Chapter 4: Where The Deadly Dance

"Watch out! Back step!" Dauntless shouted, Dornia following the command blindly as a tentacle whipped to where she was just standing and narrowly missed her right ankle. The kayran's ugly maw snapped as venom rolled out in viscous globs, the folds that surrounded it's teeth quivering in anticipation of it's next meal. Dornia planted her feet, her hips facing her target, and waited for it to perform it's predictable attack of lashing out at her extremedies. She lowered her sword and stood her ground as Dauntless stood further back, waiting for her opening. The heavy tentacle flew at her, kicking up dust as it picked up speed. Timing it perfectly, Dornia spun over the appendage, slicing it off with a nimble and smooth strike, and landing on the ground with a slight slide on the loose dirt and mud. The kayran shrieked terribly as one of it's limbs fell to the ground and exploded into red digital fragments, dissipating with the wind. As if throwing a tantrum, it's tentacles thrashed about and slammed into anything in it's way. "Now!" Dornia shouted to her partner as she closed the distance, Dauntless close behind her. The two swords pierced with precision into the beast's abdomen, just below the flaps that were outspread and bearing hook like teeth at the end of each stretch of webbed skin. In unison, the girls yelled as they dragged their swords in opposite directions whilst running, creating a long and deep would to the monster. Removing their swords, they bounded back to their original positions and observed the health bar enter the red but not diminish completely. "Fucker is tough, isn't he?" Dauntless said with a laugh, breathing hard to catch her breath. "Agreed. We almost have it, don't get cocky." Dornia replied in a much colder tone. She gripped her sword and rotated the blade toward her opponent who stood five or six meters tall in body alone. Dornia gritted her teeth in anticipation for another attack from her side but it was not so predictable this time. It extended it's tentacles straight in the air and let gravity do it's work for it. "Really?" Dornia muttered to herself as she lowered her sword. The limbs began their decent as they gained speed to the point where stopping them would be impossible. Dornia jumped to the side, exiting the area of danger, and ran to the kayran once more. Dauntless, more focused on leaping away from the giant tentacles, did not approach with Dornia. Dornia lept onto the tentacle and ran along it's half meter wide girth and climbed it's head before savagely and repeatedly stabbing the top of it's head. It shrieked as the health bar fully depleted this time and the kayran fell limp, defeated. Dornia fell to the ground, tumbling over herself, as the monster exploded into a shimmering red cloud and vanished just as the severed tentacle did. She pulled herself off the ground and dusted herself off, coughing from the cloud of dust she created. Dauntless approached, clapping and smiling, " Bravo, Fer De Lance, Bravo. Encore! Encore!" Dornia stretched and stood up straigh before replying to her sarcasm, "I'll show you. an encore in a minute." She chuckled as she navigated her menu to the quest tabs. Next to a quest titled 'The Swamp Reaches Out' was a banner that read, 'completed'. The two filtered through the various loots, dropping useless items for crafting items they had no use for. "Right, let's get back to town. C'mon blondie." Dauntless yawned as she stretched her arms over her head.

The mud of the damp earth was patchy among puddles left from high tide on the shore of the small lake, the higher ground being far more dry as it baked in the afternoon sun. It was warm in the marsh. Warm but very humid. The squelching of mud was the only sound that overpowered the sound of plates clanking on the lightly armored women as they walked through the terrain with ease, the deepest they sunk being their ankles. Floor thirteen was much akin to most early floors, grasslands and hills with small bodies of water dotting the landscape and marshes surrounding the lower lands. It was easy to traverse and made travel off the path risky but still efficient instead of taking a meandering road through random farms along the way whose vendors have not a single worthwhile item unless you sell it to them. That is assuming they even have the coin to pay for it and often times, they do not. Dornia looked at her feet as they strode through the knee high grass that blew gently with the breeze, swaying with the other stalks that stretched as far as they could see in nearly all directions. How long has it been? Two weeks? Maybe... Or perhaps three? I can't recall when we left. "I know that look, blondie. What'cha thinkin' about?" Dauntless pressed as she walked beside her, arms behind her back and a narrow stare with a sly smile. Her strode was unnatural as bounced with each step, waiting impatiently for an answer. "Just thinking..." Dornia said quietly as she continued to ponder. Dauntless groaned, "Ugh! I know that. About what? Details, give em' to me! Shoot!" She exclaimed in a chipper mood. "I've... we've been so busy travelling, performing, training... I'm just trying to recall how long we've been gone. I gave up on counting days a while ago so why start now?" Dornia shrugged before putting her hand on her belt. "Is that all? We left sixteen days ago, you dork. And here I though you had something spicy to say?" "Spicy?" Dornia asked with confusion. "You know, like when something is interesting or cool? Alternatively it could mean the opposite too, I guess. Like sick or bad, I suppose." Dauntless shrugged as she whipped around, her cloak being flung back by the wind and soaring for a moment in a surreal and picturesque fashion. Dornia shook her head, unable to hide her smile, "And you call me. the dork?" Dauntless only laughed heartily as she pulled out her lute and began plucking at the strings to the tempo of their step. Never a dull moment with her around, is there? Dornia thought as she looked forward, following behind her partner. The melody was irregular, messy, and yet intoxicating as she skipped and danced to the tune, the two singing,

"Everybody's talkin' bout white ales, brown ales, laggers, pilsners, stouts and whiskeys, pingers, swingers, vodka ringers, ledeblelel" Their tongues rolling as their words turned to jumbled nonsense to the rythm while Dornia slapped her hands on her plate skirt, the harsh clanking of steel serving as their drum.

The two sung in unison the chorus "All we are saying... Is give booze a chance!

All we are saying…. Is give booze a chance!"Dauntless skipped and hopped on one foot in a circle as they stepped onto the well hidden road among the stalks of tall grass. Her heels stamping about as she danced onto the cobblestone path with Dornia, still slapping her armor, danced behind her.

Dauntless leaned into Dornia's shoulder as the two sang their next verse, "Everybody's drinkin up vodka, brandy and wine, rum and cola, cherry absinthe, all binged bitter aaand in-e-briated!" Dornia continued with her in song as she peaked behind her, making sure they were not being followed. All the while, they once again sang the chorus,

"All we are saying... Is give booze a chance! All we are saying…. Is give booze a chance!" Dauntless cut her chorus short as she diddled her lute strings into an energetic, but just as chaotic, solo. Dornia began to clap her hands as the lute player skipped and spun to the clambering tempo. Once she returned to her normal, if one could call it that, rhythm of plucking that sounded akin to an amateur performance. Something that Dauntless was certainly not. She looked to Dornia with an ushering look, signifying her desire for her blonde companion to sing the final verse.

"Everybody's stumblin, fallin, tripping and rolling over, the ground's a-swayin and the boys are sayin," She sang with a deep and slurred voice as if she were very drunk, a large smile on her face. The two exploded into chorus a final time, their voices booming with enthusiasm,

"All we are saying... Is give booze a chance! All we are saying…. Is give booze a chance!" The two erupted into laughter as Dauntless drew the lute chords to a cease, ending with a rapid strumming as she raised the neck of the lute to her head and ending the notes suddenly. Dornia slapped her shoulder as she laughed, hunched over and trying not to topple over herself, "You are ridiculous, you know that?" She laughed. "Not as much as you are! You look bipolar with how you act in combat in comparison of right now!" Dauntless laughed as she slung her lute onto her back, opened her inventory, and pulled a wine skin out. She laughed as she pressed the opening to her lips, nearly choking on the crimson liquid that poured from it. She wiped her mouth with the back of her bracer and offered the skin to Dornia who snatched it, drank from it greedily, and handed it back to her partner, mumbling, "Thanks." in between giggles. "You aren't going to become an alcoholic, are you?" Dauntless teasingly asked before taking another swig. "Sure hope not." She said, still giggling as she felt the warmth of the booze spread through her gut. Dornia continued, "So how much are we getting from this job again?" Dauntless extended the skin to her again, Dornia accepting it with a far more civilized swig this time as she listened to Dauntless speak, "Four thousand five hundred I think? Plus bonus for the time taken. We completed it in less than two hours so I am pretty sure it's more like five thousand now." She accepted her skin back and took a drink, the two walking side by side along the path toward a wall of wood on the horizon that was only visible at the crest of the gently rolling hills. "Whose turn is it again?" Dornia asked Dauntless as she looked to the sky, the sun's setting glow turning the horizon a lovely golden color. "Your turn, blondie. I did it last time." She replied with a smile, admiring the same view. Dornia, seemingly not bothered, nodded with a smile as the wind fluttered her stray bangs across her face. She brushed them aside and walked with her hands behind her back, pressing nearly the entire freely flowing cape to her back.

