Grik helped Katlin clear himself from under the fallen bit of wall, which had shattered into pieces making it much easier to free him than anticipated. Grik wondered if the half-elf truly needed any help. Katlin reached in his bag and pulled out flint, steel, and a torch. He made quick work of getting it lit, while sitting on the ground, unable to stand just yet. Satana saw the sparks as Katlin started to scrape the flint against the steel and arrived at his position just as the torch was lit. She took it from him instantly and held it high over her head, illuminating the room. She spotted Rayna quickly, who was down and unconscious. Satana rushed over and knelt to examine her. She had an enormous amount of blood coming from a wound on the right side of her head that poured across her face to the floor. There was a puddle of blood under her head. Satana put her hand over the wound without hesitation, trying to stop the bleeding.
“I need something to stop the bleeding! Never mind him, help me!” Satana yelled to Grik, who did as he was told and left Katlin alone to tend to himself.
Grik ripped his undershirt free from under his doublet and handed it to Satana when he reached her. She wrapped it around Rayna’s head and held it tight.
“We need more than this, this is bad, it’s deep.” Satana looked over at Katlin who was fishing through his bag.
He produced a similar vial to the one he had given Grik earlier, a potion of healing! She breathed a sigh of relief, until she saw Katlin was about to drink it himself. She grabbed a stone from the floor and flung it at him. It hit his hand and knocked the vial free of his grip. Satana leapt to her feet and grabbed the torch, then marched over to retrieve the vial.
“Hey!” Katlin exclaimed, “That’s mine!”
“You’ll live!” Satana growled as she knelt looking for the vial on the floor. She found it and returned to Rayna’s side, glaring at the thief the whole way.
“That’s my last one!” Katlin exclaimed.
Satana ignored him. Grik tilted Rayna’s head up and opened her mouth. Satana poured the contents of the vial into Rayna’s mouth.
“How long will it take?” Satana asked.
“For me, it was minutes.” Grik answered.
There was a rushing sound from outside the door, like the sound of a waterfall. Grik handed Rayna over to Satana, who took her head in her hands and held her. She had a look on her face like someone just forced her to hold their baby. Grik opened the door and looked, much of the railing was gone. Debris and rock littered the landing, to his right, the stairs down were destroyed and had fallen off to the floors below. Grik walked onto the landing and looked down over where the railing once was. Water was filling the tower from below, swallowing floor after floor, with incredible speed.
“We need to move, now!” He yelled back into the room.
“She’s not ready yet?” Satana yelled back.
“Then carry her, girl!” Grik ran back into the doorway and looked at Katlin who was stretching his legs and bending them, one at a time, testing them for residual pain. His pain was minimal, but he acted like it was excruciating, “Get ready to run boy’o!”
Satana swung Rayna over her shoulder and joined Grik on the landing. Rayna was incredibly light to Satana, she couldn’t believe how light she was. Then again, Satana had been used to carrying the weight of men, not women. She looked over the edge of the landing, then gave Grik a concerned look.
“She said there is a cliff at the top of the mountain, overlooking water, up these stairs.” Satana said.
“Then we best get a move on, I can’t swim, and I don’t want to learn how!” Grik said then turned away from her and started climbing over debris, making his way to the stairs back up.
The landings above and the stairs were covered in obstacles they had to climb over. The water was gaining on them like it was boiling up to the top of the mountain, ready to burst out, like a tea kettle. Satana made her way ahead of Grik, even with Rayna over her shoulder she was faster than he was, climbing and leaping over the fallen rock. Grik had to stop and scale the debris like he was climbing the wall of a castle. Satana kept stopping and waiting for him. She used that time to look over the edge and watch the rapidly rising water make its way four landings below them and still rising.
“Pick up your pace, or we’ll be swimming!” Satana said to Grik, who dropped down from a chunk of wall to where she waited.
“Go girl, get her to safety, never mind about me!” He said taking a second to breathe, “Get her out of here! I’ll make my way.”
