Click here for Volume 1: s/11610547/1/The-Walking-Dead-in-Faerun
Mogrin
I guess I am losing hope that you receive these. But there is always that chance, is there not? That slim chance. I suppose everything depends on slim chances now.
I tried to do everything right, to keep people from harm.
Our party is of smaller numbers now. We lost yet another two days ago. It was her choice. She too took a slim chance, and now I pray she is well, living a better life far away from here.
Silverymoon was dead end. I met the wizard who lived in the tower. A dwarf from Thay sent to help the people there. Or so we thought. It turned out he was merely an apprentice and the wizard had perished.
Before we left, I learned a chilling truth. A truth that haunts me every waking moment. And that i
However I feel is of little consequence. What matters as of writing this is we're moving forth. The Sword Coast is no more. There is nothing left for us here. We now ride for Berdusk. In hopes to find the Harpers.
We face a long, hard journey, perhaps more taxing than any of us can fathom. But surely it cannot be harder than our journey's been so far. Can it?
125 miles is what lies in wait for us. And I'm trying hard to not lose faith. I cannot. I dare not, for the sake of the others and my family. There's just a few of us now. It is imperative we stick together, fight for each other, be willing to lay down our lives for each other if such a need arises. It's the only chance any of us have.
Be careful out there, my friend. I hope you and Duhane are well. Stay off the road, keep moving, keep your eyes open. I fear I can offer no advice beyond that. All I can say is just be safe.
And who knows? Perhaps we'll see you at Berdusk Hall someday.
Rillick
"Everyone, let us away!"
Dall's voice snapped Rillick back to consciousness. He tied the message to Dio's leg, launched him in the air and hurried back to the group. With Lorelai's help he pulled himself into Highlander's saddle as everyone but Dall, Dar and Shaan climbed into the ox cart.
Dall spurred the oxen forward. Rillick, with his wife's arms wrapped around his waste and his son nestled in front, drove Highlander on.
His thoughts drifted to Shaan. He couldn't shake the feeling something was off with him. Ever since they escaped the wizard tower, he'd been acting a little... distant.
It had been two days since they left Silverymoon. Rillick kept his head down, concentrating on keeping his horse on track, as he swayed gently side to side in the saddle. He looked up and to the right, past Cralo and her daughter Salpha on their own horse Holdfast, to just make out the treeline of a forest in the distance. Ahead of him was the bulky rear of the wagon, creaking and clacking as it trundled along the unkempt road beneath them, pulled along by beastmaster Dall's oxen, Ara and Eevee. Though he could not see beyond the ox cart, he knew the half-orc Dar lead the charge, riding atop Harley, his pet dire wolf, 'companion', he corrected himself. He found the sight quite amusing, but he dared not reveal it.
Though everyone's spirits were as high as they could ever be, No one felt the need to make conversation. When they did, it was planning or taking inventory. Survival was on everyone's mind. Nothing else mattered.
Rillick heard a quiet chuckle as Lorelai rested her chin on his shoulder.
"I was thinking of our trip to the Cloudpeaks with Chorrol." She said.
He laughed softly as the memory came back to him.
"I don't remember that." Chorrol said as he strained to recall.
"No doubt." Said Lorelai, stroking his hair. "You were but a babe. We never made it past the Hamlar Hills."
"You became ill." Rillick explained. "I never imagined a baby could throw up so much."
They both laughed as Chorrol scrunched his face in disgust.
Lorelai sighed fondly. "The healer in Nashkel said you'd live. We then simply took the next caravan home."
"That's disappointing." Chorrol mumbled.
Lorelai smiled. "No. T'was was a good journey."
"The best." Said Rillick, grateful for the distraction.
Chorrol looked up behind him. "Can we go there? The Cloudpeaks? I'd like to."
Before Rillick could respond, Salpha called from the horse beside him. "I would too. Can we go?"
Indeed, he too would love to see the Cloudpeaks properly, but given the situation, it may never be possible.
"We would never go without you or your mother." He said to her finally. "You have my word."
It was a somewhat unsatisfactory compromise.
The constant sharp scraping echoing inside the cart began to grate on Anderea. She casually watched as Shaan ran the small square stone along the edge of the sword he held. He flipped it over and worked the other side.
"Does that not become tedious?" she asked.
Shaan shrugged and held up the sword to review his handiwork.
"The trick to sharpening a blade is to keep it consistent along the entirety of both edges. I could do the same to yours, show you how."
She gave him an annoyed look. That wasn't exactly the response she asked, but she handed it to him anyway.
"Ah, yes. This is fine craftsmanship." Shaan said as he thumbed the shortsword's edge.
"It was a gift from my father." She said. "He gave it to me before Amee and I started our adventure. He said adventurers must always be armed for there are dangerous monsters afoot."
Shaan hummed in approval. "Wise man, your father. So, look," he turned the topic back on the sword, "it is of good steel, though a little dull." He handed the sword to her and held up the whetstone. "See? You need one of these."
"Oh, Seven Hells!"
Before the lesson could properly get underway, Dall's anguish caught their concern and the cart was pulled to a stop. Shaan exited the cart and marched up to Dall up on top of the vehicle. He could instantly see what had him bothered.
Before them was what must've been the remains of a village. Shattered windows of mildewed houses and debris littered the streets. The worst of it was a mountain of armoured corpses and animal carcasses of horses that lay in their path like a barricade. Shaan could hardly imagine what had happened to cause such a grim scene.
Dar and Harley emerged from around the pile.
"See a way through?" Dall called once they were close enough.
Dar shook his head.
"Perhaps we can skirt around it?" Gelnen suggested on the other side of Dall.
"The cart is not designed for off-road travel." said Dall. "And with Ara's leg as it is, it won't work." He thought for a time before continuing. "We must go over."
He jumped down and walked over to the door. "I need everyone to get out of the cart." He ordered. "And take as much as you can carry. I need this vessel to be as light as possible."
By the time everyone exited the cart, arms wrapped around an assortment of items, Rillick, Cralo and the others joined the group and dismounted, guiding the horses by the reins. They watched nervously as Dall lead the oxen carefully over the fleshy rotting hill.
The cart rocked back and forth, threatening to topple over at any second during it's climb. Both oxen stumbled and staggered over the uneven ground. Rillick released the breath he didn't realise he held as the wagon rolled over its peak. whether by Dall's incredible show of skill, sheer luck, or perhaps both, the wagon stayed upright. Rillick made his way towards the carcasses and aided Highlander around it through the narrow gap between it and the wall of the building. Cralo followed suit with Holdfast, along with the rest of the party.
Just as the gap widened, he heard one of the oxen cry out. A harrowing cry of pain which broke his heart. He could instantly guess what just occurred.
He reached the other side and rushed over to behind the wagon. He rounded it and saw Dall knelt over the male ox, its leg lifted off the ground. The rest stopped by him shortly after.
Dall looked up, eyes burning with anger. "I said it! Did I not say it?" he shouted. "A thousand bloody times, he's not fit for travel!"
Shaan stepped forward. "Is he okay?" he asked. Though it was clear his concern was not for Ara's well-being.
