around her crush, giving as tight of a squeeze as she could.

Kelly gave a soft hug back, running a hand through dark brown hair. "Everything okay? You were acting touchy yesterday too."

"I just really need you." Nicole blinked away the tears starting to form. "I need you so much."

"Its ok, you can need me every once in a while."

Nicole was a bit disappointed at that response. She wasn't expecting an 'I need you too', but she at least wanted Kelly to acknowledge her. See her as someone besides a friend. Maybe not quite girlfriend, but something more than friend.

A bit dejected Nicole moved to her bag and dug out her breakfast. She didn't have an appetite, especially not for more hard tack, but she needed a full belly to make it through the day. About to make her first bite Kelly joined her on her own bed and handed the bard a warm cup of tea. The smile the blonde wore was as genuine as ever.

Thanking the girl, Nicole took the cup and sunk her ration in the tea to soften it. Nicole enjoyed the company while she tolerated her meal. Her heart may still be bugging her, but her stomach will be full for a while. Another memory for Nicole to look back on. If only life was a bit simpler.

Finishing breakfast the two cleaned up their camp and made their way out of the dead woods and back into the open. It was close to mid day when they saw a speck on the horizon coming down from the north. It was moving at a good pace, much faster than any person could run. Kelly stood and readied her shield anticipating danger.

As it got closer the finer details became clear. It was a large cart, at the front were two strong horses pulling it along at a fast trot. It wasn't until they were 100 feet away that the passengers became recognizable. Trody was at the front holding the reigns tight. In the back of the wagon was the other half of her team along with the cleric from yesterday.

Before the cart could stop Emily had jumped off and started making her way to Kelly and Nicole. The first thing Nicole noticed was how stressed Emily looked, or maybe she just looked sober. Her jaw was clenching tight and her hands never left her hips, and the daggers secured there. Nicole was about to greet her leader, but she spoke first.

"I have so many questions, and I don't want any of them answered." Emily took a deep breath before sighing in disappointment.

Embarrassed by Emily's observation Nicole changed topics. "Well I have one, where did you find a wagon?"

"Farm by the city." She motioned to Megan. "The princess couldn't make the trip on foot."

Hearing her mocking title Megan began to argue. "This was almost twenty miles! I'm sorry I never got military training, I was busy keeping armies of undead in check."

The cleric looked almost as stressed as the rogue. Her first time outside the city and its to land a decisive blow against her greatest enemy. This needed to be a success, fumbling like they did yesterday would result in a lot more than their own deaths.

Trody gave a friendly smile and wave to the girls before looking to Emily with a proud expression. Ari was seated across from them, and despite her not being able to read minds she still grasped the atmosphere between Nicole and Kelly enough to give them a wide smile along with a sarcastic eye roll.

With the party reunited the wagon continued it's journey south. The valley was quiet, but not in the eerie sense like it was yesterday. It was as if the valley was sleeping, quietly waiting for it's return to life.

It didn't take long to find what they were after. A massive gateway was built into the valley walls, the insides a mixture of castle stonework and ancient caverns. It was a checkpoint to the southern castle. They were about to enter the last bastion of the necromancer. They were about to end this twenty year plague.

Emily was the first out of the wagon, passing under the portcullis with an ambitious Kelly only a few steps behind. The rest of the group followed soon after. Even with the high ceiling of the cavern the interior still felt cramped. The floor was dotted with old stones and stalagmites along with the occasional broken crate or cabinet.

As they worked their way into the darkness Kelly drew her weapon and gave it [Light] to help those without darkvision. The main path continued further into the mountain before continuing up a sloped corner and out of view. There were side rooms and stairs to what may have been living spaces or more storage.

Quietly the group pushed into the dungeon with Emily and now Ari at the front inspecting the floor for traps.

Nicole was clutching her lute, prepared to jump out of her skin at every shadow. "Why does this feel too easy?"

