Ren reluctantly carried the detached arm with Azumi doing the same with the other. Together, they walked towards the castle, not saying a single word to each other. It seems Azumi was still disappointed in him. He brushed it off as they were busy trying to drag a dead body towards the castle.
"Hey we're-", but he was interrupted by a screaming Caldwell and as Linota ordered one of them to put him to sleep, Ren used a sleeping spell.
"Who is that?", Azumi asked Linota
"Hey we're-", but he was interrupted by a screaming Caldwell and as Linota ordered one of them to put him to sleep, Ren used a sleeping spell.
"Who is that?", Azumi asked Linota
"Assalya..." Cairo calls in a concerned tone "wheres caldwell?" He ask looking her in the eye with a worried look that says 'what the hell did you do?'
“Why am I na–?!” Caldwell was in the middle of saying when Ren put him to sleep with ease.
Linota turned to Ren, her face twisted in angry shock. “Really?” She asked him and glanced at Azumi. “Can everyone just do that?”
She refrained from thinking about how easy everything would have been if Radigan and Caldwell had simply been put to sleep. They could have put them in a wacky, stupid position together, destroyed the amulet, taken the kids, and called it a day! Linota closed her eyes for a moment– Oh crap, she was thinking about it. She sucked in a breath and sighed, looking hopelessly at the half of her new team that was in there with her.
“Think of him as Radigan’s second,” Linota explained to Azumi. “It’s too late to save him.”
The two of them, Ren and Azumi, had been unmistakably militant since they arrived, so Linota thought that was a good way to describe Caldwell to them. She could only hope that they believed her in regards to Caldwell being too far gone. She looked down at him again, the young teen she had watched become a terrible man. She put the stick back into his hand, wrapping his fingers around it so it looked like a wand.
When she turned around to face the three others, she said, “The people in this town love gossip so much, they’re prepared to believe anything.” She started to walk out of the room. “They’re also idiots,” she added from the doorway.
Linota walked out to check on the children who were still dazed and rubbing their eyes. They were surrounding Cairo, having always found him to be comforting, but especially now that he was bigger and now that they were thoroughly freaked out from having seen chicken fried Radigan. Some of them afforded Linota a smile when they saw her, the few that had seen her more tender side and were relieved that she was okay. Most of them looked ashamed that they had let their minds be taken by the amulet, looking at the ground instead of at anyone's eyes.
“You fought it, didn’t you?” Linota asked them when she was near. She was wearing a rare, prideful smile. “Just like I taught you.”
They gave her pathetic excuses for smiles at that, but didn’t say anything. Linota told them to continue packing their bags, reassuring them that Caldwell wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon. They were still getting out of here. Linota would search for Assallya next, to ask her about her wagon and all of the children fitting into it. It didn’t seem possible, but something had to happen since she wasn’t going to just leave them here.
Linota turned to Ren, her face twisted in angry shock. “Really?” She asked him and glanced at Azumi. “Can everyone just do that?”
She refrained from thinking about how easy everything would have been if Radigan and Caldwell had simply been put to sleep. They could have put them in a wacky, stupid position together, destroyed the amulet, taken the kids, and called it a day! Linota closed her eyes for a moment– Oh crap, she was thinking about it. She sucked in a breath and sighed, looking hopelessly at the half of her new team that was in there with her.
“Think of him as Radigan’s second,” Linota explained to Azumi. “It’s too late to save him.”
The two of them, Ren and Azumi, had been unmistakably militant since they arrived, so Linota thought that was a good way to describe Caldwell to them. She could only hope that they believed her in regards to Caldwell being too far gone. She looked down at him again, the young teen she had watched become a terrible man. She put the stick back into his hand, wrapping his fingers around it so it looked like a wand.
When she turned around to face the three others, she said, “The people in this town love gossip so much, they’re prepared to believe anything.” She started to walk out of the room. “They’re also idiots,” she added from the doorway.
Linota walked out to check on the children who were still dazed and rubbing their eyes. They were surrounding Cairo, having always found him to be comforting, but especially now that he was bigger and now that they were thoroughly freaked out from having seen chicken fried Radigan. Some of them afforded Linota a smile when they saw her, the few that had seen her more tender side and were relieved that she was okay. Most of them looked ashamed that they had let their minds be taken by the amulet, looking at the ground instead of at anyone's eyes.
“You fought it, didn’t you?” Linota asked them when she was near. She was wearing a rare, prideful smile. “Just like I taught you.”
