Cold water splashed Parcival's face and he sputtered. Han held a opened water skin. He stood up and wished he hadn't. The pain flooded him and he passed out.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAZMSDMHZIGg
"Are you alive? Come on, my friend wake up!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANANxMAiDTD5B
He felt his shoulder being patted but just wanted to go back to sleep, blissful quiet.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAerdJVRfiEy
That patting again.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA4Od5w2SGiG
"Ten more minutes."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA1qoZZ3cI1o
"You can't go back to sleep from the beating they gave you, you might not wake up. Sit up, now!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANATWuB8Dnbp8
Han pushed on his chest and rolled him back and forth.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANApylYH73TP6
Merryn. He had to bring her home, dad should be able to help.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAZlMjuPeRbI
Parcival opened his eyes.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAcW6BgdJjvV
"Here we go--again," Han said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAgMuQvB2uvZ
"Quite sick of this, after we find her again, there will be no further stops. Any more delays could be fatal." He ground his teeth and spat on the grass.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA1DHfL7WNh1
"Agreed. I can only heal so much, am only a third tier priest."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAHznQNZ9qxo
"As soon as possible, we are to go back to my home city. Those men must be dealt with."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAIK78Rq7YQJ
He stood up and wobbled. Han moved over to help him, but he put his hand out in front of his face.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAuvrNcawsNb
"No."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAElAWvRH7Uo
"Well, you'll just have to tell her then," Han said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAsk5O2TLI5q
He shook his head. "We will just take her, the illness seems to be taking away any rational thoughts at times."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAPXvYiY3QUu
Han scowled.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAJdeGdeFLBu
They headed off to the West following the horse's tracks. A week passed the tracks vanished.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA8RwOuIkHHZ
I still think she should not be trusted fully, given that she's a thief. They are a shifty lot."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAx2oRkw1Lvs
"Yes, but thieves don't use prayers, there's something off about her."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAgpY2xUPgm0
Han jump onto the horse. "Trickery, she has a darkness to her, you just refuse to see it, blinded by a pretty face!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA6hqQ9FeKYs
Parcival pointed to a pathway that split off the main road.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANABagkHevUq8
Near the side of the road, a flock of sparrows landed, surrounding a rare blue Amarryllis. Some said they gave luck, she needed more that's for sure.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAqwZ5QtySTe
He bent down and picked it and wrapped it in a handkerchief. Han shook his head at him as he placed it in the horse pack.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAAUdU0YBa62
The way her hair swirled in that first meeting came to mind. The way her touch jolted across his skin, and her voice soft and low. She's not evil, just rough and coarse at times.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAKwJUL2R8X6
"Fine. I'm not paying for your coffin though," Han broke him from his thoughts. His ears twitched and he looked at him. His feline eyes glinted with hardness. He didn't blame him, after all, she had tried to kill him earlier.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAHdQWZDX7Py
The long miles gave much time to think, too much, it was confusing another week passed before they found the pathway that lead to the town on the map, was a good investment purchasing one from the merchant in the last town.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANACk3nscXxcF
Parcival crossed his arms over the chest for a while and then continued down the pathway. Another hour later, they came across a small town, this one had a sign at the end of the path.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAw7toHCO4EQ
Welcome to Badgervill!
