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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAcVDfNSvDiH
"Are you alive? Come on, my friend wake up!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANAJiv9U6KiVc
He felt his shoulder being patted but just wanted to go back to sleep, blissful quiet.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAGG2qQUTTvs
That patting again.
743Please respect copyright.PENANApttqoumXWa
"Ten more minutes."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAQBeeZEenI4
"You can't go back to sleep from the beating they gave you, you might not wake up. Sit up, now!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANAHq2Q55KGgA
Han pushed on his chest and rolled him back and forth.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAci7926Y8uu
Merryn. He had to bring her home, dad should be able to help.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA8y74ilx1SF
Parcival opened his eyes.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAdVnFPlk1op
"Here we go--again," Han said.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAXnj2qHfqdN
"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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAJYgImkdKf7
"Agreed. I can only heal so much, am only a third tier priest."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAompP3nNUlh
"As soon as possible, we are to go back to my home city. Those men must be dealt with."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAnIQFxB2tHV
He stood up and wobbled. Han moved over to help him, but he put his hand out in front of his face.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAO9jHmGbzzl
"No."
743Please respect copyright.PENANABPhl2AMtQC
"Well, you'll just have to tell her then," Han said.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAOtjW8n4jmc
He shook his head. "We will just take her, the illness seems to be taking away any rational thoughts at times."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAIXVlJtQrG2
Han scowled.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA7gUKRxfCNy
They headed off to the West following the horse's tracks. A week passed the tracks vanished.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAt2etc6aaag
I still think she should not be trusted fully, given that she's a thief. They are a shifty lot."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAMCmCJcUFCK
"Yes, but thieves don't use prayers, there's something off about her."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAaEooGuBBdO
Han jump onto the horse. "Trickery, she has a darkness to her, you just refuse to see it, blinded by a pretty face!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANAOlbAobkmc0
Parcival pointed to a pathway that split off the main road.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA22q05rfoEo
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA0zNED03abQ
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAo7DMEnpgQB
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAV1edlK4TFm
"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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA7VTNbUE1K3
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAURnWschu7L
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA2NcBTTCSx8
Welcome to Badgervill!
743Please respect copyright.PENANAGVe2CgXSjO
Home of the Darker-kin law abiding need not enter.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAv1rTLGd3eD
Parcival and Han exchanged looks.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAeRrMm8Y6N3
"Could be a good place to gather information," Parcival said. If they don't kill us first.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAPnVqqPYAUa
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAaJQ5Xu1Bq3
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAkNQRG1DwO9
They pushed through a crowd as they entered a marketplace. He seemed to be trying a little too hard to act relaxed.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAVswyr5Xtdy
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAwh554NP9pT
The vendor merchants had large gray hoods pulled past their faces hiding their features. Except for the eyes, that glinted with malevolence.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAVsFe2xZlcU
"Best watch our backs in here as well," Han whispered.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA0jH6uGwGAx
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAbzj3E5T0bc
"Ooof!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANABFjGyNO0fa
The young girl spilled a bag full of tiny egg shaped candy. Several rolled near Parcival's foot.
743Please respect copyright.PENANALeZRyWvjVV
"Dang it girl! Cannot you watch where you are going?" said Han.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAhylxVOBgiC
"I'm sorrys!" Turning her large brown eyes, brimming with tears up at him. "Don't beat me!" the waff said. She whimpered.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAh0ChQHvON6
Han patted her on the back.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAtEsnaIFiYa
"Now, now, no one will do that to you."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAAcGFEiU2gU
The girl jumped up and grinned. "Thanks, mister!" she ran off past them.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAJqy9beUUVM
He stood up with an amused look on his face. This disappeared, as he pointed to Parcivals waist.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAhGv4mLJIIR
"Your pouches are gone."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAAxz4Qsos4W
"Give me back my pouches you bilge rat!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANAaibL3zotEM
The girl was gone, she had disappeared as fast as she came.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAEd5uN69HZC
The merchants in several of the stalls snickered. One that is close by, bent over his counter.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAcAk0y8pxKC
"That is Bolt, one of the best thief's in this town. You're lucky she didn't take your boots too!" he said.
743Please respect copyright.PENANATNwA0F561w
"Gerr ... I guess so," Parcival said.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAPeLMItfeRe
He stepped over to the merchant.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAZ275wez0rH
"Have you seen a tall Elven woman around here?"
743Please respect copyright.PENANAnC68YFkCfq
The corners of the merchant's eyes tightened, and all humor drained from his face.
743Please respect copyright.PENANACn3L4E3low
"One watches what they say carefully around these parts. Also, I find it is hard to remember things some days ..."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAPjBmCneXRJ
"Of course, one must be careful with what they say. I propose an exchange?" Parcival took off an emerald ring and slid it over.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA7z8iROkfq9
"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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA2I2Kie3QAc
Parcival reached out and yanked him over the stall, then leaned in close.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAyw4tHb7Lsn
"That ring is worth over a thousand gold, take it or I'll pound the greed out of you." He let go of him.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAvUkMscKoOJ
The man snatched it up and waved them to follow.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAnNNIcGRUfE
"Come back here, quickly now."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAguio3pSZFe
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAqjVbtz8x2L
"This way, and be quiet, I will lead you to where I heard the weeping."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAKROQV6uNmK
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAziwassRFWV
"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."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAaqWpVDSNPS
"Thank you," Parcival said.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4V9YHWbGK
As he turned around, the man had vanished.
743Please respect copyright.PENANARhN5Fe0z8p
"This place is unnerving the sooner we find her the sooner we can get out of here."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAML7nCwBIxH
Striding over to the small house he knocked on the door. Hope she's still alive if she's even here.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAvhjVSTH6vz
Han mumbled something about seekers under his breath.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAenDNgEPvvV
The door opened wide. Jason snapped his fingers.
