Chapter Two: The Encounter

It took a couple of weeks for the others to adjust to Viper and to trust him, and for Viper to relax. Max could understand both sides, and discreetly asked the others to give the Karnathi a chance. They'd agreed, but refused to let him take watch alone at the start. He'd tried to kill Max, after all.

As for Viper himself, he took the mistrust stoically, without a word of protest. Like a Karnathi, Max could've said. He kept mostly to himself, just watching and listening to the others, though Max tried to include him in conversations and in their nightly storytelling. He recalled how Hunter had worked with all of them, slowly drawing them out of their shells, or rather letting them draw themselves out, and tried the same tactics now. He asked Viper about topics he was comfortable with, such as the Serpents or Karnathi things, though he was usually answered with just a few words. Viper was trickier to coax than the others had been, but suddenly one night he'd regailed them with a tale of his unit of Serpent comrades liberating a group of a Karnathi soldiers from being pinned down by twisted monsters spawned by the Mad Stone. Max had felt particularly proud that night both for himself and for Viper, knowing that his patients had been rewarded.

After that night, Viper had proved himself very helpful in listening for trouble and keeping the group safe from monsters that roamed the wilds they traveled through. This helped to relax the others and assured them of Viper's sincerity in joining them, and Shadow especially enjoyed having another rogue around to share 'shop talk' with, and to help him play little 'pranks' on the others, sneaking up on them and such. Given that Viper was a little older, in terms of when they were all commissioned, he took it upon himself to mentor the younger rogue, spending time sparring with him in the evenings. Max watched them with facination, their tumbling evasions and sudden attacks, and he couldn't help but feel a bit of envy at their skill. Jokingly one night when he'd been particularly amazed by Viper dodging a rapid series of blows by backflipping twice the two had said they'd teach him how to fight as they did. He'd laughed, not really thinking that he'd the agility to fight like that, but the thought remained in the back of his mind.

One night, however, Shadow came to Max when he was on watch with a concern.

"I don't know for sure, but I get the feeling that Viper is worried about something."

"Worried? About what?"

"I don't know. But he was definitely distracted when we sparred today, and he won't tell me what about."

"Hmm..." Max looked over at where Viper was resting. The assassin was still and seemed calm. "I'll ask him about it. He might still be a little unsure about trusting us."

"Maybe." The rogue Max had fought alongside all his life was clearly concerned for his friend. Max patted Shadow on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'm sure between the two of us we can get him to open up. You're a fellow rogue after all." Shadow smiled.

"Yeah." He turned to go rest, adding over his shoulder, "Heh, I guess I know how you and Hunter related, now." Max smiled at the comparison. He knew Shadow was appreciating having the assassin around. He'd been close to Dagger, whose fate none of them knew, and now he'd found another kindred spirit in Viper. It was doing Shadow good, in Max's opinion.

Max waited until near sunrise, then quietly went to Viper and touched the assassin's shoulder. Viper didn't even twitch an inch. Max honestly didn't think that he would ever surprise the Karnathi.

"Say, Viper, could we talk?" Viper silently nodded and got up, and they moved a little ways away from the others.

"Have I done something wrong, Max?" Viper finally asked softly.

"No, not at all. Shadow just said it seemed you were worried about something, and I wanted to see if anything was upsetting you. I didn't think you'd appreciate it if I brought it out in front of everyone." Viper relaxed.

"Thank you for that. But nothing is wrong." Max gave him a searching look.

"Although I'd like to believe you, I'm starting to think the same thing as Shadow."

"What gives you that impression?"

"Because you've only looked at me once since we've begun talking. All the rest of the time you've been watching out surroundings, as if you're watching for something." Viper sighed.

"I haven't reported in," he said softly, so softly Max thought he'd misheard.

"What?"

"I haven't reported in." Viper looked at Max now, and the Reforged saw fear in his eyes. "The Lord of Blades always gives a specific timeline to accomplish a mission. I had three weeks to find you, kill you, and return, or report that I'd been unable to locate you and go out again. My report is late... and he won't be pleased." Now Max understood.

