"You know Grachus, I despise the undead." Vis said as he swept the head from an advancing skeleton, one of the many that he had destroyed this unlucky night.
"Why's that boss?" Grachus asked, swinging his maces and neatly destroying several more.
"Well, for one thing," Vis paused to backpedal out of the way of several advancing skeletons, "They never know when to give up... I mean, its not like we're in any real danger from these pathetic examples of the foul necromancer's art are we?"
"Couldn't say boss." Grachus grunted, never really the orc for words.
"Hang on, take these for example. They just keep coming and coming after us. With no real reason. But, if we take three steps back..." Vis trailed off as he took precisely three steps back and waited for Grachus to do so as well.
Grachus slowly took the hint and stepped back to where Vis was standing. The skeletons ceased their attack, and wandered back to the cave from where they had been resting, their smashed companions laying there on the grass, the animating force blasted from their bones.
"See? They just walk away. You know, if we had something better to do than see what was so important in this bloody hole for that bloody mage... I'd be thinking we could just blast our way in and be done with this in an afternoon and be home in time for tea. What do you think Grachus?"
"Never much liked tea Boss. Like smashin much more."
"Well, yes, that's why I keep you around. But what's the point really? Why do we do it?"
"Err," Grachus' face twisted with the difficulty of the thought coming to him. "Err, we do it for the money? That mage give us lotsa sparklies for this."
"Ahh yes my dear friend Grachus, the money. This indeed is why we do this thing, and right after we get paid, I shall betray you and take your sparklies."
Grachus laughed. "You're funny Boss. I no think you betray me, you like me, and I like you. Lets get back to smashin."
"Indeed! Back to smashin! After you my good Orc!"
"TYR! Why have you abandoned me?" Alyndas screamed through vocal cords that were nearly bleeding. Kneeling in the rain in front of his destroyed manor house, Aly's entreaties were heard by noone. By nothing. The lands around the manor had been cursed by the death of the orc chieftain long ago, and had not yet been cleansed. Alyndas had been planning to do that after the destruction of Belial, but as always, events conspired against him. All he really wanted to do was settle down with Shaleea in the manor house, and rebuild his family. And now, here he was. His hopes and dreams shattered and burned out with the destruction of his holy sword and a debt that his father incurred. He knew that he should never have travelled to that distant land. He knew it was a trap. He knew it was something he would never be the same after. Alyndas wept in the rain, and after a time, fell over and slept. Time passed for him. Day after day, night after night he hurled his voice skyward with no response. The voice that been his constant companion was silent. He knew that he was no longer a paladin. He knew that forevermore he would be nothing more than a washed up old warrior with a shattered sword. And yet, in the back of his mind, that was ok. After a time, he stopped calling out to the sky and stopped weeping. He realized, slowly that he still lived, and all was not truly lost. He slowly gained acceptance that everything would be alright. He stood one morning and turned to the manor. "Well, I suppose its time for me to get to work."
"You know Boss, I've not seen anyting like what was down there. Dat mage was truly a crazy bastard," Grachus remarked to Vis as they exited the cave, the supernatural presence now cleansed.
"Well Grachus, they can get a little nutty when left under the ground for a little bit too long with noone to talk with but a corpse."
"So we go get sparklies now?"
"Yes my friend, we go off to get sparklies. And then, my sudden, but inevitable betrayal," Vis spoke with a gleam in his eye, and Grachus laughed heartily at that.
"Boss, I think you been talkin to corpses too!" Grachus laughed some more. "You seemin a little nutty too."
"Nutty? Nay, I'm batshit fucking crazy, my dimwitted friend."
At this, they both laughed uproariously. For different reasons. Vis clapped the orc on the back and they started walking back to Baldur's Gate to collect their rewards.
About a week later, Vis was in front of the mage that had hired them. Grachus was waiting just outside the town for Vis to return.
"Did you find it?" The mage asked hesitantly?
