by Phoenix Grey
“She has to be,” Lonnell replied, sounding uncertain. “Any idea how far away the altar is?”
“Unfortunately not. Your brother was being crabby last night. He wasn't much in the mood for talking.” Not after Azure had brought up the pendant at least.
“Then we're going to have to wake him,” Lonnell said with a sigh before walking over and kneeling beside Uden.
“What's that hideous brightness?” Uden shielded his eyes from the sun. In Azure's mind, he could hear the half-imp hissing and see him skittering away into the comfort of the darkness. The thought put a smile on his face.
“It's called the sun,” he said dramatically, leaning around so that Uden could see him past Lonnell.
“I can't remember the last time I woke up this late.” Uden sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
“We need to know how far away the altar is,” Lonnell told him.
“About half a mile to the west.” Uden looked to the west.
“Not far at all,” Azure realized with relief. “In that case, I'm going back to sleep.” He stretched and yawned before finding a spot in the grass to pass out.
This time, he woke on his own around noon, fully restored and stomach rumbling. Wanting to get to the altar as quickly as possible to cement their plans, they ate leftover boar along the way. It amazed Azure how long that one kill had lasted them. Even divided between them, there was still so much left that they wouldn't need to hunt again for a while. Although it was a great time saver, Azure felt like having so much meat onhand screwed him out of gaining experience from hunting. While game animals didn't earn him much XP, every little bit helped. Every time he saw a rabbit or squirrel cross their path, he yearned for the kill, but he knew that Lonnell wouldn't condone, what he saw as, the unnecessary killing of an animal.
After a seemingly short trek through the forest, they came upon a small hill with the altar seated atop it.
“Well, that certainly looks sacrificial,” Azure mentioned dryly of the very typical stone table that had been erected. The dirt surrounding it was disturbed. Someone, at one point, had drawn symbols into it, but most of it had been messed up due to weather and time.
Approaching the altar, they noticed remnants of dry blood. There was a chip in the middle of the stone surface, likely from someone driving a blade a bit too hard through whatever they had been sacrificing on it.
Bronna hugged herself as she looked at the altar, shuddering. “I'm not goin' on that.”
“Yes, you are,” Uden said almost automatically.
“Let's sacrifice you instead.” She glared at him.
“Ohhh, you spoke proper Common Tongue that time. You must really be angry with me.” He smirked at her.
“Weren't they going to bring you here and sacrifice you?” Azure reminded him.
“They obviously didn't get too far with that. I'm too cunning.” Uden grinned wolfishly.
“Cunning enough to get captured while you were asleep,” Lonnell muttered.
“I see no reason why ya can't get on dat altar instead.” Bronna nodded to it.
“How many reasons do you want me to name?” He gave her a sarcastic look. “Let's start with the fact that The Dark One probably already knows that I escaped. Then we'll go with the fact that they'll need me to fight with them if we're to take him down. And finally, I'm pretty sure The Dark One is expecting a vestal virgin, not some snarky half-breed. Forgive me for saying this, love, but you're useless to us other than this one task.”
Bronna gasped. “I am not useless, ya toad!”
Lonnell turned to her, rubbing her shoulders to calm her down. “You are not useless. But we do need you to do this.”
“That altar es filthy!” She gestured to it in disgust.
“I'm pretty sure The Dark One will know that something is amiss if we try to clean it off,” Uden told her. “Besides, who knows, maybe the mixing of the fresh blood with the old blood is part of the ceremony.”
Bronna shuddered again, clearly still not liking the idea of having to touch the altar.
“Speaking of ceremonies, can you figure out what the marks on the ground are? It looks like some type of necromancy spell.” Lonnell turned his attention away from Bronna to examine the marks in the dirt.
“It is undoubtedly dark magic,” Uden said as he circled the altar.
“All sacrificial magic is.” Lonnell meant to say that it was obvious.
“So this was done by a human?” Azure asked, unable to make out anything. It was all just lines and squiggles to him.
