Destiny Rising
Page 17
“Jace. Hey,” Markus kicked over some rocks in frustration as Adrianna saw her party furiously waving her away from the two-party members.
Stealth Check. Don’t alert the patrol. 14 + 3 (Dex) = 17. Failure!
“You have every right to be angry. I wish the girls had stayed with us too. Everything since that day has been shit. But we got each other, okay? We’ve still got each other, you hear me?”
That was the last thing she heard before she slipped away and reunited with her party.
Chapter 35: Tactical Retreat
Adrianna sat down and sagged against the massive boulders where the party grouped together.
“Once the moon is in the sky at its highest, we’ll be able to strike without too much trouble.” Ivory said as she cast a protective spell directly over them. It didn’t look all that different from reality to Adrianna, but she knew it was a form of camouflage to keep them hidden amongst their surroundings. “I’ll keep watch. You guys get your rest until then.”
“I’ll join you,” Hancock said as he drew his sword.
“It’s okay, I can--”
“This is non-negotiable.” Hancock glanced over at Myra. “Look after our Seeker.”
Myra winked at him, putting her pack down. “ Come on man, we’re in a desert. What’s the worst that could happen?”
Hancock pointed at her, but didn’t take the bait.
Parrish made his way over to a corner and started building something. Adrianna figured it was a makeshift shrine of some sort so that he could meditate. She had seen him do it once before. She glanced at Ivory and Hancock making their way outside of camp as the night’s first stars began to speckle the sky.
“Hey, Ari,” Myra sat by the Seeker who only replied with a small noise. “What’s on your mind?”
Adrianna shook her head. Part of her knew better than to ignore the pain she was desperately trying to avoid, but the other part of her wanted to run away. Escape. Find another neat little cave of wonders, go hunting for her pseudodragon scrolls. Hike to a tall mountain and jump off of it just to feel the wind rush by. Take a trip across the ocean. Go back home and lock the door.
“Don’t give me that look,” Myra said. “Don’t be all grumpy--”
“Why…” Adrianna suddenly snapped, the tension she was feeling finally coming out. She knew she couldn’t run from the building pressure for much longer. “Why do you stick around me anyway?”
“I told you already, I made a promise--”
“No, no, why did you make that promise in the first place? Why accept me as a leader?”
Myra hesitated. “It’s not that simple.”
“Try.”
The Bard briefly looked away. “I’ve...done a lot of stuff in my life because I didn’t have a lot of focus. A lot of it I’m not proud of before meeting you. I was always trying to be someone everyone else wanted to be.” Myra sighed. “I can’t really explain it, but I saw you for the first time and everything seemed to come into focus with those first words you said to me. That one little question: ‘Why do you only have one name?’ Myra looked down at the desert floor. “I just knew I wanted to come with you.”
Adrianna remembered. Life seemed a lot simpler at that moment in time. Willow Creek had held many surprises for her.
“I haven’t really done anything though.” Adrianna pushed. “If anything, I’ve gone with the flow and I never really committed to anything but you guys and now there’s people after me--people I’ve never met and you’re still willing to go the extra mile for me. You could have left at any point in time. I never held you here and yet, you’re the first to stay.”
Myra took a deep breath. “I used to be in a big family. Three brothers, five sisters, step-siblings, half-siblings. Uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews. We all lived in a haven west of here.”
“How west?”
“Far west. They were fine, as far as any family goes. But I wanted to go out into the world and see all there was to see. My family disagreed saying that the Quell was an unforgiving place and that leaving would only ensure my death. I told them I didn’t care and I was going to go do it anyway.”
“I don’t see what this has to do with--”
“I left,” Myra continued on, ignoring the interruption. “And they were right. My first party all died within the first week. The second one abandoned me to a salt mine. I usually cried myself to sleep and I’d have pain that I’d wallow in, thinking I was the only one in this godforsaken world that could understand. Then I started using my words and I found the Council and I thought I found a purpose, but I was still alone. Then you found me. Ari, I never noticed that I only had one name until you pointed it out to me. I didn’t know the Quell had sensed that I rejected my family name and reflected it in my character sheet.”
“That still doesn’t--”
“Because I recognized the look in your eyes hidden below your wonder. The feeling of loneliness when surrounded by a sea of faces? I use to have the same look in my eyes. Because behind those beautiful blue eyes full of excitement is a scared, confused girl who has been given one daunting task after another, day after day. You keep going, but you don’t let yourself feel all of those negative emotions that are starting to catch up to you. I admire that about you.”
Adrianna looked to her feet. Of course not. How was she supposed to move forward with all of that weighing her down, the gravity of her reality swallowing her like the ghosts of the Maze of Horrors?
“I’m staying because you don’t have to do it alone. I said I’d stay with you and I meant it.” Myra firmly stated. “Besides if I don’t keep my word, then bad stuff happens.”
“You’ve said that,” Adrianna rolled her eyes.
“Now I see that weight that you’ve avoided for so long is bringing you down, and you don’t have to do it alone.”