"Yar, we found it." Vis tossed a small leather pouch at the mage's feet. "It wasn’t easy, it took us damn near the better part of a week to clear out the place of all the damned skeletons. Not that kill... well destroying them was hard... they're just annoying. And they reanimated themselves every evening when the sun went down. I swear we killed the same skeletons a half a dozen times. No worries though, we got the Neckie that was down there and did what you asked of me. And brought you what you asked. There in that bag. Although I still don't quite understand what you wanted with it."
"Never mind all that, never mind. Here is your payment that we agreed on." The mage tossed a small velvet bag to Vis and the half-elf caught it deftly and made it disappear about his person.
"Aren't you going to count it?"
"Nay friend, I don't need to. Because I know that you know that if you cheated me on a payment, I'd have to kill you. And believe me. I would. With pleasure. Nothing personal, mind you. Its just business. Besides, If you shorted me on the cash, I'd just have to kill Grachus and take his share to make up for it. And then come and kill you for cheating me. And maybe kick a puppy or three on my way out of town... just for spite."
"You'd do all that?"
"You bet your bippy friend. Well, maybe not the puppy part... I'm not a monster." Vis turned and walked out of the bar. "Be seein ya friend."
Sweat dripped off Alyndas' brow as he felled the tree. Good hard work left him little time to reflect on his losses. It was only in the night, when the dreams came to him that he sobbed with grief. Only in his sleep though. Every day he and several laborers worked brutal tedious hours to remove the destroyed Manor and begin rebuilding a new one. Bigger, stronger, more fireproof. It was a good thing that his father had always bee so willing to lend money to the other local nobles, all Aly needed to do was put his armor on, polish it up a bit and go calling around a bit to get the funds he needed to repair the manor. He still felt empty inside though. Incomplete. And it nagged at him. He didn't know whether it was because Tyr was gone from his life or that Shaleea was gone, and probably dead. Shaleea. How he missed her, how he longed to talk to her...
He continued his days by rebuilding his house. Slowly, it took shape and began to resemble the house he had grown up in. He now had a roof over part of it, and shelter from the conditions outside. Winter was falling fast here, and they needed to get most of the shell finished before the snow flew. He thought he might need to hire on some more hands to get it done. He really had nothing else to do, his life had become hollow, pointless. He was readying his house for what? For who? He certainly didn't need it. He could go to Waterdeep and... and... then what. That's where it all fell apart for him. He wasn't important anymore. Even though he never wanted to be, he had gotten used to it. And now, he was nothing. A minor noble with a destroyed house.
Maybe she would come back to him, and they could revive the line and the lands... But that was just wishful thinking. More than likely, she would perish in the line of duty against whatever powerful supernatural evil fouled that beseiged land. Truth be told, he felt like a coward. Leaving them was expeditious. Simple. Could he still be considered even a man? The crash of the felled tree startled him back to the here and now. There was still work to do.
"Grachus, I am terribly disappointed in you. I mean, 15 orcs? You think so little of me that you only bring 15 orcs to ambush me and take my sparklies? I'm hurt. Of course, not as hurt as you wi..."
"Shut Up! You no talk now! You give Grachus what Grachus want! Or Grachus and friends kill you!"
Vis sighed. Maybe he really was that stupid. Oh well, he thought, At least this should be fun. "You know Grachus, I don't think giving you what you want will do. But, for your faithful service, I will give you what you deserve."
With that, Vis stepped out of phase for a moment. *Magical darkness envelops my form, Shifting, bending , changing streams of light, now, nothing is seen but a memory* he sang, dropping a cloak of improved invisibility upon himself.
"Get Him!" Grachus yelled, "He not get away!"
3 of Grachus orcs sprouted daggers from their foreheads a moment later and dropped to the ground. Chaos reigned for a moment as Grachus shouted to control his charges. He stepped away from the rest of his orcs for a moment, "Its just a trick! See, there no daggers here!"
Truly, for the daggers had returned to the half-elf a moment after they tasted orc blood. Grachus kicked one of the corpses. "Get up! You not dead! It Illusion!" The corpse, predictably, failed to stir.