On the two walked for twenty minutes or so before ascending a gradual grade through the large wooden gates of a town whose sign read 'Pale Oak'. A curious name for a town in an area lacking trees. Dornia thought to herself as they passed through the arching portal. The buildings of the town were wooden, built on platforms over earth, the elevation of the buildings ascending and descending with the curvature of the hill it was but upon. They stepped onto a porch of a larger building, the sign of which was that of a large and scrawny bird with teeth who blew flames on a flagon. Below it read 'The Cockatrice Inn'. Dauntless pushed open the door, the wood creaking beneath them as they stepped inside the dimly lit room. Dispite the darkness, the room was far from empty. At least fifteen players were inside enjoying their purchases. Some were rowdy, some kept to themselves. Two in particular stood in the back and chatted, their player icons being orange instead of green. They sat at the small counter and nodded a greeting to the barkeep who, unlike the sleeping guardsman, was manned by an NPC who wore rather drab clothing. Dornia held up two fingers and said, "Red wine." To which the barkeep nodded with a smile and displayed a trade window for the value of twenty gold for the two drinks. Dornia, without looking at the screen, accepted the trade. Before them materialized two flagons of red wine that had a faint scent of grapes. The two bards clanked their drinks together and began a race of who could drink theirs the fastest. The first to slam their flagon on the table was Dauntless who wore a grin that Dornia would often describe as 'shit eating' in a less decent attitude. "Rematch!" She said as she waved for the barkeep. Once again, she paid the NPC and the red liquid appeared in their flagons. The two clanked together once more and slammed the drinks as quickly as they could, Dornia's hitting the wooden counter first with a loud bang that grabbed the attention of nearby patrons. "Again." Dauntless said, her grin wiped away and replaced with one of competitive malice. Again, the gold left her inventory and the flagons filled. Again they clanked their wine. Again they knocked back the near pint worth of alcohol. Dauntless was a split second faster than Dornia. "Again." Dornia said, her voice had a hint of irritation. "More competitive than usual, eh? I can roll with the punches." Their flagons full and now eighty gold out, they clanked the drinks again. Dornia groaned as she slammed her flagon down just barely before Dauntless who chuckled and gave her an expectant look. "Winner takes all." Dornia said. Dauntless nodded, her eyes narrowing with a hideous grin. One last time, Dornia performed the mundane act. One last time, their flaggons clanked together. At seemingly the same time, their drinks slammed onto the wood. "Fuck, who won?" Dauntless asked, staring at the now empty vessels. Dornia, trying to recall the moment, said with hesitation, "I think... I think we tied..." "Tie breaker?" Dauntless asked, the fire of competition still burning in her eyes. "Nope. Tomorrow we can." Dornia said with conviction in her voice. "Jeez, some apprentice you are... Won't even entertain the wishes of your master." Dauntless muttered. "We've already blown a hundred gold on drinks alone, Remember? This is-" Dornia was cut off by Dauntless, "This is why I'm in debt, I know already. Jeez, you're worse than Charles, you know that?" Dornia didn't reply to her but punched her arm teasingly and laughed. It was apparent she was slightly drunk but was still well enough to be coordinated. She looked to the barkeep, "We need a room, two beds." With some interactions on the menu, she paid the seven gold for the night's rent. "I'll join you in a bit. Need to hand in that bounty for the kayran." Dornia slapped her partners shoulder, the tattered cloak covering her white shirt absorbing the force and muffling the sound. Removing her lute from her inventory, she also tossed her beret on the floor and began tuning her lute as she spun about on the bar stool. Dornia slid off the stool and walked to the door, three unsavory individuals following behind her in black ragged cloaks who turned to another direction and parted her proximity.

Not ten minutes from the inn was a small and simple building whose sign read, 'Ducal Office of Errants'. She pushed open the door to a man in flamboyant armor with a ruffled collar obscured by a grey beard, a striped armory coat, and two peacock feathers that extended from his large beret. He bowed and, with an exaggerated voice, gave his greetings. "Good morrow, fair maiden. 'Pon my word, what might this old knight do for ye?" She handed him the sheet of parchment for the Kayran contract and laughed heartily, "Aha! I see ye hath defeated the mighty foe! A fine sera such as yourself is deserving of compensation! O' fair maiden, how doth ye desire your payment?" Dornia, slightly annoyed, replied, "Gold please." He nodded, "So be it! Allow me to retrieve your payment from the coffers." He spun around and, after a few seconds, turned to face her once again with a burlap sack that bulged heftily with coin. Handing it to her, he asked, "Will there be anything else, sera?" Dornia shook her head and turned to the door. "May your sword be sharp, and your wits sharper!" He said with exaggerated elegance. She placed the gold in her inventory and walked out the door, the sky looking far darker than before. I should make it back quickly. It won't be long until I am on. Dornia thought as she quickened her pace. From the corner of her eye, she could see the three in the black cloaks huddled together in an alley just across the road from the inn. Glancing, she was unable to see any detail other than the large black cloaks that concealed their bodies. Dornia looked over her shoulders as she walked, cautious of an ambush. An ambush that thankfully never came. This town made her uncomfortable.

Dornia stepped onto the porch and was immediately able to hear the rowdiness of the rabble inside. Dauntless was performing as patrons laughed and cheered with no regard to the noise they made. Pushing the door open, she strolled inside and weaved her way to the counter where she pulled her fiddle from her inventory, tuning the chords as she listened to the troubadour's song. Her legs were crossed, her thigh high calf skin boots hanging loosely off her feet as she swayed her legs back and forth. Dornia observed with glee as Dauntless' fingers danced over the chords with strange choppy grace, her performance showing off her expert skill.

(Authors note: search 'The Lifeboat Mona' by Luke Kelly on YouTube to hear the song.)

"Remember December fifty-nine.

The howling wind and the driving rain.

Remember the gallant men who drowned on the lifeboat Mona was her name."

She danced her fingers to the simple diddle as she sang, the crowd slamming tankards and flaggons on the table to the rythm of her song.

"The wind it blows and the sea roars up.

Beats the land with mighty waves.

At 's Bay the lightship fought.

The sea until her moorings gave."

Dauntless played, her eyes closed as she played each chord with conviction to the emotion the song wished to convey. One to make a heart glow in rememberance of the tragedy.

"Eight men formed that gallant crew,

They set their boat against the main.

The wind's so hard and the sea's so rough,

We'll never see land or home again."

Dauntless swung her leg before her crowd as she laid back on the counter, her black hair spreading across the wood. Dornia held her fiddle and, after bobbing her head to the tempo and rhythm of the melody, joined in with the lute as she strode to the counter. The crowd, now taking full notice, had all eyes on the two as Dornia stepped gently as to not miss a note.

"Three hours went by and the Mona called,

The winds blow hard and the seas run high.

In the morning on Carnusty Beach,

The Mona and her crew did lie."

Dauntless, eyes still closed, smiled with satisfaction upon hearing the familiar fiddle join in. Dornia slid into a stool next to Dauntless, sawing on the strings with grace.

"Five lay drowned in the kelp there,

Two were washed up on the shore.

Eight men died when the boat capsized,

And the eighth is lost forever more."

Dornia and Dauntless harmonized as the two, and the majority of the crowd to their surprise, sang the chorus with them upon the end of the song.

"Remember December fifty-nine,

The howling wind and the driving rain.

The men who leave the land behind,

And the men who never see land again.

Remember December fifty-nine,

The howling wind and the driving rain.

The men who leave the land behind,

And the men who never see land again."

The new crowd applauded the two bards as they brought the diddle to an end and sat upright, bowing their heads to their audience. A young man from the back clad in light armor and scraggly brown hair shouted to them, "Who'd you say you were again?!" Dauntless, wearing her usual toothy grin, gave a deep bow and exclaimed, "I am Dauntless! Troubador and poetaster!" Her arm flung outward to her left, fiddle in hand as Dornia began to speak. "And I am Dornia the Fer De Lance! Bard and Fiddler!" She blushed slightly as she bowed, her fiddle bow outstretched to the right. I'm glad I didn't stutter this time. Dornia thought to herself as the two raised their heads, the clapping coming to an end. "You got any more songs!" The same young man asked with a shout. Dauntless turned to her partner, "You want to lead this one?" she asked, to which Dornia nodded and readied her fiddle. Bringing the bow to her strings, she started a slow and content melody, emulating something that may have come from a harmonica. Her voice had an Irish accent that was thick enough to cut with a knife as she let her pitch quiver with a shortness of breath.

(Author's note: search 'The Moonshiner' by The Clancy Brothers on YouTube to hear the song.)

"I've been a moonshiner for many a year.

And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer."

I'll go to some hollow and I'll set up my still.

And I'll make you a gallon for a ten shilling bill."

Her audience was quiet as all eyes were glued to her and her gently rolling fingers as the soft chords conveyed the feeling of content happiness in their hearts. Her voice perked up slightly as she began her first chorus.

"I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler,

I'm a long way from home.

And if you don't like me

You can leave me alone.

I'll eat when I'm hungry

And I'll drink when I'm dry,

And if moonshine don't kill me,

I'll live till I die."

Her head bobbed to her rhythm as she immured herself into the very character she sang of, shaking her head at the end of her chorus before ending it with a fragile end to her chords before the next verse.

"I'll go to some hollow in this country.

Ten gallons of wash and I'll go on a spree.

No woman to follow and the world is all mine.

I love none so well as I love the moonshine."

Her emotion was allowed to flow from her lips as she grew more passionate with every word and each line she sang. Her audience could feel the gentle touch and soft sting of her notes with her punctual pronunciations of her lyrics.

"O' Moonshine, dear moonshine, oh how I love thee.

You killed my poor father but dare you kill me.

O' Bless all moonshiners and bless all moonshine,

For their breath smells as sweet as the dew on the vine."

Gradually the crowd swayed and closed their eyes as she entered her final chorus, her chords growing a little more intense. Not too much, just enough not to overpower the atmosphere she had created that washed over and immured her audience in.

"I'm a rambler, I'm a gambler,

I'm a long way from home.

And if you don't like me

You can leave me alone.

I'll eat when I'm hungry

And I'll drink when I'm dry,

And if moonshine don't kill me,

I'll live till I die."

She sawed her final chords, bringing a simple but elegant end to the folk song as she whistled along with her melody. The silence only lasted for but a moment before the applause came. Patchy at first but most had joined in, their tempo was high and suggesting they enjoyed the show. One in the back whistled and another cheered for another song. Dauntless lept onto the counter, the NPC seeming un-phased by the sudden action. She gestured to her beret and called across the room of patrons, "Dear people, if you would take but a moment and consider a tip for us that you deem deserving of our talents before we begin our next performance!" She readied her lute and strummed a tremolo whose chords began to slow into a constant rise and falls of notes before nodding to Dornia. "You ready, blondie?" Dornia nodded and climbed onto the wooden bar, fiddle in hand. She followed her chords and readied herself for the rather difficult song. Dauntless called out to her crowd. "All you lot, listen up and listen good! This song is a tricky one to sing but if you know it, feel free to sing along! This song is called The Rocky Road to Dublin!" The largest group in the back of the inn all clapped and cheered as Dauntless stomped her feet, signalling to Dornia to begin the verse. Her words followed the same rhythm of her diddle as they were quick, choppy, and followed one another in sequence without pause or even a place to take a breath it seemed.

"While in the merry month of May, now from me home I started.

Left, the girls of Tuam were nearly broken-hearted.

Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother,

Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother.

Then off to reap the corn and leave where I was born.

Cut a stout, black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins.

A brand-new pair of brogues to rattle over the bogs,

And frighten all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.

A-one, two, three, four, five

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road,

And all the ways to Dublin, whack, follol de-dah!"

Not half way through her verse, the group in the back was clapping to the rhythm and stomping feet on the wooden floorboards. It seemed infectious as near half of the inn had joined in by the start of the next verse. Dornia had not visibly taken a breath as of yet as the words practically fell from her mouth and formed song.

