Crack.

Light footsteps, even the crack of a twig was almost too soft to hear. For a human that is. 

She elbowed him and put a finger to his lips.

He rolled over and pushed to his feet.

She pulled him back down yanking his arm.

"Are you trying to get an arrow through your eye?" By the under-gods! What kind of lazy training had he had?

Should box that cocksure look off his face.

Maxwell the lead guard came prowling out of the woods on the other side of the field and crossed it. The shadows of the forest clung to him. Sliding his hood down black ringlets tumbled out that haloed his grim face.

He was not alone. He like the men that followed were what was left of the king's guards. Dominate over the other soldiers who followed; they fanned out from the woods and stood there silent. Jason was among them; as always a thin half smile frisked his lips. The other guards had shadowed bags under their eyes.

She dug a heel into the ground and turned her head away. Dealing with him again so soon was a test of patience.

The corner of his mouth twitched. He slipped a thumb easy like under his belt and settled on her. 

She startled and cut back a curse.

A large Nekhawk that followed, him landed on his held out arm. Where a bird's head should have been a gray squid face of tentacles withered about; In the middle of this mass was a long silver beak. Its lower half was that of a black hawk. 

On the side of the squid's face was its eyes, they were large as a hens egg and dark. The Nekhawk leaned forward its tentacles squiggling. These were supposed to have been obliterated after the war as an act of trust. How did he get his hands on one?

It opened its beak. 

A slow fizzy gurgling turned into a screech. 

She covered them while shaking. A pressure built up in her ears and she clamped her jaw to avoid crying out. 

"Do you like my pet? It's one of the few that survived The War of the Fifty." 

His bass voice snapped, though the clearing like a closing iron shackle. 

The creature continued its assault. She cupped her ears, make it stop! 

She tried to sit up, to do something. It was hard to think let alone move. The creature's were pure poison of sound, first paralysis then madness.

Maxwell turned toward Parcival. 

"Well Paladin, you seem stupid enough; having fun being a lap dog?"

The Nekhawk hopped onto Maxwell's shoulder and preened its feathers. 

Parcival stepped over to her. He looked down as he did his face softened a fraction before he looked at Maxwell again.

Parcival's face smoothed out. "What is your problem?" 

"I have no desire to bother with you, leave now this has nothing to do with you. Continue to get in my way and I will have no qualms wiping you out." He stoked the creature's feathers for a moment.

"As I said before, even Olenus will not be able to help you should I find you have lied." 

He glanced sideways at Marryn for a second. 

"And, it seems I've been proven correct or you would not be with her." 

His right hand had a dark shadow that orbited it. He closed his eyes for a moment and the shadow vaporized.

The sharp buzzing in her ears made it hard to concentrate. After what happened a few minutes ago, his boasts of righteous seemed to hold up. 

"He isn't lying, we are just traveling the same way. I don't want anything to do with him." 

The lie felt sour in her stomach, still, it was best that Parcival went home before ... before. The hawk was it louder? Can't call--spirits. 

Maxwell squared his shoulders; with a sharp gleam in his eyes, he drew out a short sword.

He pulled back one arm as he swung it at her neck. 

She closed her eyes the only part that would move.

"Let her go, now!" 

Cracking an eye open, Parcival stood before Maxwell. The hawk's screech went lower. It seemed true, human males protected females ... any female? 

The other soldiers crept out of the trees behind him. 

"I see that look on your face, you think I would come after you alone?" 

He signaled to Jason. 

"Take care of the other problem, will you?" He cranted a short cancel spell.

Jason came to his side. 

"As you wish." 

He strutted over to where the other guards were, now circled around Parciaval. 

Parcival jerked as they flashed several spears at his head. They motioned for him to sit back down. He inched his fingers over the hilt of the sword. 

Jason spotted this, so he pushed the tip of his spear to Parcival's chin lifting it.

His expression turned stormy. "Are you so eager to die?" 

Parcival slid his hand away and sat back down. His look became harder than she's seen in the human before, it was completely foreign, curious. 

Maxwell glared at her, knowing him, it was best not to test him. He huffed through his nose while jamming the sword back in its scabbard. 

She held a breath. 

"No, not yet, far too kind for you. Did you ever think that you've been lied and used? I know what you plan on doing and will not allow it!"

Maxwell pushed her against a nearby tree; his hands clamped on her arms. How is he doing this? Did he know or was he bluffing? Low hanging branches poked her shoulders. 