*Barriers felt, but not seen, a power stirs to trammel those that
oppose me, a wall of force to imprison you for now, I'll get to you
later... and how.*
"Hah! You do nothing but tricks! Find Him! Kill Him!" Grachus ran forward, and stopped suddenly, as if he collided with an invisible wall. Landing on his back, he stood back up and felt the wall around him.
"You like your new prison Grach? I think it suits you just fine. Now, you can watch as I abuse your followers ina most unpleasant manner."
4 more orcs fell over as daggers appeared in vital areas about them. The panic in the small camp was almost tangible, most of the orcs had frozen, those that moved or tried to run had been slain outright. "As for the rest... Well..." *A tale I'll tell, to make you weep, and when I'm done, you'll fall asleep!* The rest of the orcs, all fell over as the magic took hold over them. Quickly, and efficiently, they were all bound and gagged. And Vis' voice, low and menacing, in Grachus' ear,
"Now, let's have some fun..."
Alyndas moved with more of a spring in his step lately, his Manor was almost finished being rebuilt, and the grounds around it were takingshape. "Soon, it may even be habitable!" He remarked to himself with a chuckle. Things were looking up for the fighter. People were returning to the area around his manor, and he was granting them leave to work the land, in exchange for small plots on which they could live. He was beginning to feel almost noble again. He was conducting daily prayer
services to Tyr, and had a small flock of regular attendees. He still didn't feel the touch of the god, but that was alright.Showing up in singles, and pairs, sometimes in small groups, he was slowly beginning to attract followers. People that were willing to fight for him and assist in the upkeep and defense of the manor house. Soon, he would need to add on to what he built to house them all. But for now, they were content with the pavillion tents he had set up for them. He worked all day with his people, training them in the arts martial and other things a knight would teach his squires and at night, he taught reading, writing, etiquette, and heraldry to be sure his people could think as well as fight. He was beginning to feel like a man again.
"AAAAAGGHHRRRRRRHHHHHHUUURGLE!" the last remaining orc gurgled as Vis finished skinning him alive. Long strips of Orc flesh decorated the small clearing while Grachus watched from his impromptu prison. "Well, that was just delightful, wasn't it dear friend? I hope you enjoyed
that show as much as I enjoyed performing it." Vis picked up the corpse, and tossed it on the others, flayed in much the same manner. Blood soaked the ground, now slick and colored red with gore. The bard was covered head to toe in darkening red ooze. "Now Grachus, we turn, at last to you. Whatever shall we do with you now? I can't take you with me, or perhaps, can I? Maybe you have learned your lesson. Hmm, have you learned your lesson my friend?"
Grachus burbled for a moment, stunned at the bard's viciousness. "Grachus learn. Grachus lear.." The powerful orc broke into racking sobs.
"Aww my dear friend Grachus, what is the matter?"
"You killed my brothers and my cousins. Tortured them to death."
“Well, yes, I do seem to have done just that. Maybe this means I should just kill you and be done with it. After all, I can't have an orc with a blood oath to revenge the deaths of his family with me now can I?"
"No. Grachus understand. No more betray. Grachus no want die."
"Ahh, very good. I simply didn't want to lose such an effective fighting tool. But, I will retain the sparklies for the last job and the next 3 jobs for this... indiscretion."
"Yes. That ok.."
"Excellent. Let's move on then. Come along."
"What about wall? Grachus trapped."
"Oh, that. It was gone half an hour ago. You've been free for a while. It does me good to see a spirit so utterly broken."
Grachus stood up and moved forward. The wall was truly gone. He realized that he could have done something to try to save the last couple of members of his family, and started sobbing again.
"Yes Lady?" The bard suddenly said as he knelt in front of shimmering circle in mid air. "A nobleman? Piece of pie. I'll get right on it."
"Well Grachus, it appears your services are no longer needed," the bard said as he lunged forward, shortsword leading. The enchanted weapon dug deep into the fleshy part of Grachus' neck, driving out the back, neatly severing the spinal cord in one blow. "Goodbye dear friend." Vis said as he withdrew his blade, the orc slumping to the forest floor. Grachus' eyes darted around in terror as his brain slowly used up the last of the oxygen in the blood that remained in his head. "See you around."
