They worked their way back outside.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAR5meiNHiBq
"Casy bring us back!" Parcival said.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAEJRKrGyoPw
Who's Casy? Within moments they were all whisked away standing in front of a small home.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAH2zyUpEvTS
"Casy, we have her!"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAqy087SGQKx
"I'm glad everyone made it out alright," said Casy. He closed the door.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAhYjb3bp2FI
Parcival put her down while eyeing her. "Can you talk yet?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAYdiM3w8ww4
"No guess not." He turned to Casy. "Do you have any rope?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAn8UzfcSuSu
"What is going on here? What do you need with a rope?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANACmYcX1CFn1
"Just bring it." He avoided looking her way.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA94iEeOeaTF
Casey's brow deepened.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAbSkevfUYsF
"I don't like this, isn't right." He went outside.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAeQgtoOy0MJ
A frightful rattling. He entered with a thick long rope coiled on his arm. He shoved it into Parcival's hands.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAxSnwYVuAy5
"The more she moves the tighter it gets."
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Parcival wrapped it around her wrists tying it. His face was so stern. Guiding her to another room, he sat her on the bed, walked out locking the door.
935Please respect copyright.PENANABh4Yeh2ABq
She sat there all night, unable to sleep.
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"Kill them." The last command from Kar repeated over riding out all other thoughts. The rope tightened biting into her wrists. She gasped. Any tighter and the bones will break. She moved to the door.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAzeU82i2q1q
It was a struggle to pull free a small dagger in her boot with her fingertips, it took forever but it finally clanked on the floor.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA6fGhpiwzeX
Sitting by the door in a crouched tented position. She picked up and dropped the dagger most of the night. It was exasperating.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAxWMVphCPLR
Unnamed chuckled. As you are "resting" I will take of some energy.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA2OsTjZpkiv
What? No not now, I need to get free!
935Please respect copyright.PENANAiSebZsn7lg
And then what? Slaughter them all? Have an entire city out for your head? Fool! Like you said before using the darkheart is foolish. You've see that emblem on his shirt. It is best you do not die, it is more beneficial for me.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAlxUNUkvmRQ
You don't decide what I do spirit. What am I saying? Make it stop! Break this spell, you're a god, right?
Waste of my energy, you have plenty to spare. If you didn't I would have drained you dry weeks ago. Do as I tell you otherwise I'll use less kind methods then before.
Its vines went further under down deep below the skin this time. She fell to her side shaking as he took a great amount. The times before were gentle compared to this.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAukKZAd7X1B
Arguing along the other side of the door, then the light that seeped from under darkened.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAjCADYXlgC2
The morning light streamed in through the window. Come on get it. The sunlight warmed her back, as it did the command ceased.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAN86Tuj2N8l
Dust motes danced in the air. It was so quiet. She sat up panting.
935Please respect copyright.PENANApnLPlRbkh0
Han opened the door a crack. She scooted back. Coming in he carried a large mug of water.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAto66DxmVMo
"How do you feel?" His lip twitched.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAm4LPCVHiRP
She sat upright on the floor. His lip twitched again. Just what was so funny?
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"You mean do I want to kill you both? No." She smiled a little. Ten minutes ago, however ...
935Please respect copyright.PENANA20uz7LXyrz
He glimpsed at the dagger. Then at her red-rimmed wrists, frowning as he undid them.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZaVC0kzJ3
"Here." He handed her the mug.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAk4QgwTVdv7
That water tasted better than any. So cold. It washed over her parched mouth. She gulped the mug down in short order.
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Bending over she scooped up the dagger tucking it back in a boot.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAUH46ZirNq2
Merryn followed Han into the kitchen.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAKXtdjrX7yD
Parcival took a sip of his tea and wrapped his hands around the cup.
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Her ears twitched.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAH7gW2dyAob
His eyes peered over the brim. Now, what was he thinking?