Dall looked as if he was about to punch him. Thankfully he restrained himself. "His leg is badly hurt and not had a chance to heal. We have no more bandages to spare." He set to work on releasing the harness that tied them to the wagon.
"If we cannot find bandages here," Dar called as he made his way to the nearest house, "there's a number of items to find."
Ty-Varaz nodded in agreement. "I can look roond fer a water source fer tha beasts."
"For us, too." Cralo added.
Gelnen chimed in too. "And food."
As the party scattered in all directions to begin scavenging, Lorelai scanned her surroundings. Everything was shrouded in unsettling silence.
"This place is a graveyard." She said quietly at Rillick's side. "I don't know how to feel about this."
Her words fell on deaf ears. Ty-Varaz jumped out of the wagon, having returned the stuff back inside, and was already pulling the oxen down the street to a still fountain in the distance. Dall followed with the horses and they crowded around it drinking what was left in the basin.
"A tad unconventional," he sighed, "but it'll suffice. Fortunately, it's clean enough."
Gelnen hurried up to him and held up a small satchel. Dall opened it and rifled through and pulled out a salve, a small glass vial of liquid and a bundle of dry herbs. He looked at Ara, thought a moment then snatched the satchel from Gelnen's hands.
"Here, you do it." He said, shoving the ingredients onto his chest. "Apply the salve and press the herbs against it using this cloth. Then feed him the remedy."
Gelnen's head spun as he attempted to process his instructions, all with the confusion of the sudden responsibility quite literally thrust upon him.
"Learn something." Dall added before he clapped him on the shoulder and walked away.
He slowly turned to face Ara, his wounded leg lifted off the ground. He knelt down and set to work unwrapping the dirty bandage. When Ara shoved him backward onto the ground, he knew this would not be easy.
Lorelai stopped outside a small apparel shop.
"Winter Winds." She muttered to Cralo beside her as she looked up at the dirty sign. "Interesting name."
Cralo either didn't hear her, or didn't care to respond as she walked in without saying a word. A little while later, Lorelai ducked inside herself to see Cralo holding an attractive looking gown against herself. Hearing Lorelai's approach, she looked behind her and smiled meekly.
"Ned never let me wear nice things as this." She sighed, before setting the dress down and picking up a small pile of cloaks beside it. "We will need these for the winter."
Lorelai walked over to her and grabbed a couple of her own. She could tell Cralo was much happier now with Eddard gone, but it's as if she won't allow herself to feel nothing but pain. If only there was something she could say or do for her. All she could think to do was relieve as much hardship from her as she can.
As the two exited the shop, Lorelai spied her son and Salpha carrying a basket of dried food nearby.
"Chorrol?" she called.
He looked up.
"Always within my gaze, okay?"
Anderea strolled through the empty town. Like a hail of arrows, the night of the attack and the sensation of being pulled into the abyss assaulted her mind. She felt her chest tighten and her throat go dry. She needed to do something, a way to focus on the present and keep the past at bay. But with Dall keeping watch on top of the cart, Gelnen tending to the wounded ox, Lorelai, Cralo and Ty-Varaz carting clothes and other useful supplies, There wasn't much else that needed doing. If she wasn't to be of use right now, she thought, she may as well learn to be in the future.
She crept back to the ox cart and climbed inside. Dropping herself onto the bench at the wall, she found Shaan's whetstone. Shaking the painful memories aside, she picked up her shortsword and set to work, but immediately reeled at the sharp ringing caused by the stone on steel.
"Okay then."
...
"Come on. I'm trying to save your life!"
There had been no amount of hardships for Gelnen during his task, but with the wounded leg finally covered, correctly, getting the ox to drink the remedy proved to be the most difficult of all. Every time it was even close to his mouth, Ara would turn away or shove him back.
He finally became aware of a continuous noise to his left. When he looked up, Shaan emerged from a mansion on a hill, sheathed in sweat, and pushed a wooden barrel which tumbled and rolled down the path and stopped at a pile of additional barrels. When he noticed the elf was watching him, Shaan bounded down the hill with a grin.
"Gelnen!" he called, moderately breathless. "Were we short on water?"
Gelnen looked at him curiously. Indeed they were, barely enough for one person, let alone a party. He watched as Shaan heaved a barrel up over his head and pulled the cork out the side. Fresh water poured from the opening, drenching him fully as he guzzled as much of the liquid as it flowed over his head.
Gelnen widened his eyes in shock, then laughed excitedly. "Hey, save me some!"
Relieved, though a tad annoyed that an entire barrel was just needlessly wasted, from his vantage point at the top of the ox cart, Dall averted his gaze from Gelnen and Shaan. He heard a ringing of steel, less muffled than Anderea's attempted sharpening. looking down he saw Rillick looking in the opposite direction, his longsword ready with a look of warning. When he followed his gaze, he saw it. A single walker heading their way. But as he approached, another walker appeared around the barrier of corpses, then another, then another. Soon the ground was a river of undead bodies.
"By Helm." He gasped.
Rillick ran to his wife's side and urgently pushed her into the tavern.
"Lorelai, inside." He hissed. "Chorrol, get in now. Get down."
Lorelai was quick to stay her protests the moment she saw what had him afeared. They all ducked down behind the bar. Cralo huddled against her, a hand pressed against her mouth as the moans from outside grew louder and more numerous.
Rillick nervously tightened his grip on his sword, preying none would enter the tavern. Chorrol held tight on his arm. He heard Cralo squeal in horror. Though muffled under Lorelai's hand, it still made him flinch. His gaze fell beyond the window opposite him, and he himself had to silence his own cries.
Barely visible, lying face down in the tall yellow grass, was Salpha.
Gelnen felt a hand forcefully grab his arm.
"Come. Quickly." Shaan whispered.
"What?"
Looking behind him promptly answered any questions he had, and he quickly rushed to aid Shaan in pulling the beasts from the fountain to a large storehouse nearby.
Anderea stopped what she was doing the moment she heard the familiar, awful noise. Thousands of snarling, decrepit voices of long dried throats. She threw herself to the floor, lying flat underneath the table she sat by. She stared at the door across the room. It was slightly ajar.
It swung open.
Ty-Varaz threw himself through the doorway of a two-story house as the hoard neared him and scrambled backwards until his back was against the door. Breathing heavily, he slowly rose and peeked out the nearby window.
The walkers outside moved like a thick fog. He continued to stare, dumbfounded as to its size, until a walker among the crowd stopped in its tracks, turned its head and directly locked eyes with him.
"Drak!"
Utter panic took control of his body. He was carried straight up towards the flight of stairs to the second floor. In his haste to get away, he did not notice the wood had rotted, and he barely acknowledged as it crumbled beneath him until he landed painfully, sprawled on the floor surrounded by dust and decayed wood.
As he dragged himself to his feet, he felt something wet on his arm. He looked down and his face twisted in terror to see blood gushing uncontrollably from a large gash that covered the length of his arm.
He looked over at the doorway. Several walkers shambled up the walkway, attracted to the sound. He looked back at an open window on the opposite wall, but in his weakened state, he knew he wouldn't be able to escape through there.
Clutching his arm, which did nothing to stem the tide, he ran limping into the adjoining room. A kitchen of sorts with a table and chair in the centre. A corpse lay on the chair face down on the table, a fork lodged it its head.