They gave her pathetic excuses for smiles at that, but didn’t say anything. Linota told them to continue packing their bags, reassuring them that Caldwell wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon. They were still getting out of here. Linota would search for Assallya next, to ask her about her wagon and all of the children fitting into it. It didn’t seem possible, but something had to happen since she wasn’t going to just leave them here.
Still leaning on her staff, Lio followed Linota back outside. She was going to have to rest soon, and probably eat something as well, but that would have to wait for a little while longer. Oh thank goodness, she thought as she saw a large rock nearby. Slowly she went over to it and sat down. I'm getting too old for this shit...
"If anyone is injured," she said raising her voice as loud as she could at the moment, "come over here and I can heal you. There's no reason to be afraid." She smiled at the children as reassuringly as possible. "And then, once you're all packed, you can go over to our house and have as much to eat as you like."
"If anyone is injured," she said raising her voice as loud as she could at the moment, "come over here and I can heal you. There's no reason to be afraid." She smiled at the children as reassuringly as possible. "And then, once you're all packed, you can go over to our house and have as much to eat as you like."
“The people in this town love gossip so much, they’re prepared to believe anything.” Linota said as she started to walk out of the room. “They’re also idiots,” she added from the doorway.
"Of course they are," the blonde enchantress said as she moved through the room as if she were dancing. "Those few that shine bright are lost in the wash of lights from both the rare brief flares and by the sheer multitude of spent guttering embers alike. Will you rise and burn like a sun, or float on the whims of the wind like an ember?"
As she spoke she pulled the comb through her black dyed hair. Each pull through boiled away the weapon black, tar and charcoal that had been used to make her hair the colour of raven feathers. Two or three strokes later and half her head was raven black, the other her regular glistening copper blonde that burned in the sunlight.
"Of course they are," the blonde enchantress said as she moved through the room as if she were dancing. "Those few that shine bright are lost in the wash of lights from both the rare brief flares and by the sheer multitude of spent guttering embers alike. Will you rise and burn like a sun, or float on the whims of the wind like an ember?"
As she spoke she pulled the comb through her black dyed hair. Each pull through boiled away the weapon black, tar and charcoal that had been used to make her hair the colour of raven feathers. Two or three strokes later and half her head was raven black, the other her regular glistening copper blonde that burned in the sunlight.
"Watch thy spacing!" Aislinn called out to the city watchmen she had volunteered to aid, "If a wizard there be he'll blast ye all at once. Ye should be able to tap yon brother with a sword at the least."
Aislinn sat astride her steed, slowly cantering forwards, hazel eyes shining green in the light. She wasn't quite as exemplary as the earlier illusion had made her out to be. The horse was not stark white, the armour not shining platinum. Indeed, she was wearing only her chainmail for she hadn't time to don her plate.
As she approached Radigan's abode, a skirmish line of city guard at her back she spied the lady wizard sitting outside. Or at least, the woman seemed to be a wizard based on the robes and ancient looking staff. Then, as she came closer, she spied the salting of her hair and the shape of skull and pointed ear and then finally the scars. This one had seen combat.
Holding up a leather gloved fist she bade the men stop.
"Greetings honored elder," Aislinn greeted Liothryth, "Is it ye we must thank for bringing an end to the sorcerous calamity that has befallen this quarter?"
Aislinn sat astride her steed, slowly cantering forwards, hazel eyes shining green in the light. She wasn't quite as exemplary as the earlier illusion had made her out to be. The horse was not stark white, the armour not shining platinum. Indeed, she was wearing only her chainmail for she hadn't time to don her plate.
As she approached Radigan's abode, a skirmish line of city guard at her back she spied the lady wizard sitting outside. Or at least, the woman seemed to be a wizard based on the robes and ancient looking staff. Then, as she came closer, she spied the salting of her hair and the shape of skull and pointed ear and then finally the scars. This one had seen combat.
Holding up a leather gloved fist she bade the men stop.
"Greetings honored elder," Aislinn greeted Liothryth, "Is it ye we must thank for bringing an end to the sorcerous calamity that has befallen this quarter?"
"Don't forget these two, they dealt the final blow... I think", Ren said to Aislinn and pointed at Linota and Cairo, trying his best to form a smile at them. He seemed rather proud of them, they could be potential Treasoners, future tyrant slayers that...
No... He thought to himself. It wasn't worth asking them to join, unless they were truly willing to risk losing their minds in the training. After all, they have to deal with the kids, in other words, finding them good homes. He walked over to the children, trying his best not to look intimidating, but failing miserably.
