“Show me the body.â€
Warren Castille. The Highlander that she had met so many moons ago at the Quicksand; the free paladin standing next to Crofte by that thick pillar. That man was now standing in front of them with his shield and sword blazing. His sword's tip still dripped freshly drawn blood; the man had decapitated Taeros’ personal guard moments earlier in the fight.
Melkire, that troublesome Flame sergeant had brought Castille, along with a spear wielding miqo’te and a knife throwing Midlander, into the tunnels below the ground to stage a rescue for Roen Deneith. Making himself look like Lazarov in appearance and clothing was clever, Brynn thought. And it had lured out Taeros like a bee to honey.
And now that the armored form of Taeros lay motionless on the ground, wisps of smoke rising from within the full suit of plate-mail armor he wore, the vultures were already beginning to gather to pick at the fallen lion.
“Ye don’ get tae demand shite, paladin,†Brynn retorted. She was already withdrawing another arrow from her quiver. She had seen the viciousness Castille was capable of in battle and was not going to let him get within five sword lengths of her. She held the bow steady and nocked the arrow, its point aimed at the man’s head.
“Show me the body before I rush you down.†Warren motioned towards her leg that had been cut. “I’ve already killed enough of you. Don’t make this hard.â€
Brynnalia said nothing as she squinted one eye slightly, adjusting her aim for the dimness of the tunnels. She kept her gaze on the target even as she shifted her weight to that injured leg to test its strength. Gideon had been quick enough to come to her side when the Midlander had cut her; his healing touch in mid battle had been surprisingly efficient and skilled. There remained some soreness, but the bleeding had stopped and she could feel the muscle fibers supporting her weight just well enough. She was confident that she could maneuver to dodge the paladin should it come to that. Her fingers pulled on the bowstring just another ilm more, ready to release…
“....Please.â€
If the paladin’s quiet plea didn’t make her pause, then it was the hand upon her shoulder. Crofte stood next to her, and when the bard met her gaze, the Sworn shook her head. Brynnalia scowled but lowered her bow and allowed Castille to walk past.
“Your ruse has won,†Crofte spat out towards the man, her words tinged with both fatigue and bitterness. The Sworn then called to Gideon, who was standing just a few yalms away, attending to another fallen figure--the cloaked thaumaturge who had chased after the lancer. He was not moving. “Mister North?" Crofte continued. "We should see to the sergeant, then be gone from this place.â€
“WHAT?†Brynnalia turned to Crofte, incredulous. The valet too had a look of utter surprise. But while Gideon bowed with resignation at the order, Brynn continued to shake her head. “Did ye miss the part where they just tried tae kill yer lover?†She glanced at the unmoving armor, one that Castille was now impecting, finding the contents empty. “Gideon, ye don’t have tae do that,†Brynn called out after him.
“I know,†he said quietly, meeting her gaze only for a moment. “The combat is concluded, Mistress.†He turned and made his way down the tunnel to where Melkire was still sitting on the ground, propped up against the wall. Warren brushed past Brynnalia to follow quickly after the valet, clearly suspicious.
Brynn watched Gideon go, her jaw set. Her fingers twitched over feathers of the arrow still half-nocked. Her muscles coiled with anticipation, her eyes gaging the distance between herself and the sergeant and paladin, in case she needed shoot at either of them should they take any action against North.
“Where is she? Where is Roen?!†An angry call cut through the misty air of the tunnels. It was the lancer, trotting back up towards them from the deeper depths.
The bard growled under her breath, turning the aim of the bow toward the miqo’te instead. She could not keep her eyes on Gideon. “The girl ye lookin’ fer no longer here, kitty cat.†Her own answer was an annoyed sneer.
“I can see that!†The miqo’te hissed. “Now you can tell me where she is, and remove an enemy from your worries, or you can keep silent and expect to see me again!†The lancer lowered her head, glaring at her through those goggles. “I will not stop until I find her, you Highland whore.â€
Brynn’s eyes narrowed. “She escaped, that troublesome thing. And as fugitives tend to do, she went into hiding. We have no idea where she went.†She held her bow steady, arrow still nocked.