The growls grew closer. No doubt they were following the blood trail, but Ty-Varaz could barely move any more. The world spun, his legs gave way, and he collapsed on the floor. Amongst the blurry haze he saw the creature move towards him for the kill. He stared blankly at the ceiling, awaiting death.
Through his blurry vision, he saw a hand appear behind the encroaching rotting human and a knife thrust into the side of its head. When it collapsed he could just make out who it was. It was Dar! He lifted a finger to his lips.
Dar grabbed the dead again corpse and heaved it on top of him, then dropped to the ground, pulling the dead body on the table over himself.
There they both lay, as more walkers entered the house.
Anderea dove behind the stack of crates at the back of the ox cart. Weather she was too late or not she could not say. Her trembling hands gripped her shortsword as the footsteps drew nearer. She held her breath as the footsteps stopped. She could feel a presence just above her. Something wet and slimy dripped onto her shoulder. She dared not look up.
A hand grabbed her by the hair and dragged her over the crates. She cried out as fear overwhelmed her. She flailed her sword wildly until it stopped, impaled in the walker's neck. She tried to back away, but it lurched forward until it pinned her against the wall. Through tears of terror she desperately sawed her shortsword back and forth through the creature's neck, while poring all her strength into keeping its decrepit, gnashing teeth from moving any closer.
It seemed like an age, but finally, her sword burst out the back of its neck. She grabbed the creature by the hair and threw it across the room in a cry of frightened rage. Its body slumped in a heap on the floor. She followed soon after, hugging her knees, eyes fixed on the head across from her, its mouth opening and closing, staring at her with dark, cloudy eyes.
The growls grew quieter as time passed. Inside the large warehouse, Gelnen and Shaan did their best to keep the beasts calm. Harley remained in front of them, pacing back and forth quietly growling. At one time Shaan objected to having such a monster in the camp. What a fool he was. Now he welcomed the security with open arms. Especially at this moment.
Eventually, Gelnen and Shaan crept towards the door and cautiously peered outside. The air was still and no walkers were in sight.
Soon after, the rest slowly emerged from their hiding spots. Anderea, covered in blood and visibly shaking, Dar with the unconscious dwarf hoisted over his shoulder and Rillick from the tavern to gather everyone together.
After a quick headcount, Rillick was relieved everyone had survived. Just as he was planning his next move, there was a shriek from inside the tavern. Lorelai ran out, Cralo crying in her arms.
"Lorelai. Those two walkers are after my child!" She wailed.
"What happened?" Rillick asked urgently.
"It's Salpha." Lorelai responded. "Stragglers from the horde found her. She ran towards the river."
Without a moment's hesitation, Rillick sprinted off after her.
Salpha ran as fast as she could along the river, heart racing, breaths heavy. She could hear the footsteps nearby. They were fast. Faster than other ones. Ahead of her was a large bridge. She tried to run faster, but a hand grabbed her around the waist. She screamed, but she was quickly silenced by a hand around her mouth.
"You must be quiet now. Lest you bring more than just two. Come. Come."
Upon hearing Rillick's voice, Salpha quickly calmed. He lifted her onto his shoulder and rushed towards the bridge. He lowered her down against the base. The growls grew nearer.
"Salpha, you must do exactly as I say." He said with urgency. "More will be coming. Hide here and I will draw them away from you."
She grabbed his arm. "No, don't leave me."
He knelt to her level and held her shoulders. "Listen to me. They do not tire. I do. I can only fight so many at a time. I wouldn't be able to protect you. This is how we both prevail."
The fear in the girl's eyes almost broke Rillick. But he knew he had to be vigilant. He rose to his feet and drew his sword. "If I do not return, follow the river back to town. Keep the water flowing towards you and the sun on your left shoulder."
He ran off and Salpha shrunk to the ground hugging her knees. She heard Rillick shout and the growls veered off course. Then silence.
She had no clue how long she remained under the bridge. It felt like hours. She listened intently for Rillick's return, but heard naught but the whistle of the gentle breeze through the grass. She couldn't sit still any longer. Her body screamed for her to move. Something drew her from her hiding spot.
"Keep the sun on your left shoulder." The words circled through her mind.
Carefully, she rose to her feet, looked up at the sun, placed her right hand onto her left shoulder and begun walking alongside the river, ensuring the water flowed towards her.
...
"You are certain this is the spot?"
"I left her right here." Rillick told Dar. "I drew the walkers in that direction."
Dar directed Harley to the bridge's base, holding on to one of his spikes. The dire wolf began noisily snuffling at the stonework.
"She was gone by the time I returned." Rillick continued as he paced. "I assumed she took flight and ran back to the party. I told her to follow the river upstream and keep the sun on her left shoulder."
Dar nodded in acknowledgement. "You, elf," he looked up, "might you step to one side? You're mudding up the trail."
Gelnen, somewhat embarrassed, stepped to the side as the two headed towards him.
"Assuming she knows her left from her right." Said Shaan as he approached.
"Shaan, she understood me plenty." Rillick snapped.
The current situation had Rillick on edge, he knew this. But he couldn't help it. Something not lost on Shaan either.
"The girl's tired and scared, friend. She had a close encounter with two walkers. One must wonder how much of what you said reached her ear."
Rillick had to stop himself from shouting at him. He had a point, and regardless of how he felt, it couldn't be ignored if he wanted to find her. He stayed quiet.
"Got clear prints here!" Dar called, his hand gently grazing the ground. "She did as you said, headed back to the village. Let's spread out, make our way back."
"Let's go." Shaan ordered. "She couldn't have gone far." He then gripped Rillick's shoulder. "Hey, we will find her. She'll tire and hide among the grass somewhere."
Gelnen, Shaan and Rillick followed Dar, following the tracks invisible to all but the half-orc, with Harley in the lead, his busy nose to the ground. The sun edged close to the horizon and the moon was barely visible in the sky. To add yet more complications, it would be dark soon. Eventually, Dar motioned everyone to halt and knelt down by a patch of flattened grass.
"She was doing fine 'til just here." He explained. "All she had to do was continue on her path. She veered off that way." He pointed to the direction of the nearby treeline of the forest.
"Why would she do that?" Gelnen pondered.
"Perhaps she saw something that spooked her, made her flee."
"A walker?"
Dar carefully examined the ground. "I see no footprints. Just hers."
"So what will we do?" Shaan asked. "All of us press on?"
Rillick shook his head. "No, it would behoove us for you and Gelnen to return to the village.". "People may begin to panic. Let them know we're on her trail, doing all in our power. But most of all, keep everybody calm."
Shaan looked at the ground, contemplating, then nodded. "I'll keep them busy scavenging the houses. Think up a few other tasks. I'll keep them occupied."
Gelnen and Shaan broke off and headed back to the village. Rillick turned to Dar, who motioned his head to follow and continued along the trail towards the forest.
Some time later, back at the village, Dall added the finishing touches of the ox's harness and tested its security. Cralo approached him none too happy.
"Why are we preparing the oxen now?" she asked.
Dall sighed. He dreaded this moment.
"The remedy seems to be working wonders for Ara," he explained, choosing his words wisely, "so we can leave once everyone is ready."