"Hey guys", He said awkwardly, trying to get something out of his satchel. It was candy. He gave it to them without asking them first, a habit he formed during the consistently dangerous missions he had to go through that required him to act first without thinking. Azumi smiled at Ren's act of kindness. Then she remembered the words of one of their missing squadmates, Lucine. If my hypothesis is correct, continuing this behavior will result in his "curing" of his unstable power, by controlling his emotions and showing kindness, rather than violence., these words echoed into her mind. Ren always gravitated towards kitsune like Lucine and herself, but she would do well not to make him worry about Lucine, or Karl, or Azuki, or any of her squadmates for that matter. She decided not to think about it too much as it will just make both of them worry unnecessarily.
No... He thought to himself. It wasn't worth asking them to join, unless they were truly willing to risk losing their minds in the training. After all, they have to deal with the kids, in other words, finding them good homes. He walked over to the children, trying his best not to look intimidating, but failing miserably.
"Hey guys", He said awkwardly, trying to get something out of his satchel. It was candy. He gave it to them without asking them first, a habit he formed during the consistently dangerous missions he had to go through that required him to act first without thinking. Azumi smiled at Ren's act of kindness. Then she remembered the words of one of their missing squadmates, Lucine. If my hypothesis is correct, continuing this behavior will result in his "curing" of his unstable power, by controlling his emotions and showing kindness, rather than violence., these words echoed into her mind. Ren always gravitated towards kitsune like Lucine and herself, but she would do well not to make him worry about Lucine, or Karl, or Azuki, or any of her squadmates for that matter. She decided not to think about it too much as it will just make both of them worry unnecessarily.
’Someone should help her,’ Linota thought about Liothryth, having already concreted the fact that that ‘someone’ would not be her. Her aversion to touch didn’t just vanish when someone was in need and Liothryth was still a stranger to her, regardless of her help. She was also a little afraid of the woman now, seeing what she had just done. Linota watched her sympathetically, but did nothing more than that. When she left the house, Assallya spoke of something that Linota could only perceive as a riddle of some kind.
“What?” She asked the enchantress after a confused pause, a little annoyed that Assallya had confused her and that she had danced, and combed her hair, while doing it. She could see the use of the comb now, though it seemed to only be useful to Assallya and for this precise situation.
She walked away from her and to the children. When Lio offered the children the delicious food they had smelled earlier, they looked up with grateful smiles. They were all fearful of her, as Linota was, and they let it show blatantly on their faces. The offer of food, however, worked to chip away at their untrusting shells. Linota smiled with them, aiming it at Liothryth as an unspoken ‘thank you’.
The children looked at Linota and Cairo until Linota abruptly said, “Go on!”, and they rushed to pack their bags. As they did, a strong sounding woman called out, making Linota freeze. Then she double froze, her eyes turning to saucers at seeing the line of guards behind her. This was it. They were going down for murder. But when Aislinn approached, heading straight for Liothryth, Linota found that she could breathe again. She was thanking her? Linota looked cautiously at the guards then squinted when she thought she could see a shimmer in the air around them. She blinked at them until the children ran back out, having packed up faster than she had ever seen. The promise of good food seemed to work far better than the promise of death. Someone really should have let Radigan know.
When the children did come out, they each halted in their steps when they saw Aislinn and the guards. There were already so many people there with them that they didn’t know, but they were turning out to be nice. The same could usually not be said about the royal guard. But Ren’s greeting to them was a great distraction, seeing as he offered them candy. Sweets were as rare as gold among them and just as desired, but still they looked from the guards to his offer with skepticism. Only after one brave soul reached out and picked one up with slow, little fingers, did all the children clamor and climb to get one, or five, for themselves.
“Don’t eat them all!” A girl’s voice shouted from the back of the group.
“Finder’s keeper’s!” A boy replied, as if that saying worked here.
Linota gave Ren a look that said ‘you just made a lot of overbearing friends’, but she couldn’t help a warm smile. Liothryth would take care of talking to the knight, who Linota wanted no part of. She and the law had never been friends, no matter where she had gone or who she tried to be. So when Ren lassoed her into Lio and Aislinn’s conversation, Linota looked at them with stark reluctance. The militant man thought she had contributed anything? He gave her a proud smile and her stomach turned. She didn’t deserve that. She didn’t deserve to hold the staff she so desperately wanted back.