“More than likely,” Uden agreed. “That or a hobgoblin.”
“It would have to be one powerful hobgoblin for the other goblins to be afraid of it,” Lonnell said skeptically. “I don't understand who on the island would do this.”
“Not everyone has received a welcoming reception,” the half-imp reminded him.
“Our foes are few and far between, though. And it's rare that new people come to the island. If there had been any kind of unfortunate incident, we would have heard about it.”
“Perhaps it wasn't a recent transgression.” Uden walked up to the altar and leaned over to sniff at the dried blood. Bronna winced away, disturbed.
“Someone from stories past?” Lonnell raised an eyebrow at him.
“Who can tell? There are always a lot of stories.” The half-imp straightened himself and shrugged.
“Can you tell anything from all of this? It's not like anything I've seen before.” Lonnell looked around them.
Uden shook his head. “The markings are too weathered. The blood on the altar is mixed, not entirely human.”
“Not entirely human,” Lonnell parroted.
“I suppose that would explain why they tried to take you, too,” Azure said, meaning no offense.
“I'm not sure what they're sacrificing things to, but whatever it is, it does not appear to be discriminating much,” Uden told them.
“If that were true then the goblins wouldn't have risked coming to Cragbell for a human sacrifice,” Lonnell pointed out.
“True,” Uden agreed. “Perhaps whoever this person is keeps demanding greater sacrifices. The greater the sacrifice, the more powerful the blood magic.
"Shall we look for where to stake out at? We should also probably return to the goblin camp for rope.”
“What da ya need rope fer?” Bronna asked.
“Do you think The Dark One will believe that you're actually a sacrifice if you just lie on the table waiting?” Uden's eyes flashed at her.
She turned to Lonnell, clutching onto his arm. “Please don't tie meh up. I don't lyk the idea of not bein' able ta get away.”
“We'll just make it look like you're tied up,” he assured her.
“We should definitely tie her up,” Uden said to Azure as he paused next to him. “With any luck, we won't have to take her back to Cragbell.”
“That's horrible,” Azure glared at him. Though he wasn't fond of the idea of traveling back with Bronna either, he didn't want her to die, and he couldn't help but believe that Uden was sincere in his ill wishes.
“We should split up,” he ignored the soft chastisement, as usual. “This foe will be a powerful one. We need to surround him.”
“That could create a problem, though,” Lonnell said as they all walked back down the hill together. “Depending on how far we're spread, we won't be able to see each other to make a coordinated attack.”
“That's what we can use her big mouth for.” Uden smiled at Bronna. “I'll attack first. When she sees the attack, she can scream. Then you guys can join in.”
“Ya know a didn't tell meh fawther aboot yer impness on perpus, ya? I was deep in me cups when it happened,” she told him.
“Water under the bridge.” He waved her...apology? Away.
“I'm pretty sure we'll see when you attack him,” Azure pointed out.
“And I'm sure she'll be screaming anyway,” he responded before walking to the forest's edge, keeping his eyes to
the ground.
Azure had been around Uden long enough to know he was tracking what footprints he could find. He and Lonnell waited until the half-imp returned to them, while Bronna just stood there looking awkward and uncomfortable.
“The Dark One will most likely come from there.” Uden pointed to the west. “I'll stealth myself and hide nearby. Azure should be on the opposite side with his bow, taking shots when he can.” He glanced at Azure before turning his attention to Lonnell. “I'll need you closer since you're stronger. When I do attack, I'll want you to come in from behind.”
“I'm not keen on this plan,” Lonnell butted in. “We should have Azure attack with his bow first. Then you come in from behind, and I'll sweep in from the side. Injuring The Dark One unaware will give us the best chance of success. I doubt he'll be quick enough to deflect an incoming arrow when he's not expecting it. And even if he is, the frontal ambush should distract him enough that you can do what you do best. Worst case scenario, Azure misses the shot and I will still attack from the side as a distraction. I'm good at dodging, and if he's occupied with me, then he still shouldn't see you coming.”
