Behind him walked a man and three women, and Volera brought up the rear. There was blood smeared across her forearm, Dexter noted, but she seemed none the worse for wear. The new people brought a gasp from Dexter and Tasha both.
“Bekka! Logan! Bailynn!” Dexter blurted out. He tried to step towards them but Tasha had to hold him back to keep him from falling again.
Tasha pushed him back to the table and forced him to sit. “Captain, with all due respect, sir, stay there until Logan and Bekka’s had a chance to help you.”
Logan rushed forward, passing by Dexter to look at Jenna. He picked up the cloak and looked beneath, then frowned. Bailynn was at his side, sticking so close to him that she seemed like she’d be run over if he turned too fast. “Captain, good to see you again,” Logan said off-handedly. “Rosh mentioned Xander was hurt pretty bad too?”
“He’s over here,” Tasha said, turning to point at where the unconscious wizard lay.
Logan rounded the table and grimaced. Xander’s face was burned so badly skin and muscle were missing in some places. His eyebrows and most of his hair were gone. Elsewhere his robe had offered scant protection, but the fabric was fused with his skin. Logan knelt next to the wizard and tenderly touched his chest, throat, and face. He took a deep breath and let it out, then bowed his head and closed his eyes.
“Why ain’t he praying?” Rosh asked.
“He doesn’t need to,” Bekka said softly.
Bailynn hurried over, then laid her hand on Logan’s shoulder. He jerked and looked up at her. “He’s hurt badly, this will take a lot.”
“I don’t care,” Bailynn whispered. A tear ran down her girlish face. “These people are my family. I’ll die for any of them.”
Logan nodded and resumed his work.
Dexter watched for a moment then turned to look at Bekka. She was wearing a black dress with some pink fabric worked into it for contrast. It was stylish and very attractive on her, even displaying what curves her lean figure had. The dress matched the black paint on her lips, which was a curious fashion but one that suited her.
“Bekka, what do you mean he doesn’t need to?” Dexter asked.
Bekka jerked, a red tint coming to her pale cheeks. She’d been staring intently at Volera, ignoring everyong else. Volera raised an inquisitive eyebrow, but Bekka’s attention had already been diverted by Dexter’s question. “Logan’s not a priest,” she explained. “At least not in the sense we’d always known. He’s a sorcerer, like me. His power comes from within.”
Dexter stared at her, the words slowly sinking in even if they made no sense. “Does that mean…no. What does that mean?”
Bekka smiled. “Captain, it means we learned a lot while we were on our own. Or maybe we didn’t learn anything new as much as we learned who we were.”
Dexter grunted. He didn’t have time for riddles. “Fine, can you help too? Jenna’s burned up pretty bad.”
Bekka shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t. I was never any good at healing, not fast magical healing. I could nurse her back to health with teas and compresses. Perhaps even stop her burns from scarring, but her injuries require Logan.”
Dexter swore. He turned back to watch Logan and saw the man still hard at work doing whatever it was he was doing. Dexter muttered another oath then turned back to the remaining woman he’d yet to meet. “Who’s this?”
Haley looked at Bekka and, after she received a smile and a nod, she stepped forward and offered her hand. “I’m Haley.”
“Dexter Silvercloud,” he said, shaking her hand. He was surprised by the strength in her grip and the firmness of her shake. “Don’t have much time here, what’s your story?”
“Your friends helped me find my way free of the life I was living. I’ve journeyed with them to see the void they spoke so fondly of.”
“Quite the story.”
“You have no idea,” Haley said with a twist of her lip. “I’m a huntress, or I was. I haven’t found much to hunt in the void.”
“Then you ain’t been looking in the right places,” Dexter said. Rosh chuckled his agreement. “Soon as Logan can patch us up, we’ll be hunting demons. You’re welcome to join us but there’s nothing safe about them.”
Haley turned to Bekka, but the gothic looking sorceress had already turned back to study Volera. “Hi,” Bekka said to her, extending her arm. Bekka’s fingernails were painted black to match her lips, except each nail had a pink star in the middle of them. “Love your armor.”