Satana shook her head at him then grabbed him by his leather doublet and dragged him to the next obstacle. He cursed the entire way. Satana, with her one arm, hurled him up and over the top of the fallen rocks to the next clear space on the landing. She jumped and climbed over it much faster than Grik would have. She marched toward him, though he cursed her name, she ignored him.
“Wait!” He exclaimed putting both hands up to stop her, “We’re at the top!” he pointed at the stained-glass dome window, then at the door next to them.
“Not yet,” She said and nodded for him to go through the door.
“We lost the thief.” He said as he opened the door.
“Oh, did we?” Satana shut the door behind her, “I hadn’t noticed.”
The way was much less covered in debris, but the closed door did not stop the water, in fact, it was even faster in the narrow passages of the stairwell making them have to run up the stairs, higher and higher. So high, Satana knew they had to be higher than the stained-glass dome. The stair well became a singular hall, no doors on either side, unlike the floors below, just narrow steps up, water still at their backs. Ahead of them they could see daylight coming through an open door. They ran faster, the water swirled through their legs, then knocked them from their feet. They shot through the door like water out of a whale’s blow hole. Satana landed hard and slid across the dirt of the open area straight to the cliffside. She slipped over the edge from the force of the water. Her heart leapt in her throat when she felt herself become weightless, leaving the ground, over the cliffs edge. A hand grabbed her forearm, snapping her back against the side of the cliff, hard. She grabbed a handhold of the rocky face and clung to it, scared for her life. She looked up into the eyes of Rayna, who had a hold of Satana’s arm with both hands.
“Climb!”
Satana wasted no time and scurried back over the edge of the cliff, pulling herself over its edge and laying on the ground next to Rayna, who was also on the ground, but seated. They panted, looking at each other. Satana started laughing, making Rayna smile at her and shake her head in disbelief. The water subsided and did not continue flowing out of the door. In fact, it drained back down.
“Are ya ok, girl?” Grik asked Rayna.
She shook her head yes before she answered.
“I’m fine. Did the thief make it?”
“Probably.” Satana rolled to her side and climbed to her feet, “You know, you are surprisingly light?”
Rayna looked back at her confused.
“She’s not light, girl, you’re just a husky one.” Grik said taking off his doublet and wringing it out.
“Are you saying I’m fat?” Satana asked looking down at herself.
“No, I’m saying you’re built like a blacksmith, girl. You’ve got more muscle on ya than men twice your size!” Grik chuckled.
“Does that count as calling me fat?” Satana glanced at Rayna.
“You are… strong.” Rayna smirked.
Satana wasn’t sure how to take that and stared at her a moment, then looked around, changing the subject in her own mind and assessing the area.
“Is this where you started?” She asked.
“Yes, there is a pathway, there.” Rayna pointed at a narrow path that led up the mountain even higher.
The wind blew, chilling them, still drenched. Grik looked like a different dwarf without the mud and runes that normally covered his face and head.
“Let’s get up there and see what we can see.” Satana star
ted toward the path.
Rayna followed her while Grik put his doublet back on and watched the two women start up the path. He glanced at the door they were shot out from and wondered what happened to Katlin. Did he make it out, or did he drown? Grik joined the women on the rocky path that was treacherous and hard to climb.
“Thought you said this was a path, girl?” Grik called ahead to the two women.
“For those of us with legs like a blacksmith, it is.” Satana jabbed.
They made their way to the top of the mountain, to a plateau, overlooking water as far as the eye could see. An ocean. At the very edge of the plateau, stood Dracon, with Um’Vec, who stood to his right, a few steps behind him. Dracon was wearing his Armor of Fear.
“Dracon?” Satana called, surprised to see him, but he did not turn around, Um’Vec did though, riled and ready to fight. He calmed, after recognizing the others. Dracon continued looking out over the edge of the plateau, “What happened to you guys? Did you see Talila and her sisters?”
“No, dark mistress not here.” Um’Vec answered.
