by Joe Jackson
The thralls at least knew nothing of Kari’s fighting style, and they moved to swarm and overwhelm her. The first she cut down in moments. There was no point in holding back; these men were dead already, and though she might normally hesitate to desecrate their bodies, she couldn’t be concerned with that now. Survival was the demand of the moment, one she fully intended to meet.
She heard Aeligos’ swords clatter to the ground, and turned for just a moment to see what had happened. It wasn’t his swords at all; he’d disarmed his vampire thrall, and was using a mix of kicks and sword jabs to keep the creature at bay. Kari turned back to her own opponents, who hardly gave her a moment to breathe. “Just do what you have to, Aeligos, they’re already dead!” she called to him.
A second thrall fell to Kari’s blades, cut apart by the same routine she’d used to defeat Erik when he was under the control of Ressallk so many years ago. To an unarmored opponent she wasn’t worried about harming, though, it was far more effective, essentially limbing him at the joints before she took his head off to ensure the deed was done properly. The other two came in and landed solid jabs and thrusts, but Kari was able to shrug them off, deflected as they were by her paluric armor.
Kari swore under her breath when she heard more footsteps coming up the stairwell. She and Aeligos could hold their own for a time, but their stamina was limited, unlike that of the undead they fought. She breathed a sigh of relief a moment later when she saw it was Lieutenant Pascoe and a couple of city watchmen with him. “Demonhunter! What’s going on here?” he yelled as they charged up the stairs. Only then did they seem to realize what they were dealing with. “Gods above, are all these men already dead?”
With their help, Kari was able to quickly coordinate her attacks and finish the remaining thralls. “A vampire attacked at the same time as the dragon,” she said. “I think they came for the Red Mask and me, specifically.”
“What in blazes for?” the lieutenant demanded, casually finishing off the thrall Aeligos had until then hesitated to destroy.
“They know I’m here, and that I’m coming for them,” Kari said. “Are there any more of the undead downstairs?”
“No ma’am, we dispatched a couple down there, it’s all clear,” he answered with respect, as if he was giving a report to a superior.
“What’s the status of the fire?” Kari asked quickly.
“Still raging, ma’am.”
“Let’s get out there and help, then,” she ordered, and received no protest or suggestions to the contrary from Aeligos or the guardsmen.
They made their way to where the bucket brigade was still combating the blaze, but the damage was even more widespread than it had been at the start. As hard as the people worked, it was late, they were tired, and they were barely making any headway. It was more likely the fire was going to burn itself out than be put out by the citizens, though as Kari thought about that, she realized the whole city would likely go up in flames before the blaze died out on its own.
There was a commotion from the east, and Kari turned to see what was happening. A pair of city watch approached, excited and calling for their captain. Instead, they approached Lieutenant Pascoe when they saw him. “What’s going on?” he demanded.
“Sir, the elven witch is coming to aid with the fire!” one reported, snapping to attention.
“She’s a druid, ye idiot,” the other corrected. “Ye don’t know the first thing about elves.”
An elven druidess? Kari thought. She remembered the nature-tappers of the elven nation quite well, having been enthralled with their use of magic those times she lived or walked among the elven lands. Their control over nature was not complete; indeed, they didn’t even refer to it as control. Nature was an untamable force, they reckoned, but hers was a power that one could borrow in limited quantities, for limited times, to sometimes effect great changes in the world. Some of the most powerful, Kari remembered, were believed to be responsible for altering the trees of the elven kingdom to detain or forcibly remove unwelcome intruders.
“Most people don’t know the first thing about elves. Might be because they don’t let anyone into their homeland, eh?” the first protested.
“Gentlemen, this is hardly the time or place,” came the accented and stilted voice of the druidess as she caught up to the guardsmen. She started to march right past them, but then her eyes locked with Kari’s, and she came to a stop, fixated on the demonhunter. “Seeds of the Earth Mother, are you Karian Vanador?”