Alyndas relaxed in his office. A roaring fire in the hearth kept the place nice and warm and kept the winter chill at bay. He really needed someone to keep track of all these things for him so he could be out among his people more, but he knew that he needed to at least do some of it. His father spent too much time poring over ledgers than was healthy, but it did leave him the legacy of a moneylender. Tracking down debts owed to his family was what was financing the rebuilding,
so he couldn't be too picky he thought. He had several house guards, quite a few peasant farmers and herders, a small chapel and... there was so much to do, and not enough time to do it. He was happy though, that things were finally going the way he wanted. Simple, calm, and most importantly, his life wasn't in any danger. Things were good.
“Is this the man she wants me to kill? Where's the fun in this? Where's the challenge? He's a simple nobleman." Vis observed from his position just outside of Alyndas ' Manor. He had been watching Alyndas for a few days now, watching and waiting as Alyndas performed menial tasks around the manor, met with peasants, and took care of day to day business.
"Most of the day he just sits there and does most of nothing. Grachus, I ask you How possibly is this worth my time? Well, sure she told me to, and that's all I really need to know, and I certainly will do this thing. You're maybe right there, maybe this is indeed a test as to how I'll perform on this task when I'm not being paid for it. Well, yes, I am being paid, but not in gold you know." Vis turned and addressed the rotting orc head sitting next to him, watching the Manor. "Now see here, I'll not stand that sort of remark from you. She's in charge, and I'll not hear an ill word against her." The dead eyes glared back at him, offering nothing beyond reproach. "Well, I suppose I have to go do this thing. Nothing to it but to do it. You keep an eye out and watch my back. I won't be long." Vis started singing again as he changed shape to become a falcon, flying high above the manor. Night was coming.
Alyndas couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. For a couple of days now, he had been uneasy. The people around him could feel it.
"Is everything alright Milord?" His clerk asked him after supper.
"I don't know Gramling. Something just feels wrong. Ah, tis of no import. Probably just nerves. Shaleea's father is coming to visit, and I want everything to go well."
"Yes, everything is prepared for his eminence's arrival. Seems his daughter's standing in the church of Lathander has elevated his own standing in that organization. Especially among our people."
"Yes, she is quite beloved here. By the people, and myself. I do hope she's safe. There was something about that place that didn't add up. No matter. We have business to attend to, I'll go upstairs and dress for this evening. I want you to make sure everything is ready."
"As you wish Milord."
Gramling headed to the kitchen, to check on the dinner planned for the evening. The cook was there as well as the serving girl, bustling around the kitchen preparing something or other. Gramling couldn't be bothered to see what was being cooked, as long as there was going to be something ready for his eminence. "Ah, Gramling, would you be so kind as to run to the smokehouse and fetch me another package of venison for the servant's dinner With all the hustle and bustle, I won't have time to cook anything? Sara here is busy with the place settings, and its dark outside. I don't need her tripping over something out there."
"Of course Madam Cory. I'll check on the stables while I'm out there. See that there's a place for his eminence's coach."
He grabbed a torch from the sconce by the door and lit it. The smokehouse was a small, squat building maybe a hundred yards off from the main house. As he reached the door, he felt a sharp, bright pain in his lower back, and everything went dark for Gramling.
Gramling returned to the kitchen, a package of venison in his hand. "E're's yer meat Love!" he said and tossed it to Madam Cory. "I'll be upstairs, seeing to the lord." Madam Cory seemed a bit taken aback at Gramling's meat hurling.
"Very well," she humphed and set about preparing the main course. not noticing the aroma of almond over the scent of the smoked meat. As he walked out the door, passing Sara as he went, she gave a yelp and danced away from him.
"What's the matter girl?"
"He just... Gramling pinched my bottom."
"Don't be silly girl, you must have imagined it. Gramling's too stiff to do something like that. Get back to work."