“Dracon?” Satana called again.
Kaylin suddenly landed on the plateau in a flapping rush. Everyone turned to look at her, even Dracon. Kaylin transformed to her human form. Before she could say anything, Dracon laughed, a laugh that alerted Satana that something was wrong with him. Kaylin instantly took a defensive stance.
“I remember you!” Kaylin growled.
“And I, you, my pretty girl.” Dracon chuckled ominously.
“He’s not himself!” Kaylin said pointing at him.
Satana looked from her to Dracon.
“I am more Dracon, than Dracon himself, and I will remain, until the danger is gone, and he is safe!” Dracon growled; his voice was different.
Satana put her hand on the hilt of her sword. It was clear to her Dracon was not himself.
“It’s the sword. I know you! You tried to kill me! Now, you’re trying to take him! When Venalina finds out, she will destroy you!” Kaylin said still pointing at him.
“Venalina?” Satana asked, “She’s alive?”
Kaylin’s face changed.
“Yes, dear girl, tell us more.” Dracon said, he was, in fact, completely taken over by the Unholy Reaver. Kaylin looked at Satana, her face told Satana the truth, “Call your mistress, call her here, now.”
“I am here.” Venalina said from behind them, closer to the mountain.
She was in her Vordalyn form, accompanied by Diama and Kalla on either side of her. Dracon’s armor vanished and he fell to his knees, released from the hold of the Unholy Reaver.
“Venalina?” Satana was shocked, it was Venalina, but she looked so different. She hardly recognized her.
Venalina did not answer her and walked toward Dracon.
“Stop!” She said and held her hand up.
Everyone froze in place, it was instantly quiet, save for the wind, blowing steadily, so high up on the mountain. It was a chilling wind. Venalina knelt in front of Dracon, who was on all fours, panting.
“I’m here, my love.” Dracon did not look up at her, trying to catch his breath, “I’ve always been here.” She said reaching for him, “Every step you’ve taken, I have been by your side.”
Dracon pushed himself back on to his butt, not letting her touch him. He looked at her with a scowl on his face.
“You let me believe you were dead… all this time.” he said, shaking his head, “I mourned you, every day since, I have mourned you!” he finished in an angry shout, “Why would you do that to me?” She said nothing, still kneeling across from him.
Everyone was paralyzed but they could still see and hear what was going on.
“I’m sorry,” She said unable to look him in his eyes, “A lot happened, Dracon. I did die, I was transformed in death.” She stood up and turned away from him, “My world changed, the whole world changed, it needed my immediate attention. I meant to come to you sooner, but… the longer it took for me to find time, the harder it was to face you.” She turned back to him, “I am here now. All will be well.”
“All will be well? The longer it took for you to get to me? Is that the depth of your love for me?” He asked getting to his feet. Dracon spotted Kaylin, then softened his angry scowl. “Where is Talila, where is Alyndra?”
“They are safe. They are home.”
“In Qinkas?”
“No,” Venalina chuckled, “In Taranath, our true home. I have come to bring you home too.”
“Taranath?”
“Yes, it is home again. The Vordalyn have returned, we have returned and reclaimed our home.”
“You destroyed Ganlin, but you could not come to me sooner?”
“Ganlin?” Venalina asked surprised, “I did no such thing.”
“Of course, more lies.” Dracon looked down, “Go back to wherever it is you were. Go back to Taranath. Go tend to what is important to you!”
“We’ll all go, my love.”
“Don’t call me that!” Dracon snarled, “If you loved me you wouldn’t have made me suffer your loss! Take your Vordalyn and go, get away from me! I never want to see you again!”
“You don’t mean that.” Venalina rushed over to him, but Dracon stepped back, keeping his distance from her, “We are forever bound, my love.”
“I can’t stand to look at your face, leave me alone!”
“At least let me take you away from this place?”
“No!” Dracon stepped back another step from her, “I don’t need any help from you!”
