Everly and Lowarien jumped there in front of their mate, who was about to collapse, aiming at the quickly approaching enemy. Larianna began a new magic spell, writing signs in the air and pointing at an attacker with her left hand. Suddenly the ground was open under the monster and it disappeared in the pit. It was trying to climb out, but could not escape as the creek was slowly closing in, squashing its victim.
The rour was not idle either. He used his magical power again by whispering a new spell. He created three arm long, blade sharp spears made of ice that were floating in the air. He aimed them at one of the approaching monsters. The ice spears pierced the chest of the robust creature and killed it immediately.
Corwen, who twirled his deadly twin blades in front of himself, skillfully avoiding the clawed arms attacking him, occupied two of them. He cut one of their stomachs open, wounding the other at the knee and the monster collapsed.
The antenna suddenly appeared from its stomach, the captain turned around, but its mouth hit him on the shoulder, piercing it with its sharp teeth. His medallion warmed up as the magic started working against the poison in his body. The other monster reached his side and wounded his limb with its claws, cutting through the magical armor. The warrior winced in pain and made a spin to the other side to avoid the next hit.
The elf and the thief girl protected the orc. They made one shot each, one hit the forehead and the other hit the shoulder, but they could not stop the brutal creature. Lowarien got out his narrow bladed saber, but it was already too late. The attacker aimed at the seemingly weaker young girl and the antenna appeared from its stomach. Everly screamed and her eyes turned bloody red as a thunderous voice left her lips.
“Rajib nas Zogul!” she shouted.
The antenna stopped a foot from her, the creature rose above the ground, blood began to pour out from its body and it simply exploded. Bloody chunks of flesh were flying everywhere.
The air was frozen at that moment. Everybody was watching the events with terror. The tiny thief girl could not be recognized, she transformed into something different. She regained her consciousness and she was blinking confusedly.
The elven fighter standing next to him was looking, dumbfounded, with his ocean blue eyes.
For the soul of the ancient trees, what was that? I never seen anything before in my life, and I walk this world several hundred years by now. What has possessed Everly? The thought flashed through his head.
Then they heard a horse approaching along the riverside and a man in a knightly armor on a warhorse appeared in front of them. He immediately attacked one of the beasts fighting with the wounded Corwen. He pierced his long spear through the creature, who turned to the newly arrived, howling. The knight turned his horse around and got out a large knight sword. He skillfully divided its head from the body.
Corwen, using the momentary chaos, stabbed the only beast left with both of his swords right until the cross guard. The top of the blades appeared on the other side of the body, giving a lethal wound to the monster. It rattled one last time, life disappeared from its reptile eyes, and its robust body collapsed to the ground.
“Thank you for your help, dear Sir!” Corwen greeted the rider.
“You are welcome my friend. I am Sir Alvin DaMatta, the priest/knight of Dermeron, the god of battle and bravery,” the man introduced himself.
The tall man got off his horse and stepped closer to the group. He was wearing a shiny full plate armor. He had a long knight sword in one hand and a medium sized, peaky shield with a symbol on it, a battle-axe and a sword, crossed. He was a bit taller than the captain was. He took off his knightly grilled helmet, which was a skillfully crafted masterpiece. There was an aged man looking at them. He had a carefully cut, short and dense beard and he had shoulder long, messy brown hair. His eyes reflected honesty and wisdom.
“I heard the sound of a battle and I immediately got on my horse and followed the shouting. As my wise master said, help whoever you can, my son! So I thought my help might be needed.”
“We could really use your help, Sir DaMatta! I am Venuri del Corwen, former guardian captain, veteran warrior of the Three Shields,” he shook the priest/knight’s hand.
Tusk was still in a bad form, he could hardly stand on his feet. He was sweating and shaking like a leaf.
“Thank you, friends, for not leaving me behind,” he said with his teeth chattering to the elf warrior and the thief girl standing next to him.
“You would have done the same for us, you giant bear.” Everly tried to lighten his mood.
He could be a massive twat, but somehow I began to like him. I wonder why.
Larianna rushed to him and made him drink from her flask.
“Drink this. It will help to defeat the poison!” she instructed the gasping orc.
He took big sips from the potion. They covered him in a blanket and after a while, he began to feel better as the herbal juice began to work.
Everybody greeted the knight and they all introduced themselves.
Larianna was examining Corwen’s wounds. She cleaned and bandaged the wounds on his arm and leg and he drank from the potion too.
“Why didn’t the poison have any effect on you, my champion?” Larianna asked suspiciously.
“Because I have this,” he pulled out the protective medallion from his shirt.
The poison-green-eyed girl took it in her hands and examined the object.
“A magical object against poison!” She was astonished. “What a handy little device, I can make this too, but it requires a lot of time.”
Al Sarran stepped to them, clenching his unicorn horned staff.
“Maybe it is not the best time, but we have to discuss a few things! Did you see what happened to Everly? The creature living in her has revealed itself, which is the source of the power I sensed before. I cannot find out what it is but probably our priest/knight friend can,” he looked at DaMatta.