"You're worried he'll send someone to find out what happened?" he surmised, to which Viper nodded.

"And that will mean trouble. All the Juggernauts have a hatred for you and Hunter, given to them by their Lord and Master. Every tirade against the other races always culminated in a lecture against the 'traitors' and how they should be obliterated at every possible encounter." Max couldn't help but shudder at the fury and hate lacing the words.

"I can understand your concern," Max said, hearing in the back of his mind, in his memories, Savage's wicked laugh and seeing that sneering expression. "We'll have to be on alert."

"I didn't want to worry anyone. This is my problem, and I will handle it." Max laid a hand on Viper's shoulder.

"What is a problem for one of us, is a problem we all share. That's how family works: We support each other, watch each other's backs." He gave Viper his most reassuring smile. "If Savage should try something, we'll handle it, together." Viper tried to smile back.

"Okay, Max. And thanks."

"No problem." Max watched as Viper returned to his spot and, almost predictably, sat up instead of resting, polishing and sharpening his daggers. Sensing that he was still disturbed, Max was hit with a small burst of inspiration. "Say, Viper?"

"Hmm?"

"Maybe you could show me a few of those moves of yours. You know, the ones that you and Shadow use so much. Just to see if I can do it." Viper looked at Max, who had a feeling the assassin saw straight through to the Reforge's real intention of making him feel better, then nodded and stood. They moved a little ways away, to not accidentally trip on or stumble over the others, and, standing side by side, Viper started showing Max how to move in the basic attack patterns favored by rogues. He'd periodically tell Max to stand still in a certain move, then stand in front of him to better explain what place on a target Max was in theory trying to hit, such as they kidney or the spine. Max honestly was impressed by the sublty in the style, and found it rather enjoyable, especially when Viper commented that Max's own natural dual-weapon style complimented a rogue's style nicely, if one of his weapons was a dagger instead of a thinblade.

The others awoke not too long after, Shadow clearly delighted that Max had agreed to the lesson and eagerly jumping in on the training session. They sparred for the better part of the morning, with the others watching or going through their own training katas and regimens, before heading out. As they walked, Max spoke of Viper's concern, saying that the Lord of Blades 'might wonder what happened to him' and that they should be extra alert for a while, until they could be relatively sure he had lost interest in the assassin. Viper seemed surprised at their willingness to help defend him against the Juggernaut, even those originally the most skeptical of his joining them.

"Thank you," was all he could humbly say in response.

They traveled on towards the southern coast, having chosen to maybe go to Sharn, and made camp that night. Shadow, Viper, and Max trained, the two rogues commenting that Max settled rather easily into their style of battle, much to his surprise, honestly. Then, Viper and Max together sat up to keep watch over the others.

Even with two of them, they couldn't being to predict what would happen next.

At about midnight, when four of the twelve moons were high in the sky and the stars glittered beautifully, the pair were startled by the appearance of fourteen large, spike-covered warforged. Without a word, the fourteen attacked!

The 'Forged were all on their feet and ready to fight in an instant, but it was an instant that cost them dearly. Four of the Juggernauts ganged up on Max, three on Viper, and the rest clashed with the others of their little family. Before Max hardly had time to think, all of them were fighting for their lives.

"Max!" Scout cried out, and Max kicked his opponent away – it was like kicking a mountain! - and looked over to see her struggling to hold two at bay. With a growl of anger, Max disengaged, taking a nasty gash across his back for his trouble, to go to her aid. Maul, Whirlwind, and Sentinel had formed a defensive wall in front of the two casters, trying to protect them while they fired off spell after spell, but hardly anything seemed to affect these crazed Warforged. They just kept coming no matter what.