Aeligos snickered despite himself, and Kari shoved his shoulder playfully. “I am, my lady. I’ll be more than happy to speak with you once the city is safe.”
The elf nodded curtly and continued on her way. Her robes swayed as she walked, her figure tall and slender, and in the odd light of the distant fire, it was hard to make out that the garment was a deep forest green. She had long silver hair rather like Gil’s, to Kari’s thinking, and her eyes were golden. She carried a gnarled staff with her, one that looked like it grew into its shape rather than being fashioned. It was topped with beaded leather thongs and even a few green leaves, and Kari recognized that this was a woman of power.
The druidess stopped a good distance from the flames and tapped her staff into the ground at her feet. She began to call out a prayer in her native tongue, and it took Kari’s ears and mind only moments to attune themselves to her words.
“Earth Goddess, Mother of All, hear the call of your servant! Unleash the force of the spring downpours, save your children from the inferno that rages. Where unbalance has been brought by fire, bring now new life and relief to your body, and to those affected.”
The others stood watching with rapt attention as the elven nature priestess chanted, and Kari touched the lieutenant’s shoulder. “Um, you all might want to take shelter. This isn’t going to be a gentle shower.”
“Quite right,” the druidess said. She raised her staff skyward, and a lightning strike with no apparent source lit up the sky in the distance. Within moments, the stars that had dotted the skies began to disappear behind a wall of billowing inky clouds. Wind swept through the streets before the coming storm, blowing some of the fire to cause additional trouble, but it was to be short-lived. The sound of the rain even at a distance was considerable, and soon the bucket brigade began to scatter beneath overhangs and covered porches to watch what was happening.
Kari pulled up the hood of her cloak and moved near a filled porch. Lightning struck again, followed by a thunderous crackling boom a heartbeat later, and the entire city lit up for that brief moment before the rain hit. Sizzling and hissing gave way to great clouds of white and black smoke as the flames protested their demise. The rain pounded mercilessly, a torrential downpour that might have suggested a typhoon if it weren’t known to have been summoned. Kari cast her gaze back and forth between the druidess and the storm, and noted that not one drop of rain fell on her. She got wet, to be sure, but remained untouched by the downpour itself.
A great cheer erupted from the city folk, glad to see the fire being brought to a swift and complete end. There were still pockets of fire that the rain couldn’t reach, but a brave citizen ran and grabbed a bucket, followed by another, and soon the bucket brigade was back in full force, ignoring the rains. With much smaller targets to deal with, their effectiveness was multiplied, and even in the harsh downpour, their spirits seemed uplifted. There was tremendous damage and many of the houses and shops would be beyond repair, but the city would survive.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Lieutenant Pascoe said, and he dashed off to both help and oversee the bucket brigade. With the city watch helping and directing, the threat soon passed.
Kari watched the skies to the north. She hoped Annabelle and Zaliskower had truly left, and that they wouldn’t return. “Aeligos, did you see Eugene when we were fighting in the guildhall?”
The rogue shook his head. “No. A couple of the folks we saw in there this afternoon were missing. Maybe they were dead in other rooms or anoth
er barracks, but I didn’t see many of them.”
“We should go find them.”
The druidess approached and offered a gracious bow of her head to Kari. “It has been some time, Karian Vanador. Word spread through our nation that you had been resurrected, and our dear friend Shefter returned with quite a tale of you rescuing him from the underworld.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you,” Kari said. “What is your name, lady?”
“Lady Vanador,” the guard captain interrupted as he arrived.
“Lady Vanador? Oh my, where are my manners?” the elf chided herself.
Kari waved off the apology. “What is it, Captain?”
“Did you drive off the other attacker you mentioned?”
“Yes, I think the city is safe for the moment. I’d advise you to keep those ballistae manned all night, though, in case that dragon comes back. And don’t let too many of your men dally in the western quarter; the guildhall of the Red Mask was attacked, and several of them are dead. The guildhall probably needs some guards posted, and I’d increase patrols until daylight, at least.”