The miqo’te lancer responded with a ready stance of her own, quickly turning the spear in her grasp into an over-arm hold. It was a stand still between them, with both bow and lance at ready. That was when Warren emerged again, with Melkire in tow. “We are leaving.â€
Brynnalia heard Crofte’s footsteps behind her as she stepped to the side of the tunnel, the Sworn seemingly allowing them to pass. The bard too stepped to the side, although never lowering her bow. The paladin and the Flame passed. Then the lancer strode past them, but continued to keep her eyes upon Brynn. Finally it was the Midlander with the knives, one that had cut her earlier. Callae gave her a passing glare, but no words were exchanged between them.
It was only after their footsteps were no longer audible that Brynn finally lowered her bow. Gideon came to stand next to her, and she gave him a quick once-over to make certain no harm had come his way. He only gave her his usual placid expression and a nod in response.
Brynnalia turned to see that Crofte had once more come to stand next to the fallen armor. Her head hung low and her shoulders were weighed with weariness. When Brynn came to join her by her side, she too could see for herself that the armor was empty, save some scorch marks within. The bard sniffed the air. “I smell a burnt man, but see none.†She glanced to the Sworn. “Where in hells is the body?â€
Crofte’s voice did not waver nor did she sound mournful when she answered. “I don’t know. But I aim to find out.â€
“I will attend milord.†Gideon bowed then began to approach the armor on the watery ground.
Brynnalia slid the arrow back into the quiver, just staring at the mess of bodies, blood, and armor that littered the tunnels. She shook her head. “I’ll…get a cleanup crew down here,†she said to no one in particular as she reached for that pearl in her ear. She watched as Crofte strode by, steps now with heavy purpose.
“I will find him,†the Sworn said, her voice sharp like a steel blade. “And if not him, then her.â€
Callae paused, her finger hovering by the pearl. “Her?â€
Crofte’s green eyes flicked to the bard. There was no mercy in them now.
“Banurein.â€
Warren Castille. The Highlander that she had met so many moons ago at the Quicksand; the free paladin standing next to Crofte by that thick pillar. That man was now standing in front of them with his shield and sword blazing. His sword's tip still dripped freshly drawn blood; the man had decapitated Taeros’ personal guard moments earlier in the fight.
Melkire, that troublesome Flame sergeant had brought Castille, along with a spear wielding miqo’te and a knife throwing Midlander, into the tunnels below the ground to stage a rescue for Roen Deneith. Making himself look like Lazarov in appearance and clothing was clever, Brynn thought. And it had lured out Taeros like a bee to honey.
And now that the armored form of Taeros lay motionless on the ground, wisps of smoke rising from within the full suit of plate-mail armor he wore, the vultures were already beginning to gather to pick at the fallen lion.
“Ye don’ get tae demand shite, paladin,†Brynn retorted. She was already withdrawing another arrow from her quiver. She had seen the viciousness Castille was capable of in battle and was not going to let him get within five sword lengths of her. She held the bow steady and nocked the arrow, its point aimed at the man’s head.
“Show me the body before I rush you down.†Warren motioned towards her leg that had been cut. “I’ve already killed enough of you. Don’t make this hard.â€
Brynnalia said nothing as she squinted one eye slightly, adjusting her aim for the dimness of the tunnels. She kept her gaze on the target even as she shifted her weight to that injured leg to test its strength. Gideon had been quick enough to come to her side when the Midlander had cut her; his healing touch in mid battle had been surprisingly efficient and skilled. There remained some soreness, but the bleeding had stopped and she could feel the muscle fibers supporting her weight just well enough. She was confident that she could maneuver to dodge the paladin should it come to that. Her fingers pulled on the bowstring just another ilm more, ready to release…
“....Please.â€
If the paladin’s quiet plea didn’t make her pause, then it was the hand upon her shoulder. Crofte stood next to her, and when the bard met her gaze, the Sworn shook her head. Brynnalia scowled but lowered her bow and allowed Castille to walk past.