She struggled in his grip. "Let me go. Now. What ever it is you think I'm doing, you have no idea. I have to-" She clamped her mouth shut. Watch it keep quiet. 

"Giving orders? You annoy me greatly." Maxwell snarled. His grip tightened. 

Heat burned her cheeks. Unbelievable, was her training pointless? 

"How are you able to even-" "It's easy enough." He grinned. "You'll figure it out if not you'll die." 

He took out his sword and smoothed the flat side across her arm. It burned, blisters grew on her skin. She drew in several ragged breaths. 

"Elvin Bane. How did you find any? It was all destroyed as part of the treaty." 

"It grows wild still. I know what you really are. A disgusting creature that slaughters villages to the ground for no reason." His hot breath blasted over her face.

"I never should have let one of your kind in my city, my home." He spat on her face. "You won't fool him for much longer." 

The Nekhawk stopped its damn screech and took off into the sky and circled above.

"That was hundreds of years ago, I'm not like them, we have moved past, such ways." She squirmed under his grip.

"Delusional. You are a danger and need to be put down." 

"You're crazy, let me go!" She cleaved the air with a hand. "Stop it!"

"Give it to me," a voice behind, said. 

Glass shattered. 

Maxwell turned while still holding her. She pried at hands. 

"Let--go." If only the blasted mans attention would lapse. 

Parcival stood drawing his sword. "Back off, or watch him become a pile of frozen fragmented chunks!" 

Maxwell dragged her with his hand across the small field. 

"Put your sword down." He held her up.

It was waking. She could feel the vines moving under the skin on her back. It tended to stay away to reserve energy. Within its presence bubbled up, dark and forbidding. 

Parcival held the sword flat side out above Jason's head. 

"Then I guess you don't care about this man, do you?" His sword swung in an arc. 

"I see, we are at an impasse," Maxwell said. 

Maxwell brought her closer to his body. Close enough now she kicked him in the crotch. 

His back arched and he sucked in a quick rapid breath, but did not let go. 

"Infernal creature!" He shook her until she thought her brains would bounce out of her skull.

She sputtered, unable to say anything.

He cursed with the ruggedness of a sailor while he locked on her with a hate filled glare. 

"Ten seconds." 

Parcival completed the ark of his sword; holding it in the air half-way before Jason's head. 

It was now midday and the sun blazed off of the frozen statue of Jason, who she swore seemed to move and at that moment, several cracks appeared from the center spreading up like a fine broken spider web. 

She pointed with her eyes at Jason. Hope he sees that.

"Next time your potions won't save her." 

"Nine." 

"He dies first. It's a promise." His voice was flat and low. 

"Eight." 

He let go and before she took a step he hit the back of her neck. 

"Go. A reminder." 

She scrambled over to Parcival's side, and placed her hands on her knees, dragging in the fresh air to her sore lungs. Her neck burned and bubbled. Must just be him, a thought slammed into her mind. Was he the one the Adapts warned about? She tilted her head. Uncertain, could be.

In front of Parcival, Jason was encased in a skintight crystal tomb with a look of shock frozen on his face. A spark of pity for the man floated, but it fizzled down to regret. Something about the man, reminded her-but of what? That too flitted away. 

She peeked a look at Parcival. 

There had to be some way to tell him some way without-the grass why did it swirl? She closed her eyes counting to three. Good, it stopped. 

"Head back into the forest, now," he said. 

He quieted the Neckhawk and stifled its noise.

Maxwell glared at them. "We are not finished, you realize?" Both men looked at each other as if they would cause each to burst into flame. 

Silently, he slipped back into the forest vanishing. 

This day stretched out as if it was a week, so much had happened in the past hour. 

"Why didn't you leave? Are you trying to die?" She clasped her hands on her head. "Arg!"

A long drawn out sigh was his only answer, he turned towards the ridge.

A valley showed below the ridge. She leaned over a little. Shouldn't take more than a few hours. A sparrow hovered near before taking off into the valley. Hum, there were a lot of them around here. Need to get my ears checked its chirp sounded like a hiss. 

She knelt down more pain returned it was hard to breathe. 

She studied Parcival. Just what were you doing out here oh, holy one? His kind tend to say nice and safe in the city's. The gaudy armor was far too flashy to be of any real use.

"I have my own reasons for coming to you." He stepped in front of her. 

There had to be another reason why he was with. I didn't buy all the goody stuff, everyone had a reason for what they did. 

She put her daggers back into their sheaths. 

"You need to think about this, what I've done doesn't deserve help." her voice softened.