Loping up the stairs, Vis wandered to Alyndas' room. Singing his invisibility spell quietly, he phased out and stepped through the door. Alyndas was sitting on the edge of his bed, dressed, fiddling with his saber. In an instant, something sliced neatly across his throat, severing his vocal cords. He flopped back on the bed, clutching at his throat. Gasping for breath, Alyndas struggled to draw his saber to defend himself from the unseen attacker. Blood flowed freely from the wound, and Alyndas was finding it difficult to breathe. He managed to get his sword out and recoiled in pain as his sword hand was cleanly severed at the wrist. He fell to his knees and then to his chest in agony. Unable to breathe, the last words he heard was "You failed the mistress, Paladin of Tyr. And now, you failed your people."
Everything went black as Vis blew out the lamp. He changed back in to Gramling, and went to find Sara. The girl liked having her bottom pinched... He just knew it. Perhaps, she would come with him. Grachus was starting to smell.
As he was preparing to fire the manor house in anticipation of finding the luscious scullery maid Sara, he heard the sound of an approaching carriage.
“Damn and blast. Who could tha… oh. That’s not good.” He turned, mid sentence and dashed out the back door, pausing only when he almost tripped over the unconscious object of his desire.
“Well, now. That’s a fortune indeed. Well,” he grunted as he lifted the girl over his shoulder, “I’ve never been one to not pick up an unconsidered trifle. Ooh. I could go for some pudding now that I mention it…” He chanted the words to his invisibility spell and wove in a couple of verses to include
the girl and fled the Meduseld Manor.
“Milord! There’s been a terrible murder!” the cleric’s footman called back to the carriage.
Lord Tüssel d’Beregost started out of his chair. “What! Who has been killed‽”
“Milord… everyone has. Everyone. The entire house has been slain.” The footman seemed near tears. Lord Meduseld has had his head nearly cut off… it was horrible.”
The elderly cleric climbed down out of the carriage. “Who could have done such a thing? And why?” He slowly made his way to the manor. “Jacobsen. Return to my manor and fetch the ornate case from the chest behind my desk. Here is the key. Touch NOTHING else. Only the ornate chest.”
The man called Jacobsen unhitched one of the trailing horses from the carriage and dashed off into the night. Half a dozen others and perhaps a half a score of guards remained with the cleric. Tüssel looked down for a moment. “So much for dinner I suppose. Come brethren, there’s work to be done. Some may be saved still, and I owe my daughter a favor.”
“Where… where am I?” Sara asked, groggily.
“Oh good, you’re awake. I found you in the wood, delirious and crazed. It appears someone had poisoned you. I happen to dabble a bit in herbalism, and was able to neutralize the toxin.”
“I… don’t understand. I was serving dinner, and that’s the last thing I remember. How did I get… well here?
“My dear girl that is not at all important, it matters not where your family went, you have your strength to recover, so drink this potion and forget your lovers,” Vis sang softly, invoking the power to charm the girl. She leaned forward and took the proffered draught and drank deeply of it. Her eyes became glassy and she moved as if in syrup.
“There now. You should listen to me.” Vis said while looking right in her eyes.
“Lissten too youu.” Sara slurred.
“Good. You learn quickly. That’s important for what I have planned for you.”
“Planned forrr mee.”
“What’s your name girl?”
“Ssarraa.”
“Hmm. Nope. I don’t like that at all. It doesn’t fit you one bit. I think you shall be called Deliah.”
“Deeleyah. My name is Deliah.”
“Oh good!” Vis clapped his hands together, “We’re gonna be so good together.”
Deliah clapped her hands as well, “So good together.”
Alyndas regained consciousness about 3 hours or so after he was assassinated. Tüssel had retrieved his ancient rod of resurrection, and brought the Paladin back to the prime. “Ach. Now there’s a familiar feeling. Funny, you’re more gentle with one of those than Shaleea wa… Wait.. what the hell happened?”
“I was hoping you could tell me, Alyndas.”
“I was here, getting ready for dinner, and now I’m here, covered in what I presume to be my own blood, and you’re holding a rod. I’m guessing I was robbed and you were kind enough to bring me back to this realm.”