"In Mullingar that night I rested, limbs so weary.

Started by daylight next morning, blithe and early.

Took a drop of pure to keep me heart from shrinking!

Thats the Paddy's cure when'er he's on for drinking!

To hear the lassies smile, laughing all the while,

At me curious style, 'twould set your heart a-bubblin'!

They asked me was I hired and wages I required to lay,

Was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin!"

Her tempo had not fallen, her mouth making it seem easy to her audience to sing such a song but it was clear she had practice. Much much practice. Her crowd was completely in awe by her spectacular performance and presentation to those who cared to listen, but rather, those who could ignore the bard and her catchy songs.

One, two, three, four, five

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road,

And all the ways to Dublin, whack, follol de-dah!"

Her singing became intense and heart-filled as she emphasized every verse. The entire crowd was completely engrossed with the performance that had a fight broken out, it would be unlikely for those not watching it to even notice as it seemed every spectator clapped to her singing.

"In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity,

To be so soon deprived a view of that fine city.

So then I took a stroll, all among the quality.

Bundle it was stolen, in a neat locality.

Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind,

No bundle could I find upon me stick a-wobblin'.

'Quiring after the rogue, said me Connaught brogue,

It wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin!"

One, two, three four, five

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road

And all the ways to Dublin, whack, follol de-dah"

Dauntless, plucking her strings to Dornia's vocals, bounced her knee to the rhythm. She was completely and utterly immersed in song, blind to all around her but the entity the tale provided.

"From there I got away, me spirits never falling

Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing

Captain at me roared, said that no room had he

When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy

Down among the pigs, did some hearty rigs

I played some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling

When off Holyhead I wished meself was dead

Or better for instead on the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three four, five

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road

And all the ways to Dublin, whack, follol de-dah"

Dornia broke the pace and sawed wildly on her fiddle in between the chorus and her next verse. Dornia felt, if she had not been fiddling, she might jump from her seat, stand on a table, and dance a jig there on the spot. It quickly became apparent that others had the same urge as those intoxicated enough on beers and liquors did just that. Some even kicking tankards and flagons across the room, hitting other players and causing a row.

"The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed

Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it

Blood began to boil, temper I was losing

Poor old Erin's Isle they began abusing

"Hurrah me soul" says I, me Shillelagh I let fly

Galway boys were by and saw I was a hobblin'

With a "lo!" and "hurray!" they joined in the affray

Quickly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin

One, two, three four, five

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road

And all the ways to Dublin, whack, follol de-dah"

Dornia ended her ballad out of breath to both applause and fighting. She, at first, felt guilty for causing such a rabble but it was quickly diminished by Dauntless' laughter. Dornia looked to her who, lute still in playing position, was laughing so hard that she might fall from her stool. In fact, that is exactly what happened. With a thud, she hit the floor boards that creaked from her weight, her laughter not ceasing. "What is so funny to you? The fight?" After a brief moment of trying to contain herself, failing twice and falling back into a giddy laughter, she finally managed to form a sentence without bursting back into her fit. "You actually caused a bar fight? That's fucking hilarious, that is. What's that German word for it called? Laughing at another's misery or something?" Dauntless asked, short of breath as she clambered back onto her stool while circling with her hand in an attempt to gesture in some form of posh fashion. "Schadenfreude?" Dornia asked, an un-amused tone resounding in her voice. "Yeah, that's the word! What? You don't think this is funny? You caused a fucking bar fight with your performance!" Dauntless explained, setting her lute down on the table and gestured her excitement. Dornia looked at the players who were absolutely thrashing one another with punches, kicks, and the occasional chair being thrown. "Don't worry about their health, this town is a safe zone. Their health won't deplete an inch." Dauntless explained, wiping away a tear. "What if one of them takes up a grudge or something? Someone might try fighting them for real." Dornia asked, still concerned at the situation she had a hand in creating. "Don't worry about it, everyone knows the consequences of killing a player. Sure there are some yellows but nobody here is red. Besides, just green players are fighting. Those yellows are minding their own business." Dornia looked over to the two who were mentioned by Dauntless, one of which locked eyes with Dornia briefly before looking away. Dornia failed to see them re-enter the inn but was certain that they were the ones who left right behind her. Dauntless shook Dornia from her thoughts, "We should turn in for the night. Next floor is where we are headed. The town there is pretty far so we are going to need supplies." Dornia nodded and the two slid off the stools, storing their instruments and slipping through the rabble to the stairs. They ascended them, passing by the banister that had an impressive view of the fight below where near fifteen had joined in by then. Dornia did not feel as guilty but the guilt was still very much present as she was certain that some of those punches had to be painful. "Don't sweat it, blondie. They are having fun, trust me." Dauntless said over her shoulder. "Eh? How do you know?" Dornia asked. "Go get in a bar fight. You'll have fun, trust me. Especially when you can't be injured." Dauntless replied, cackling as she spoke.

She opened the door with her key and pushed open the door, revealing a simple room with two beds separated only by a night stand. Next to the door was a dresser where three candles lay upon it next to the skull of a bear. Dornia was repulsed by the decor as she turned her gaze from it, noticing a book shelf with many vacant spots filled with nick nacks instead of literature. Dornia looked through the books to be disappointed by her finds only being local guides, beginner tip books, and a fairy tale book that seemed to be in every inn room she stayed in. She had already read it out of boredom three or four times already in the past two weeks and was thoroughly sick of it. She groaned and walked over to the left bed that sat unoccupied. She flopped onto her back, landing uncomfortably on her sword sheathe. "Why can't they get real books for these dammed rooms?" She turned her head to the night stand and eyeballed the candle stick whose fire burned endlessly on the wick, showing no wax melting or length lost. "If you are going to complain, why not use your money and buy some books?" Dauntless asked as she swiped through her inventory, un-equipping most of her items and leaving her in only her white blouse and black undergarments. "Speaking of money, we didn't remind patrons for donations before we turned in. Did you happen to get any money tonight?" Dauntless lifted the linen sheets and furs and slid under them before replying, "Nope. Not a single coin. We weren't getting a thing from that crowd while a brawl was on. I'd say the show was payment enough." She laughed as she finished speaking, rolling on her side to face her apprentice. Dornia opened her inventory and unequipped her armor as well, leaving her with a similar blouse and trousers made from a fine and flexible material. She slid under the cover of sheets and furs before she muttered, "Sure am glad you got paid." "Now now, don't be ungrateful. We still have plenty of coin for that payment for your fiddle. Four thousand, right?" Dauntless asked, Dornia nodding in reply. "Right. So tomorrow, we will head out for the next floor, making sure to take out as many enemies along the way. Seven levels in two weeks isn't bad but it only get's harder." Dornia did not reply. She stared at the ceiling where she could see old cobwebs that laid vacant for an indeterminable amount of time. "Book store is our next stop. You hear me? This boredom is driving me nuts." -

- Dauntless chuckled and muttered, "I'm not drunk enough for this. I'm going to sleep now." Dornia didn't reply. That must be the most responsible thing she has ever said since we've met. Dornia thought, a look of bewilderment crawling across her face. She took notice and shook the expression away, continuing to stare at the ceiling.

Not ten minutes passed and Dornia could hear the shallow breathing of Dauntless who laid in slumber next to her. Dornia's thoughts turned to the two players with orange icons. They've attacked a player. Maybe more than just one? Her minds wandered as she recalled them following her out the door when she turned in their bounty for the kayran. They could not have been far behind me. After all, I didn't see them when I came back. She tried to play back the events in her head, trying to settle where they came from. There was a lot going on but I swear they weren't there when I came back inside. They were there when I was performing, I know that for sure. One of them looked right at me. Picturing the room downstairs before the rabble began, she vividly remembered the seats filled with maybe twenty five players, two of which were the orange pair. When did they come inside? Why do they make me so uncomfortable? The candle flickered, the shadows dancing across the walls. Dornia could feel her stomach turning with worry. Not quite dread but it made her uneasy, nevertheless. She felt the sudden urge to peak out her door as if an unknown force was outside, listening to the silence. She slid off of the bed, her feet gently planting on the floor boards as she nimbly crept to the portal of her room. She quickly equipped a dagger from her inventory and held it at the ready as she grabbed the handle, hiding the blade behind the door frame. She was aware no harm could come to her in a safe zone but she felt more secure with the dagger than without it. Slowly, quietly, she pulled the door open to find the hallway was vacant with one exception. A player with a green icon ascending the stairs with a black traveling cloak and long brown hair saw her face peaking out and nodded a greeting. She stared for a moment more around the corridor before waving at him in return. The player walked to his room, two doors from hers, and opened the door before saying, "Goodnight, miss Fer De Lance." He smiled to her as he entered his room and closed the door with a quiet thunk. Dornia closed the door, thoroughly embarrassed and returned the dagger to her inventory before returning to her bed. Staring at the ceiling, she thought to herself, Am I going crazy? Why am I so fixated on some orange players? She rubbed her face, it being hot as she still blushed. That guy knew my name, though. Is it because I am gaining fame? I must be paranoid. No wonder Dauntless drinks so much. Dornia concluded as she tried to shoo away her thoughts and sleep. She closed her eyes only for the thoughts to come flooding back, the feeling of her sinking never leaving her gut.