Her neck twinged another sharp pain and burning. Her cheek twitched as she fought a building need to cry out. 

Silent he stepped closer and wrapped his hands around hers.

"That's for me to decide." 

He pulled her closer to him and traced a finger along the side of her face. 

"You're in pain, and your face is taut. Tell me what's going on?" 

"I can't. Don't touch me." She backed away. 

What if the god decided to switch? She pulled back with in, expressionless. It was hard always rejecting him; each time a little more of the hollowness inside grew. She clinched her fists behind her back hiding them. Self pity does no good quit it.

He threw his hands into the air. "You're the most frustrating woman. Let go of your pride, you can't do everything yourself!" 

His eyes. The glint that was usually there had been replaced by a hardness. 

She hugged herself and turned. I've my own vows to keep. Damn it. 

"Time to go-" The pain under her skin, like a thousand rolling hot coals. Unnamed's vines worked their way inside her neck. She squeezed her hands together trying not to scream or to cry. Cursed evil spirit please stop.

There is no other way, I need your energy vessel be glad I do not take it all now. Unnamed dry voice whispered in her mind. 

"I didn't mean to upset you." 

He came over holding his hand out. She backed away too fast and stumbled.

"Don't don't look at me, don't touch me." I'm an abomination.

Parcival came over to her. "Your aura has shrunk way down and flattened!" He stepped close again and held his hand out near her shoulder but pulled it back before touching. 

Aura? "It's nothing I had a kink in my neck." 

The pain eased as the vines settled in. Straightening she worked a fake kink out of her back while forcing her face to become a mask. 

Don't understand.

Lies, don't trust you! You're abhorrent!

The god grumbled and grew silent.

They went over to the ridge nearby and followed it North around a lake. Then they headed down another road as it curved in a valley with snowy peaks of mountains surrounding it partway. Sickle Village, named after the mountains that fenced it was just a pinpoint of flickering lights. 

A cool breeze flowed over her and cooled her sore neck; with it a sweet smell of the valleys wildflowers it came off as a touch too strong for her taste. She stopped to rest on the soft grass. Her life-force ever so little drained away, as Unnamed wormed about under her skin and took what it needed.

She rubbed her neck grimacing as it had become tender and puffy. 

"I should have done something." He scowled. 

"Blaming yourself isn't going to change what happened. But for now it's vital I go home." 

"If you don't mind my asking where are you from?" 

"Dentree, have you ever been there?" Resting her head on her hand.

"No, I've heard it's it's the largest city next to Luna-jer." 

The ground shuttered. A herd of wild Graluv's ambled by their calves ran back and forth between the long triad of furry shaped legs. One of the young turned its head close enough that her face reflected in its eyes as it passed by. 

They continued down into the valley, as soon as the wildlife passed over the road. 

A wind picked up as night fell, dismal dark clouds rolled overhead. A rain fell sparse at first before increasing into a downpour. Irritating hair stuck to her back and the sides of her face. The road was long and winding. 

"There's a long way to travel yet." She said. Once he goes to sleep he won't even know I'm gone. 

His eyes narrowed a touch and he frowned. "Yes of course." 

Her shivering it became uncontrollable, her neck throbbed with a sharp aching as the vines went in further into her muscles. 

She stumbled a step. Her throat constricted and she wheezed. 

Don't panic he'll think you're crazy. She buckled forward falling to the ground. 

He gripped her arm. Collapsing into a heap as her mind jumbled into fragments. No, not now! 

Closing her eyes for a heartbeat. When she opened them again Parcival knelt beside her. 

He was saying something but the winds ripped the words from his mouth. She struggled to hear him but another dizzy spell hit. She tried in vain to speak but instead a wheezing gasp came out. 

Flashes of his worried face above hers. Being carried? 

Soaked to the bone, as if ice filled them her body became a great winter her limbs akin to wooden planks, the winds ripped into her. Parcival held her close. The temperature dropped and her breaths came in frosted puffs. Why are you so kind to me? 

The cold bit into her uncovered skin. Through her fogged thoughts the far off lights of a town seemed as if they flaunted their warmth, taunting her as they flickered. 

"You can't go to sleep stay awake!" 

He patted her cheeks with his free hand. 

"What's wrong, tell me!" 

She squinted as the wind squeezed tears from her eyes blurring everything. Her mind held nothing knew nothing but the cold, pain, and Parcival's warm touch. A bodiless sensation overcoming her as a blackness crept over her vision again.