She looked at the piece of woven wood in her hand, realizing she had time to realize things now. She had done absolutely nothing to contribute to this battle. She was bound on the dirt floor, utterly useless. Less than useless, she had been a detriment, a damsel in distress that only got in the way of the real fighters. Her amber eyes found her hookshot, laying in disarray on the ground, and she could feel her cheeks start to heat up. The embarrassment of it all hit her like a galloping elk and she looked away from Ren angrily, trying instead to focus all of her attention on the children, who were still trying to get candy from the man. Some had moved on to courageously ask Azumi, who they suspected had candy as well.
“How about some real food?” Linota asked the kids, deciding not to say anything at all to Ren, Lio, or the knight. She tried to hide the fact that she was mad in her tone. She was mad, but she could beat herself up later.
The children cheered for that good smelling food and readied themselves to follow her and the old mage to where it was. The townspeople would still be there, enjoying what they thought was a wonderful party for the wealthy and powerful. Linota gathered the parts to her hookshot before they went, dumping the pieces into her satchel with a little more aggression than she wanted to. ’Stupid thing,’ she thought bitterly as she did. ’Stupid, useless, non-magical thing.’ Even for her, it was difficult to tell if she was talking about her creation or herself.
“What?” She asked the enchantress after a confused pause, a little annoyed that Assallya had confused her and that she had danced, and combed her hair, while doing it. She could see the use of the comb now, though it seemed to only be useful to Assallya and for this precise situation.
She walked away from her and to the children. When Lio offered the children the delicious food they had smelled earlier, they looked up with grateful smiles. They were all fearful of her, as Linota was, and they let it show blatantly on their faces. The offer of food, however, worked to chip away at their untrusting shells. Linota smiled with them, aiming it at Liothryth as an unspoken ‘thank you’.
The children looked at Linota and Cairo until Linota abruptly said, “Go on!”, and they rushed to pack their bags. As they did, a strong sounding woman called out, making Linota freeze. Then she double froze, her eyes turning to saucers at seeing the line of guards behind her. This was it. They were going down for murder. But when Aislinn approached, heading straight for Liothryth, Linota found that she could breathe again. She was thanking her? Linota looked cautiously at the guards then squinted when she thought she could see a shimmer in the air around them. She blinked at them until the children ran back out, having packed up faster than she had ever seen. The promise of good food seemed to work far better than the promise of death. Someone really should have let Radigan know.
When the children did come out, they each halted in their steps when they saw Aislinn and the guards. There were already so many people there with them that they didn’t know, but they were turning out to be nice. The same could usually not be said about the royal guard. But Ren’s greeting to them was a great distraction, seeing as he offered them candy. Sweets were as rare as gold among them and just as desired, but still they looked from the guards to his offer with skepticism. Only after one brave soul reached out and picked one up with slow, little fingers, did all the children clamor and climb to get one, or five, for themselves.
“Don’t eat them all!” A girl’s voice shouted from the back of the group.
“Finder’s keeper’s!” A boy replied, as if that saying worked here.
Linota gave Ren a look that said ‘you just made a lot of overbearing friends’, but she couldn’t help a warm smile. Liothryth would take care of talking to the knight, who Linota wanted no part of. She and the law had never been friends, no matter where she had gone or who she tried to be. So when Ren lassoed her into Lio and Aislinn’s conversation, Linota looked at them with stark reluctance. The militant man thought she had contributed anything? He gave her a proud smile and her stomach turned. She didn’t deserve that. She didn’t deserve to hold the staff she so desperately wanted back.
She looked at the piece of woven wood in her hand, realizing she had time to realize things now. She had done absolutely nothing to contribute to this battle. She was bound on the dirt floor, utterly useless. Less than useless, she had been a detriment, a damsel in distress that only got in the way of the real fighters. Her amber eyes found her hookshot, laying in disarray on the ground, and she could feel her cheeks start to heat up. The embarrassment of it all hit her like a galloping elk and she looked away from Ren angrily, trying instead to focus all of her attention on the children, who were still trying to get candy from the man. Some had moved on to courageously ask Azumi, who they suspected had candy as well.
“How about some real food?” Linota asked the kids, deciding not to say anything at all to Ren, Lio, or the knight. She tried to hide the fact that she was mad in her tone. She was mad, but she could beat herself up later.
The children cheered for that good smelling food and readied themselves to follow her and the old mage to where it was. The townspeople would still be there, enjoying what they thought was a wonderful party for the wealthy and powerful. Linota gathered the parts to her hookshot before they went, dumping the pieces into her satchel with a little more aggression than she wanted to. ’Stupid thing,’ she thought bitterly as she did. ’Stupid, useless, non-magical thing.’ Even for her, it was difficult to tell if she was talking about her creation or herself.