The crowing of a rooster signaled to Dornia that morning had come but she had not slept the entire night, her arms still behind her head as she stared at the ceiling. She looked over to Dauntless who was still fast asleep. She sat up to wake her, only for her to grab her dagger before hand. Her eyes narrowed as she crept toward the door instead of Dauntless' bed, the creeping feeling of being watched stayed with her. I am definitely not imagining things. Something is up and I don't like it. She opened the door, this time not as quietly as before, and looked around the corridor seeing open doors and hearing only the sounds of clanking feast ware. She stayed in the cracked door for a moment waiting for something, anything to happen. Something to confirm her suspicions, although she did not know what to expect. Why am I getting this feeling? Dornia thought, her eyes narrow and suspicious of her supposed predicament. She slowly began to close the door but was stopped by a sound. The front door opened, the sound of thunder cracking the sky echoing inside the hall, and it slamming shut. Dornia waited a moment as the ambient sounds returned to normal. That was until shouting began as soon as it quieted down. A rough but higher pitched voice yelled out to the tavern, the person responsible was unseen by Dornia. "Letter! I have a letter for a miss Namira!" Dornia was stunned, unsure if she should answer it's call. She stood still, waiting for another to answer. The voice called out once again, "I have a letter for miss Namira! I know she is here! Has anyone seen a miss Namira!" Dornia stood upright, dawned her armor from her inventory, and equipped her instrument and weapon before opening the door. Who is that? I don't know anyone who sounds like that. She walked to the banister, standing over the tavern another story above. There she saw a small figure, maybe a meter tall with pointed ears and a simple tunic with pouches covering his waist. His bald head was covered by a wedge cap adorned by a pheasant's feather and his face wore a gruesome scar from chin to ear that was slightly hidden by his whiskers of facial hair. He tightened his belt, adjusted his red cap, and pressed his hands across his matching tunic before grabbing a scroll of parchment that was bound by a black ribbon and a red wax seal bearing the lettler 'S' in an old English font. He extended his arm to his side, directly in the direction of Dornia who stood atop the banister and looking down. "Miss Namira, a letter for you." He repeated as his head turned to meet his gaze, revealing his eye patch that was hidden by his turned head. Dornia blushed, embarrassed from the attention that was on her from every person in the room. She was not bothered by this when she performed but this was sudden and awkward, a situation she'd have liked to avoid when possible. Her feet felt heavy as she forced herself to move down the stairs, feeling all eyes on her. She descended the stairs, each step creaking beneath her, and approached the short creature. It looked human enough but stocky and short. Not a dwarf. A halfling, perhaps? Dornia could not place it but it was something unlike anything she had seen in the game. The short humanoid smiled and offered her the letter, his eye shone bright blue in the candle light. "Excuse me, who are you?" Dornia asked in a quiet tone. "Why I am Arleigh, master courier at your service." The short man proclaimed before bowing, the letter still extended. "Excuse me but my name is Dornia, not Namira." Dornia lied. It did not deceive Arleigh, however, who raised his head with a polite smile, "Who ever you are, this letter is for you. After all, I am not called a master courier for no reason, madam." He chuckled. "Alright then, master Arleigh, who is this letter from?" Dornia asked, although trying to be inquisitive she was genuinely curious. This has to be an in-game event or something. I am pretty sure players can't be that short... Unless... "Are you a player?" Dornia interrupted before he was able to respond to her previous question. "Eh? I'm just a courier. Not playing anything, miss. To answer your question; the letter is from a relative, I believe. It was left in my drop and addressed to you by somebody with the same surname as you. If it was assigned to me, it must be mighty important." He concluded with a confident nod, never dropping the letter that was extended to her. Dornia slowly took the letter from the halfling, confused by the ordeal. "Thank you, master Arleigh." Dornia said slowly, trying to rub the confusion from her face. "Will there be anything else, miss Dornia?" Dornia shook her head. "Then I bid you a good day and safe travels, miss Dornia." Dornia nodded and smiled ingenuinely.

Dornia watched the short creature stroll out of the tavern, blinking in confusion. She scanned the room to find the players looking at her, only to avert their gaze when she met theirs. Dornia stored the item in her inventory and walked back up the stairs, peaking over her shoulder to see the two orange players seated with hoods on and watching her. Dornia grew tense as an atmosphere of impending danger was creeping up inside her gut. Something is up with those guys. I just know it. She passed by the man she saw last night who was exiting his room. He bowed his head as she passed, greeting her. "Good morning, Fer De Lance." Dornia cleared her throat and responded, "Good morning." She grabbed the handle on her door before glancing back at the stranger who had his hand on the railing to the stairs. He looked at Dornia, a chilling grin and narrow eyed look displayed for her to see, and asked her, "Sleep well last night?" His tone was casual but Dornia could sense an underlying sinister theme. He has to be with them. I wonder if I should tell Dauntless? "Quite well, actually. Thank you for asking." Dornia lied, presenting a dumb smile to fuel her ruse. "Glad to hear it. I hear you have a great journey before you. Rest is important, miss Fer De Lance. So long." He replied, giving a wink as he walked down the stairs. Dornia sighed with relief, her heart pounding with anxiety. She opened her door and quietly locked it behind her before sitting down on the bed. Dauntless was still fast asleep. Dornia opened her menu, 06:34 the clock read, opening her inventory to retrieve the letter whose item name was 'A letter from home'. Dornia froze once it was in her possesion, trying to figure out where 'home' was. Could it be from a player or npc? Or maybe... Could it be from my parents? What else could it be if it's from home? Dornia pondered, her hands trembling ever so slightly in partial to anxiety as well as excitement. She fell back on the bed, sighing deeply before inspecting the letter. Just a black ribbon around a parchment with a wax seal. The letter 'S'... for Steiner, perhaps? She thought as she manipulated the object. "Verdammt." She muttered as she pulled at one of the loose ends of the ribbon, breaking the seal and opening the letter. The scroll contained two pages; A letter on one and a map on the other with a drawing of a familiar tree she strugled to place from memory. She noticed a quest added to her journal on her player alert tab. She scrolled through her menu and opened her quests to find a new quest titled, 'Seven years since then'. It's only current objective being, 'read the letter'. Dornia returned her attention to the letter and began reading the first page.

Dear Namira,

If you are reading this then you have probably made a name for yourself here in Aincrad by now. We have hear of your deeds and fame and have decided you are ready to undertake a particular quest. Prepare yourself and party for the journey you are to embark upon and expect to see master Arleigh again in the future. A great treasure significant to you specifically awaits but six keys must be found for the six locks. To open the locks, two must turn the key. The first is you, I am certain you know the second person. Make no mistake, you will have to earn this treasure so expect your journey to be fraught with danger. As a disclaimer, you will recieve only three letters while your partner will recieve the next three. Coordination is expected of you two so don't dissapoint your parents. Joking aside, upon study of the map, you will see a sketch of a land mark, a word, and a number. These are your clues, girls. Be safe, be careful, and use your heads.

With love, Mom and Mom.

Dornia let her arms fall to her side and muttered, "Thanks mom." a sadness welling inside of her as she remembered home and how much she missed it. Although she wanted to break down and weep, she did not allow herself to do so. She shoved the feeling down, replacing her sorrow with a burning desire to push further knowing escape is only possible if the game is beaten. She rubbed her face vigorously before examining the map. "A treasure map, huh?" She said, knowing she would not wake her partner. Scribbled onto the parchment was the word 'Wald', the number twenty four, and a sketch of a large tree surrounded by much smaller trees upon a high rise surrounded by water. "What the hell? What does this mean, mom?" she muttered in confusion, examining the map in different angles. "Wald is forest. A forest where? Floor twenty four? Must be." She thought aloud as she sat up, brushing her bangs away from her eyes. She sighed and stood up, removing a parchment from her inventory and scribbled a note, placing it upon her pillow. Going for a walk south of town. Be back soon.

Dornia placed her hand on the door handle, having the sinking feeling return once more. They are waiting for me. I know it. Dornia concluded, pulling the door open and exiting the room. She locked the door behind her and walked down the hallway, descending the stairs, and crossing the inn to the exit. She pushed out to the blast of cold air of the downpour of rain. Standing under the roof of the porch, she pulled her hood up and stepped into the muddy road before walking out to the south. She knew she was being stalked. I'll have to pick my field. Fight on my terms. Dornia thought, trying to keep calm. She was terrified of the though of fighting a player. An NPC was one thing but a seasoned player could cut her down in seconds if she was not careful. Left foot after right, she was unable to hear her feet hit the puddles over the drenching downpour of rain. Despite her inability to see them, she knew for a fact that no less than two followed her at a distance. What do they want? My map? Maybe just to rob me? Dornia's thoughts ran rampant as she walked, ascending and descending hills along the road. Murderers? Thieves? Maybe they are just creeps? Who are they? The young woman pondered as she ascended another hill, cresting it to find the point she was looking for. Though the visibility was low, she could make out the open clearing whose diameter was a near perfect circle of thirty meters surrounded by waist high grass and a meter tall stone it's epicenter. She cut across the grass, climbed onto the wet stone, and sat down. She crossed a leg under the other and pulled out her fiddle before playing. If I am their target, then we fight on my terms. If I am their target... then I'll be forced to... Dornia swallowed nervously. I'll have to kill them. She dimmed her eyes, focusing on the music she played as she became a siren luring in her prey. Her tempo was slow, the mood depressing and chords drawn out. She could not see them in the tall grass and could not hear them over the rain that poured around her, rolling off of her instrument she held at it's side to avoid water from getting in the instrument. It was an awkward angle but, with her body tilted with the instrument, she was able to cope with the irregular technique. She drew out a long chord, paused for but a moment to listen, and continued her somber melody. Digging in her toes to the rock, she readied her body for the eventual spring. From behind her was a sudden shift in the grass just audible enough to overpower the rain. Like a rabbit, she lept from the rock with nimble grace and landed with ease. She sighed to calm herself as she stowed her instrument before she drew her sword, allowing it to hang to her right. From behind the rock she once sat upon appeared a man in a black cloak. Although hazy through the downpour, she was able to tell it was a green player who wore the very same cloak as the orange players in the inn. He laughed to himself as he stood before the rock not four meters from her. "We meet again, miss Fer De Lance." Dornia recognized his voice. The one who stayed in the room next to hers. He continued as Dornia held her focus, not on him, but her surroundings. Thunder boomed before he continued, "I must admit, you're smarter than you look." His voice was cocky as he threw his arms to his side in nonchalant fashion. He laughed as he spoke, "Originally we were just going to kill you but now we learn you have something we want. You're a performer, right? How about you put a show on for us by handing over that map of yours and we'll pay by sparing your life?" His laughter turned from subtle to maniacal as he flipped his dagger through the air. Dornia felt her grip tighten on her hilt as he spoke. She cut his laughter off with a question, "So out of the five you have here, which one of you is the boss?" She guessed, figuring that she would either die incorrect or not have witnesses to her wrong guess to the number of foes she'd be forced to face. "Well well well, miss Fer De Lance, you certainly impress." He laughed, thoroughly entertained by her guess. He waved to the tall grass where four additional players wearing identical cloaks emerged, two on her left and two on her right. Well that was a lucky guess, I guess. Not sure if that's brag-worthy right now, though. Dornia thought to herself as she scanned her opponents. To her left, a man with a skinny build wielding a rapier and buckler. Next to him was another similar built man with a spear suggesting a highly dexterous build. The man before her with whom she'd been conversing with held a dagger and wore a katanna on his hip. Beside him, a tall woman with a mace wearing heavier armor and a shield. She definitely did not see her at the inn. Beside her to Dornia's right was a man wielding a similar sword to Dornia's. The six stood still in the pouring rain as the center man spoke, "Why I am the leader of this company, my prey." He could not resist bursting into the same laughter as before, peering into the sky as he did. "Why do you want to kill me? You don't even know me." Dornia asked with a mix of worry and anger in her voice. He smiled to the sky, speaking to her with his head held high. "Simple... Very simple, miss Dornia." His head slowly turned it's gaze from the sky to meet hers with murderous intent in his eyes. "One receives the most fame when the victim is someone who is famous. What better way to become famous, ourselves?" He chuckled menacingly, the other four joining with hideous grins. "And if I give you this map, you'll let me live?" Dornia asked, her heart racing with fear. Fear for what she would say to them. Should I give it to them? It's all I have from home. It's not right... but I don't want to die. Dornia pondered, her nervousness eating at her and deteriorating her cool and collected exterior. Cracks in her demeanor were at risk of showing and, should her opponent see them, would definitely be exploited by her foes. "That was the deal, wasn't it? Would I go back on my word?" He asked with an arrogant tone before he and his detail laughed in unison. Dornia pulled the map from her pocket and unrolled it, looking it over as water drops soaked the paper. She examined it as she spoke, "This map... It is not for you. This map cannot be read by you. It is for my eyes only, you see? If you truly want this map," Her fear made her numb as her mind went blank and combative instinct took control. "You'll have to kill me for it." There was sting in her voice as she stowed the map and readied for the impending fight. The leader laughed once more and shouted to the sky, "Perfect! I love it when they resist!" Before the six all readied their stances and stood still in the drenching downpour. The deafening boom of thunder in the distance and the constant roar of heavy rain deafened their clearing whose mud was loose and slick.