Volera smiled at her and took her hand. Bekka gasped when their skin touched, then she shivered. She bit her lip and looked away, a sly smile slipping onto her still blushing cheeks. “Volera,” the former demoness said. “I am Master Rosh’s servant.”
“Stop saying that!” Rosh yelled.
“My apologies, Master.”
Rosh threw his hands up in the air. Dexter shook his head. It was easy to get lost in the disputes and camaraderie. He was among friends. Among family. The same family he’d grown to love and depend on, even though it had grown. He looked away, ignoring the burning in his belly not caused by any of the wounds he’d sustained. His family had grown but one member was still missing.
“I’d like to speak with you,” Bekka whispered to Volera. “Later.”
Volera offered her another smile and a nod.
“Logan,” Dexter snapped, turning around slowly on the table to face the priest again. “If he’s well enough to live then let him be for now. I need to make sure Jenna’s going to be okay, then I need you to make me fit enough to walk and fight.”
“I think I’ll live,” Xander said. He sat up, grimacing as he peeled the melted and scorched robe away from his chest. His eyebrows and hair remained burnt off, giving him a smooth and almost childlike expression. His skin was pink and raw, but the fact that skin covered his face gave proof to his improved well-being.
“Oh!” Dexter managed, staring at the wizard who’d been all but a corpse a few minutes ago. “That’s good. Damn glad to have you back.”
Logan climbed to his feet slowly, Bailynn at his side and helping to steady him. “Captain, that took a lot out of him,” Bailynn began.
“I’m all right,” Logan insisted. He moved over to the table and sat next to Jenna, then he pulled the blanket off of her so he could rest a hand above her heart and another on her forehead. He bowed his head to concentrate. Bailynn slipped to his far side, away from Dexter, and rested her hand on the back of his bowed neck.
Dexter watched, aware now that a miracle was happening in front of him. The dried blood and blackened edges of split skin fell away before his eyes. Fresh, pink skin filled the voids and blisters popped and drained. Her shivering stopped, leaving her breathing easier and deeper. Jenna’s eyelids fluttered open, allowing her gaze to find Dexter immediately. She smiled at him first, then turned and saw Logan and Bailynn and then the others.
“It’s a reunion,” Jenna whispered, her voice not as strong as she’d thought.
“Still got one person missing,” Dexter said.
Jenna's smile faltered. She nodded, then pushed Logan’s hands off of her so she could sit up. “Could somebody get me a shirt, I’m afraid Rosh’s going to drool on my chest.”
Rosh laughed. “You’ve got the chest of a boy! Why would I want that when I’ve got her?” He pointed at Volera, who’s black leather armor seemed to enhance her impressive bust rather than conceal or protect it.
Jenna swung her legs off the table and tested her muscles. Finding everything working properly, she stood up and stretched, then looked at the gruesome scene. She saw the open cabinet with the cloaks hanging in it and started towards it. “Same reason I can ask any man how many pairs of breasts he wants to see in his life and he’ll say: all of them!”
Rosh’s laughter faded. He shrugged and nodded. Dexter shook his head in mock dismay. Logan touched him on the shoulder, drawing his attention. “Captain, this will be easier if you lay down.”
“All right,” Dexter s
aid, using his arms to pull himself onto the table a little more before he tried to lay his back on it. He hissed in pain. Not only did the movement hurt but the jagged cuts across his back were pressing into the wood.
Logan laid his hands on Dexter, making the Captain feel awkward at first. It passed as soon as a soothing warm spread from Logan’s hands and through his body. The warmth sought out his injuries, centering on them and even becoming hot enough to cause sweat to break out. A moment later the warmth retreated, leaving him feeling cool and refreshed.
“Wow,” Dexter said, sitting up. He tested the movement in his arms and, after hopping off the table boldly, his legs. “Not sure what you done while you was gone, but I’m mighty glad for it!”
Logan smiled. “Spending time with you gives me a constant opportunity to practice and perfect my talents.”