“But I am alone.” Adrianna whispered. “I feel like I’m the only one of my kind.”
“I mean,” Myra teased, “not everyday you meet a seeker with a pretty earlet like that.”
Adrianna let herself chuckle and sighed. “I feel like ever since I’ve left, one bad thing after another has happened. Like me leaving has started something bigger than myself, and now, I’m just trying to do my best to survive. I wanted to explore, not lead, and now it looks like my dreams have all turned into nightmares. I don’t want to do this anymore, but I also can’t go home. It’s all so confusing! Then all these people who knew my parents. Eighteen years and not one message or letter or even a ‘hey daughter, sorry we’ve been absent all of these years, how about some life advice?’ I feel like this fantasy, this dream, all the good parts will come crashing over my head and all of this wonder and excitement will turn into one big nightmare like it already has been and then I’ll be left and abandoned and told that they love me but they never say a damn word to me for years and leave me wondering if it was my fault that they all left.” Adrianna sagged against the rock, spent from her gush of words and emotion.
Myra sat quietly, trying to keep her eyes from tearing up. “I can’t say I can relate, but I can sympathize. I’ll let you know one thing. Everyone seems to be drawn to you, Ari,” Myra said putting her arms around Adrianna. “The guys at Badger Flat, that party we ran into at Bair Island. All of that went the way it did because you took initiative and took us to another level. Don’t worry about being alone. There’s always someone who would want the honor of being by your side.”
“You make me sound special,” Adrianna whispered.
“Well, I think being half-elf or NPC or whatever, makes you pretty special.”
Adrianna smirked. “The only perks I get for that are less sleep and sweet pointed ears.”
“There’s that Swann smile I’m looking for,” Myra laughed, and Adrianna quietly joined.
“You know, Myra?” Adrianna sighed. “Thank you.”
“You know, Ari?” Myra hummed. “You’re welcome.”
A bright yellow light appeared between them and sparked.
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Companion Bond Forged! Your conversations and time spent with Myra has brought you closer together. You now always know the direction and distance Myra is as long as she is alive.
“Hey, that’s cool,” Myra grinned, tilting her head towards her. “Now I can talk to you whenever.”
“What does your say?” Adrianna frowned.
“I can send a mental link to you as long as we’re both conscious.”
“I guess it works with our class, because I get to know where you are at all times,” Adrianna smirked. “That way if I ever get lost, you can be my compass.”
Myra’s eyes started to tear up as she pulled Adrianna into a hug. Within Adrianna’s mind, Myra’s voice gently spoke like a soothing poem.
That, she whispered inside her head, is probably the nicest thing I’ve ever heard anyone say to me.
Chapter 36: Cover of Night
Ivory returned with Hancock. Ivory was unreadable within her face wrap, but Hancock looked frustrated. “We have to move soon if we are to make battle.”
“What’s going on?” Adrianna stood up from cleaning her crossbow.
“Our rest may have gone too long, the Army is mobilizing.” Ivory said grimly.
“That’s good right?” Myra frowned.
“Not if they move the heart.” Parrish said, his meditation complete. “Then we’re back to where we started.”
“Even if we destroy the heart, what's to stop the Sisters from creating another one?” Ivory pointed out.
“Nothing,” Adrianna put her crossbow away and looked towards the pyramid. “But it’ll give us time to figure out the next move.”
“Maybe even buy us enough time to relax,” Myra nodded in agreement. “It’s worth a shot.”
“Alright so what’s the plan?”
Adrianna took out her map. “The entrances haven’t changed. If we move quickly, we can split into two groups and take each entrance. That way we get through it faster.”
“Won’t we need someone on look out to see if your uncle comes this way?” Hancock’s brow furrowed.
“Good point.” Adrianna nodded. “Then I’ll stay out here to look for him. That way it won’t be immediately convenient for them to use my blood or whatever for their pagan ritual thingie.”
“I’ll take your cleric,” Ivory pointed. “Joseph Parrishing.”
“Just Parrish,” he replied. “Why me?”
“Your skills in stealth surpass your companions,” Ivory pointed at his armor. “Is there a reason you don’t wear the traditional garb of other clerics?”
“You seem to know a lot,” Parrish grumbled.
“I uncover truths and secrets. It is my job to know.”
Adrianna turned to Hancock and Myra. “You guys will take the North entrance then. The goal is to find the heart and slice it open with Hancock’s sword. I’ll cause some sort of a distraction when you’ve found it and I’ll be sure that none of the Army sees me.
Hancock frowned. “How are you supposed to know when we’ve found it.”
“I’ll touch base with her,” Myra said. “And if Parrish and Ivory find it first, Parrish can send a message to either one of us.”
“That settles it. I’ll find a place to perch and you guys get going. The night isn’t going to mask us for long.” Adrianna felt once again empowered by her role in the team, despite her insecurities.
“That still doesn’t explain how we’ll--”
“Don’t worry about it, dude,” Myra smirked. “I’ll explain on the way, come on.”
The teams departed to their destination and Adrianna took off.