Ari laid a hand on Drum's forehead giving the tiger an understanding nod. "Jeffery's here."

"You mean he's not in the castle?" Megan gave the tiefling a puzzled look.

Emily continued. "No, he turned the checkpoint into his lair. We need to go deeper if we want to end this."

"OK, what do you need from me?"

"Stay with Trody, we'll sweep the rooms then come back to get you."

With a nod and some quick touch ups on their equipment the party of four moved through a side passage and down a winding set of stairs to the basement. The steps were heavily worn and uneven. Undead bone wearing down the stone, aging it 500 years in only 20. Emily was the first into the basement followed by Ari and Drum. Nicole was right beside Kelly, the blonde's sword was back in its sheath, but Nicole felt the safest right next to her.

The first room looked mostly normal, old creates and shelves from when the castle got shipments. To a civilian nothing would stand out, Nicole didn't notice anything right away either. That was until Ari drew their attention to a chest tucked away behind some empty barrels.

"Think it's a mimic?"

"I would feel disappointed it it wasn't," Emily added. "Only one way to find out."

Adjusting her gloves the rogue crept up to the padlock and began to ready her lockpicks. A bead of sweat formed on her neck as the dangers began to sink in. As she finished setting up her supplies she took out a dagger and held it tight. Her other hand and mage hand held the lockpick and torsion wrench. The ghostly hand moved quick, setting two pins almost instantly. After a few more moments there was a quiet click and then thud as the lock fell to the ground. The rogue sprung back, using the mage hand to lift the lid, revealing a mostly empty chest. The contents were a simple looking spear and a gold ring set with an amethyst gemstone.

"Magic items, not sure what they do but they are definitely magic." Emily took the spear out of the chest and handed it to Kelly. "You might like this, it requires attunement, but it should be worth it."

Kelly looked it over before stowing it in her bag with a bright smile. "I will wield it proudly."

Emily was hesitant with the ring, examining it from every possible angle before coming to her conclusion. "I can't tell what it does. I would assume it's mind based since it's using amethyst but that doesn't narrow anything down."

"If its mental based, I'll take it." The ring was mesmerizing to Nicole, the vibrant purple gem called to her in a way she couldn't describe.

Emily happily handed the ring to the bard who examined it more closely from the palm of her hand. This ring was definitely beneficial to her, but there was more then that. The small piece of amethyst reflected her the same way Kelly's eyes had the night before. With a soft sigh Nicole slipped the ring onto her right hand. She couldn't deny it anymore, she liked Kelly more than a friend.

Happy with their findings the party moved to the next room. It was a tiny room, only about 250 square feet. The entire room was empty except for a fixture at its middle. A pedestal with a magical stone was the only thing illuminating the room. The far wall had another door, but it was blocked by a set of iron bars.

"Its a puzzle," Emily mused to herself. "I think the trap triggers if we touch the stone."

"But that's the only thing here? What else are we supposed to do?" Nicole was half complaining, but also half curious.

Removing the cloak from her back, Emily approached the pedestal draping her cloak over the stone making the room pitch black. After a moment of silence a quiet thunk could be heard before the iron bars sank into the ground. Satisfied with the results Emily reattached her cloak and started walking for the next room.

The blonde made slow strides, falling behind Kelly as they made their way across the tiny room. Nicole saw it as odd, but didn't think anything of it. Then Emily drew her blades and attacked.

"Kelly!"

Kelly spun on her heel, her shield effortlessly pushing the rogues daggers to the side and simultaneously placing her free hand on the girls chest.

[Dispel Evil and Good]

Emily slumped to the ground in a deep sleep, but standing where she had been remained a ghost. The face looked familiar, like that of an old friend from another time. It didn't move right away, like it didn't expect to be caught that fast.

Ari was eager however, her blades already drawn and coming down hard on the ghost. Her short-sword passed through the monster like it was mist, but her saber landed a hard blow to what would be its shoulder.