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"Thank you." he got up shaking Casy's hand.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAQPlJNEoR1L
"Follow me. The caves they start here."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAXZfGDph2ux
Parcival stood stretching his hands, his fingertips brushed the thatched straw ceiling.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAshH3cmlpno
Walking down the short hallway Casy pressed his hands into imprints in the wall. Red glowing runes appeared framing the entrance. The wall rumbled and slid to the left.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAa9j82u4LDi
Water dripped inside. Shaking now, with clasped sweaty hands, she scooted over toward the threshold. What if there's a cave in? We'll suffocate.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAghFyN0AIXn
Parcival leaned into the entrance whistling sharply.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5UBV15g3B
A creepy whistle. Pieces of it came back to her. A shadow two eyes just like the other day, and like the first time all those years ago.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAWU4PXxKPam
"Time to g—" Parcival's lips thinned and his brow deepened for a moment. He let go of the edge of the cave entrance.
935Please respect copyright.PENANABkj64ZYVfR
"What is it, do you see something?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAOJY453KArS
"No," she attempted to swallow, but her throat struck.
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Parcival walked over and pulled on her wrist.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAGpVbpQcwFt
"You don't have to if you don't want to. Though if you could it would be twice as fast."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAbFzW11X9qk
Her cheeks cooled as did the rest of her body.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAZMRbrPeqw5
"No we need to hurry." She nibbled on some loose skin on her lip. "If there's a way around?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAebc5MLubEh
How to do this? It wasn't proper to be so upset over this. She straightened her shoulders and attempted to look normal, whatever that is. Her ears twitched.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAAXAabgNNo8
"Well, we'll need to see."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAmNCDvPoPby
She wiggled her fingers in a series of strange gestures. A small glowing globe emerged, at first just a mote. It gathered energy growing in size to that of a small globe.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAvJ00YJqu8z
Parcival coughed.
935Please respect copyright.PENANARFZIA4Pi1w
"How did you do that?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAuC2bmazceR
She tilted her head. "A magi taught me."
935Please respect copyright.PENANA6guPlMZvek
Raising her hand the globe raised with it. Part of her still wanted to run out of the room screaming. She breathed in and focused on making it brighter. Parcival's face glow caught her breath just for a second. She stole a quick glance. He didn't appear to notice, or wasn't showing if he did.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAE0P20Ko7gS
He started talking, but it was hard to concentrate her thoughts like water in a bowl spinning.
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His voice cut though again.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAIX2XvwaNGU
Parcival turned and went inside. "Coming?" he held out a hand.
935Please respect copyright.PENANALHcARzBN4S
She froze in the chair.
935Please respect copyright.PENANANDt7ZUYYPG
She got up and made her feet go to him. The fingers on his hand wrapped around hers. He squeezed them before moving on.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAWXBVc6DeI7
She smiled a little. A person like this was rare, have been too hard on him. She straightened her shoulders. All the more reason to ditch them soon.
935Please respect copyright.PENANACTNPtlUacS
"Just move, it'll become easier if you keep going," Han said.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAG52k6PUjkX
A passageway further down opened into a great cavern. The light ball streaked off ahead, illuminating the area.
935Please respect copyright.PENANARqnSg9zptb
Every corner and edge glowed, the shadows pulled back as the globe circled the area above them. Before them on the left far-off to the other side, there were several bridges. The encroaching shadows pulled away from the light.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAFxX6zLCALB
Ladders reached up from the bottoms of pillars leading to even more bridges, these connected to more ledges, and linked to several flat-topped stone pillars. Some rocks looked like wasp wings. She jumped back a step.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAlujojEVD4a
"Keep looking straight ahead."
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"Right. Ahead."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAzQcEcLP5tf
A large tunnel with glittering rocks, was at the end of the bridge. She let go of his hand and gripped the rope. Exactly like that day, when it all started. Mom should have listened to you.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAi301nHGgal
The scars had faded some, but were still fairly visible, she drew a sleeve down covering them again. That crystal bear could've, but it didn't. Why? She rubbed her arms.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAVN5JptzTCL
"Merryn?" Parcival snapped his fingers in front of her. "Come on let's go."
935Please respect copyright.PENANATCobUJqzX4
Cold sweat drenched the back of her undershirt. She clamped her jaw as a whine tried to squeak out. Not today. Come on stop it. There's no way. I can't. I won't. What if another is in there? She pulled in rappid breaths through her nose.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAJC5OQCU8kQ
Parcival placed his hands on hers.
935Please respect copyright.PENANARYz8H8Q661
"It will be fine. Look I'll go ahead and show you."
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He stepped away.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAkXc6Mjhytk
"Stay!"
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He half turned his face winking before heading to the tunnel entrance.