"My companions and I," Lio replied to the woman on horseback, "though I dealt the final blow." Normally she would have stood when addressing someone that high up, if for no other reason that she would have a sore neck later, but not right now.
She smiled as she saw Linota guide the children to the building they had taken over, and the food. They were all safe for the moment, but soon some thought would need to be given as to what to do with them next. Which brought her back to the woman in front of her.
"By your bearing and company, you seem to represent the law in this place? Am I correct?" Her speech was getting formal again, but she was too tired to care.
She smiled as she saw Linota guide the children to the building they had taken over, and the food. They were all safe for the moment, but soon some thought would need to be given as to what to do with them next. Which brought her back to the woman in front of her.
"By your bearing and company, you seem to represent the law in this place? Am I correct?" Her speech was getting formal again, but she was too tired to care.
Standing beside her steed, chainmail brilliant in the light, red hair shining, Aislinn continued to survey the scene. She was still somewhat wary, perhaps because she wasn't entirely privy to every detail and wizards were a vengeful lot. Cursed items, magical traps and contracts with demons to wreak vengeance on those that slew them were common to wizards.
Aislinn was still trying to make sense of what had transpired but the last thing she wanted was to upset a master magician like this one appeared to be with centuries of experience. There were few elves that trode darker paths and every fiber of Aislinn's being said that this woman was forthright. After all, elves took care of their own, often hunting down any rumour of one of their number dealing in dark arts. The likelihood of such a fallen elf merely sitting in the public eye was miniscule.
"I wouldst speak falsely should I claim such honored one," Aislinn replied and took the opportunity to dismount, "T'was asked I was, to lend aid given my experience in dealing with fell sorceries. Is there naught that these fine men might do to lend thee aid? T'would appear they didst harry themselves needlessly in response to reports of a wicked spellcaster and whilst justice has been well wrought they be empty of hands. Be anyone hurt? Be there any task they could lend aid in?"
Aislinn was still trying to make sense of what had transpired but the last thing she wanted was to upset a master magician like this one appeared to be with centuries of experience. There were few elves that trode darker paths and every fiber of Aislinn's being said that this woman was forthright. After all, elves took care of their own, often hunting down any rumour of one of their number dealing in dark arts. The likelihood of such a fallen elf merely sitting in the public eye was miniscule.
"I wouldst speak falsely should I claim such honored one," Aislinn replied and took the opportunity to dismount, "T'was asked I was, to lend aid given my experience in dealing with fell sorceries. Is there naught that these fine men might do to lend thee aid? T'would appear they didst harry themselves needlessly in response to reports of a wicked spellcaster and whilst justice has been well wrought they be empty of hands. Be anyone hurt? Be there any task they could lend aid in?"
"Guess you can lock that guy up?", Ren pointed to the Caldwell, who was still asleep from the sleeping spell, "He's an accomplice of Radigan, I think". Ren did not know who Caldwell was really, but he's seen enough evidence to suggest Linota wasn't lying.
Meanwhile, Azumi was being asked by the children if she had any candy. The fox spirit explained that she unfortunately did not carry any candy, but is more than happy to make them sushi. She noticed Linota, who seemed distressed or frustrated about something, so being the nice person that she is, she decided to talk to Linota, possibly trying to lift her spirits a little. Before she did so, Azumi informed Ren that she shall escort the children to the formerly abandoned building. He simply groaned and nodded, turning his attention towards Aislinn and her guards
"That's a rather peculiar contraption!", She said smiling and wagging her tails excitedly, "I think Ren and I can fix that for you with a bit of magic! Although Ren has a quite a bit of knowledge with science!".
While Azumi went with Linota and the children, Ren awkwardly stepped away from sight and hid somewhere in the room. He grabbed some sort of blue crystal, one of Finn's final gifts to him. Another was a tablet made of a black crystalline material. It could be something made with advanced technology so he hid it to prevent any risks. What is this...?, he wondered to himself. He tried fidgeting around with the blue rock to see if anything happened, but to no avail. It was hopeless. He already got separated by his squad, who were possibly all dead except for his familiar, and now Finn left him some sort of useless crystal? What kind of sick joke was he trying to make? He hopelessly sat down on the floor, putting the crystal near his face.
"Why couldn't you explain it better, Finn?", He muttered miserably, shedding a few tears. Out of nowhere, as if the mention of his step cousin activated something within the crystal shot a beam of light towards Ren's forehead. He started getting visions of some sort of cellar. The jail itself seemed to be circular. He deduced that he was viewing it from someone else's perspective, it was because this crystal was no ordinary crystal. It was a vision rock. The person seemed to be crawling into the cold, rusted iron bars of their jail cell.