“I think I hear what you’re saying,” Dexter said. “And I’d like to offer you another chance to get some more practice. Jianna’s soul has been captured by Rolxoth. He’s in the castle and we think she’s with him.”
“Why?” Bailynn asked.
“Having her soul won’t do him much good if it’s not with him,” Jenna said. She finished tying the cloak she’d cut around her belly. She looked around, spotting a few weapons to replace her broken ones.
“No, I mean why’d he take her in the first place?” Bailynn asked.
“Claims he needed a favor from me,” Dexter said. “But I’m not so sure he couldn’t have done this without our help.”
“Without the chaos the elves would have put up a fight,” Jenna said. “And they’d have come back with reinforcements if they did lose.”
“Won’t they still?” Tasha asked, confused.
“We told them to leave Port Freedom alone. Some of the Navy and the Empire seems to have respect for me and Jenna. Might be that’s enough to slow ‘em down until Rolxoth can reach an agreement.”
“Of course!” Jenna hissed. “Commander Banaris and Rolxoth have been working together! I don’t doubt Banaris is plotting a rise in position himself, something to ensure that Rolxoth gets to keep Port Freedom and the Empire has a special arrangement with them.”
“You think they’d fall back that quick? A lot of younger elves liked what you done. They won’t take to the thought of getting friendly with demons. I don’t see the elders standing for it neither.”
“The elders won’t do much of anything unless the elves strike out against them,” Xander offered while he examined his damaged robes. “I’ve worked with them for years now. They focus on their own problems and seldom dabble in the affairs of other races. They’ll be blind until it’s too late, should the elves rise up against them.”
“No,” Volera interrupted. “Rolxoth must pay a price for the service of so many. He may be wealthy, among his kind, but the power necessary to sponsor so many on this realm for so long would be more than any member of the duathrym could sustain. Only the greatest powers would attempt such a thing, and they would have little reason to do so.”
“So why then?” Jenna asked.
“If these elves are as duplicitous and malevolent as you suggest, Rolxoth may seek to be an agent that contracts out individual assignments. A small portal with only an infrequent traveler using it is far easier to obtain.”
“A permanent portal such as that would still take a lot of power to create,” Xander pointed out.
Volera nodded. “It would, but a single soul could be bound to it as a source of energy to feed the magic.”
Jenna and Dexter met each other’s gaze. “A single soul?” Jenna mouthed the words. Dexter turned back. “We’re wasting more time. I can use every one of you, and more. But if you won’t I’ll understand. Make no mistake about it, I’ll curse you and call you a coward until my dying day, but at least I’ll understand.”
Rosh chuckled. He stretched the tree trunks he had for arms and popped his knuckles. “Ain’t met a demon I couldn’t beat yet.”
Volera cast a wicked smile his way. She dipped her head in submission, then turned back. “If my Master wishes it, I will help you.”
“This is a good time to be showing you want to help,” Rosh grumbled.
“I thought I did?” She asked, her eyes wide feigning innocence. Rush harrumphed, then motioned for them to follow him out into the road.
The others followed suit, every one of them having no doubts as to where their loyalties lay.
Chapter 13
Compared to earlier, the streets of Port Freedom seemed calm. Signs of vandalism and looting were rampant, but near the city guard offices few people lingered. “Where’d everybody go?” Bailynn asked.
“The docks,” Jenna said. “Listen, you can hear fighting down there.”
Dexter groaned. “This ain’t working out the way I’d hoped.”
“Does it ever?” Rosh grumbled. “Head up to the castle, I’ll get their attention.”
“Rosh, this ain’t the time to split up!” Dexter argued.
“They ain’t gonna kill me,” Rosh assured him. “Just save me some demons!”
Dexter frowned for a long moment before Jenna pulled at his arm. “Dex, for Jianna.”
He nodded before turning away and starting a jog towards the castle. Rosh and Volera stood still, watching them leave, then Rosh turned and started his own heavy footed jog towards the harbor. Volera fell in beside him easily.
“Master, what will you do?”