“Just as you say Alyndas. But who would rob you here? Your people love you, you’re a man of faith and godliness, Slayer of Evil and Doer of good deeds.”
“Yes. That I am.” Alyndas sighed. “Speaking of good deeds, have you heard from Shaleea lately? I would like to see her again.”
“Briefly. She sent a missive to me about a week ago and asked me to give you this.” Tüssel produced a long platinum chain with a single star sapphire pendant. “Its quite extraordinary really. Its very magical, alteration I do believe.” He handed the pendant to the paladin. “She also sent me a message for you. She told me to tell you, ‘When you’re ready, believe.’ She seemed to have thought that you had a bit of a crisis of faith. Nonsense I say. You’re one of the most faithful men I know.”
“If only you knew,” Alyndas muttered under his breath. “I wonder what she meant by that.” He looped the chain around his neck, the pendant tucked under his shirt, and stood up to see what had become of his manor.
“Where are we now Vis?” Deliah asked the bard while standing in a landscape of barren red rocks, the stench of brimstone and chaos in the air.
“You know, I don’t really know. Master Johann asked me to bring you here for the next part of your training. Perhaps the spell went wrong.”
“Went wrong. Right.” Deliah looked around the landscape, “I’m not sure this is the righ…”
Deliah ducked as a pair of daggers came whistling over her head. Vis simply stood where he was and flickered a bit. The half elf rolled his eyes.
“You know Johann, a simple Hello would have sufficed.”
<Yessss, perhapsss. But thisss way is ssso much more fun.>
<Common please. Deliah isn’t versed in the tongues of the lower planes. And its… rude.>
“Very welll… Bard. As I said in the message, you were to bring your charge here, and leave her with me so I can impart knowledge.”
“Leave me here! No way you’re leaving me here Vis. I don’t trust him.. it…”
“Now Deliah, you know Master Johann’s not going to hurt you. He comes at the recommendation of the Lady, and had much skill in his previous life. Dontcha Joey?”
“Joey? Were I not bound by the covenant owed my master, I would tear you..”
“Try to tear me. Never forget that. You may have been a talented thief-acrobat in your time, but you’re naught more than an Abishai in hell now. You do this service to better your standing. A favor for a favor remember. You owed your master, who owed my master. I suggested this trade, and now, you owe me. Don’t tempt me Johannithazar Kinthil Razlarashi. Harm her, and I will make you suffer.”
Master Johann screeched at the mention of his true name. “Fiend! Speak that not so loud! I will train her. And she will not come to harm. My master has seen to it.”
“Vis… please, don’t leave me. I don’t want to be here alone. “
“Deliah, I need you to do this for me. I need someone I can trust to be my second. Of course, it helps that you’re as gorgeous as you are dangerous, but your training is not complete. A little more time here, and then I can start training you for your position next to me. Won’t you like that?”
“Oh… yes. I would like that greatly. For you then, I will do this thing. I will be strong, and I’ll make you so proud of me.”
“Deliah, I already am. Johann, she’s ready for you now. Remember well what I said.”
Alyndas sat in his chapel, staring into the sapphire. “what could she have meant by that?” He held the chain up in front of a candle, the flames flickering blue, reflected off the thousands of facets on the gem. It really was a work of art. He sent it spinning, and flashes of deep blue played on the walls, and Alyndas was back on the battlefield where his sword was sundered. He watched himself leave his party, and his love. A momentary lapse of faith had caused him to lose everything he held dear in his life. Or had it? Had he really lost his sense of justice? His spirit? His will to do good? He had accomplished much in the time he had been back at his manor. Helped people, created a following, Who could blame him for breaking after all that had been done to him. How many times had he died in the furthering of his cause? As each facet sparkled on the wall, he saw a different way of death. Stabbed, burned, slashed, burned, bitten, enervated and so on until it was all a blur. The blur resolved itself into a pair of scales and a hammer. Was this an omen? Perhaps Tyr had forgiven him his lapse. Perhaps he could be whole again. He ran back to his office, and shouted for Gramling.
”Yes milord? What is it?”
“Gramling, help me with my armor.”