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAXLd7h6TvQa
Home of the Darker-kin law abiding need not enter.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA1HeIS1JUrz
Parcival and Han exchanged looks.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAQms8CuD0uN
"Could be a good place to gather information," Parcival said. If they don't kill us first.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA8CiNSse7Ij
They pulled the hoods of their cloaks up over their heads as they enter the town. They try to blend in with the assorted riff-raff that milled about. A blond haired man sat on the barrels near the town entrance to the right.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAPjVCFVdpMK
The man had a startling wide scar. It started from his right eye down to his upper lip, two long Bagh Nakh on each of his hands. The Nakh were of two blades running down about four inches in length.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANABVRUKqw3aZ
They pushed through a crowd as they entered a marketplace. He seemed to be trying a little too hard to act relaxed.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANASOhkIY9Rz0
It took up most of the town center as it had vendors packed, booth to booth on both sides, offering their wares of clothing, carpets, weapons, foods, and exotic goods.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAvmX0KXYoNi
The vendor merchants had large gray hoods pulled past their faces hiding their features. Except for the eyes, that glinted with malevolence.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA3YD5QHqXmW
"Best watch our backs in here as well," Han whispered.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAqM07JK0bRD
Parcival nodded and continued through. A young girl streaked out of a tented stall, running down the middle of the Bazaar, and collided right into Han knocking him over.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA7tCTkyViMT
"Ooof!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAIRmmn69yZN
The young girl spilled a bag full of tiny egg shaped candy. Several rolled near Parcival's foot.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAd9Me3aeFc7
"Dang it girl! Cannot you watch where you are going?" said Han.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANABivYsqTaPF
"I'm sorrys!" Turning her large brown eyes, brimming with tears up at him. "Don't beat me!" the waff said. She whimpered.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA8VwUojAdLQ
Han patted her on the back.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAgD3frHVWyY
"Now, now, no one will do that to you."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAa5dAT583OR
The girl jumped up and grinned. "Thanks, mister!" she ran off past them.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA8n7wgH1hLB
He stood up with an amused look on his face. This disappeared, as he pointed to Parcivals waist.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA6Rbag9xxKz
"Your pouches are gone."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA1RYguZxvI3
"Give me back my pouches you bilge rat!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANABEwGhISqKz
The girl was gone, she had disappeared as fast as she came.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAg3IuxdQgSg
The merchants in several of the stalls snickered. One that is close by, bent over his counter.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAgK1oXnsylo
"That is Bolt, one of the best thief's in this town. You're lucky she didn't take your boots too!" he said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANATYHG0XOvQp
"Gerr ... I guess so," Parcival said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA5Lt3AjQkjF
He stepped over to the merchant.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAEHQwyLVGkD
"Have you seen a tall Elven woman around here?"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAt5pITxTguG
The corners of the merchant's eyes tightened, and all humor drained from his face.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAomf4lXldDp
"One watches what they say carefully around these parts. Also, I find it is hard to remember things some days ..."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAOybomtyqTM
"Of course, one must be careful with what they say. I propose an exchange?" Parcival took off an emerald ring and slid it over.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAhSpgluebmX
"Perhaps, I have heard what some would say is a woman weeping, somewhere ... ah, my memory fails me so, please excuse this foolish old man," the merchant said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAKRSVdTi4RF
Parcival reached out and yanked him over the stall, then leaned in close.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAXEOJRsTJxU
"That ring is worth over a thousand gold, take it or I'll pound the greed out of you." He let go of him.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAEVUdzRjKF9
The man snatched it up and waved them to follow.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAdh3KiexCbJ
"Come back here, quickly now."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAbPznYNe2jV
Pushing back a long tent flap that is behind him. Parcival and Han step behind the counter into the tent. The man closed the flap. And, went to the other end of the tent undoing a button that held that end closed.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAH2ybMPrShZ
"This way, and be quiet, I will lead you to where I heard the weeping."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAgObi9SiRwu
The merchant brought them down a long alleyway way between some houses and takes a turn to the left. They both followed him to the edge of the town. The man leading them stopped at a house that was at the end of the ally.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAnarE2Txxjc
"This is the house. The men that live here just built this .... out of nothing. I would be worried about even entering such a place."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA49rR7RYrRx
"Thank you," Parcival said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA7KfanJbXrj
As he turned around, the man had vanished.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANATjYAObHNzj
"This place is unnerving the sooner we find her the sooner we can get out of here."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAQeUF61VYCK
Striding over to the small house he knocked on the door. Hope she's still alive if she's even here.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA9D0oienJvh
Han mumbled something about seekers under his breath.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAGXVnJykweW
The door opened wide. Jason snapped his fingers.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAabSwIDkuvT
Parcival tried backing up but was frozen in place. Han the same with a paw on a hip.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAPl55pfV8Of
"Well, you two are refreshingly direct, stupid, but direct. Oh, spide-bun has your tongue? What is it? You both cannot move? Aww. Hey, boss, they came to the door just like you said they would!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA8BGeMFAG2s
"Ah, a bit earlier than expected, but no matter. Bring them in here, and close the door," the guard from earlier-Maxwell.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAQtiIDS51lm
Jason dragged them both inside and dumped them near a long table. Maxwell seated himself on a chair that floated into the air.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAZxnORW5bj3
The table from the off kilter position Parcival could see was covered in scrolls, weapons, and jars of assorted animal parts. Along with Merryn's weapons, and pouches in a corner of the desk.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAAT42vaFug4
He floated down off the chair and looked at them shaking his head. A dry, sly smile spread across his face.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANALhkDgtkuwj
"You know, this day just gets better and better."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAXDktiJqbHp
"I don't know what to do first, what with so many delicious ideas running through my head right now," his grin was unsettling.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA2HalymsaXb
How did he know we were going to be here?