“Your ruse has won,†Crofte spat out towards the man, her words tinged with both fatigue and bitterness. The Sworn then called to Gideon, who was standing just a few yalms away, attending to another fallen figure--the cloaked thaumaturge who had chased after the lancer. He was not moving. “Mister North?" Crofte continued. "We should see to the sergeant, then be gone from this place.â€
“WHAT?†Brynnalia turned to Crofte, incredulous. The valet too had a look of utter surprise. But while Gideon bowed with resignation at the order, Brynn continued to shake her head. “Did ye miss the part where they just tried tae kill yer lover?†She glanced at the unmoving armor, one that Castille was now impecting, finding the contents empty. “Gideon, ye don’t have tae do that,†Brynn called out after him.
“I know,†he said quietly, meeting her gaze only for a moment. “The combat is concluded, Mistress.†He turned and made his way down the tunnel to where Melkire was still sitting on the ground, propped up against the wall. Warren brushed past Brynnalia to follow quickly after the valet, clearly suspicious.
Brynn watched Gideon go, her jaw set. Her fingers twitched over feathers of the arrow still half-nocked. Her muscles coiled with anticipation, her eyes gaging the distance between herself and the sergeant and paladin, in case she needed shoot at either of them should they take any action against North.
“Where is she? Where is Roen?!†An angry call cut through the misty air of the tunnels. It was the lancer, trotting back up towards them from the deeper depths.
The bard growled under her breath, turning the aim of the bow toward the miqo’te instead. She could not keep her eyes on Gideon. “The girl ye lookin’ fer no longer here, kitty cat.†Her own answer was an annoyed sneer.
“I can see that!†The miqo’te hissed. “Now you can tell me where she is, and remove an enemy from your worries, or you can keep silent and expect to see me again!†The lancer lowered her head, glaring at her through those goggles. “I will not stop until I find her, you Highland whore.â€
Brynn’s eyes narrowed. “She escaped, that troublesome thing. And as fugitives tend to do, she went into hiding. We have no idea where she went.†She held her bow steady, arrow still nocked.
The miqo’te lancer responded with a ready stance of her own, quickly turning the spear in her grasp into an over-arm hold. It was a stand still between them, with both bow and lance at ready. That was when Warren emerged again, with Melkire in tow. “We are leaving.â€
Brynnalia heard Crofte’s footsteps behind her as she stepped to the side of the tunnel, the Sworn seemingly allowing them to pass. The bard too stepped to the side, although never lowering her bow. The paladin and the Flame passed. Then the lancer strode past them, but continued to keep her eyes upon Brynn. Finally it was the Midlander with the knives, one that had cut her earlier. Callae gave her a passing glare, but no words were exchanged between them.
It was only after their footsteps were no longer audible that Brynn finally lowered her bow. Gideon came to stand next to her, and she gave him a quick once-over to make certain no harm had come his way. He only gave her his usual placid expression and a nod in response.
Brynnalia turned to see that Crofte had once more come to stand next to the fallen armor. Her head hung low and her shoulders were weighed with weariness. When Brynn came to join her by her side, she too could see for herself that the armor was empty, save some scorch marks within. The bard sniffed the air. “I smell a burnt man, but see none.†She glanced to the Sworn. “Where in hells is the body?â€
Crofte’s voice did not waver nor did she sound mournful when she answered. “I don’t know. But I aim to find out.â€
“I will attend milord.†Gideon bowed then began to approach the armor on the watery ground.
Brynnalia slid the arrow back into the quiver, just staring at the mess of bodies, blood, and armor that littered the tunnels. She shook her head. “I’ll…get a cleanup crew down here,†she said to no one in particular as she reached for that pearl in her ear. She watched as Crofte strode by, steps now with heavy purpose.
“I will find him,†the Sworn said, her voice sharp like a steel blade. “And if not him, then her.â€
Callae paused, her finger hovering by the pearl. “Her?â€
Crofte’s green eyes flicked to the bard. There was no mercy in them now.
“Banurein.â€