“What happened to the girl?” he asked curiously.
The thief girl stepped closer to eavesdrop the conversation about her.
“I was next to her. I saw the events with my own eyes. We were in a life-threatening situation. One of the antennas of a beast almost hit her and something awakened in her. Her eyes turned blood red and she started to scream in a language I could not recognize and the beast suddenly rose above the ground, sprinkled blood and exploded,” the dainty elf explained.
“Did I really do this?” the almond-eyed thin girl asked with astonishment.
“I can never remember what exactly happens to me in dangerous situations, but my problems are always solved. I often lose control for a moment, but it usually happens once a day, not more. But I also have been having a strange sentiment lately, like something is living inside of me.” The olive skinned girl looked around the company with innocent eyes.
DaMatta frowned his eyebrows and started speaking with a concerned face.
“Something nested itself into the girl’s body and is only awakened if the host body is in danger. It must be weak if it can only take control of her once a day. It is extremely curious. If I ask for the help of my god, I might be able to find out what it is exactly. Supposing that the young lady agrees,” the priest/knight suggested politely.
“Sure, let’s find out what is happening to me,” the thief girl replied, looking down deep in her thoughts.
Did something really possess me and takes control? Who or what can this be and what does it want? I have so many questions unanswered. It would be good to finally get some answers, she thought.
“But I think we should wait for the morning and rest for a while,” DaMatta suggested.
“There is something that could not wait until the morning!” the panther man clenched his unicorn horned staff.
“Larianna, you have a secret, who you really are! Your magic and the way you do magic have revealed your true self. You tell them or should I?” he looked deep into girl’s eyes sternly.
The young woman’s eyes fell an
d stared at the ground for a second.
There is no other way, I have to tell them the truth, she decided.
“Fine, I will tell you who I really am, since I have no other choice!” she was searching for Corwen’s eyes as she started speaking a bit confusedly.
“There is something I kept a secret from you. I am a member of the Flaming Palm witch order. Many have the wrong idea upon hearing I am a witch, but our order and several others are dedicated to do good deeds. We do not spell curses and hexes and we are not involved in black magic. We only use our abilities with regard to the balance of nature,” she was explaining as the others were listening to her in silence.
“I know your order and can assure everyone that it is true!” the priest/knight added.
“I have encountered members of the Flaming Palm order and the girl tells the truth. They are kind of mistresses of the nature and they help wherever they can. They fight the real evils of the world. However they cannot reveal themselves, like in this case, to avoid prejudice,” he said sticking up for the girl.
Every beautiful woman has a secret, Larianna. Now I know yours. Although I never dealt with a witch in my life, but until what I saw about you, there is nothing blameworthy, thought the captain.
“You could have told us your secret. If your order really follows these principles mentioned, it is absolutely acceptable for me.”
Corwen looked at Larianna, who seemed relieved to be able to reveal her secret.
“Does anyone have an opposition or anything to add?” she asked the others, but they were all shaking their heads.
She wasn't acting like the other witches I met before. She doesn't turn to dark practices, she won't bother me, pondered Al Sarran.
“Fine, we are over with this, but we have another problem! We have to learn more about Everly’s case tomorrow. DaMatta, do you think we can expect another attack from these creatures tonight?” the captain asked.
“I don’t think so. I have met these beasts in the area, but I think we killed them off in the neighborhood. So we don’t have to worry about them for a while,” he shared his views.
“We really need some rest now. If you wish, you could join us for the night. You are welcome here”, the captain invited the priest/knight to the fire.
“I would happily accept the invitation, if I am not disturbing you,” the armored man replied.
They went back to the tents and the campfire still burning on the riverbank. They sat around it to relax after the fight. The orc was feeling better too and joined them with a bottle of wine in the hand. He introduced himself to their new mate and slowly began to drink his refreshing drink with a shattered face.
“Sorcerer, what is that strange little creature on your shoulder?” the priest/knight asked.
“I am Dergo the servant dragon, Sir DaMatta,” the marble white scaly reptilian replied.
The armored man was shocked to see the dragon talking.
“You can talk too? Amazing. I have never seen a creature like you before!” his eyes were round with surprise.
“You won’t see more either, sir. There are only a few of us left. We live for a long time, but we will be soon extinct,” the dragon said.
Can we trust him? Well, I know the god and priests of battle and bravery, but anyone can say they are one of them until they prove it. I’d like to know what he is doing at this dangerous, isolated forest, the panther man was thinking.
“Sir DaMatta, are you travelling through this unfriendly neighborhood all alone?” Al Sarran asked.
“Yes. Unfortunately, I lost all my priest mates during a mission and it was my fault. I came to this dangerous and distant place out of atonement to regain the trust of my god, which is only possible through hopeless fights,” the armored man replied.
“For what reasons did you came to the far end of nothing? If I may ask,” the newly arrived warrior asked.
“We are looking for a map stolen by the men of the Nozgold Empire and if they find what the roll hides, we will face dangerous times,” the captain answered.
“It sounds like a risky and important mission. You have an interesting group here.” He looked around the company around the fire.