1041Please respect copyright.PENANARQUlgBuwTP
"Humm, I could force her to watch you both die, and afterwords just barely keep her alive until she dies of old age," Maxwell said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAecpCxRCegy
He paused for a moment. "Considering she is part Elven this would take ... quite some time. Or, I could ... let Jason take over. He has particularly good ways, to drive people to madness."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANANExVqXpmye
He sat down again and steepled his hands. He looked down at Parcival with a sly smile.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAOZCWcGADZk
"I do not think you would like what he would do to your precious wench."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAaeCqhv5AmB
"Jason! Bring the wench up here."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAPkdCcnffA6
Tossing him a ring of keys. Jason caught them and went down a hallway. Jason later carried up Merryn; her cheeks were sunken in and her skin once a warm permanent tan now ashen.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAnVgH4hxvSm
He winced at the faint cracks that webbed her once warm brown skin, it looked as thin as paper; about to break. Her head was hanging down, her once lustrous blue hair was a tangled into a dull mess that covered her face.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAjC11LH9KgW
On her wrists a pair of shackles, that had an abominable dark red glow. Jason dumped her in front of Parcival. They will die by my hand, and their bones ground to dust and mixed in an unholy ground. For now, all he could do was glare.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAzfGoXkbJi7
Maxwell kicked her sharply in the thigh jolting her.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANARisjSP28uE
"Sit up now!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAX9rk7ExnsJ
She attempted to push herself up, but fell back down several times, before sitting up with her knees bent under her.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAWDMuY0TwDR
like a broken doll she fell back down several more times, before sitting up with her knees bent under her. Her head was still bowed, she made no sound. Monsters both of them. He tried again to move.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAnBUJb5QBqO
He knelt down next to Parcival.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAxNh8wrRWgz
"You'll wish soon you'd had stayed out of this."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAMxO0OcAuyN
Going over to Marryn he pulled her in an upright position.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAycnAIaGnOI
"If you care for these men you'll tell them. If you do not I will hang them both above the city forge. While they cook like squealing pigs."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAara3VNQAxX
Her voice came out thin and raspy. "I will tell them. If you allow them to move. So they can talk."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAgShGHyA5TM
She looked up through one slit of her hair at Parcival for a few seconds, her gaze was intense. She wanted something?