“You’re right, ma’am,” he said. “I’ll set my officers to following that plan, and then go and make my report to the city council. Thank you for your help.” He turned and bowed his head to the elven woman. “And to you as well, madam. On behalf of the city, I apologize for this happening while you are on a diplomatic visit.”
“It is not the fault of your people, Captain,” the druidess said. “And I am honored to be of service to our neighbors in a time of crisis. Please, go and see to the needs of your city, and I will discuss things with Lady Vanador.”
The Captain saluted Kari respectfully and made his way to his officers once Kari returned the gesture.
“So, as I was saying, I don’t remember you,” Kari said a little sheepishly.
“I expect there is no reason you would; I was only a girl when first you walked the lands of our people. I am Hierophant Piriin’vuae so’Lant’aerii. You may call me Peri. This is a most exciting encounter for me, Lady Vanador. To meet someone who was resurrected…surely the Earth Mother has great things in store for you.”
“If I survive,” Kari muttered, drawing a smile from the elf. “This is my companion…”
“Aeligos Tesconis,” he introduced himself with a respectful bow.
“Ah, Lord Tesconis, it is a pleasure,” the druidess said, offering her hand.
Aeligos took it and kissed it lightly. “I’m not a lord, my lady. Just Aeligos is fine.”
“So, what brought you home to Terrassia, as your people call it?” Peri asked.
“Hunting the creatures that attacked the city,” Kari answered. “Problem is, now they know I’m here, and getting close to them or spying on them is going to be a lot trickier. I learned a lot about scouting from your people, but when the enemy knows you’re coming, it’s not so much a matter of skill anymore.”
“Well, perhaps I can be of assistance to you again. I can beseech the Earth Mother to cover your movements and your tracks, and allow you to reconnoiter your enemies from safely beneath her wings.”
Kari looked at Aeligos, and he chuckled. “You certainly draw all the right people to your side, one way or another,” he commented.
The demonhunter looked around, trying not to smile too broadly in the face of all that had happened. What she saw solved that problem rather quickly. “Eugene! Over here!”
The Major of the Red Mask looked around and then spotted Kari, and he approached. Kari introduced him to Peri. He looked a little distrustful of the elf, but she took it in stride; it wasn’t uncommon with how reclusive the elven people tended to be. Outsiders were not allowed in their lands, and though they weren’t too rare in the cities, not many people could say they knew an elf personally. When one considered the druids were often called “earth witches” or something similar, it wasn’t hard to understand why someone like Eugene might be uneasy around Peri.
“Is it true? Did Annabelle attack the city?” the Major asked.
“Yes. A number of your men are dead,” Kari said. He looked as though he was going to run to the guildhall to see for himself, but Kari stopped him. “Eugene, wait. Listen…she didn’t just kill them. She raised them as…thralls, she called them. So, we had to destroy them. I’m sorry.”
The Major grimaced. “You did what they’d have wanted,” he said, waving off her words. “Please, would you come see to the guildhall with me?”
“Of course,” Kari agreed, but she looked at Peri. “Something on your mind?”
“To take life without cause is vicious enough, but to wake the dead with necromantic power cannot go unanswered,” the elf said sharply. She kept most of the emotion from her face, but the scowl was in her voice. “I will accompany you as well. I shall say a prayer to the Earth Mother for your fallen companions.”
Eugene seemed surprised, but nodded. “I think they’d appreciate that. I appreciate it,” he amended.
They went with Eugene to the Red Mask guildhall. There were already guards posted at the scene. They had moved the bodies from the road to beside the porch, and laid shrouds over the fallen. Eugene lifted each shroud, identifying each of his men before he went inside the building with the guards’ permission. Kari waited beside Peri while she prayed for the rebirth of the fallen, while Aeligos went in with Eugene to make sure no one was caught alone by any stragglers.