She could now feel Myra’s presence move away from her as she noticed their bond worked its magic. It was nice to know where Myra was without using a Wayfinder. Speaking of which…
She concentrated, realizing that she should have been the one to find the heart as that that was her forte. Major oversight, but it was better than taking the risk that the army would find her. Her internal compass led her to a semi-secluded crevice where she had a good view of the pyramid.
Perception Check. Check for dangers. 13 + 2 (Wis) + 5 (Careful Eye) = 15. Success!
She didn’t see Ivory or Parrish, but she did spot Myra and Hancock slipping their way into the other entrance. This would have been easier if she was down there. Waiting made her antsy and the more she did so, the less she was willing to stick around.
The silence of the desert was overwhelming. There were no crickets or even fire beetles to interrupt her.
She focused again, switching her Wayfinder trait to search for the Crimson Heart. Her heart plummeted as she saw it point in the opposite direction to where Myra was moving. How could she tell her? She watched the pyramid start to shift on the outside, the brick rotating and becoming active. Red robes were traveling in the pyramid rather than outside of it. It suddenly occurred to Adrianna that the pyramid would have the capability to mobilize itself. She had read about things like this. Buildings that were actually machines. She had previously chalked it up to fiction, but between the wild nature of the Crimson Army and the Quell’s mysteries anything could be possible at this point.
Myra? She tried mentally calling out, but somehow, she knew it wouldn’t take. She only knew her location.
She weighed her options. Her uncle could take care of himself, but he was scared when they had talked about the Crimson Sisters. Her friends didn’t have as much experience as he did and the further they went away from the heart, the higher the chances they had to get caught...or worse.
Adrianna clenched her fists and jumped from her hiding spot and slid down pebbly scree, and ran across the desert floor towards the pyramid.
Chapter 37: Regrets
The pyramid was definitely one of those landmarks that only got bigger the closer you got to it. She looked up and couldn’t find any viable way to climb to the top of the building. She could see an opening--a window that she could sneak into, but the sides were far too steep and there was no way she was going to scale the moving portions of the pyramid.
She pulled the door open to the entrance Myra and Hancock went through and shut it softly. A long hall stretched before her. It was totally silent. The walls were decorated with various runic symbols that made her shiver. She suddenly felt disconnected to everything around her. Her waypoint flickered and a high-pitched burst reverberated in her ears.
A small hand touched her own and she gasped as the sensation went away.
A boy, no more than ten years old, stood beside her in what looked like initiate versions of the red robes the Crimson Army. “A-are you okay?”
“Fine, thanks…” Adrianna made eye contact with him and gasped. He looked otherworldly somehow. Something odd about the eyes….
“Y-you don’t belong, here do you?” the boy whispered.
“Uh…” Adrianna cleared her throat. “What makes you think that? Of course, I belong here…”
Deception Check. Lie. 2 + 1 (Cha) = 3. Fumble.
“You’re just like the other two who came in,” the boy frowned. “Liars.”
“Wait, I just meant--” Adrianna couldn’t stop him as he darted off down the hall. No doubt to find a superior. She pushed herself into an adjacent room and took a deep breath.
Scanning around the room, she was startled to find it empty of furniture but full of different scrolls tucked behind glass doors. Some sort of record room or library. Two of the scrolls started to pulse in her vision and she quickly took off her backpack and pulled open the glass doors. Instinctively she gingerly she pulled the two scrolls from the bookcase and peeked inside.
Each scroll was written in some sort of ancient script, but Adrianna knew deep in her core what these really were.
ACQUIRED!
Scroll of Scales
You found 1 of 8 pseudodragon scrolls of history.
Scroll of Ashes
You found 1 of 7 remaining pseudodragon scrolls of history.
Quest Update: History of the Pseudodragons (Any)
Why am I not surprised to stumble upon this? She smiled to herself and tucked them carefully into her backpack and stealthily pulled the door to the room open a crack.
Dexterity Check. Don’t fall. 19 + 3 (Dex) = 22. Success!
Adrianna stumbled backwards and managed to stay on her feet as the familiar face of Markus pushed his way into the scroll room.
“Adrianna,” Markus closed the door behind him, eyes concealed below his red hood.
“Markus,” Adrianna wished she could see his face. She had thought long and hard about the guilt she harbored for the way the battle had concluded on Bair Island.
“Didn’t expect to see you here.” Markus adjusted his robes and she knew he was getting his bow ready for a fight.
“Can’t say the same for me,” Adrianna admitted. “I heard you and Jace talking.”
“Figured that was you,” Markus nodded in affirmation. “Though you weren’t easy to track, which is saying a lot.”
“We’re good at hiding.”
“Yeah,” Markus snorted.
The two let the silence stretch between them as Adrianna gauged her chances of pushing past him rather than going head to head with him.
“That was a good shot, by the way,” Markus suddenly grinned. “Nearly pinpoint. Had me unstable for a little bit.”
“I didn’t mean to actually shoot you.” She didn’t mention how she also wouldn’t take it back.
“I know,” Markus sighed. “That whole thing was a bad situation, wasn't it?”