Cralo frowned in warning. "We are not going anywhere until my daughter returns."
He swallowed the lump in his throat. He was not good at moments like this. He was thankful when Lorelai walked over.
She put her hands on Cralo's shoulders. "Hey, that goes without saying."
Upon overhearing the discussion, Shaan joined the three, followed by Gelnen and Anderea.
"Look, Rillick and Dar," he said, "they're on top of it, okay? Only a matter of time."
"Not soon enough if I have anything to say of it." Said Anderea as she tossed a full waterskin to Shaan and Gelnen. "I'm still thinking of that horde that passed us, or whatever you call it."
"Aye, what was that?" Gelnen shook his head. "All of them marching together like that."
Shaan looked to the ground in thought. "A walker horde. That sounds about right. We've seen it. It's akin to the night our camp was attacked, only much larger numbers."
He looked up. They've been scavenging all day, and probably not much left anymore. He had to think of a way to keep everyone busy. Then he thought of something.
"Come now, people." He announced. "I think it would be a good idea to clear the corpses from the entrance, in case another group comes this way."
Meanwhile, Harley lead Rillick and Dar a fair way into the forest. What would cause her to flee this far in Rillick couldn't imagine. Perhaps he would find out. He looked up. Ideally soon if the setting sun was any indication.
He focused his gaze on the forest floor, and his heart sank.
"Tracks are gone." He said.
Dar lowered to his knees and touched the ground. "They're faint, but not gone. She came through here."
"How can you tell?" Rillick asked, bewildered. "I see nothing. Dirt, grass."
"Do you want a lesson in tracking or to find the girl and leave that blighted village?"
Rillick fell silent and they continued deeper into the forest.
As Dar pressed on, he found himself deep in thought, wondering just what Rillick had expected to happen. He was a fool to leave her alone, a child no less.
Momentum pushed Highlander forward as the rope bound to him yanked the rotting top half of a horse from the pile. This in turn caused many corpses to tumble to the ground. Chorrol, who was coaxing Highlander by his reins, stopped when something caught his eye. He adjusted the cloth covering his mouth and nose and crept cautiously over to one of the soldiers. A necklace hung around his neck over his metal armor and full helmet. He carefully unfastened it from around his neck and examined it, holding it up to the sun. It seemed to be glowing.
"Shaan!" he called excitedly as he ran over to him. "Shaan. Take a look. It's a necklace."
Shaan was busily shoving various supplies into a pack he found in one of the tailor shops. "That's nice, child." He muttered, not looking from his task. "Go give it to Dall."
Chorrol didn't back away. His enthusiasm made Shaan flinch. He so wanted to turn and lift him into his arms, but he knew he was disallowed from that privilege.
"I think it's magic." He exclaimed, then he gasped with glee. "Gods, what if it can Turn Undead!"
To make matters worse, Lorelai walked up to them to see what the commotion was about.
"Be careful." She said. "If it's enchanted, it may be cursed. Don't put it on."
"But I found it." Chorrol protested.
"What did I just say?"
"Shaan." He desperately looked to him. "Shaan, please tell her I can keep it."
He stood up. Every second he was in this family's presence his anger grew. His love for both of them warped into bitter resentment.
"Go give it to Dall." He snapped. "Go, now."
Chorrol looked as if he was going to burst into tears. Not that he himself fared better. He scowled and left, head hung low. Shaan turned to meet Lorelai's awful glare.
"What was that?" she asked coldly.
"What was what?"
She stepped towards him. "The way you spoke to him just now. You crushed him."
He turned his back and continued packing.
"I cannot believe you." Her voice rose. "You're serving me the cold shoulder?"
Shaan spun around to face her. "Is this not your wish?" he spat. "Was it not you who said stay away from him and you?"
"Have you forgotten what happened at Silverymoon?" her voice was quiet, but venomous. "Your little tirade in the library slip your mind? When you tried..." she trailed off as the memory surfaced.
"When I tried to what?" he goaded. "What do you think that was?"
"I think it is quite clear what that was."
"A mistake. One I admit to. I have a few mistakes behind me, as do you."
"That we can both agree upon." Lorelai's tone changed into a gentle murmur. "But, Shaan, we need to end this."
He picked up his pack and sighed. "What do you think this is for? I'm leaving."
Lorelai stepped back with a confused frown. "You're leaving?"
"As in gone for good. I am disbanding myself from the party. I will quietly slip away the first chance I get."
He passed Lorelai, who was stunned silent, then stopped and looked back. "Take care of Highlander, will you?"
He joined the others. "Alright, lets get back to work!"
Rillick froze at the sound of footsteps crunching on the underbrush. He looked over to Dar, who had done the same and motioned his wolf to stay.
Keeping low to the ground, they inched towards the sound until a walker came into view. A wood elf in hide armor, one of the natives no doubt, Rillick thought. Dar made a sign with his hand and he nodded and circled around to its flank as Dar moved the other way.
Once Rillick was directly opposite the half-orc he walked over to it and whistled. The creature turned around to face the the sound. Rillick cautiously hovered his hand over his shortsword. It burst into a menacing roar but was quickly silenced as a bolt embedded into its head from behind.
Rillick knelt by the walker's side as Dar called out Salpha's name. He carefully parted its mouth and dug his finger along the inside of its teeth.
"What are you searching for?" Dar asked as he walked towards him.
He pointed to the creature's hand with his eyes. "Skin under the fingernails. It fed recently. There's flesh caught in his teeth."
"Aye," Dar said grimly, "what kind of flesh?"
Rillick drew his shortsword. "Only one way to know for certain."
Dar nodded in agreement and helped strip the armor off the body.
As Rillick prepared himself, Dar grabbed his arm. "Let me. That isn't the right tool."
He pulled a large hunting knife from a sheath in his boot and knelt by the corpse. Taking a deep breath, he poised the knife point-down over its torso and plunged it deep into the flesh with a sickening crunch.
As Dar proceeded to tear the body's stomach from its dwelling, Rillick began to feel the contents of his own begin to stir. He swallowed and tried his best to keep his composure. Finally, Dar tore through the stomach and scooped out a helping with the flat of his knife.
"Bastard got himself a badger." he said after some close examination.
Just like that, a huge weight lifted and the lingering dread dissipated. Though, he would've preferred a cleaner method.
"At least we know." Rillick sighed.
It seemed Dar felt the same. He flicked the meat off his knife in disgust. "Aye, At least we know."
The air was still, all was quiet but the bustling of bodies as the party prepared for their departure. Cralo stared blankly into the setting sun over the forest. She felt movement close to her. A hand rested on her shoulder.
"It's late." She said, unmoving. "It will be dark shortly."
"They'll find her." Anderea said quietly, and turned back to the party. She walked over to Dall as he and Gelnen worked on securing the oxen to the wagon.
"Where's my sword?" she asked.
Dall didn't respond.
"You have no right to take it."
Gelnen took the opportunity to flee.
He still stayed silent, avoiding her gaze. Finally he spoke, his tone awkward and hesitant.
"You don't need it just now, do you?"
"My father gave it to me. It is mine."
"I... I can hold on to you."