The ghost wailed in pain, it's icy cold hands lashing out at the tiefling. Her armor blocked the jagged fingers with little effort, but the cold chilled her bones. Ari took a short step away, taking in shallow labored breaths trying to recover from the attack.

Nicole gave her instrument a strum, the new ring or her finger glowing along with the spell she was casting.

[Dissonant Whispers]

The ghost wretched and moaned as the spell invaded it's mind. With the odds now stacked against it the unholy creature darted to the wall, passing through it and out of sight. The party stayed on guard as Ari tried to get Emily back on her feet.

It only took a few shakes for Emily to wake up. The girl was confused, but other than that she was unharmed. Quickly standing the blonde fought off the light headed feeling and readied her blades. The ghost was bound to make another pass at them, either with its claws or by possession again.

With a wail it emerged from the ceiling and made it's way to Kelly, but the blonde was just as ready for the attack the second time.

[Eldritch Blast]

The magical attack pushed the ghost across the room. It's unholy cries growing louder and causing everyone to shiver and shake. Nicole nearly dropped her lute just from the reflex to cover her ears. Fighting off the yell of the damned she gave her lute another strum and cast her spell one more time.

[Dissonant Whispers]

The ghost contorted in on itself before dropping to the ground in a puddle of ectoplasm.

Emily walked to the now unlocked door only to freeze in her tracks again, after a minute of silence she spoke up. "Ari, head back and get Trody and Megan. I'll figure out a plan of attack once we're in the room."

With a nod Ari darted back to the entrance. Emily, Nicole, and Kelly took one more breath before opening the door to what she assumed would be Jeffery's lair.

It was big and almost entirely cavernous, the only stonework being the entryway and a small alter where the hunched over gnome stood. Torches were scattered haphazardly as if they were trying to blend in with the stalagmites. Their fires burning softly with a surreal blue flame.

The gnome was buried deep in his work, only noticing the party approaching him when his undead bodyguards began to stir. There were more of the undead wights than last time, two standing between them and their master and another three remaining by the alter.

"What are you here for?" The gnome turned to the party, his hands soaked in the blood of a recent victim. "I'm banished, I'm serving my unjustified punishment."

"You are holding a princess along with an entire town hostage with your abominations." Kelly took the lead, shouting at the necromancer. Her voice ringing off the cavern walls making it sound like she was part of a chorus. "You may be punished, but you have continued your crimes."

Nicole glanced to Emily, the rogues eyes were wide and darting around the room. She wasn't engaged in conversation, she was preparing for combat.

Nicole spoke up, her voice carrying almost as well as Kelly's in the cave. "Drop the charade Jeffery, you aren't the victim here."

"I'm all alone in this cave with only the undead as company. The chancellor talks to me, but only if I keep Jecka from escaping her castle. I don't even have enough bodies to practice my hobby properly. I think victim is a good description."

The snide words were unconvincing, only getting a soft chuckle from the bard. "I know it's kind of late because of the banishment, but have you tried a different hobby? Maybe one that doesn't require murder?"

Nicole was blown away by Jeffery's stupidity. Forced into solitude for twenty years and he still didn't change. Nicole had spent twenty years alone, the only thing it gives you is the time to think and reflect. You use that for the better. Nicole used her time alone to get better at the lute. That's how she found Ari, and after that she slowly found the rest of her party and became who she is now, and she still isn't done growing. Give her one hundred years and she can grow even more.

"How is what I'm doing any different from you and adventuring? Here you are, in MY home threatening MY life. How many people have you killed before you came here to threaten me?" Jeffery's attention turned to the doorway as Ari and the rest rejoined the group. "The people called me a freak and a monster. I think its about time I prove them right!"

[Greater Invisibility]

With a single spell the gnome vanished, nowhere to be seen. In the same instant the wights spurred by their masters will made their way from the alter into the maze of stone and torches. Kelly was already taking the front line with Trody right beside her, Megan was a few steps back trying her best to focus. The cleric, never seeing combat before, was a bit shaky, but her spells were more than potent enough for the situation.