“Your armor sir? You haven’t worn that in months. Why now?”
“I’ve had a vision. All is not forsaken! Now, help me!”
Alyndas got dressed in his armor, and belted on his broadsword. He then went back to the chapel and pulled out the sapphire.
“I believe.”
Alyndas disappeared in a sapphire blue flash.
“What? Just walk in there and kill him?” Deliah asked, incredulously.
“Well, that *is* what assassins do you know.” Vis smiled, his charge’s first kill. “You know, this one is to be savored. Its your first time!”
“My first time? No its not! I’ve killed before.” She replied indignantly.
“Ah, but that’s different. You were in danger then. Cold blood is much more refreshing you know.”
She smacked him on the arm. “I never can tell when you’re serious you know. So, I break in, evade the guards, and kill the lord? That’s it? And for this I get a thousand gold?”
“Yep! So much better than cutpursing at the market isn’t it! A thousand gold for you, and some to me as the guild master.”
“What guild? Its just you. Well, you and one other. But I’ve never met that one. “
“You will. Soon. But you must do this first. Think of it as an initiation.” Vis kissed her on the cheek. “Now, off with you my dear. Don’t forget to tidy up.”
Deliah crept out of the shadow, and ran towards the wall. She reached into a pouch at her back and pulled out a small, cylindrical object. With a flick of her wrist, it extended into a 10 foot long pole. She jammed it into the ground at the base of the wall, and in a heartbeat, her black silken clad figure was up and over the wall and on the roof, pole retracting smoothly as she flew. A quick tuck and roll and she was hidden again in the deep shadow next to the balcony.
“Flashy my dear. And perhaps a bit loud, but I do so love watching you run.” Vis thought at her, their linked rings of telepathy allowing them to share their thoughts.
“Pfft. I know. That’s why I do it. Now, hush. I need to concentrate. This window’s trapped, and you know I’m not very good at traps.”
Deliah squinted at the window, trying to puzzle out how to work the catch without incinerating or stabbing herself. After a moment, she gave up, and headed for the chimney. Jumping up on top of it, she was silhouetted against the sky for a slight moment before she descended into the house. About a minute later, a dog started barking, and about 30 seconds after that, she came barreling out of the window that she couldn’t go in through. Glass shattered around her, and a fireball went off at about the same time. The smoking, burning assassin in training flew smoothly through the air and vaulted off the wall surrounding the house. A backflip and a half later, she stuck the landing right in front of where she assumed Vis was. He wasn’t.
“Now what my dear? You’ve made rather a mess of this one haven’t you? A good assassin needs to be able to escape as well as enter.”
“I killed him. I did. I didn’t see his dog on the floor though. He barked, I panicked. I’ll be alright. I’m good at evading. See you soon.” She dashed off into the night.
Alyndas’ eyes were filled with the color blue. Slowly, the color drained, and he saw Shaleea sitting in a chair in front of him. “Shalya? What… what happened?”
“Aly? Oh gods! Aly! You’re here! Its been so long since I’ve seen you, I thought you’d never come!” She leaped out of the chair and wrapped her arms around him.
“Shalya, how I’ve missed you!” He hugged her close and kissed her face. “You look… older. Its only been a few months. What happened?”
She pulled back. “Well that’s a fine how do you do. I see you still have none of the tact I never loved you for. Time passes differently out here on the planes. You’ve been home for 11 months, and I’ve been researching here, in Sigil for 9 years. While you’ve been moping about, I’ve been working on something. And I needed you back, so I sent you the sapphire. It was a gategem. Attuned to me, here, and I needed you to be whole again, so I made the trigger your belief. Clever eh?”
“I don’t understand. 9 years? Why did you need me all of a sudden? What’s going on?”
“It’s a very long story. The long and short of it is evil is walking the realm, and it must be stopped. From what I’ve been able to piece together, something big is happening, and Its going to happen soon. There’s need of our *services*. Pfeh. Like we’re horses to be hired out. Come, we have to go now. I was told that we had to go as soon as you got here. I’ll explain on the way.”
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