743Please respect copyright.PENANApFYr8erEZI
Parcival tried backing up but was frozen in place. Han the same with a paw on a hip.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA1froychyPJ
"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!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANAFh9ofE0kKp
"Ah, a bit earlier than expected, but no matter. Bring them in here, and close the door," the guard from earlier-Maxwell.
743Please respect copyright.PENANASPj07NQ5hU
Jason dragged them both inside and dumped them near a long table. Maxwell seated himself on a chair that floated into the air.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAZ8CvvnlLDW
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAPyaTz1upGM
He floated down off the chair and looked at them shaking his head. A dry, sly smile spread across his face.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAsDQZ9IEKkQ
"You know, this day just gets better and better."
743Please respect copyright.PENANA8ZeV6vI543
"I don't know what to do first, what with so many delicious ideas running through my head right now," his grin was unsettling.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAJZsU6hLtID
How did he know we were going to be here?
743Please respect copyright.PENANAACvsfjmrXm
"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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAm6dH1wyxwz
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."
743Please respect copyright.PENANA0PKpNDNps8
He sat down again and steepled his hands. He looked down at Parcival with a sly smile.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAUHdh9AW4qO
"I do not think you would like what he would do to your precious wench."
743Please respect copyright.PENANA5pPNxmuPpR
"Jason! Bring the wench up here."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAIdZd8XgKHx
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAeIBgDHclDD
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAOBi1qTNMpi
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAqUQ3Q1oFKs
Maxwell kicked her sharply in the thigh jolting her.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAOygHZDTjX8
"Sit up now!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANA71crZEJ3Ht
She attempted to push herself up, but fell back down several times, before sitting up with her knees bent under her.
743Please respect copyright.PENANANWYW2uO80w
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAVXDgtdpvdW
He knelt down next to Parcival.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAYo92e0J5BF
"You'll wish soon you'd had stayed out of this."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAGMi93wFham
Going over to Marryn he pulled her in an upright position.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA3suVxmj32E
"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."
743Please respect copyright.PENANA9NOagJQJTl
Her voice came out thin and raspy. "I will tell them. If you allow them to move. So they can talk."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAw2JFtcn4bY
She looked up through one slit of her hair at Parcival for a few seconds, her gaze was intense. She wanted something?
743Please respect copyright.PENANAdZbBbYEFmk
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA95oqTywzcP
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANANXZQVKUK5h
He walked over to him and bent down.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAfeEFSYDIpe
"You know what this is? He asks him. The man's words caused his hair to stand up on his neck.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAM0XkJiLfaB
"Stop. I will tell them," she said.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAvyYZdHUJbi
Turning around, he looked at her through thin slits. Before turning again, Maxwell tapped Han and him on the solder.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAio1NPLZ5MH
He stood up, and went over to a bench, laid a wooly sheepskin on it before sitting down. He motioned to him.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA76KaYDVlOD
"Go on, tell them," he crossed his arms, silent.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAieOnIBRYIg
She still faced the floor. After a time she spoke almost too low to hear. "This isn't an infection, I am not ill."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAYgQkgnJz2j
"Then what is it?" Parcival said.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAdJjrwegLI3
"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."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAmucLXUcVQj
"What? Can't it be destroyed some other way instead of making you go through this."
743Please respect copyright.PENANARND7Ppkvf5
"Not possible, I am the only vessel born this generation."
743Please respect copyright.PENANA3VPz6oVTsv
Maxwell poked her with a boot, "Finish it."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAGQmuEPK3CH
She shifted away from him. "Unnamed body was destroyed long ago, the way to destroy him is if he has a physical form again."
743Please respect copyright.PENANArIIPpTajP5
"Meaning?"
743Please respect copyright.PENANAmtC3noPtj4
"For him to die, I too must die." She turned away and wiped the sides of her face with her hands.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAO2Mvfwh5pm
His chest pinched and blazed like a hot poker was jammed into it.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA1JMmLYB0cd
"No."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAa6T5ZmffbJ
"That will do."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAGbeG0jIDRJ
Maxwell leaned over taping Han on his head twice.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAPFU1X8Zvxz
"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."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAE5pW4PSfKW
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAEQLr1BJwvX
"No, that was my great grandfather."
743Please respect copyright.PENANAQdp7eTNZNS
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA8cPMJiWg8f
The spark returned to her eyes, she burst up and snatched it, then jabbed him in his shoulder, breaking off the tip.
743Please respect copyright.PENANApjohehrSQ5
His hands shook from the strain of fighting the urge to throttle the man. Not yet.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAZEnIXfxmq2
"I can't believe you had the energy left to do that. Vile woman!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANAY6OZLYjvuN
Jason came running behind Merryn intent on skewering her with his spear.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAstBGrK3GOR
Now!
743Please respect copyright.PENANAzkcCFjCAnp
Parcival jumped up and wrenched the spear out of his hands. "Merryn!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANArjPgtBltpH
Maxwell spun around tapping him on his forehead before he could even dodge away.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAPXY3a1KxAC
He then froze into place with both his hands gripped on it in an uncomfortable position pointing at an upwards right angle.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA1hscc0b16F
Maxwell grabbed her by her throat, and with his other hand started chanting.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAtOt0ADMlJE
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANA7I4WYnFCI8
Maxwell slowly dragged himself over to the table, pulling himself up slowly.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAAW16dten4o
"Throw those two down into the cellar, I must make an antidote, and do not want to be disturbed!"
743Please respect copyright.PENANALSn4UoK4Ie
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANAKqn6TvoQNH
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.
743Please respect copyright.PENANARZdfipPoQv
Jason locked the door and shut out the remaining light.