"Hey", he spoke. Then two other figures appeared from the opposite cell. It was a Bakeneko and an Insectoid alien. Azuki and Karl! And the voice must be... Finn's!
He tried reaching his hand out, but the vision rock ran out of magic, returning his perspective to where he was currently. He got up, walked towards Aislinn and Lio as if nothing happened, smiling nervously.
"Just got shivers from the battle. Needed to rest"
Meanwhile, Azumi was being asked by the children if she had any candy. The fox spirit explained that she unfortunately did not carry any candy, but is more than happy to make them sushi. She noticed Linota, who seemed distressed or frustrated about something, so being the nice person that she is, she decided to talk to Linota, possibly trying to lift her spirits a little. Before she did so, Azumi informed Ren that she shall escort the children to the formerly abandoned building. He simply groaned and nodded, turning his attention towards Aislinn and her guards
"That's a rather peculiar contraption!", She said smiling and wagging her tails excitedly, "I think Ren and I can fix that for you with a bit of magic! Although Ren has a quite a bit of knowledge with science!".
While Azumi went with Linota and the children, Ren awkwardly stepped away from sight and hid somewhere in the room. He grabbed some sort of blue crystal, one of Finn's final gifts to him. Another was a tablet made of a black crystalline material. It could be something made with advanced technology so he hid it to prevent any risks. What is this...?, he wondered to himself. He tried fidgeting around with the blue rock to see if anything happened, but to no avail. It was hopeless. He already got separated by his squad, who were possibly all dead except for his familiar, and now Finn left him some sort of useless crystal? What kind of sick joke was he trying to make? He hopelessly sat down on the floor, putting the crystal near his face.
"Why couldn't you explain it better, Finn?", He muttered miserably, shedding a few tears. Out of nowhere, as if the mention of his step cousin activated something within the crystal shot a beam of light towards Ren's forehead. He started getting visions of some sort of cellar. The jail itself seemed to be circular. He deduced that he was viewing it from someone else's perspective, it was because this crystal was no ordinary crystal. It was a vision rock. The person seemed to be crawling into the cold, rusted iron bars of their jail cell.
"Hey", he spoke. Then two other figures appeared from the opposite cell. It was a Bakeneko and an Insectoid alien. Azuki and Karl! And the voice must be... Finn's!
He tried reaching his hand out, but the vision rock ran out of magic, returning his perspective to where he was currently. He got up, walked towards Aislinn and Lio as if nothing happened, smiling nervously.
"Just got shivers from the battle. Needed to rest"
"Hey do you guys you could make me normal size again? I hit my head on the top of the door" Cairo ask the party making the children laugh at him
"Oh..." the blonde elven sorceress said, looking over at the, now over fifteen hands tall, youth, "The spell would normally end any minute now but... "
Assallya concentrated, picking the spell apart thread by thread mentally until it was no more and Cairo began to shrink back down.
That's when she noted who Liothryth was talking to outside. The red headed knight, Paladin of Azuth, Beloved of Mystra, was known to her.
"By Myrkul's shriveled black balls," she cursed, "What is she doing here?"
Assallya concentrated, picking the spell apart thread by thread mentally until it was no more and Cairo began to shrink back down.
That's when she noted who Liothryth was talking to outside. The red headed knight, Paladin of Azuth, Beloved of Mystra, was known to her.
"By Myrkul's shriveled black balls," she cursed, "What is she doing here?"
The children were confused at the word ‘sushi’. They shared a few looks that proved as much then ultimately nodded their heads at the offer. Whatever it was, they wanted it. They followed Linota towards the alley that would lead them to the once abandoned structure with much excitement. Linota had thought Liothryth was going to join her and was surprised to glance over her shoulder to see the kitsune approaching. Her heated pace slowed to a leisurely walk as she wasn’t sure the townspeople would listen to her and a little fox when it came to letting the children eat. She looked over at Liothryth, who was still talking with the knight and Ren, and sighed through her nose just before Azumi bounded up to mention her ‘contraption’, making her halt. When Azumi said the word ‘magic’, it made Linota wince. She turned away from Azumi and kept walking, holding her staff horizontally at her side.
“No,” she told the kitsune decisively, though she didn’t face her, whether Azumi continued to walk beside her or not. She was embarrassed again for having had anyone see her useless, and now in pieces, weapon. “I made it, without magic, and I’ll put it back together just the same.”