"Kill them all," one, the leader it seemed, growled to his companions, "but leave the assassin alive. The Lord of Blades would like a word with him." Five pounced on Viper, wrestling the assassin to the ground and quickly disarming him. Two, Unarmored and with belts around their waists, came over rather calmly from where they'd been staying out of the fight and started to cast, drawing components from their bags. Max couldn't understand a word of it, barely any 'Forged outside of the spell casters understood Draconic, but that didn't stop Shadow from acting.

"No!" He lunged, crashing into one holding onto Viper's arm and giving him time and breathing room to twist away and flee. The casters, deep into their spell, couldn't stop it and kept speaking, as the one Shadow had hit grabbed him tightly in a bear hug, impaling the rogue on his armor spikes and making him yelp in pain.

"If you'd rather take his place," he growled, "then so be it!"

"Max!" Shadow cried, and then the five fighters and two casters were gone, and so was Shadow.

"Shadow!" Max screamed, though he shouted at empty air. A monsterous bellow erupted from Viper, as he started to tear into the Juggernauts, they all did, furious at what had happened. Nearly as fast as it began, and at least as sudden, there were seven destroyed Juggernauts laying on the grass.

Viper stood staring at the place where they'd vanished, shaking all over, then dropped his daggers and sagged to his knees. Max, fighting against the rending pain in his chest, in his soul, moved over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's not your fault," he said, reading the assassin's emotions as ones of guilt.

"How is it not?" Viper asked. "I'm the reason they came. I'm the reason everyone's hurt, and I'm the reason they took Shadow!"

"They made their choice," Max replied, though the pain in his voice was clear. "It was to attack us. We were just defending ourselves. Shadow..." Max's voice failed him for a moment. "We'll save him."

"You wouldn't even know where to look," Viper said. "I never even met the Lord of Blades, except for when he came to the camp I was at to give me my mission, my initiation. He keeps his own camp somewhere in the Mournlands, and only his elite even know where it is. If they really were taking him to talk with the Lord of Blades, then they'll take him there. I recognized one of them. They were his Generals, those who report directly to him." Max tried to fight down the sinking feeling in his gut, dread mixed with hopelessness and dispair.

"We have to try." He looked everyone over. "We'll need repairing."

"There was an artificer in the town we passed yesterday," Arcanus said with a wince as he stood, leaning on Maul.

"Okay. How are we to walk?"

"Not good," Sentinel said, kneeling next to Whirlwind whose leg was gashed open.

"Okay. Then I'll go and try to get the artificer to come back with me."

"Not alone you aren't," Viper instantly spoke up, his voice tinged with a hint of fear. He clearly was worried about another attack.

"Not alone," Max agreed. "Shock, Arcanus, I know there's a spell that can create a kind of safe shelter or sorts that is hard to get into."

"Leomund's Secret Shelter," Shock replied, nodding. "I understand." He began to cast, and soon a rope dropped into view seemingly from nowhere. "We can hide here for about a day or so."

"Then I'll hurry," Max promised, as he helped a wobbly Mouse to stand and make his way over. Only after everyone but he and Viper were safely tucked away inside did Max start to turn and go. But something glistening caught his eye, made him look back.

On the ground, apparently dropped before he was taken, was one of Shadow's daggers.

A bit reverently, Max knelt and picked it up. He studied it for a long moment, before tucking it into his belt, vowing to return it to Shadow. Then he and Viper hurried off.

oooooooooooooooooooo

It took a good deal of persuasion to get the artificer to come all that way to repair the injured 'Forged, and by the time they were all repaired another day had passed. Quickly they made their way to the Mournlands, hoping to find some clue as to where they'd taken Shadow. But it only took a couple of monsters, twisted things from the Day of Mourning, to convince them that they simply weren't strong enough to brave the dangers and find him. It wasn't for lack of trying; they entered the Dead Gray Mists many times over the course of four days, trying to get just a little bit further, hoping to see or hear something, anything, that might give them a clue. But they were rewarded with nothing. Finally, they all had to admit the horrible truth.

The Lord of Blades had won this round. Shadow was gone.