Her blood began to boil, and was about to continue when Shaan approached them.
"All is well I hope?"
"No," Anderea snapped, "I want my sword back."
"I don't think that's good idea right now." Said Dall, more to Shaan than her.
"Why not?" Shaan asked.
"I'm not comfortable with it."
Anderea glared in disbelief and looked at Shaan expectantly. She looked as if she was about to hit something. He knew he had to quell the situation quickly but Dall did have a point.
"To be frank," Shaan said carefully, "the less weapons floating around, the better."
She looked down to the side of him. "Will you unequip your own swords?"
He chuckled. "No." The nine hells couldn't part him from his swords.
"Neither of them? Not even one?"
"First of all, they're sheathed. We have many weapons but not the means to stow them safely on one's person."
"What are you talking about?" Anderea snapped. "I have a sheath."
"Yes, but not anything to tie it to, and the ropes we have, they have uses elsewhere." He stopped to observe Anderea. She was angry but level-headed enough he was confident to continue.
"Furthermore, I am trained in the use of my blades. That is what the rest of you lot truly need. Proper training. But until such a time graces us, and we find some way of keeping them on us safely, I think it best if Dall keeps them in our inventory."
Anderea glowered, but said not a word. She turned and stormed off. Shaan breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Dall.
"Mind telling me what that was about?"
"By Torm, they're back!" cried Gelnen before Dall had the chance to answer.
Harley emerged from between two houses, followed by Rillick and Dar, clothes covered in dirt and blood. Cralo ran up to them, but when she reached them, her face quickly fell.
"You didn't find her?"
Rillick's face was ashen. "Her trail went cold. We'll pick it up again at first light."
"You can't leave my daughter out there on her own to spend the night alone in the forest." She said desperately.
"Out in the forest after dark is hopeless." Dar stepped forward. "We'd be tripping over ourselves. More folk'll get lost."
"But she's a child!" Cralo cried. "She can't be out on her own. You didn't find anything?"
"I know this is hard, but I implore you to not panic." Said Rillick gently. "We know she was out there."
"We tracked her for a time." Said Dar.
"We must make this an organised effort. Dar knows the forest better than anybody. I have asked him to oversee this."
Rillick realised she was staring at Dar. More specifically what was on his open sleeveless tunic. Her eyes were wide with horror.
"Is that... blood?"
Rillick and Dar shared a glance.
"We felled a walker." Rillick replied.
"Walker?"
"There was no sign it was ever near Salpha." He quickly added.
"How can you know that?"
Rillick turned to Anderea as she approached Cralo.
"We cut the whoreson open." Dar answered grimly. "Just to be certain."
Cralo backed into the wall of one of the houses, her breathing became ragged as she fought back her tears. Lorelai sidled up and stroked her arm.
She looked up at Rillick, her face showed a mixture of anger and sorrow. "How you just leave her out there to begin with? How could you just leave her?"
He looked at the ground. Her words wounded him. "those two walkers pursued us, and I couldn't be sure there would be more. I had to lead them away. It was her best chance."
"Sounds to me he didn't have a choice, Cralo." Shaan joined them after quietly listening.
"How is she to find her way back on her own?" she cried. "She's but a child. A child."
"It was my only option." Rillick said with desperation. "The only choice I could make." He wasn't trying to convince Cralo anymore.
"I'm sure nobody doubts that." Said Shaan, placing a supporting hand on his shoulder.
Rillick gave him a look of thanks, though it did little to numb his guilt. Shaan failed to count him among them.
"My little girl, left in the forest." She sobbed on Lorelai's shoulder. Anderea walked up and put her arm around her and they guided her back to the cart.
As everyone departed to turn in, Dar walked by Rillick's side.
"Rillick, a word?"
"We will find her." He said, staring ahead with determination. "I will not rest until we do."
"No doubt, but..." He took a breath. "I may have lied about the tracks."
He looked up. "How so?"
Dar's brow was furrowed. "I lost the trail, but it didn't go cold. It just seemed to abruptly stop. One moment the tracks were clear as day, the next, nothing."
They walked along in uncomfortable silence. The look on Dar's face was of worry and confusion. It softened when they reached the ox-cart.
"Ah, but I'm sure I just couldn't see them in the dark." He said confidently. "When we find them, we'll be on her trail again, no doubt."
He headed off towards one of the abandoned houses, and Rillick ducked into the cart.
...
Next morning, Rillick stood beside Shaan as the rest of the party stood before them. An assortment of daggers and knives lay at their feet.
"Everybody take one." Rillick ordered.
As everyone shuffled forward to acquire their weapon, Anderea stared at hers with contempt.
"These are much too short." She said.
"They are the best tool for one who is untrained." Shaan explained. "A sword needs proper balance and technique. It could do sufficient damage in an inexperienced hand. Dar, Rillick and I are carrying."
"The swords are not the kind of damage I'm worried about." Anderea snapped.
Shaan looked at the ground and shook his head in bewildered amusement. He drew his longsword and handed it to Anderea. As she took it from his hands he drew his shortsword.
"Strike me." He said as he moved into a casual fighting stance, his sword in front pointed down.
Anderea tested the weight of the sword in her hand. It was heavy, but she was able to wield it. He looked up at him, anger brewing. He thought her unworthy to wield a blade. She would show him she's more than capable. She would relish wiping that smug look on his face.
She swung the heavy sword at his shoulder. Without breaking eye contact, Shaan blocked her blow and swung it in an arc and it flew from Anderea's grip.
"You can't wield a sword properly." He said calm but stern. "Deal with it."
After the shock wore off, Anderea glared defiantly, her face turning bright red.
Dar cleared his throat, and everyone's attention turned to him.
"The plan is to follow the river east through the forest. Chances are she'll be by the river or at the base of one of the adjoining mountains. They're her only landmarks."
"Stay quiet and stay vigilant." Rillick added. "Keep space between you but stay within sight of each other."
As the party dispersed to prepare, Rillick walked up to Dall leaning by the ox cart.
"Dall, keep the beasts fed and watered." He said. "We must have them ready to move."
"We won't tarry here a moment longer than we must." He gripped Rillick's shoulder. "Best of luck out there. Bring Salpha back."
He returned with a single nod. "And keep an eye on Chorrol while you're gone."
Chorrol walked up to them with Lorelai close behind.
"I'm going with you." He said. "You need people, yes? To cover as much ground as possible."
Almost without thinking, Rillick was about to tell him to stay, but he held his tongue when his eyes met Chorrol's. The determined gaze, he was not ready to back down without a fight.
So he thought, would bringing him along be so dire? He looked up at Lorelai.
"Your choice." She laughed, holding up her hands. "I can't always be the bad guy."
Slightly disappointed, he turned to Dall, who shrugged his shoulders.
"Well, he has the lot of you to watch him. I'd say he's in good hands."
Rillick stood silent, in the middle of all three anxiously awaiting his decision. At last he sighed in resignation.
"Okay, okay. But always in our gaze, no exceptions."
Dall gave Chorrol a wink and everyone parted. He turned his attention back to the cart.
A little while later, Anderea moved towards him. He sighed, and prepared himself. With barely a glance, she headed for the cart's door but Dall stepped in her way and barred her access.