At the mention of science, however, Linota stopped again and the children stopped behind her like a fleet of little ducklings. Her pride, a strong emotion indeed, told her to keep walking, to appear strong and capable. Though her eagerness to learn did well to fight the sinful emotion down. She turned to give Azumi an interested look, involuntarily ruined by the scowl she still felt.
“Science?” Linota asked. It wasn’t a common word where she was from or where she had been, though had an idea of what it was. It was how seemingly magical things worked, without magic. She knew there was a better explanation out there, but she never had the resources to find out more than that. Her eyes danced at the interest, the hope, that this one word brought on.
“No,” she told the kitsune decisively, though she didn’t face her, whether Azumi continued to walk beside her or not. She was embarrassed again for having had anyone see her useless, and now in pieces, weapon. “I made it, without magic, and I’ll put it back together just the same.”
At the mention of science, however, Linota stopped again and the children stopped behind her like a fleet of little ducklings. Her pride, a strong emotion indeed, told her to keep walking, to appear strong and capable. Though her eagerness to learn did well to fight the sinful emotion down. She turned to give Azumi an interested look, involuntarily ruined by the scowl she still felt.
“Science?” Linota asked. It wasn’t a common word where she was from or where she had been, though had an idea of what it was. It was how seemingly magical things worked, without magic. She knew there was a better explanation out there, but she never had the resources to find out more than that. Her eyes danced at the interest, the hope, that this one word brought on.
Lio was officially done with everyone's shit. "They harried themselves to deal with a spell caster? Then it was the slowest movement I've ever heard of. That...wretch had been holding sway over this town for years and terrorizing it's children." Heaving herself off the rock to stand, anger flashed in her eyes. "Children who had no one to care for them except someone who wanted to use them, and now they don't even have that any more."
The anger dimmed, replaced once again with exhaustion. "I haven't heard that any one was injured, no one came to me when I offered healing. As my companion said, one of his accomplices is inside with the body of the one I killed. I am returning to the building that we have been using at the edge of town. There is food and drink there. If you wish to talk to us more you may come there." With that Lio began to walk back to the building, her progress slow but steady.
The anger dimmed, replaced once again with exhaustion. "I haven't heard that any one was injured, no one came to me when I offered healing. As my companion said, one of his accomplices is inside with the body of the one I killed. I am returning to the building that we have been using at the edge of town. There is food and drink there. If you wish to talk to us more you may come there." With that Lio began to walk back to the building, her progress slow but steady.
Ren followed suite after Lio had offered to leave this place and eat something at the restored building, which was currently hosted by Liothryth herself. He stumbled a few times while following Liothryth, realizing he was starving. His vision became blurry and his mind only bent on one thing: food.
"Kuzu...", He called out to his familiar by her codename and collapsed just as he and Lio were about to exit the door. Right when he muttered it, Azumi appeared from a cloud of smoke in front on the unconscious Ren.
"Rawx!", Azumi cried out, worried for her bond. She hurriedly casted a levitation spell on Ren and brought him towards the formerly abandoned building with haste. She stopped for a moment to inform the children that the sushi she promised will have to wait and told Linota to ask Ren about fixing the contraption if she wanted to do it without magic. She then continued on her way towards the party with Ren.
"Kuzu...", He called out to his familiar by her codename and collapsed just as he and Lio were about to exit the door. Right when he muttered it, Azumi appeared from a cloud of smoke in front on the unconscious Ren.
"Rawx!", Azumi cried out, worried for her bond. She hurriedly casted a levitation spell on Ren and brought him towards the formerly abandoned building with haste. She stopped for a moment to inform the children that the sushi she promised will have to wait and told Linota to ask Ren about fixing the contraption if she wanted to do it without magic. She then continued on her way towards the party with Ren.
Liothryth’s increase in volume seemed to garner the attention of Azumi, and Linota too, as she spoke angrily at the knight. The old mage held Linota’s sentiments exactly: The royal guard had never helped them before and, for whatever reason they were here now, it couldn’t be in their best interests. Perhaps they had come to take credit for something they themselves failed to do? Or maybe they were trying to make the group admit guilt so that the guards could take them all away. Regardless, Linota offered Liothryth an appreciative nod and waited for the older woman to reach her. As she did, she saw Ren collapse and Azumi appear next to him. Only when Linota looked over to where Azumi had just been, did she realize she was gone.
When the little kitsune told Linota to ask Ren about fixing her creation, while floating his unconscious body towards the party building, the teenager looked from Azumi to Ren and back again before saying,
“Erm– Yeah. Maybe later.”