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAQceogiI0Fk
He rubbed his chin for a while, and paced back and forth, between the heroes to the fireplace. On top of the mantel was a thin long vile, and next to it was a syringe.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA5jPgHrslSs
He uncorked the vile, and green gassy vapors wafted out of the top of the vile. He blew the vapors away, being careful not to breathe them in. He tipped the pointed end of the syringe into the vile, drawing up the green liquid.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAG2ptiZFQKg
He walked over to him and bent down.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANANR8q54IsR6
"You know what this is? He asks him. The man's words caused his hair to stand up on his neck.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAx6SjIF3lo3
"Stop. I will tell them," she said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANATsfVIZahRQ
Turning around, he looked at her through thin slits. Before turning again, Maxwell tapped Han and him on the solder.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA1jt95GTYwb
He stood up, and went over to a bench, laid a wooly sheepskin on it before sitting down. He motioned to him.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA8WSv21iAQM
"Go on, tell them," he crossed his arms, silent.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAbqblolDpcg
She still faced the floor. After a time she spoke almost too low to hear. "This isn't an infection, I am not ill."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA5WVVBV2qi0
"Then what is it?" Parcival said.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAkA8gPEtp1e
"I am a spirit adapt, able to call on them when in need. This is but one job my main purpose why-I exist at all is to carry the wretched god Unnamed to its death."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANATyEHrBS90r
"What? Can't it be destroyed some other way instead of making you go through this."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAdyJLEc6JNv
"Not possible, I am the only vessel born this generation."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAcQd0AqqPi7
Maxwell poked her with a boot, "Finish it."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAaImXrIoCxL
She shifted away from him. "Unnamed body was destroyed long ago, the way to destroy him is if he has a physical form again."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAXUVNhBxmPJ
"Meaning?"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA0mXf784Nq1
"For him to die, I too must die." She turned away and wiped the sides of her face with her hands.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAAMvhD4j6DL
His chest pinched and blazed like a hot poker was jammed into it.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAwedr7FMsjF
"No."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANArporP5hxuZ
"That will do."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAO3ILYQKMO6
Maxwell leaned over taping Han on his head twice.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAZptzpsbZeB
"What she didn't and can't tell you as they didn't tell her, is if the god isn't destroyed it will push her soul out and take her body. I couldn't think of a more satisfying revenge."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANASJ5vR8NVqc
Han's face took on a look of shock. "Maxwell? The only one I knew of that name betrayed King Darathan a millennium ago!" who immediately froze again after speaking.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAMCw64jz6Q6
"No, that was my great grandfather."
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA8TX8605cPE
Maxwell grabbed Merryn by the back of her head, forcing her to look at him, he held out the syringe in front of her face. Merryn stared at the syringe for some time, like she was in a trance.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANA33JUHwc8Zh
The spark returned to her eyes, she burst up and snatched it, then jabbed him in his shoulder, breaking off the tip.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAzs9gn3tXVm
His hands shook from the strain of fighting the urge to throttle the man. Not yet.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAlibEGqWSjx
"I can't believe you had the energy left to do that. Vile woman!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAfjF8E0gXE5
Jason came running behind Merryn intent on skewering her with his spear.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAa8yRlvAjDo
Now!
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAxnKmZU98XS
Parcival jumped up and wrenched the spear out of his hands. "Merryn!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAexRpCw7RVe
Maxwell spun around tapping him on his forehead before he could even dodge away.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAjA2gU2T7Mz
He then froze into place with both his hands gripped on it in an uncomfortable position pointing at an upwards right angle.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANARsxbuTEf4g
Maxwell grabbed her by her throat, and with his other hand started chanting.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAN94TOemqPf
A large black crackling portal opens in the room. "How many times must I punish you, before you submit?" He heaved her into the portal. The portal closed with a blinding flash.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAkRpPpXjRdf
Maxwell slowly dragged himself over to the table, pulling himself up slowly.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANADhv82nHPpp
"Throw those two down into the cellar, I must make an antidote, and do not want to be disturbed!"
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAD9oKtzUDWB
Jason silent picked up Han by his left arm and tossed him down the steps, where he crashed into the wall, landing on his side with a loud thump.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANAWtIjPUzaq6
Going over to Parcival, he tried pulling out his spear, but was unable to; so he dragged Parcival and pushed him down to crashing into Han.
1041Please respect copyright.PENANASuAJtXBIkr
Jason locked the door and shut out the remaining light.