A flash before the clap of thunder as the five stared down the blonde swordswoman who stood at the ready, silent as the grave. The center man laughed as his dagger flipped through the air, his hand catching it with expert precision before tossing it upward again. His hand moved to his sword's hilt and rested as his dagger landed in his hand once more. Dornia clenched her teeth as the dagger flew into the air, it's wielder's hand drawing his katanna instead and allowing the blade to land tip first in the mud. To Dornia's surprise, the five did not rush her as she expected them to but stood fast for another signal. "I recognize your stance. Historical European martial arts?" He asked as Dornia's face remained void of emotion to his question, remaining silent among the loud roar of water droplets. "That us, assuming you know what you're doing. I watched your fight with Dauntless. You fight decisively, don't you?" He pestered on, taunting the young blonde who was already very outnumbered. "You know..." He paused and looked to the sky, cackling, "When we're done killing you," His mouth opened with a toothy grin, inhaling with giddy excitement, "We're going to make a spectacle killing your friend." Dornia attempted to ignore what she was hearing as her opponent tried to psych her out with off-putting words. Although able to ignore most of their taunts, the thought of them targeting Dauntless made her anxious. They had now dragged her partner into their quarrel for reasons of fame for murder. I won't let them get away with this. Dornia thought, desperately trying to suppress adrenaline induced trembles that rocked her body. Irritated of hearing his taunts, she shouted in an annoyed and impatient fashion with hopes to insinuate that his words had no affect on her. "Are we going to hold monologues or are we going to fight?" She was impressed that she didn't fumble her words as she spoke, thus making her counter taunt more effective. He looked at her, taken back by her interruption and smiled deviously. "Very well, miss Fer De Lance." He laughed to himself as he readied his stance, his blade extended before him toward his opponent, his right hand on the top and left hand on the bottom of the hilt for maximum leverage. They stood for what seemed like minutes before a flash of lightning split the sky and lit their field of battle, revealing for a moment the details of her foes and they, hers.

The thunder clapped and with it, the sound of the katanna clanging against Dornia's longsword. Their footing was compromised as the six struggled to maneuver the muddy ground, Dornia having the slight advantage with her long and wide boots. She strode backwards, training her opponents to follow her. I'll have to single them out and eliminate them one by one. Dornia thought as she nimbly dodged their attacks, effectively exploiting her high skills in agility and dexterity. Waiting, watching for an opening, she observed for any opportunity to make an attack. From her left, the mace flew and her right, the rapier sought it's target. Dornia back stepped, kicking the rapier wielder's hand in the process but failing to knock the sword from his grip. Had it not been for the mace, she'd have made a harsh blow for their armpit to sever the limb. Dornia had not much time to recover as she found herself rolling away from a swinging spear for her face, tumbling through the mud to escape it's reach. Dornia rolled to her feet and acted, not in thought but instinct, her sword swinging behind her and leaving her torso open. Like a ballerina, she spun into a pirouette, striking the rapier wielder in the arm before changing the direction into another pirouette, striking the shield of the mace wielder twice. From behind her came the spear that sought her back. Dornia spun about, the spear head missing her and finding the shield stead, and swung a slash at his face. Her blade met it's target but only barely as his health only lowered ten percent or so. She exited the spin with grace as she allowed her body's momentum to carry her across the muddy ground, her feet firmly planted with her weight shifted to her left foot. She rotated her blade toward her now stunned opponent whose expression turned from a lust for blood to a realization of pain. I'll not let them even touch me. Dornia thought to herself, her fears turning to anger the more she thought of her attackers turning on her friend with the intent of murder. Her blood boiled and her rage built inside, causing her sword to quiver a little. "Ooooh? She's afraid, look at her trembling!" The spear man cried before the pack burst into laughter. He looked to his side and laughed with his leader, his first mistake. Dornia noticed the weakness and the laughter stopped. Red fury in her eyes as his right arm and head hit the ground, leaving a toppling and limp corpse. The four remaining fighters did not see her move, they were distracted and she was too quick to stop. His life bar drained to zero before the body exploded into light blue fragments, his allies all stunned in shock of her single and deadly blow. It was not his first mistake, but his last. Dornia took two steps back, snaking her sword in response of her kill. The leader giggled in response of her eliminating one of his men. "It doesn't take much to get you seeing red, does it?" Dornia did not reply, her look was response enough. Through the drenched hood were two piercing blue eyes whose stare was cold and filled with hate. Dornia saw the mace wielding woman grit her teeth and slam her mace to her shield before her mouth curled to a smile. Dornia took notice of the man with the rapier on her right and her left, tall grass. The other two stood at range and waited patiently for their comrades to finish her off.

Yet again, the rapier saught her back with speed but failed to meet it. Instead, it met the length of Dornia's blade with force. A short cut across the chest met his sword with force and nearly knocked it from his hands. Her attack became relentless as she struck parry after parry with great force and knocked his attacks away with her superior sword weight. He raised his arm and stabbed behind her blade to evade her constant attacks, not in attempt to hit her but her crossguard so he may overpower her strong with his. Their blades locked together as their faces became close. He laughed as his strength slowly began overpowering hers. Dornia smiled, confusing her opponent, and pulled her right hand whilst pushing her left. The blade moved with his pushing, throwing him off balance and causing him to take the full brunt of her strike. The pommel of her sword made contact with his face and crushing his nose. The rapier man squealed in pain, staggering backward and losing grip on his sword as Dornia Pulled her sword from his. His rapier fell to the ground as he wiped tears from his eyes, filled with anger. She slid her foot under the rapier's blade and flicked it into the air toward her opponent. A cold voice came from the blonde, "Pick it up." She held her sword to her side and waited for her opponent to retrieve the sword. As he did, the tall woman swung silently at her head with a dead on target swing. Still she missed as she saw the blonde for a split second beside her before noticing her hand severed and falling to the mud, the mace still tightly in it's grip. A moment of realization passed before the woman began groaning in pain and cursing. "I'll deal with you in a minute." That same voice said. Dornia looked back to the shaken rapier wielder who stood at the ready with his hand to his rear and his blade pointed at his opponent. Dornia walked by the now handless woman to her previous opponent and held her sword up, the tip toward her enemy. Her right hand supported the sword while her left was flared on the pommel. Only a meter separated their blades as the two stood fast for the next clap of thunder. Dornia loosened her right hand's grip and stood patiently. He only needs to move and I can strike. The flash was much brighter this time, showing nearly every detail of her opponent. A black and ragged cloak covering black leather armor and a series of pouches across his belt. He seemed not to have hair as the hood hid it well. The downpour was the only sound around them, save the pained grunts of frustration by the armored woman.

The boom of thunder was followed closely by the clang of steel, strike after strike as the two tested eachother's defenses further. A midsection stab to be parried by Dornia's flat, an underhanded cut from her to meet his light sidestep as the rapier dissipated the force of the impact. Clang after clang as the two struck with calculated precision. Forward and back the two strode as they slapped swords like a choreographed play, neither making contact with one another. For the rapier wielder, Dornia was certain he was testing her reaction in hopes of outmaneuvering her. Dornia, on the other hand, only bided time. She knew how to defeat him already, however, something primal inside her wanted her to toy with her prey. She began her game with a light cut to his calf, barely dropping his health but she knew he felt it. The red glow of the cut illuminating the raid drops that fell near it. He cringed in pain as he realized what had happened and resorted to lashing at her in hopes of returning a blow. Dornia would not let him. She grabbed her sword by the blade and swung the hilt of the sword into his gut, the cross guard knocking the wind out of him. She expertly tossed the sword back toward herself, catching the hilt and returning to a middle guard. The rapier wielder coughed and gasped as he caught his breath. Dornia was nearly taken off guard by the shield maiden who had seen enough of her comrade taking the beating. She charged at Dornia with her shield and attempted to strike her with the large kite. Dornia dived out of the way, rolling in the mud as she watched her newest foe try to stop in the slick mud without falling over. From behind she heard footsteps approaching her. The flash of lighting showed a longsword gleaming in the dark of the storm. She stood, twirling about to meet his blade that approached at high speed for her shoulder. It connected with great force, causing her to slide back a few centimeters in the mud. The thunder boomed. She stood up, numb to the cold of the wet mud. Dornia winded her sword toward her match before twisting it behind her, coiling into a strike behind her that penetrated the shield maiden's arm as she charged once more in silence. Dornia side stepped only to parry the rapier from her left as the other two approached her. Dornia stepped into the rapier's strike and behind his blade before guiding her sword into his gut, draining his life by half. She placed her foot behind his, toppling him and flipping over him. Between his unbalanced form and her momentum, she savagely ripped her sword out of his gut, nearly killing him there and then as he screamed in gruesome pain. Dornia spun behind her to face her other foes as her victim screamed in agony, incapacitated on the ground. Without a second thought, she slammed her sword into his head, decapitating him at the jaw. His body exploded into the blue fragments and dissipated with the wind as Dornia stared her remaining two foes down with a look of malice sprawled across her face.