“Are you alright?” Linota asked Liothryth more quietly as they walked to the food. It was a question she herself hated to be asked, but she thought it was more than warranted here.
Her stomach growled, as all the childrens’ did, though the shame from her self deprecation did well to mask the hunger pains. She knew she would have to force herself to eat. She checked over her shoulder for Cario, who would be back to his normal size, and noted Assallya as well, wondering what she was doing now. She tried not to look at the knight and her fleet of guards, tried to pretend they weren't there.
Linota also tried to forget the silver platter she had stolen was still on the ground. She wasn't sure she wanted it anymore. Her hip bones still burned with pain as she walked, where the edges had dug into her, as well as the lump on her head from the fireball. She had heard Liothryth offer aid in healing, but there was no way in hell she would show such weakness. She had already embarrassed herself enough.
When the little kitsune told Linota to ask Ren about fixing her creation, while floating his unconscious body towards the party building, the teenager looked from Azumi to Ren and back again before saying,
“Erm– Yeah. Maybe later.”
“Are you alright?” Linota asked Liothryth more quietly as they walked to the food. It was a question she herself hated to be asked, but she thought it was more than warranted here.
Her stomach growled, as all the childrens’ did, though the shame from her self deprecation did well to mask the hunger pains. She knew she would have to force herself to eat. She checked over her shoulder for Cario, who would be back to his normal size, and noted Assallya as well, wondering what she was doing now. She tried not to look at the knight and her fleet of guards, tried to pretend they weren't there.
Linota also tried to forget the silver platter she had stolen was still on the ground. She wasn't sure she wanted it anymore. Her hip bones still burned with pain as she walked, where the edges had dug into her, as well as the lump on her head from the fireball. She had heard Liothryth offer aid in healing, but there was no way in hell she would show such weakness. She had already embarrassed herself enough.
Cairo after returning to normal starts walking over to linota looking at the bruise on her head and calls out "Hey! Lin! Come here and let me fix ya up, i already checked all the kids and they're fine so that leaves you next then me after" pulling out water and a rag from his pocket to somewhat clean her wounds at least to the best of his near non-existent medical ability.
Lio offers Linota a tired, but reassuring smile. "I'll be fine, I just never expected to use that spell again. It was overkill of just on person but..." She simply shrugged. "I think I'll try out one of the healing potions that Carabina left with us. I'll be fine soon enough."
At Cairo's shout, she looked over to where some of the children were clustered and getting his somewhat dubious medical treatment. "Will you go over the the children and see if any of them need any healing? None of them came to me when I offered, but I'm not terribly surprised by that. If you or he were to be healed first, whether you actually need it or not, it might calm their fears a little."
"Ren, Kazumi, thank you for your help," Lio told them when she came close enough for them to hear. "I was glad to know that you could help get the children to safety no matter what else happened." She gave Kazumi a smile as well, "and I admit that I'm intrigued to try sushi as well, if there's any extra. If you need any supplies, let me know."
As she said, Lio found one of the healing potions that Carabina had left with them. After taking is she did feel better, though still tired. But what can you expect at your age, she thought. After getting herself some food, she found a chair outside and sat down to eat and wait for whatever would happen next.
At Cairo's shout, she looked over to where some of the children were clustered and getting his somewhat dubious medical treatment. "Will you go over the the children and see if any of them need any healing? None of them came to me when I offered, but I'm not terribly surprised by that. If you or he were to be healed first, whether you actually need it or not, it might calm their fears a little."
"Ren, Kazumi, thank you for your help," Lio told them when she came close enough for them to hear. "I was glad to know that you could help get the children to safety no matter what else happened." She gave Kazumi a smile as well, "and I admit that I'm intrigued to try sushi as well, if there's any extra. If you need any supplies, let me know."
As she said, Lio found one of the healing potions that Carabina had left with them. After taking is she did feel better, though still tired. But what can you expect at your age, she thought. After getting herself some food, she found a chair outside and sat down to eat and wait for whatever would happen next.
"For years?" Aislinn echoed, considering even as she ignored Liothryth's vehemence. If what the woman was saying was true then a little frustration would be justified.
"A shame then you killed the mage," she added, more to herself since the elf matron was walking off, "T'would seem, for such a thing to have happened, that the mayor or others may have been involved. I wouldst have brought him before Tyr's question."
"A shame then you killed the mage," she added, more to herself since the elf matron was walking off, "T'would seem, for such a thing to have happened, that the mayor or others may have been involved. I wouldst have brought him before Tyr's question."
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