“An orc warrior, a rour sorcerer, an elf tracker, a witch, a fighter guardian captain and a young girl possessed by some unearthly entity,” he rubbed his beard.
Should I join them? Is it possible that my god lead them in my way to challenge me? They seem like a brave, honest company, that’s what my intuition says, the priest knight/thought, drawing the consequences.
“Your mission is at risk. Would you accept the help of a priest/knight?” they asked the others around them.
It is curious. A sane person would never want to join us. If he cannot explain himself, his interest is suspicious, the captain thought.
“Why would you like to be part of such a dangerous mission, my sir?” Corwen asked.
“I believe that your mission is dedicated to a noble cause. It is not a coincidence my god led me to you. It might be a challenge for me and if I succeed in it. I might gain his good graces back. What do you say?” he asked the company around the fire.
This was convincing, he is not lying and he is a nice man, Corwen decided.
“I believe another skilled fighter might come handy,” he said out loud and the others were nodding in agreement.
“Let’s drink to that! The knight deserves it, he fought well!” Tusk said with the wine bottle in his hand.
He felt much better thanks to the herbs. He passed on the bottle, but first he had a huge sip from it.
“As my wise master said. A man has to be careful with fine wine and fine women. But a little drinking cannot hurt.” The priest/knight accepted the bottle.
Everybody drank from the bottle with the exception of the Ertonfellian warrior, who stuck to remained faithful to his principles. He lighted his pipe and began to sing a wonderful elf song on his beautiful voice next to the fire.
“What a wonderful song. What is it about, Lowarien?” Everly asked curiously.
“It is about a lonely elf girl, who lost her love in the war,” the warrior with the pointy ears replied.
“How sad, but the song is beautiful,” the thief girl said.
Tusk stood up and rushed to the location of the battle. A few minutes later he returned to the company, holding a bloody heart in his hand.
“What the hell are you doing?” the captain asked.
“According to orc traditions if you eat the heart of your enemy you gain their power. So I will eat the heart of this dangerous creature,” he answered proudly.
“Ew, how disgusting. Luckily the civilized societies do not follow these disgusting orc traditions!” Everly was outraged.
“That’s what makes is great fighters, but a little human girl cannot understand this!” Tusk waved resignedly.
“That’s not what makes you a good fighter my friend, it is knowing who deserves death and who does not,” the elf tracker shared his wise thoughts.
The orc, not caring about the reproving looks, put the heart on a stick and roasted it in the fire, then ate the whole thing.
It was late. They went to sleep exhausted and exchanged each other in the night watch at the dangerous riverside. They packed up after sunrise and prepared for going forward to find the grave of the great hero.
Chapter Seven
Everybody was watching Everly and the priest/knight. They were facing each other. She touched the sacred symbol of his god and looked deep in the almond shaped eyes.
“Are you ready to find out what creature lives in you?” the armored man asked her.
“Yes, let’s do it!” the ocean-blue-eyed, young girl replied with determination.
He took the symbol of his god off his neck, clenching it in his hand and murmuring sacred spells with his eyes closed and a few moments later a bright, flashing aura appeared around DaMatta. He opened his eyes and put the symbol on the girl’s forehead.
“Dermeron, god of ba
ttle and bravery. I am asking you to reveal the truth about the creature living in this girl!” then the aura moved to Everly and began flashing.
The appearance of Everly changed. It transformed into a tall, snow-white-skinned, perfect and ageless woman. She was beautiful and only her blood red eyes disturbed her perfect appearance. Nobody could stand her look. It was so powerful and terrifying. She had long, dark and curly hair, braided in endless braids until her bottom, ending in snakeheads wiggling tirelessly. DaMatta pulled the symbol away from the girl’s forehead and stepped back with a terrified face and the phantom disappeared. He started talking with dread in his voice.
“I can recognize who this is we just saw! It is the forgotten goddess of pain and distress called Kyrion!”
“For the staff of Arwald, a goddess, I never would have thought!” Al Sarran was surprised.
If I did not respect life and followed the dark path, I would kill Everly immediately! If the goddess living in her awakens, it is terrible even thinking what she might be capable of doing with her power. I have never read any stories like this. The sullen thoughts crossed the sorcerer’s mind.
“Old stories have talked about similar cases, but I always thought these were legends and this could not actually happen!” the elf looked around, confused.
A goddess from the ancient times who wants to be born into this world, to spread her dominion? Only the Illvars told us such stories. In those times they were very young as well, and now they are almost three thousand years old. As a child, I thought these things are impossible and it's happening in front of my very own eyes, pondered Lowarien.
“I have never heard about the goddess of pain and distress before,” the witch said, shocked by these new turn of events.
“I am not surprised. I have only heard these stories during my theological studies. Her worshippers were killed a thousand years ago in Algaron,” the priest/knight said.
“They did not do very good job,” the orc grunted.
I thought thief girl is not dangerous, for the ghost of the Great Wolf I was wrong, the orc was wondering.
“What do we do now? We cannot fight a god!” Corwen asked with crossed arms.
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