“That's if any of us can even get to him,” Uden commented. “A high-level magic user, especially one using human sacrifices, would probably not be dumb enough to go out into the open without some type of defense barrier in place.”
“Barriers are only effective for so long. We'll have to time our attack perfectly. Just before...” his voice trailed off.
Picking up on what he was about to say, concern took over Bronna's expression, her gaze volleying between the two brothers. “Before what?
Azure felt the tension rise. He knew what was coming next. They all knew
“Right before he's about to make the sacrifice,” Lonnell finished.
“When he starts casting whatever spell he plans to use on you, that's when we'll strike. A mage is most vulnerable when he's casting a powerful spell,” Uden informed her.
“Is that...safe?” she asked hesitantly.
“It's our best shot at killing him.” Lonnell avoided her question.
“You'll be fine,” Uden told her in a rare moment of comfort. There was no amusement in his voice—no sign that he planned to purposely let harm come to her.
“Only if everything goes as planned.” Shaking her head and backing away, Bronna was clearly beginning to panic. “No. Ah don't lyk dis. Ah don't lyk et one bit.”
Lonnell gave her a pleading look. “Please, Bronna.”
“Just think of it this way. If you make it back alive, you'll be a hero, not just some stupid tavern wench,” Uden said with the offensive smile they were all used to.
“Yew get up on dat altar.” She gestured to it before crossing her arms over her chest. “I'm not doin' it.”
“Shall we get the rope, brother?” Uden continued to tease.
And perhaps a gag, Azure thought, though he didn't dare say it. The poor girl was dealing with enough cruelty from Uden as it was. Maybe she couldn't help that she was so...annoying. He definitely couldn't see whatever it was that Lonnell saw in her. Perhaps it was the accent?
It took a bit more convincing, but Bronna eventually agreed to go along with their plan, though she refused to return to the goblin camp. She and Lonnell stayed behind while Azure and Uden went to fetch the rope. The goblin bodies had burned down into a pile of black bones and ash, the charred remains now smoldering. It was strange to see so much reduced to so little. All of that life simply gone.
They gathered the rope and headed back to the altar. Not knowing what time The Dark One might come to collect their sacrifice, they loosely bound Bronna and set her on the altar as the sun was setting. She gave little complaint, but her face showed all of her discomfort. Uden drew a circle around the altar, trying to mimic what symbols he could still make out to give the sacrifice a look of authenticity. Then they settled into their respective hiding spots and waited.
It felt like the longest several hours of Azure's life. While it didn't drain his stamina, standing in the same place as still as a statue for an extended period of time was tiring. He was being so inanimate that a squirrel came right up to the tree he was hiding behind and started climbing up the side of it. The urge to reach out and snatch the small creature made his fingers itch. But if this Dark One was as perceptive as Uden had said, one wrong move could give away their position and spoil everything.
Would they hear the necromancer coming, he wondered? Most men made noise when they traipsed through the forest. Azure imagined that The Dark One would be stealthed though.
They waited and waited and waited some more. The sun went down. The moon came up. And still, they waited. They waited until the dead of night when Azure's eyes began to grow heavy. No one came. And when the darkness of night began to fade away with the rising sun, they knew that no one would be coming.
“Well, that was a waste of time,” Uden muttered as he emerged from the forest to Azure's left.
“Don't do that!” He clutched his chest. Not only had the half-imp's sudden appearance woken him up, but it had about given him a heart attack.
“He's obviously not going to show.” Uden ignored his complaint, looking towards the altar.
“Obviously.” Azure flanked his side to go fetch Lonnell.
As soon as the three of them were together, they walked up the hill to tell Bronna that it was all right for her to come down from the altar.
“Do you think he knew that she wasn't really tied up?” Azure asked.