935Please respect copyright.PENANABfJV0zzDdw
Han patted her thy. "See it's fine?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAE54UbhQ8Pm
She glared at him.
935Please respect copyright.PENANArQCjjHE3XL
He drew his hand back, eyes wide. "Sorry!"
935Please respect copyright.PENANABwd1wvARAO
Blurrrg. She shook her arms out. Uck! Usually some touching was alright, but not here!
935Please respect copyright.PENANAUOrwxIBQhO
He went and sat on the damned rock. Crazy both of them. She stood there until her legs burned. She let go, but kept watch of the tunnel.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAzD4TNgoq5B
At the end of the bridge she crouched down, tying a boot lace. Her fingers bloched any attempts to knot it. Doesn't matter. The area still spun so she played with it for a few minutes.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA4NIc7ozXu1
When she sat down Han raised a brow yet kept quiet.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAoo1On2QmkR
"Let's make camp here, and proceed in the morning." Parcival pointed to a flat area off ahead, to the right of the sinister tunnel.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAamWV92af7U
She slipped off her pack and sat cross-legged.
935Please respect copyright.PENANApaVAx2i0yg
Taking some dry wood out of his pack, Parcival had a crackling fire minutes after.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAfNbTiw4Y2b
Han sat on the other side writing in small fat book, dipping a quill pen into a inkwell on the ground. How old fashioned most used ink well sticks now, they broke less then those glass inkwells did.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAK6NVdsOB6O
"What are you writing?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANA8MRg7Y5NiT
He looked over the top of his spectacles.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAq4ZSU7IyEB
"The history of the word, mountains and such."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAncUKvVzaW2
"How long have you been working on it?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAkKU2sGqTeH
Opening a pouch she brought out a thin braided leather cord, then reached back for her hair and tied it.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAYjy7YCGmjm
"For quite some time now."
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A sharp crack behind.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAXtvNqLqWX6
She jumped and spun around. A stone from the ceiling splashed into the waters below. She scanned the area before relaxing again.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAK0KRP6OxXb
"Don't worry it's nothing. You should catch some sleep while you can." He stretched yawning.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAytZjVVU7k3
"I'm not sleepy."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAJzx3Wrs9WE
"Mumm-humm." He went to sleep, snoring soon after.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAPihBtdQ8eP
She scooted closer to the fire. It only happened to be closer to Parcival. He lifted an eyebrow and smirked. She toyed with a tie on her chest armor.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAnLFEQ2G5EV
Never had many friends, stayed in the temple until of late. Even after leaving it to train not many people were there, except for my magi.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAkeOzgrXxz4
Wonder how he's doing? His mustached grin was infectious, can't help but smile back.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAGprkh0hqNk
She yawned. These men seem honest. Too much so. Maxwell is sure to hurt them at some point.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAiT69osFEYA
She took her daggers out, then drew out a cloth from a pouch; cleaning them. The red Adapt had imprinted them with hidden runes. She reflected the light, the runes shimmered blue and red dancing from tip to end.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAsZyns579Js
Red had showed how to use them to heal instead of harm. The only problem with that was it transferred the injuries to the holder. And only one time, after that they'd shatter. Have to be a complete loon to use that spell.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAUrlzUEDyfR
The fire died down to embers. That must've been all the wood s there wasn't any nearby. Another yawn.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAcyaMECmWuB
####
Later that night a noise jolted her out of a half-doze. What was it? Fell asleep. Idiot! A moaning echoed in the tunnel. She swallowed a shriek. Stop that, your an adult now. Her daggers sang out of their sheaths.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAagVwcbNFbD
An humanoid outline came to focus. It struggled with something in the darknesses. It leaped out into the water with a splash.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAwcmN7jahnm
She shook Parcival's shoulder. He bat away her hands.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAH4U6AXatGn
It stepped closer. A furry arm with long fingers and yellow claws showed in the light. It screamed like a banshee before running away its footfalls fading.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAA8rKkRlJqd
Parcival bolted up. "Meeff wha—"
935Please respect copyright.PENANApaFBzEjDZo
He coughed clearing his throat. He clutched his chest.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAzuYPEVrj5A
"Why did you scream? You nearly gave me a heart attack"
935Please respect copyright.PENANA6iJbCrN2r3
"I thought I saw something." Was it really there? Hard to be sure. Better not say anything just yet.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAuucCMoAwln
"Come sit over here." He patted the ground next to him.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA8dD82PxhF8
"I'm just fine right here." Lay with you? Ha!