"Anderea, I beg of you." He pleaded. "Do not put me into this position."
"I'm not going anywhere without my sword." She said defiantly.
Her voice had an edge to it, as though she was barely keeping a level head. Dall found it more than a little unnerving, but he couldn't back down.
"I'm doing this for you."
"No, Dall, you're doing this for you." She snapped. "You need to cease. What do you think will happen? I plunge it into my chest the moment it's in my hands?"
"I know you're angry at me." Dall said, as soothing as possible. "That much is clear. But if I had not done what I did, you'd be dead."
"And what is that to you? You barely know me."
"I know Amee's death devastated you-"
"Keep her out of this!" she spat. "This is not about Amee. It is about us. If I were to decide I had nothing left to live for, who in the seven hells are you to tell me otherwise? To force my hand like that?"
"I saved your life-"
"No, Dall. I saved yours." Her voice rose, but remained a private volume. "You forced that upon me. I didn't want your blood on my hands and that is the only reason I left the tower."
Dall stared, stunned into silence. For a moment, he felt a slight hint of guilt.
"What did you expect?" she continued. "I would have some sort of epiphany? Some life-affirming catharsis?"
Her breaths heaved angrily as she awaited his reply.
"Perhaps a little gratitude at the very least..."
"Gratitude?" she repeated as though it was the most absurd thing she ever heard. "I wanted to die my own way, not torn apart by drooling abominations. That was my choice. You took that away from me, Dall."
"But..."
"But you know better? All I ever wanted after sister died was to flee this endless horrific nightmare we live each day. I wasn't hurting anyone. You took my choice away, Dall, and you expect gratitude?"
Another uncomfortable silence blanketed between them.
"I don't know what to say." Dall said quietly.
"I am not your little girl," she hissed, "nor am I your wife. And I am certainly not your problem. That is all that needs saying."
She turned and stormed off, leaving Dall alone and winded.
A little while later, Rillick and those accompanying him reached the forest without incident. They marched quickly and quietly in one of his favorite formations, which took the shape of a T. Dar took the lead, with he and Gelnen on either side. Cralo was directly behind them, followed by Lorelai and Chorrol directly behind her, and Shaan covered their flank wielding his greatsword.
Chorrol examined the shimmering amulet around his neck, turning it over in his hands. He slowed his steps until Shaan was near him.
"Shaan, look. Father said I could wear it." He held it up to him. "I don't know what it can do, but I think it might be able to Turn Undead. If we come across a walker we can..."
"Quiet." Shaan snapped. "We're looking for Salpha, not trouble. You need to focus on the task."
The words cut Shaan deep as much as he knew it did Chorrol. As he watched him hurry back to Lorelai, he felt a familiar anger rise within him.
Lorelai held Chorrol close when he reached her.
"We must keep up, lest we break formation."
"I am."
"Are you well?"
"I think Shaan's angry at me. Did I do something wrong?"
Lorelai sighed. It was certainly difficult, but she could barely imagine what Chorrol was going through, but she knew this was for the best. She gave him a supportive rub on the back.
"No, my child, I promise you. He's worried about Salpha is all. Come."
Dar drove everyone to a halt when Harley growled with warning. A short distance ahead of them was a triangular tent made of leaves and twigs. No doubt one of the natives' many outposts. He and Rillick moved forward to Harley's side and crouched down.
"She could be in there." Dar said quietly. "Could be a mess of things in there. Harley, stay."
As Dar crept towards the dwelling, with crossbow raised, Rillick motioned for everyone else to stay low. He turned and watched carefully as the half-orc neared the hut, readying himself for danger.
Once reached the hut, Dar dropped his crossbow and drew the hunting knife from his boot. He smelt death emanating from inside and feared the worst. He carefully peered through the gaps in the wall. It was dark inside, but no movement. He turned and gave Rillick a shrug, who made his way over to him and drew his shortsword. Shaan followed close behind.
"Cralo." Whispered Rillick.
She hurried up to them.
"Call out softly. If she's in there, yours is the first voice she ought to hear."
She nodded and swallowed.
"Salpha, are in there?" she called softly.
No answer.
"It's mama. Salpha. We're all here, little one."
Still nothing.
Dar poised his dagger downwards and slowly reached for the large leaf acting as a tarp. He, Rillick and Shaan braced themselves and he tore it open.
The horrible stench hit the three like a battering ram. Both Shaan and Rillick reeled back and coughed. Dar pressed forward into the dwelling.
The inside was unassuming. A few containers for storage and some furniture, but in the centre was a wood elf slumped in a chair. His skin peeled and flesh melted and fat maggots weaved in and out of his head. A throwing dagger was lodged into his eye, his hand draped over it.
As much he dreaded it, Dar knew he couldn't pass such a useful item. He inched closer, the overwhelming stench almost formed an impassable barrier. He lifted the arm over the dagger with his knife and slowly eased it out of his eye.
From the look of it, the elf plunged the dagger into his own head. An unusual method of suicide, Dar pondered as he wiped off the slime, one would usually strike the heart, or wrists. He shrugged in resignation, it mattered not, and sheathed it loosely in his belt at the back. He made his way back outside, thankful for the fresh air. Everyone turned to him, eyes questioning.
"Not her." He said plainly.
"What's in there?" Anderea asked.
"Some native what offed himself."
Before anyone could reply, a sound rung in the air around them. Rillick's heart thundered as everyone exchanged hopeful glances. It was distant, but unmistakable.
The bells of a chapel.
A short while later, the group emerged from the forest into open fields.
"What direction?" Shaan asked Rillick.
"Over yonder. I'm quite certain."
"Certainly hard to tell out here."
"If we heard them," said Cralo, "surely Salpha heard too."
"Someone is ringing those bells," Gelnen offered, "perhaps calling others?"
"Or signalling they found her." Anderea added.
Rillick picked up the pace, encouraging others to do the same. "She could be ringing them herself. Come."
Back at the village, Dall stood tall on the top of the ox cart, keeping watch as he tried hard to quell his worry.
"Ain't ye tha one ta care fer these oxen? Ye bein' tha beastmaster 'n'all."
He looked down. Ty-Varaz gazed up at him.
"I tended to Ara's leg yesterday." He said casually. "It's healed rather nicely, he and Eevee are fit for travel anytime."
Ty-Varaz was taken aback. "Eh? Was'all this fuss 'n' bother aboot it? Pure fancy?"
"Aye, that's one word for it. Another might be pantomime. Just for show." He looked at him with warning. "No one else needs to know this."
The dwarf shook his head. "Pantomime."
Dall looked up again. "If the others know he's fit to press on, they'll want to press on."
"So ya dinnae think they'll find Salpha, that it?"
He shrugged. "I am merely guarding against the worst. Sooner or later, if she's not found, folk'll start making conclusions. I want to hold off on the needs-of-the-many, needs-of-the-few arguments as long as I'm able."
Ty-Varaz stood silent for a time, considering.
"Quite tha wound on tha poor ox thar." He said at last.
Dall smiled. "Quite so."
...
Once the chapel was in sight, Rillick wasted no time. He broke into a sprint towards it. The others ran behind but had a hard time keeping up.