Venalina’s body stiffened and her jaw clenched.
“We will always need each other.” She stared at him for a moment. She expected him to take her into his arms and kiss her, not reject her. Venalina knew there would be questions, but she always imagined he would forgive her and move on. He needed time to think, “So be it, you are my husband and you will forgive me, until then, I will keep my distance. You are my heart, I love you.” Venalina vanished, Diama vanished, Kalla vanished. Kaylin remained and the others were freed from their temporary paralysis.
“You’re a liar!” Dracon yelled to the air around him, his anger finally boiled over.
Satana walked over to Dracon after a few moments, he turned his back to the group and looked out over the ocean, trying to get a hold of himself.
“You ok?” She asked arriving at his side. He said nothing, “Well…” Satana started.
“Just give me a minute.”
“You want to talk about your feelings?” Satana asked with a smirk on her face.
Dracon slowly turned his head to look at her, his jaw was clenched tight. Her smirk started to turn to a smile.
“I don’t know?” she chuckled unable to keep a straight face, “Isn’t that what normal people would ask?”
“This will not do!” Venalina said, suddenly appearing in front of them, floating out over the cliffs edge.
She flew at Dracon before he or Satana could even react, then gathered him up in her arms, flying up, several hundred feet above the cliff, her mouth on his neck. Like every time she had done that to him before, he was instantly incapacitated. Rayna nocked an arrow in her bow, ready to send it home, directly into Venalina’s exposed ribcage.
“Don’t!” Satana yelled to Rayna.
Kaylin flew up, putting herself between Rayna’s aim and Venalina, her wings stretched out so that Rayna could no longer see the pair above her. Rayna reluctantly lowered her bow. She did not know anything about the women, but knew they were not to be trifled with.
“One parting gift, my love, my sweet Dracon.” Venalina whispered in his ear, “I will always be at your side, and when you forgive me, you will see me there.” She let him go, dropping him back to the cliff below.
As he fell Kaylin spun away from Rayna and flew to Dracon, catching him before he could hit the ground, then gently laid him on it. Satana rushed to his side but stopped just short, staring at Kaylin, then up at Venalina, who glared back at her in defiance.
<
br /> “She wouldn’t hurt him, Satana, we wouldn’t hurt him.” Kaylin swore.
Satana watched Venalina until she vanished, then looked at Kaylin, knelt at Dracon’s side.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The tower of Efiga was a lone structure on a rocky island, just off the coast of the capital city of Ferranot. The tower was tall, ominous, and golden, visible from any part of the city. It inhabited every square inch of the island, from shore to shore. No doors or gates adorned the structure, nor was any entry way apparent from the outside. Within, lived and learned the Ladies of Efiga. Women dedicated to the art of magic, from birth to death, dawn to dusk, they studied everything about it. It’s origin, it’s existence, it’s uses. Any item of magic, no matter how small, or insignificant, passed through their hands first, in all the empire.
Lady Gladys was the reigning head mistress of the Order of Efiga and would remain so until her death. She had the top four floors in the tower, fourth from the top was her receiving room. The three floors above that, were a mystery to everyone, save the head mistress, Lady Gladys and those who came before her. She waited in her receiving room for Emperor Alden Marwood and Lord Cosik Vette. Another Lady of Efiga, Lady Sinia was sent to bring the two men from Ferranot to the Isle of Efiga. Lady Gladys waited patiently and knew immediately when they were close. It was often so quiet in the tower, one could hear their own breathing, but when men were about, their talking, snorting, bragging, and overall masculine behavior, could be heard virtually throughout the tower. With the emperor and Lord Vette, it was always a scolding spilling from Emperor Marwood’s lips at his old friend Lord Vette. Lady Gladys did not wait for them to arrive and met them just outside the doors of her receiving room in the hall.
“Your Imperial Majesty.” Lady Gladys greeted them with a deep bow.
“Please, Lady Gladys, there is no need for formalities between us,” Emperor Marwood said immediately.
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