935Please respect copyright.PENANAP7U7DTU5ZA
She scooted away. Should smack him one for that. She chewed lightly on her leather collar. Gerr ....
935Please respect copyright.PENANAIFgDbeg2PA
"I didn't intend it that way. If you want to get cold that's your problem."
935Please respect copyright.PENANA7VWkyOZJKl
"Noses held to high to see—grumble." He murmured something else, then laid back down facing away.
935Please respect copyright.PENANABWeg8REWHW
Humans. Jez.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA4ZBrVrWmgV
In the morning she followed him into the next cavern passageway. This became another tunnel that went on for twenty feet. It had no rocks thankfully. She raced past as soon as the light showed at the end.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAE1ZeXFXaJu
She bounced on the pads of her feet. Sweet air. No more walls. She resisted an impulse to spin around. She grinned, then joined her hands in a soft clap. Alright.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAMNWqRwh2wV
"Wait here."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAPJ9ICtyWC9
Walking up ahead the pathway it wound up like a kink along the mountainside. This way was shorter, but the path could crumble at any time. She bent and dug under the snow to the raw earth.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAyb4z5CYg4u
A handful of the dirt crumbled in her hand. Even in this cold it's treacherous. There should be an inn a few miles west. She nodded. Yea, even better can ditch them there.
935Please respect copyright.PENANArrWvVLCuTN
She came back to where they were sitting. "It's not safe, it's too icy."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAppeuS1DKIW
Parcival took out a water pouch sipping from it.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAxzU1oFkwhR
Now, how to get them over there without raising suspicions? Got it. Human females tented to complain often, that should annoy them.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAkddKvqKuZ9
"I want to sleep in an inn. It's been days since I smelled clean sheets, and had a cold ale. Time for a break."
935Please respect copyright.PENANA9n0yOEOvZq
"That sounds good." Parcival sat up.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAOf8RH1PeyO
Can't believe he agreed so readily. The right side of her mouth twitched. Hea.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAEfBD4fvPEQ
"I think a village is near."
935Please respect copyright.PENANA9s9vJ5NxA8
Taking out the map she checked it. Ah, I know I'll take them the long way they won't want to keep going after that. No reason why I can't rest for a few hours too. Besides so sick of eating dried meat. The growing stomach didn't improve her mood.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA1EeNocsUr1
"It's over to the west, just past that clump of trees."
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She rolled the map back up and placed it back into her pouch.
935Please respect copyright.PENANABHvEXMApxE
"Lead the way."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAd8PTIlf2tk
####
Several days later fine strands of dry webbing crisscrossed over the pathway. She cut through it with her daggers, the sticky threads stuck to her fingers as she pulled them off the blades edges. Not good, this is so not good!
935Please respect copyright.PENANAZADixXpV5n
"Are you certain this is the right way?" Parcival said.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAUDFCfx64lw
"Yes." It's just longer, didn't count on spiders being here. She looked around. Damn it, this is bad.
935Please respect copyright.PENANA2J6mAwi4em
Parcival pulled strands of the webbing off of his sword while walking.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAIRvEQreDwF
"The village isn't much further now." Still, this webbing wasn't here last time. There appeared to be an increase in the nocturnal creatures, she kept the thought quiet for now.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAvWqEqSDPIZ
A scratching behind almost made her jump out of her boots. She whirled around daggers in hand.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAsyqYqUfmns
Parcival jumped back. "Quit it! Are you trying to impale me?"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAAqDQRzHOrb
"Sorry."
935Please respect copyright.PENANARYckSKvysm
It was getting darker. "Walk faster we need to make camp."
935Please respect copyright.PENANAqF4GP0dGEp
A sliding sound above. The hairs on her arms stood up. Ordain it!
935Please respect copyright.PENANAu9jzKWTx4o
Poison dripped onto her forehead and started to burn. Always in the trees sneakier than a serpent.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAneUqDinagq
"Run!"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAZPkLcgycIJ
Parcival and Han froze.
935Please respect copyright.PENANAwMplQyeLfD
"No, don't look for it you ninny's, just move!"
935Please respect copyright.PENANAFL2Hlwf0tC
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