Laughter from their leader who was atop the rock sounded over the rain, "You're a bit of a killer yourself? We aren't so different, are we?" He laughed in mockery of the drenched and mud covered swordswoman. The shield maiden and swordsman laughed along as they stood ready for their next skirmish. Dornia, her sword still in the ground where the rapier wielder's head once was, replied to his taunts in an un-amused tone. "Tell me something." The leader looked to her, interested with what she had to say. "Hmm? Oh do tell what's on your mind, won't you?" He ended his question with a chuckle. Dornia replied in the same bored tone, "When I kill you, will I hear laughter from inside your coffin?" He laughed and blurted out, "I guess I'd be a laughing coffin then, won't I? Say, that isn't a bad name. Laughing Coffin..." He rubbed his chin, smiling as he pondered. "I think the boss would love that name. Thanks to you, blondie, your killers may have a name. Too bad you won't be around to tell people it's name." He sighed with a smile and shrugged, "I guess it's up to us to spread the word. Starting with you, of course. After that, your drunk of a partner... that is, after we hace some fun with her of course." His smile curled as he licked his lips. Dornia raised her sword and readied herself, the rage welling inside her ready to burst.

"I guess you'll just have to hurry up and kill me, then." Dornia said as her teeth gritted in anger, her grip adjusting and tightening. She raised her sword over her head, the blade positioned behind her head but still a few centimeters from her neck. The leader stood behind as his lackeys marched toward Dornia, their arms at the ready. Dornia met the shield with a light strike, her blade bouncing off only to strike from the opposite direction. Her feet left the ground as she lept into a pirouette, striking the shield with greater force than before. The shield maiden tried to maintain her footing on the slick ground but failed and toppled forward. Dornia had found her opening and swung for her leg, only for another blade to stop hers. The other swordsman denied her the blow and now engaged her. He struck twice with strikes to her left shoulder that were met by her own razor. Had Dornia released her rage, she may have not been able to see the strike from behind by a katana that narrowly missed her right arm. Their leader had entered the frey. Yet again, it was three on one. Dornia was surrounded as the now furious shield maiden rose, covered in thick mud. Her health was merely missing twenty percent but she was handling one hand very well. Perhaps better than Dornia, her fighting style relying on two hands after all. She wrapped around her hips and swung her blade into the leg of the longsword wielder, clipping his shin and leaving a red glow where her blade slashed. From a still, all four were in motion as the lightning flashed again.

The ring of steel clashing may have carried through the meadow had the rain ceased, but the roar of the drops and the crash of thunder made it near impossible. Dornia back stepped from the katanna, side stepping and knocking away the longsword as she struck for the katanna wielder only to meet his blade. The shield crashed into her, knocking Dornia over in the mud as the others went for the kill. Dornia rolled to her feet and rolled backwards to gain distance. She lept forward with blistering speed, meeting the shield maiden before she knew what was happening. It was easy for Dornia to close the gap and get behind her shield as she tried to assess the current situation. Dornia's blade met her gut, cutting her deep and causing the shield maiden to hunch over in agony. Dornia spun on her toes and faced about, her sword cleanly decapitating the woman at the nape of her neck. Dornia, left foot forward and hips towards her opponents, stood still as the lifeless body collapsed into the mud with a squish. The pattering of rain hitting her pauldrons was the only noise that Dornia could hear. Lightning cracked the sky and the body exploded into blue fragments, floating away before fading. They turned to Dornia, the longsword wielder visibly distressed as the leader cracked a smile. Two left. Dornia thought as she stood at the ready, her blade lowered and a single hand on the hilt. Dornia felt nothing but numbness. Her breathing was calm as her gut burned with a suppressed rage as her thoughts flashed images of what they might do to her friend. Images of torture, of slavery, of rape. She didn't know if it was even possible but the thought alone filled her with anger that took every fiber of her being to keep locked away. The longsword's wielder ran at her, rage in his eyes. They savagely crashed blades together, locking cross guards and twisting blades in hopes to strike eachother's head. Their blades released as the two retracted and readied for the next skirmish, the sloshing of puddles beneath their feet as they struggled with footing in the wet. They met one another's gaze, swords in high guard and bladed pointing at one another. Dornia recognized the stance. Unlike the others, he was practiced in the real world like her. From her left, the katanna flew to her face like a flash. He was fast, too fast for Dornia to dodge completely. A red glow on her cheek where the tip of the blade slashed her appeared. They exploited her situation and went for another strike. Dornia grabbed her blade with her left hand and blocked the katanna as she high kicked the longsword wielder's hand. Her foot planted and she swung her hilt behind the leader's foot, hooking his ankle with the cross guard. She pulled with great force, her grip firm on the sword as not to cut herself, causing him to fall backwards into the mud. She had barely enough time to whip around and parry the blow of the longsword, the two falling into a brutal melee of strikes with any part of their sword possible. A strike with a blade only to be blocked by a cross guard, a pommel to the head blocked by the opponent's strong, the blows struck one after the other as they kicked and punched one another. The leader readied himself and charged for a stab, his blade close to his body before extending toward Dornia whose sword caught it's edge and allowed it to slide off her blade, all the while ducking under a quick strike for her neck. Lightning flashed as the leader overshot his target, skidding to a stop and quickly facing about toward his target. The two longswords locked their cross guards high before Dornia kicked his thigh, knocking him back. The thunder boomed throughout the clouds. His sword lowered as Dornia ran for him, her sword favoring her left lower guard. He raised his sword from the fool's guard and attempted to run her through but met steel instead of flesh. Dornia bashed into him with all of her weight, knocking him over into the mud with force. Dornia faced the katanna as she strided through the slick mud with grace, her firm footing keeping her up straight. He faced her, his sword facing her at the ready.

Dornia matched his stance at her right, approaching him and forcing his hand. He smiled as he cut for her gut, meeting her blade instead. As he went to redirect the cut, he met her pommel in his sternum. He staggered as she spun counter-clockwise into a cut at his thigh. He nearly was unable to match her speed, glancing her blade and following through with a cut. Dornia ducked from the sword and cut for the other leg. The leader jumped back, the sword flying under the appendage instead of through it. He immediately flew back at her with murder in his eyes, only to be met by a similar look. Dornia cut for his right shoulder amd met his sword, only to strike again and again. Four strikes by her heavier sword before she changed direction and staggered her strikes. Two to the left, one to the right, three more to the left, another three to the right as she chipped away his defenses and wore his stamina down. For just a moment, his hand slipped on his hilt. It was not enough for a cut with her sword but she seized the moment anyway, punching him square in the nose as hard as she could. He stumbled backward. staggered and disorientated, as Dornia slashed upward across his chest and halfing his health. He yelped in pain and laughed hysterically as he regained his posture, his face showing strain as he tried to block out the pain. He returned the favor to her, striking for her chest and instead hitting her arm. Luckily it did not sever it but had her arm not moved, it may have been. She kept up the momentum if her moving her arm and fell into a smooth cut for his arm, finding the hilt of the sword instead. She let go of her pommel with her left, grabbing his collar, and head butted him. She wrapped a leg around his and, both becoming disarmed in the frey, devolved into a wrestle. Dornia backhanded him with her sharp knuckles, puncturing his cheek, and followed her strike with two quick punches. The leader knocked her hand away and began choking her, his grip like a vice. Dornia pulled a dagger from her boot and plunged it into his ribs, causing his grip to loosen. Raising the dagger with one hand, she went for his heart, only for it to be caught by his hand. The two growled and grunted in exhausted anger as they brawled. Dornia placed her other hand on the back of the pommel, leaning all of her weight into the dagger. She wanted nothing more than to end his life. It was him or her and she was going to be damned certain it would be him. The two were locked in a struggle of strength, the tip mere centimeters from his breast, and Dornia was slowly winning. The lightning flashed, illuminating a flash of steel flying toward her. Dornia rolled off of her muddy opponent, and narrowly missed a flying blade. The thunder roared, lingering this time as it crashed through the clouds. Dornia Saw the swordsman and noticed he stood on her sword, denying her it's retrieval. Angered, she tightened her grip on the dagger and stood up right. She was completely coated head to toe in mud and drenched thoroughly.

She bolted for him, now relying on the smaller blade for her protection. Unless she got close, this blade would do her no good at all. She had to get him off of her sword if they were to engage in a duel. She headed directly for him, the swordsman readying for her and swinging for her body. He missed entirely as she dived for his legs, the slick mud carrying her over it's surface with speed and compromising his stance once she made impact. Dornia managed to knock him over, grabbing her sword by the pommel as she slid. She scrambled to her feet, her entire torso caked in mud. Now armed, she returned her dagger to it's sheath. Snaking her sword, she signaled to him she was to fight. Her hips to her opponent, she glanced to where the leader once wad to find him limping away, giving a final maniacal laugh as he teleported away with a flash of light blue fragments that dissipated quickly. Her attention quickly turned back to the swordsman who shouted as he swung for her, "It's just you and I, Fer De Lance!" She knocked away his blade with hers, rolling her wrists to a high guard. Leaning to the side, she contorted her left hand forward and over the right, causing the blade to cut upward from an awkward angle. Dornia continued her attack through with a standard strike, only to feign at the last moment and undercut from the left. The swordsman grabbed the middle of his blade and went for her gut after dissipating her blows. Dornia lept to the side only to meet his cross guard with her waist. Although her waist plate absorbed the blow, she still very much felt the force. She leaned to her opponent and dropped the sword hilt, catching the blade and dashing forward, striking him in the back with her pommel. The blow was a hard one, the thunk of metal hitting metal was like a hammer on steel. It rang through the rain and traveled through the plains. He responded with an elbow to her face, knocking her backward and dazing her a moment. He turned around and kicked her chest, knocking her backward into the mud and leaving her breathless. She made out the sword as he raised it, about to plunge it into her. Dornia, still not fully realizing the situation, pulled her sword over her and blocking the stabbing blade with the fuller of her sword. He pulled his sword back and went for a chop, only to meet her sword once again blocking his kill. He raised his sword and Dornia swung her sword from the blade, hitting his knee and causing it to buckle for a moment, giving her a window to stand up. As she lifted her torso, she was tackled by the swordsman who held his sword blade and hilt against her neck, Dornia's gauntlet being the only object between life and death. She reached for her dagger but found it out of reach with this man straddling her chest. He began applying his weight to the sword as she looked around for a weapon. In the morning light, she spotted the glint of the dagger the leader tossed to the ground near her foot.