Rillick almost threw himself at the door to knock it down, but he refrained himself despite the desperation that drove him. He drew his shortsword and positioned himself at the door. When he caught up, Shaan instantly moved up to his side. They nodded once to signal they were ready, and with a shaking hand, Rillick shoved the door open.
Inside were three figures crouched in front of a shrine with an icon of the Grain Goddess Chuntea, a stocky woman with gnomish features in a flowing white and green dress with floral patterns. By her feet were bundles of wheat long since rotted away.
The figures slowly turned to reveal their melting flesh and peeled mouths and snarled. Walkers.
Rillick's heart sank. This couldn't be it. He strode forward and struck the walker baring at him down the middle of its head. His blade stopped halfway.
He looked over to either side of him. Shaan carefully shoved his greatsword through the head of the other walker, and Dar's wolf leapt on the third and ripped it to shreds.
After wrenching his sword from the creature's head, he tore across the building. Perhaps she was hiding, he decided. But his frantic search found no one. As everyone else entered the chapel, he could feel Cralo's eyes bearing into him. He dared not look at her.
"SALPHA!" he yelled.
No answer.
He had been level headed thus far, but his calm had begun to wane. Hearing the bells gave him what he needed to keep going.
He looked around and noticed Dar was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, the chimes of the bell covered the chapel. Rillick's eyes fell on a door to the side and ran towards it.
The door lead to a set of stairs leading up. He bounded up them, skipping several at a time in his ascent. Cralo followed close behind. When he reached the top, Dar stood nearby, his face a mixture of anger and disgust.
Rillick immediately saw what the half-orc saw, and he promptly mirrored his anguish. A walker was with them, struggling to reach Dar, but held back by a rope around its neck. One that was attached to the bell itself.
Dar stepped forward. "Well, we know what rung the bell."
He drew his hunting knife from his boot and drove it into its head, more aggressively than needed.
The three stared forlornly at the creature in silence as it slumped over as the bell rung until it grew still.
"I think I might go back downstairs." Said Cralo. It was clear in her voice she was barely holding it together.
Dar escorted her downstairs, leaving Rillick alone with the withered cobwebs.
He was so certain. But he had forgotten the creatures weren't undead, and could freely enter places of worship. He had been rash, jumping at the first possible sign. Images flashed in his mind of that fateful day he left Salpha under the bridge. Alternate scenarios flickered past him like pages of a book. But, though his heart was heavy, he knew he could not give up. Even if all hope was lost, he could not falter.
He had to find her. It was his duty.
Anderea collapsed by the wall outside of the chapel. The fresh air and quiet was welcome. The small breeze weaved through her shoddily tied back hair.
It was clear the girl was gone. She feared the worst from the start, but she was now all but convinced. It would behoove everyone to head back to the village and move on, but she knew no one would do so, fixed as they are to that guard captain. Ever since he showed up, everything had become worse each time. And now a little girl was lost, because he...
"Are you really leaving?"
"Do you not think it best for us all?"
Her thoughts were interrupted by two people talking quietly amongst themselves. She crept closer for a better listen.
"I think it is." Said Lorelai quietly as to not be heard. "What drove your decision?"
"Must back away." Shaan answered. "I'm trying to be good, Lorelai, even if you cannot see. None of this was intended. I hope you know this." He stopped and studied her expression, but it was unreadable. He sighed. "It matters not. As long as I say it."
"You'll just disappear? You won't even tell Rillick?"
"He'll only try to stop me." He smiled an empty smile. He knew that man well. "No, that is on you. Tell him what you will. You are his wife, after all."
"And Chorrol?" she asked. "We dragged him into this."
He looked at the earth. "I love Chorrol."
Lorelai hugged herself as a burst of strong wind raced past, pulling at her tattered dress.
"He thinks you hate him."
Her words struck Shaan like a dagger to the heart.
"I'm trying to put some difference." He said, little aggressively and raising his voice a small amount. "I'm trying to make this easier. This is not easy on any of us, least of all me." He looked away and forced himself to calm down. "I'm the one who loses you."
For the first time, Lorelai saw the pain in his eyes. Rillick's return struck a blow to him, and the night at the tower was something he deeply regretted. But she also saw something else, something... unhinged.
She turned and headed for the chapel without another word.
Shaan made a sound between a sigh and a growl. The time has come at last. He adjusted his pack and took one last look at the chapel in silent farewell.
That's when he saw Anderea emerge from around the corner.
...
"Great Mother, forgive me. I do not deserve mercy from any of you."
Cralo was kneeling in front of the shrine when Lorelai entered the chapel. Her scratching voice broke her heart. She wanted to walk up and comfort her, but new it wasn't wise to interrupt. Instead she simply lowered to her knees and listened.
"I preyed to Helm, God of Guardians, for safe passage from Neverwinter and He provided. I preyed for Eddard to be punished for laying his hands upon me... and for looking at his own daughter with whatever sickness growing within him. To put a stop to it."
She paused, and Lorelai found herself thinking up a few prayers of her own. Mostly to Cralo, and to Salpha's safe return.
"I preyed to Lathander, Commander of Creativity, to give me a chance to raise her right, help her not make my own mistakes. She is so fearful. So young in her way. She hasn't a chance."
Cralo paused for a long time. Lorelai almost thought she was finished, and stood up, but she continued at last.
"Preying for Eddard's death was wrong. I thought I was addressing Tyr, Lord of Justice. But I called upon Bhaal, Lord of Murder, I know this. But I beg of you, Great Mother, do not let this be my punishment. Let her be safe, alive and safe. Please. Punish me however you wish, but show mercy to her."
Cralo rose to her feet, and staggered towards Lorelai, who wrapped her arms around her.
...
"I'm coming with you."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Shaan muttered in response.
"I'm not dense and I'm certainly not deaf. Look, I don't know the story."
"There is no story." He said with trying patience.
"I care not. Do not confuse me with someone who does." He turned away, but Anderea ran around and intercepted him. "All I care about is being gone from this place, as far away as I can. Like you."
He laughed mockingly. "So what, will we sail off into the sunset together? Hold hands."
"I do not ask for companionship, Shaan." She spat. "I simply want a chance to start anew someplace else. You've seen this group lately, no? I have. I see two people who don't belong. Between the two of us, we make an excellent third wheel."
"So, saying we do, we just run off." He said, a little patronising. "What's in it for me bar the extra arse I have to cover."
"The chance to do something for someone else." She replied. "And a door swings both ways. Place a sword in my hand, I'll cover your arse, too..."
She trailed off when she noticed Rillick emerge from inside the chapel.
"Think it over." She whispered, and briskly walked away.
Rillick stopped at the treeline, deep in thought. His cloak shifted slightly in the gentle breeze. Shaan joined his side.
"We have to move, friend. These people are spent." He declared. "There are so many hours of daylight left and we still have a long way back."
"I can't stop yet."
Shaan sighed. He should've known. "We still have a lot of forest to cover. We'll search further on the way back."
Rillick turned to face him, a determined glare, one he knew all too well.
"She would have heard the bell." He said. "She could be nearby."
"She could be a lot of things."
Rillick turned back to the front. "I cannot go back. Her being out here is my fault."