“I doubt anyone would be that perceptive. I didn't sense anyone coming from the forest at any time,” Uden told him while Lonnell helped Bronna get the rope off.
“Are you sure that they were supposed to sacrifice her tonight?” Lonnell inquired.
Uden gave him an annoyed side-eye. “I don't have these big ears for nothing, you know.”
Azure went over everything they'd already been through in his head. “Perhaps the cook ran into another goblin and told it what had happened before you were able to catch up with him, and that goblin tipped The Dark One off.”
Uden considered it. “It's a small possibility, but still doubtful.”
“Well, nothing else makes sense,” Lonnell said, winding the rope up before sticking it in his bag of holding.
“So what do we do now?” Azure looked at the two brothers.
Bronna stepped up between Uden and Lonnell, putting a hand on both of their shoulders. Uden visibly cringed from her touch. “Ye put in a good effert, boys. Ey say we head back ta Crags.”
Lonnell sighed. “We've already come so far. I hate to return to Cragbell without resolving this.”
Bronna turned to him, standing on tiptoe to whisper into his ear, though they could all hear her. “Ey can't stay out here much longer, Lonni.”
“Important business to get back to?” Uden said dryly. “Like flipping up your skirt at men at the tavern and telling other people's secrets.”
“Enough!” Lonnell barked at him.
“She's right.” Uden took on a serious demeanor. “There's nothing else for us to do out here. We have no leads to follow. Whatever this Dark One is, it was cautious enough not to leave any distinguishable footprints behind. If it's demanding sacrifices out in the open like this, then I doubt the goblins even know where it dwells. We've done what we can, brother. Let's go home.”
“It took us four days to get here,” Lonnell reminded him. “It will take us four days to get back. A lot of bad can happen in that time. If one of the goblins did find out about what happened at that camp, then who knows what they're planning. They could already be on their way back to Cragbell to acquire another sacrifice.”
“Even more of a reason for us to return as quickly as possible.”
“But it won't stop there. Until we deal with the source, the goblins will just keep raiding the town. We have to end this. Now!” It was clear that Lonnell saw no other option.
Uden turned to Azure suddenly. “You've been awfully quiet. What
do you think we should do?”
The answer seemed simple yet complex at the same time. “I think Lonnell should take Bronna back to Cragbell, and we should keep looking for this Dark One.” That way, neither he nor Uden would have to suffer the girl. On the downside, they probably wouldn't be able to fight The Dark One on their own, but that didn't mean they couldn't take the time to form a plan while they waited for Lonnell to return. It would be a lot of traveling on Lonnell's part, but less wasted time.
Lonnell sighed. “I don't like the idea of separating.”
“We cannot take her where we need to go,” Uden pointed out. “If this is any kind of intelligent foe, he'll immediately know that Bronna is one of our weaknesses. If he's able to sense her presence, he'll attack her to fluster you and destroy whatever plan we come up with. Taking her back is the best decision. And yes, splitting up will be dangerous, but if you're worried about wasting time, then it would be better for us to stay behind and continue our search. We don't have to engage in battle unless it's absolutely necessary. We will simply observe and plan for your return.”
“I still don't like this.” Lonnell shook his head.
“Then what do you want to do, brother?” It was evident that Uden was beginning to get annoyed.
Azure understood the danger of the situation. Maybe they should return to Cragbell together. It was their best chance of safety if they ran into another large group of goblins. And that was a pretty real possibility considering what they'd already experienced.
“I don't want to think about it anymore,” Lonnell said finally. “You decide.” He cast his gaze to Azure.
It could mean their deaths, but he was willing to take the chance if it meant making progress instead of wasting days in the forest having to listen to Bronna whine. He was pretty sure that Uden would agree with him on this. “I say we split up.”
“Then we split up.” Uncertainty was etched all over Lonnell's face, but the decision had been made.
“I think we will accomplish more this way,” Uden said.
“We can meet back up at the altar in eight days,” Azure suggested. “Hopefully, we'll have something to report by then.”