Twisting her hips, she tried to kick the dagger toward her hand. It was a difficult task due to the angle but Dornia knew she couldn't remain locked in a wrestle with the swordsman, the disadvantage was too severe. Her first kick was a failure, her leg simply sliding around in the mud. Her second attempt managed to uproot the dagger from the mud it was stabbed in, tilting it toward her but still out of the blonde's reach. Dornia felt the weight of the sword increasing, or perhaps, her strength was beginning to wain. The stare into the eyes of imminent death stared back as Dornia's blood ran cold. The fear of death flooded into her once again, her face starting to show the rising panic. This did not go unnoticed as the swordsman began taunting her, giggling and shushing her as the blade came closer and closer to her throat. One last kick, it's all she had time for before she ended up like the other three. The dagger lept half a meter and toppled just barely within reach of her left hand. She desperately reached for it, her hand grasping at mud. Finally, she found the hilt and made sure the blade found his gut. She screamed in fearful anger as she stabbed him once, twice, three times in the gut. He howled in pain, retracting his sword and grasping his stomach in pain. She went for another stab, only for her to be punched in the face. "You- You bitch!" He painfully said, his health bar now at ten or fifteen percent. Dornia hit the mud and lost grip of the dagger. "I think I'll visit your friend right after I'm done killing you!" He shouted at her. Dornia did not think as rage filled her insides, finally bursting. Her hand found a rock that barely fit in her hand, rolled over, and sprinted at the man in a savage scream. Images of her friend flashed before her. Images of her in distress like before. She didn't want to see them. Not now, not ever. Each image imagined of what may happen should she die here today filled her with blind fury. Before Dornia realized her surroundings, she was on top of the swordsman and striking his head as hard as she could, dazing him and chipping away his health bar. He grasped her throat and began squeezing with all his might. Dornia did not stop, strike after strike as the only noises leaving her lips were struggled gasps. Crack after crack, eventually the hands fell limp as Dornia felt the body beneath her explode into fragments. It wasn't until her rock hit mud that she realized her situation. Tears poured from her face as she caved to the sickening rage and realization of four lives she had just taken. She fell back on her knees and looked to the sky, silently weeping. Why did I even come here? She thought to herself, the rainfall growing lighter and the clouds parting. I nearly died. They could have killed me. She fell backward in the mud, covered head to toe and soaked from the rain. They could have killed me. She repeated in her mind. She laid in the mud for some time, the clouds dissipating and the sun revealing the field of battle once again. They could have killed me over some stupid map. Why didn't I just hand it over to them? I could have avoided this, couldn't I? Maybe they would have let me go free... or maybe they would have just killed me with my guard down. Dornia wiped her eyes, smearing mud across her face. She rose to her feet, her once brilliantly blue and silver armor now covered in brown caked mud that dried and cracked as the sun dried it. She recalled the taunts, the threats, their attacks, her hand subconsciously moving to her throat where the swordsman squeezed with intent to end her life. The breeze carried with it the smell of petrichor, a smell that reminded her of home and brought her to the image of Kiu. Dornia, still fraught with grief from the battle, looked to the morning sky and smiled. "They could have killed me... but they didn't."

Wiping away another tear, she bent down and picked up her sword to hear a rustle in the grass. Like a torrent, she whirled into a fighting stance and faced the sound. It was not an assassin or another foe who wanted to take her life, but her friend who wore a speechless expression. She studied Dornia's face; terrified and angry, coated in mud and fear in her eyes. She looked at her armor whose boots were so covered in mud, one would never had known they were once silver. Her arm still glowing red from the cut of the sword that tried to decapitate her. The once navy blue cloak was practically made of mud. Her hair soaked and spotted with mud that spattered and smeared her face. Dornia lowered her sword and removed her heavy hood, a nick on her cheek still glowing as well. Dauntless saw her health bar half depleted and her once green icon was now orange, displaying her as a criminal to the entire world. Dauntless opened her mouth to speak but there were no words, only vague questions she could not bring herself to ask. Dornia did not speak either, smiling as her tears began flowing again. She sheathed her sword, her hands shaking. Dauntless approached the motionless blonde, her boots squishing in the still thick mud, and pulled her into her arms. Dornia's arms stayed at her side for a moment as her head was buried in her shoulder. She didn't want to cry. She tried her best not to show weakness to her friend but that was not how these games worked. In this game, you can't hide your emotions so easily.

Had somebody spied them, they would have seen a girl covered in mud after the fresh rains on the plains surrounded by marshes. They would have seen a ragged cloaked woman wearing a lute who embraced the girl whose icon displayed a criminal. Had somebody spied them, they would have hear the muffled sobs of the blonde that carried through the wind and disturbed the sound of the grass that rustled. Had somebody spied them, they would have seen the aftermath of a battle, the mud showing the scuffle of six where only one remained. The survivor of a savage attack where skill prevailed and instinct kept her alive. This, however, was impossible. For the early morning, the heavy rain, and the thunder and lightning discouraged those who would have traveled the roads and contained them to the dry and warm taverns and houses. They cozied to their hearths and enjoyed their stews. Not a soul knew but those who survived. The blonde and the troubador who stood among the drizzle as the thunder boomed in the distance.

The lute player pulled the door closed behind them, the latch locking on the wooden door frame. Pulling her lute from her back, she hopped onto a dresser and began plucking at the strings. Dornia, meanwhile, was examining the bookshelf for any literature to pass her time but found nothing of interest. She groaned in displeasure as she fell back onto the bed. There was a moment of silence as Dornia listened to the plucking of strings, taking notice that there was no particular rhythm to her chords. She knew she was thinking about something but was having trouble wording her next sentence. As if she gave up, she stopped playing and blurted out, "Another fine performance, eh? Pretty tough to show the crowd 'Dauntless and Fer De Lance' when you're pouring over that map of yours. A map, by the way, you still have yet to explain where you got it and what it's for." Dornia did not answer. She simply pulled the map from her pocket and examined it again. "C'mon blondie, it's been a week! What's going on?" Dauntless asked, frustrated with her partner's disposition to the subject. "Come on, kid. Don't I deserve at least an explanation? What's with the map and what happened that morning?" Dauntless noticed she wasn't looking at the map, but past it. Her face was stoic but her eyes showed distress. Dauntless knew something was eating at her but she wasn't sure what. That morning, they didn't talk. They gathered theit gear and moved on without a morning performance or even an explanation. She knew they needed to leave that floor for the sake of her apprentice. It wasn't for another two floors that she began speaking again but she didn't eat and she hardly slept. When it came time for a show, she would sit in the corner and read that dammed letter or look at the map she's clung to like a life line. "Look kid..." Dauntless started, unsure of herself, "I want to help you but... but I don't know how if you don't tell me what's going on." Dornia remained silent, recalling the events in her head and feeling sick to her stomach. Dauntless was about to speak but was cut off by Dornia's reply. "I... survived. I don't know why but I feel guilty. I know it was mme or them but... but I lost control." Dauntless pondered her answer before hopping off the dresser and lying next to her on the opposite side of the bed. She wanted to place a hand on her, comfort her in some way, but any way she thought of seemed like it wasn't enough. "You lost control? I don't understand..." Dornia dropped the map on her chest and covered her eyes with her hands. "They wanted to kill us. They wanted my map, they wanted to kill me... the things they said they would do to you when they were done." Dauntless saw tears slipping past her hands and falling onto the furs that covered the bed. "They wanted to kill us? What do you mean? Who?" Dauntless asked, concern in her voice. Dornia shook her head, signifying she didn't have a clue who. Dauntless sighed, pulled her arm around Dornia's neck, and held her in an attempt to comfort her even just a little. She knew the pose was awkward and uncomfortable for her but it seemed to be working. Dornia took a deep breath, her voice quivering as she tried to compose herself. Dauntless' tone was sympathetic and gentle as she spoke, "We have all night. Let's hear it from the beginning, yeah?"

Dornia took her time as she explained the events of that day. The cloaked men she spotted in the bar, the sleepless night filled with paranoia and a dagger in her hands, the courier that delivered the letter from her parents. She went into detail about the letter's contents, her theories about the quest, the laughing man who stalked her and spied on her. She told her about the five on one fight, finding it difficult to speak of parts of it either due to shock or her mind going blank and not remembering. She told of the spearman who taunted her being cut in two and how she felt numb inside, knowing she had killed a person. Her first of four that day. She explained how she knew it was a fight for survival for her and couldn't help but feel guilty. The fear in the rapier wielder's eyes as she took his life, the sheer will to kill the target felt mutual between her and the swordsman. She nearly cried as she told her of the melee that turned to a savage brawl where she nearly was choked to death, noting that she felt nothing but anger as she beat the man to death with a rock. After a pause, choking back sobs, she explained their supposed reasons of why they were going to kill them. The blonde sat in silence for a moment, breathing deep as she tried to suppress the primal urge to cry. Finally, she explained why she couldn't let them take the map, thinking this was her best chance to find Kiu.