Kari entered with Peri, and the druidess went to pray over the other bodies here. Eugene had already identified them, and he and Aeligos were arranging the dead respectfully and placing cloaks or other available shrouds over them. The Major couldn’t understand Peri’s prayers, but he stopped and waited for her to finish before he moved on.
“This doesn’t make any sense!” he yelled into the echoing depths of the guildhall when the elf was finished. “They’ve attacked our people before, but never in a city! Never like this. They’re getting bolder. They must be planning something major if they struck at us like this.”
“They know I’m here. I think that’s what made them attack the city.” Kari suddenly recalled that Annabelle said she’d already attacked Flora and killed Kari’s family. “She said they attacked Flora already, but I doubt that.”
“She said a lot of things that either made no sense or simply weren’t true,” Aeligos said in an obvious effort to head off Kari’s stormy thoughts. “She was just trying to shake you, Kari. Don’t pay what she said any mind.”
“But she still knows me,” Kari said. “I know that’s not really my friend anymore, but whatever it is, it knows me. It remembers what she knew, and all the…adventures we shared. Peri, can you commune with the Earth Mother and ask for her blessing tomorrow morning? We need to get away from the city before they attack again. They’re going to know we’re coming, but if the Earth Mother can disguise our movements, we can at least scout them out.”
Without waiting for an answer, she turned to Eugene. “Your part in this is going to change a little bit as well,” she said, but she motioned for him not to interrupt. “I still need your help, but I don’t want your men to marshal in Jade or go anywhere near the Fort. What you should do is have some of your best scouts go to Corilon, and do some reconnaissance from there. Annabelle’s going to be looking for me, which may open the way for your men. The rest of your men can get ready to move on the fort, but have them stay well clear.”
“Corilon?” Eugene repeated. “Kari, that town’s gone. Next closest town to Fort Sabbath nowadays is Chandler’s Grove. Closest city is Jade.”
“Gone meaning they destroyed it?”
“Not just them, but they had a hand in it, some decades ago. Between them, the gnolls, the brys…that town didn’t stand a chance. There’s still a trading post and ranger’s station near the old site, but that’s it.”
“Chandler’s Grove it is, then, I guess,” Kari said, leaving the ultimate choice to him.
Peri waited until both parties had stopped speaking to answer
Kari. “I will be prepared to aid you at first light and send you on your way,” she said. “But if you plan to leave at dawn, you would be best served getting what rest you can for the remainder of this evening.”
Kari yawned. “Ain’t that the truth.” She rubbed the back of her neck and looked at Aeligos.
“I can stay up and keep watch over you,” he offered. “Not like I need much sleep as a half-guardian.”
“All right, but let’s help Eugene check upstairs and take care of the rest of the men before we go.”
It was gruesome work, and it was well past midnight when they returned to the inn. As bad as things were, Eugene seemed no less dedicated, and promised Kari he would take care of her request the next day. Peri returned to the city’s keep, where she was being housed as an ambassador from Laeranore, but she arranged to meet Kari and Aeligos at the Pyre Peaks for breakfast. Kari was a little nervous about planning to walk right up to Fort Sabbath when her enemies knew she was coming, but she was counting on them not expecting her to have the help of an accomplished hierophant. Nature magic, she mused, might be completely alien to them as undead, which might give me the advantage. I may even be able to strike at Annabelle right then and there.
By the time they retired to bed, Kari could scarcely keep her eyes open, but she kept her gaze on Aeligos, who sat in a chair beside the window, weapons at the ready. He noticed her stare after a few minutes, and grimaced. “Kari, listen: I don’t care what that thing said, whether it’s true or not.”
“I can’t believe my friend thought I was a whore,” Kari said quietly, closing her eyes.
“She didn’t,” Aeligos insisted. “That…thing just said so to rattle your nerves.”
“So you don’t think I’m a whore? Even knowing I slept with my friend and partner?”