[Spirit Guardians]

The radiant aura surrounded Megan as well as bathing her front liners in the beneficial spell. The undead flinched at the outer limits of the spell before continuing their assault. Jagged blades held firm as the undead began their attack.

The wights were tenacious, even with Kelly's massive shield and Trody's hardy chest plate they felt the blows landing hard. The duo did what they could, but the wights weren't as weak as the skeletons and zombies they knew so well. They wore thick leather armor similar to Emily, and some even had basic wooden shields. It was almost like they were up against another party of adventures.

Ari gave a sharp whistle and Drum responded. The tiger ran to Emily where the rogue placed a hand on the tigers back.

[Invisibility]

Emily ran a hand through her hair pulling a strand loose. "I can hear him, but I can't zero in until Drum tracks him down. Stay on your toes, we can't let him go invisible again."

The invisible tiger moved silently eagerly tracking down its equally elusive prey. Nicole's attention was split between the gnome she had two less than meaningful conversations with, and Kelly who was putting up a good fight with the undead. Nicole knew her role, and that was to help find and incapacitate the necromancer. She needed to put all of her focus on Jeffery, but her thoughts kept drifting back to that blonde.

As if on cue a small red flame manifested out of thin air. Jeffery was casting another spell, and Nicole's jaw hit the floor.

[Fireball]

The roar, heat and blinding light from the spell was impressive from where the necromancer was standing, but its impact was all consuming. Its destructive power scorching Nicole along with Ari and Emily, but it was too much for the bard to handle. The spell left her lying on the cold cavern floor clinging to what life she could manage. The fight raged on around her, though her vision was blurred and ears ringing loudly she was well aware Emily handled the spell with the ease only a rogue could manage. Ari was worse for wear, only on her feet because of her combination of stamina and luck. Even so she was firing her arrows with all the strength she had left. Nicole couldn't see the gnome, but his cries for mercy were growing desperate before finally going quiet.

The bard relaxed a bit, the cold and damp floor was soothing on the charred skin covering her back. As the silence grew so did Nicole's peace of mind. She wasn't looking forward to dying, but if it happen now she wouldn't hate it either. Her time with Kelly yesterday was beautiful, and if she dies now then so be it.

[Healing Light]

The darkness shrank away, pulling Nicole from the space between and back to the mortal plane. She opened her eyes to the murky darkness of the cave. She was alive, but still in incredible pain. Her skin though not charred anymore still had the tender and thin qualities of fresh scar tissue. The scar ran from the middle of her left thigh up her back and almost reaching her opposite shoulder. Nicole laughed to herself, one more thing she couldn't forget five hundred years down the line.

As her eyes came to focus she saw Kelly looking down on her. One of her eyes was swollen and purple, but that just made her bright smile and sprinkling of tears all the more prominent. The irony was not lost on the bard. Nicole playfully sank further into Kelly's embrace like a kid looking to get out of their morning chores. Now it was her turn to get looked after.

Kelly reciprocated the act, holding Nicole as tight as she could. "I wasn't sure I made it in time. I thought you were lost."

Another wave of healing magic surged into Nicole, her vigor returning in waves and giving her a second wind. Blessed with new found energy she locked onto those now intimately familiar amethyst eyes. Even accented with the bruise they looked perfect.

"I love you Kelly." Nicole smiled wide, wider than she ever had before.

With a quiet laugh, Kelly responded. "I know, and I love you."

The words echoed in her mind, not sure if she heard it right. But the words just kept rattling in her mind and building up the courage in Nicole's heart. She brought her face to Kelly's, their lips meeting, forming that familiar spark that she had lost for so long. She waited a moment for the recipient to kiss back, but it never came. Pulling away she was met with Kelly's friendly smile, but no laugh. A delicate hand ran through her hair and Nicole shuddered.

"I'm sorry,"