“I’ll worry about that when we get there. Damn shame we ain’t got none of them demons we can show them.”
“You’ve got me.”
Rosh chuckled. “Thought you wasn’t one of them no more?”
“I’m not, but if you need me to, I can pretend to be for a short time.” Volera was silent for a moment before she amended her statement. “I’m sorry, I know you don’t need me, but if you’d like me to.”
Rosh slowed, turning to stare at her. He scowled. “You got a funny way of figuring things but since I been stuck with you I think there’s been times a plenty that you’ve come in handy.”
“Thank you,” Volera said, beaming at him. “But I know you don’t truly need me, you would excel without me as you did before.”
“This part of Willa’s soul making you act funny?” Rosh asked. “She had a hard time knowing her worth and you’re acting just like that.”
“I don’t think so,” she frowned and considered his question. “Perhaps, I can’t say. I’m not who I once was. Dealing with souls was never a problem for me. This one I took into me, instead of just collecting it. It’s a damaged soul though, I’ve had time to study it. I think Willa’s experience when she was adrift in the void caused her soul and Koda’s to become damaged. They bonded together, what I have of her in me is only half of a soul. Koda has the rest.”
Rosh came to a stop. “Half a soul? What’s that mean?”
Volera stopped beside him. “I only know that what happens to me will happen to him.”
Rosh felt Port Freedom start to spin around him. The color drained from his face as he considered her words. “You mean…all the times that you and I…the things we done…”
Volera twisted her head to the side, trying to finish Rosh’s questions. Finally it became clear to her when his eyes dropped to her chest and then lower. She smiled. “No, I meant if I were injured.”
Rosh let out a sigh only his cavernous chest could hold. “Why ain’t you calling me Master now that we’re alone?”
Volera’s lip curled into a wicked smile. “It’s much more fun doing it around your friends.”
Rosh swore. “Not sure if that’s you or Willa working at making my life difficult.”
“Both, I think.”
He swore again, then turned and ran towards the harbor with Volera following close behind. Their run was short once they entered the marketplace. Many of the carts and stalls had been cleared away to make room for the elves and occasional non-elf that were standing ready to join the defenses. The entrances to the harbo
r were piled full of men and the fallen bodies of men.
“Are we too late?” Volera asked.
Rosh ignored her. He peered around looking for inspiration. It came in form of a large wagon loaded full of wooden casks. Rosh ran over to it and grabbed the traces for the missing horses. Gathering them up, he leaned forward and drove his powerful legs into the cobblestone ground, pulling the wagon forward one step at a time towards the junction of the three separate roadways to each section of the harbor.
“Hey! Get that out of here!” the first elf to notice him called out.
“Move!” Rosh bellowed, not slowing in the least.
The elf cried out louder, drawing the attention of some of the other soldiers near him. They fell in behind him as he rushed towards Rosh. Rosh dropped the lines and batted the elf’s sword aside, ignoring the cut one his forearm that was already healing by the time he picked the leather and chain clad man up over his head. Rosh threw him forward into the other interested soldiers, sending them sprawling or scrambling to get away from the flailing missile.
Rosh ran around the side of the wagon, drawing his massive sword so he could smash the spokes in the wheels on the side facing the harbor. It crashed down, shattering the axles, and knocked a few of the tied casks loose in the back. Rosh continued his run, rounding the wagon until he stood on the other side that still had unbroken wheels. He slammed his sword point first into the ground, splitting a large stone and then letting it stay there, quivering.
The nearby soldiers stopped, now staring in shock at the heavily muscled man amongst them that seemed to have a grudge against an otherwise harmless wagon.
Rosh grabbed the bottom of the wagon and slammed his feet into the ground. His muscles bulged and flexed, veins standing out beyond the engorged muscles. He roared as the side of the wagon came up, then he dropped down onto his haunches and flipped his hands to push from beneath it. He heaved again and pushed it beyond the stopping point, then had to pull back to keep it from flipping over completely. The casks spilled free, some of the breaking open when they hit the ground and spilling the black fire powder across the cobbles.
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