Shaan pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "Wonderful. Now they have you doubting yourself?"
He turned again. "And what of you? You doubt me?"
There was a pause. It was all Rillick needed.
"Listen," Shaan stammered, "we can assign all manner of blame-"
"This means something, finding her." he cut him off. "It would be the blessing we need. We must not give up."
It was no use, Shaan knew this. When Rillick set himself to something, he was immovable, especially if he felt responsible. He simply clapped him on the shoulder and left to gather the party.
When everyone was rounded up, he spoke, his greatsword slung over his shoulder.
"You lot are to follow the river back. Dar, you're in charge. Rillick and I will remain, search this area another hour or so just to be sure."
"Your splitting us up?" Dar asked. "You're sure?"
"Aye, we'll catch up to you."
Everyone parted, some more reluctantly than others.
"I want to stay, too."
Shaan and Rillick turned to the voice. It was Chorrol.
"I'm her friend."
They looked at each other, undecided. Then Lorelai stepped forward.
"Just be careful, okay?"
With that, it was decided.
Chorrol nodded, determined. "I will."
"When did you start growing up?" she laughed fondly, and kissed the top of his head.
Anderea watched out the corner of her eye as Lorelai pulled Rillick into an embrace, and notice a scowl emerge across Shaan's face.
"I will join you in haste." Said Rillick when they pulled away, and pulled out his shortsword. "Take this. Remember how to use it?"
She shook her head. "I will not take your sword and leave you defenceless."
"I still have my longsword." He returned.
"You need both. One for open areas, another for narrow places and indoors, as you told me."
He shrugged. "I'll just avoid narrow places and indoors."
"We have a dire wolf. I'm sure we'll be fine."
Dar approached them. "To be perfectly honest, an extra sword wouldn't be a bad idea."
Lorelai looked down and sighed in frustration. She snatched the sword from Rillick and pointed the hilt at him.
"If you get yourself killed, don't blame me." She warned.
Rillick chuckled, amused. "I shall endeavour to remember that."
All too soon, Dar and the rest disappeared into the forest. Rillick turned to Shaan.
"A moment, if I may?"
"Of course." Shaan said, and lead Chorrol away.
Rillick looked to the chapel, steeled his heart, and made his way towards it.
He stopped at the base of Chuntea's shrine. He nervously fidgeted with the ends of his cloak and cleared his throat.
"I do not know if you and your kind look look at me with, what, prey tell? Sadness? Scorn? Pity?Or perhaps you're all arguing around your table, or whatever you use, trying to decide amongst yourselves. Maybe you're just indifferent."
He caught himself fiddling with a tear in the fabric and shoved it away so it favoured one side of his body.
"I guess you already know I'm not the most devout man. I guess I chose to put my faith elsewhere. My family, mostly. My friends. My job."
He took a breath.
"You see, we, I, could use a little something to help us keep going. Some kind of... acknowledgement. Some indication I'm doing the right thing."
He let out a long breath as tears pushed against his eyes.
"You don't know how hard it is down here. Well, maybe Tyr. And, what was his name? Ilmater?."
Rillick was about to continue, but he realised he couldn't think of anything else to say. So he turned around, adjusted his cloak, and started for the door.
Suddenly, he was hit with a rush of emotion, and he spun back around and stormed back up to Her.
"Look, I don't need all the answers." He shot. "A little nudge. A sign. Any sign will do."
He turned again and headed out.
"Get what you needed?" Shaan asked at the stairs.
"I suppose we'll find out." He said. It remained to be seen if his words would be a help, a hindrance, or simply a waste of time.
As the day drew closer to its end, the light that entered the forest grew smaller. All manner of insects filled the area around Lorelai with their mutterings. She absent-mindedly thumbed the edge of Rillick's shortsword, deep in thought.
"So this is it?" Cralo asked, jolting her into consciousness. "This is the plan?"
"The plan, it seems, is to whittle us down into smaller and smaller groups." Dar grumbled, ahead of them.
"Carrying tiny daggers and pointy sticks." Anderea added, then looked over at Lorelai with an accusing glare. "I see you have a proper sword."
Lorelai glared back. She was at her wits' end.
"Why, you want it?" she stomped over to her and held the sword's hilt out to her. "Here, take it."
Though she tried to keep her gaze, Anderea could not help but act surprised.
"I am tired of the looks you're giving me. All of you."
She gingerly took the sword from her hand. Lorelai retrieved the waterskin hanging from her pack and sat down on a nearby log. Cralo sat down some distance beside her and she turned to her.
"Cralo, I can barely imagine what you're going through." She continued sternly. "And I would do anything to stop it. But you have to stop blaming Rillick. It is in your eyes every time you look at him."
She looked back to the front to regard everyone. "When Salpha ran he did not hesitate. Not for a moment. I know not if any of us would have gone after her the way he did or bore the hard decisions he had to make or if anyone would have done it differently." She let her words sink in. Everyone fell silent. "Anyone?"
Silence still. "You lot look at him and blame him for not being perfect." She continued. "If you can do this without stopping him, by all means, do so. No one is stopping you." She punctuated her point by taking a swig from her waterskin.
The party stared at her, stunned, but she was too angry to acknowledge them. Eventually, an extended hand slowly caught her attention. It was Anderea with her husbands sword held out to her.
"We should carry on." She said, guilt visible on her face.
Indeed, Lorelai noticed everyone had that look on them. Some hung their heads in shame, others stared at the horizon in realisation. She was content.
She gratefully took the sword from Anderea and stood. They marched onward, Lorelai's words weighing on their minds.
...
Rillick, Shaan and Chorrol froze at the sound of a twig snapping. Rillick slowly pulled out his longsword and glanced at Shaan, lifting his greatsword into a ready stance. Rillick gestured for Shaan to move and they crept closer to the sound's vicinity.
They reached a small clearing, and Rillick's eyes bulged as they lay on the creator of the sound. A deer walked slowly across, her fur a light brown with a white stripe down along her gentle face. She glanced around cautiously before dipping its head and began grazing.
Such a beautiful sight warmed Rillick's heart, but when he turned and saw Chorrol, all the hardships and horrors melted away. The child's face was lit with wonder and amazement, the widest grin stretched across it. It had been so long since Rillick saw, or felt, any form of happiness, he almost thought it extinct.
"A shame we have no bow and arrows." Shaan whispered beside him.
Rillick snapped his head towards him and glared. "Shaan, please."
He looked forward again and realised Chorrol had begun to move towards the deer. He inched closer, ever so slowly. She looked up and directly at him, but made no move to flee, only eyeing him cautiously. He moved slower still, his hand outstretched.
Rillick couldn't help but smile at the sight. He felt his weathered heart start to warm. Even Shaan's features softened as they watched the scene play out.
Chorrol was almost within arm's reach when the deer's ear twitched. She suddenly bounded away and out of sight as something hurtled out of the underbrush. Chorrol took a few uneasy steps back.
Just like that, the darkness returned. Time seemed to draw to a crawl. Chorrol stood motionless, swaying against the breeze. Then, he turned around slowly.
An arrow protruded out of his chest. A circle of red surrounded the point of entry.
He stared at Rillick, then his eyes rolled into his head and fell backwards onto the earth.