"I feel all this remorse, this guilt... yet if it had happened, I'm not sure if I would have done it any other way. Dauntless..." Dornia paused, thinking as she stared at the ceiling of their room, "I survived... I understand I survived because I was better. I understand that but this feeling won't leave me. It hurts... it hurts so bad." Dauntless sat in silence, still holding the blonde. "Dornia... you may not want to hear it but it gets easier. I know it hurts now but it will only keep eating you until there is nothing left but misery if you don't move on." Dornia looked at her, a puzzled look meeting Dauntless' gaze. "How do you know?" Dauntless looked back to the ceiling, "Every warrior has scars, even if you can't see them. You have them too, that feeling inside that hurts. I can't make that pain go away... only you can. I can, however, help you cope with the pain. After all, a knight in shining metal is just a knight who has never had their metal truly tested." "I think I've heard you say that before. What is that supposed to mean?" Dornia asked. "I think it means no great person ever became great without overcoming challenges. You fought to protect me, to protect Kiu, to protect yourself. That's what matters, not how you did it. You stood your ground and you prevailed." Dauntless reviewed her words in her head, feeling a bit embarrassed with some of her wording before continuing. "You know, the best ballads come from real experiences. I use them to vent, why don't you give it a try?" Dornia pondered for a while as they sat in silence for a few minutes.

After what seemed like forever, Dornia finally broke the silence. "I know it's a bit rude to ask but..." She stammered, growing less confident as she talked. "What do you vent about?" Dauntless sighed with a smile, "Believe it or not, in the real world I am a doctor. My work is a bit stressful and, in that line of work, patients inevitably die. Sometimes you can save them, sometimes you can't..." Her voice became quieter as she spoke in a sad tone, barely noticeable but it was there lingering like a shadow, "Every time it happens, no matter the circumstances, I am left second guessing myself. Maybe I could have done something different? Maybe I could have been faster? Every time it happens, I know it isn't my fault, but I feel like it is." Dauntless looked content, as if staring at someone in the distance, her warm smile never leaving her expression. "You know, had I never experienced these failures, I'd have probably never picked up an instrument but here I am." She looked at Dornia, still smiling, "I don't regret a single moment because I'd never be who I am had I not needed the escape. It's strange... the way music can take you away from your emotional troubles and at the same time amplify them ten fold. It's surreal and I love every second of it." "Is that why you play? To escape?" Dornia asked. Dauntless looked back to the ceiling, "No, I don't think so. I think I play to share the joy I feel from music to others who need an escape too. That, and to immortalize moments of my life in ballads I've written. Unfortunately there is no shortage of depression in this world so, with my dandy lute and charming blonde apprentice, we offer an escape from the harshness of this world. That, I think, is a good thing." Dornia was silent for a while longer, the flickering light of candles casting shadows of decorative items that danced across the walls and ceiling. She observed them as she recalled their shows, audience reactions, and how good she felt doing them. She took particular notice of the fact that she is very uncomfortable under a spot light but when she wields her fiddle, it was both her shield from the fear and her sword that drove away the fear. It was a part of her and, when she held it, wheb she played it, she felt comfort. It's sound reminded her of home, reminded her of family, reminded her of what she must fight for. What everyone fought for... freedom from this world that they were imprisoned in. Everyone had their scars from it and more to come, no matter how big. Whether by loss of loved ones or loss of their own life, Dornia was a victim like the rest.

She swiped through her inventory, holding the fiddle and setting the bow beside her on the furs that covered the bed. Dauntless watched her, her arm still around her, as Dornia inspected the familiar instrument. Identical in nearly every way to the one she had in the real world. She stroked the wooden body, feeling the tiny strings, and tracing the perimeter of it's petite neck. "Tell me, Dornia. How did you feel before the battle. Be honest." Dauntless asked in a gentle tone. "Terrified... anxious and paranoid. I... I kept questioning myself of why I was doing it." Dornia struggled to recall the events, the entire ordeal being a blur. "And during the battle?" Dauntless asked the blonde. "I felt numb, angry... I tried to keep calm but I felt so angry. It was so hard to contain. I remember I kept reminding myself not to let them see my emotion. They kept taunting me but..." Dornia felt her throat tighten and took a few deep breaths to calm down before she continued. "I survived in the end and four of them did not. The entire fight was anger and a worry of failure. I could see in my mind their threats flashing... I wish I couldn't but I did and... it pissed me off. I wanted to kill them after that." The blonde began choking up, anger in her voice. "I wanted to kill them all so badly, I lost control." Tears began welling but none fell to the furs she laid upon. "How about after the fight? When you were finally alone, finally safe from the assassins." Dornia shook her head, wiping her eyes with one hand as she held the fiddle with the other. "I don't know. Like a well of relief, a sickening... triumph? I was happy to be alive but felt so... dead inside. Like a part of me had broken. When I saw you, it felt like... I don't know, I couldn't stop crying. I felt so weak and pathetic but.. but I couldn't stop. I don't understand why I cried so much because I was so happy to see you were safe. They didn't get you. They said they would but they didn't. I didn't let them..." She wiped a tear away as she continued to examine the instrument. "Remember those emotions. Remember them and try to convey them in song. Immortalize them and learn to love the sound." Dauntless said, her tone cheery, "It becomes easier over time and may even make you happy to hear them." Dornia spoke softly with a hint of despair in her voice, "I don't want to be happy about it. Four people are dead... by my hand. I don't want my persona to be a girl who is happy to have killed." Dauntless reached her other arm over and rustled her hair, "You're missing the point. It's got nothing to do with how others think of you. It's about what you think of you. Like it or not, these ballads are you... your life and who you are. If you're honest with yourself like you were honest with me, you'll be happy just in knowing that it's you and nobody else who wrote it." Dornia thought on it for a moment before responding, "But I've never heard a ballad of yours that was by you. Have you actually ever written any?" Dauntless threw her finger in the air, "Aha, but I have. You've just never heard one of mine before. To be honest, I'm not sure if I'll ever perform one of my personal ballads." "Why?" Dornia asked. "I'm not sure of that, myself. Maybe I'm embarrassed of them... maybe I just don't want to share my closet full of skeletons with the world just yet. All I know is I sure am glad I, at the very least, have them. I used to come home from work and play them in my apartment after a bad day and, despite the subject, I always felt better." Dauntless continued to smile as she stared at the ceiling whose shadows danced across it's surface. Dornia watched as well as she laid there with the troubadour. "I think I need more than just this... er... what happened to me. If I am going to compose a ballad, it should be an epic." Dauntless looked over to the blonde to see her smiling warmly, a faint glint of determination in her sea of sorrow she had wallowed in. "What'll it be about?" Dauntless asked her, grinning. "My... our search for Kiu and our adventures, or rather, misadventures along the way." Dornia said as she stroked the fiddle's body again. "It'll need a good title..." Dauntless exclaimed teasingly. Dornia placed a hand on her chin as she thought. "Not everything comes at once, take your time with it and you're sure to have a masterpiece." Dauntless said, still wearing that huge grin. Dornia nodded, "I'm not sure yet but I think I'll give it a shot."

Dauntless reached across to Dornia's chest and grabbed the map, examining it. "You said the letter came from your parents?" She asked as she looked it over, noticing the unfamiliar word and the number twenty four. "Yeah, why?" Dornia asked. "Are they here too? In Aincrad, I mean." Dauntless looked at the illustration with a quizzical look. "Not that I know of... it's possible but I don't think so, it was grocery day so both of my moms went to the market." Dornia said, surprising even herself with what she recalled that day. "Then how did you get a letter from your parents?" Dauntless asked, thoroughly confused. Dornia sat the fiddle down and retrieved the letter from her inventory, it materializing in her hand. "They helped make the game." She said as she looked over the letter again. "Wait, your parents helped make SAO? How could they let you play it?" Dauntless asked with disbelief. "Well mom is a programmer for the company and mother is a lead designer for items. Particularly weapons and some armor. They weren't working with Kayaba so I don't think they knew..." Dornia explained. Dauntless replied in a monotone voice, "Oh yeah, forgot about those. Yeah, that makes sense..." Dornia shook her head in disbelief, failing to contain her smile. "Remind me never to become your patient." She joked.

"So what's it about? The letter, I mean." Dauntless asked, turning the map in all directions to see if there was a trick to the angle of the illustration. "It's a letter that triggers a quest. One other person, implied I know who, will recieve three letters with maps like I will. This is just the first of three. Apparently they lead to keys. Find my three while she finds three and we probably get a map leading to a treasure." Dornia explained as she read the letter. "How do you know it's a she?" Dauntless asked. "Isn't it obvious? It says right here that I already know who. If this was a tailor made quest for me, then it was made while the game was still in development. It has to be Kiu. Who else could it be? That, and the quest is called, 'Seven Years Since Then' or something. Kiu and I have been together for seven years or so, now. Maybe not dating but we became friends then." Dauntless reviewed what she heard in her head for a moment. "You know, it's a pretty kind gesture for your parents to do that for you guys. I think that's sweet of them. How did you and her meet? Not to get to personal, that is." Dauntless held her hand up defensively, trying not to offend the fiddler by prying so deep. "Eh? Er... well she had just moved next door from Wakkanai and saw me practicing for my first family fencing tournament to be held in Germany." Dornia smiled warmly as she recalled the memory. "There I was, a little girl with a sword, swinging it at a pell and thinking I was a complete bad ass. Out of the corner of my eye is a girl peeping over the fence at me, just a mop of black hair and golden brown eyes. A bit taller than me but about my age. I waved, she waved back. For a while, she just watched me as I practiced and talked but later began coming over. She was probably my first real friend. We had this tree in our back yard, a big cherry blossom tree. Biggest you've ever seen with charms hanging from it. Bright red with tassels like the ones from China." Dauntless listened with a smile, enjoying the moment as her partner described the fond memory with passion. "I guess that's what my parents thought would look good, misappropriation of culture and all that. Anyways, under the tree was a bench and a rock garden of river rocks. We would sit under that tree for hours and just talk. Talk about what ever, it didn't matter. Sometimes we didn't even talk, just being next to her was enough. Eventually I realized that I liked her more than a friend and one day, under that tree, I just kissed her. I don't know why even to this day. I was so scared how she would react. Terrified even. I thought she might have screamed or hit me but instead, she just smiled and kissed me. We've been together ever since." Dornia concluded, a warm smile on her face. Dauntless didn't answer, just listened and enjoyed the story. Dornia asked, "Hey Dauntless... Does it ever get easier?" "What do you mean?" The troubadour inquired. "I mean killing people." The blonde's voice shrunk as she spoke. Dauntless' tone turned to something sad, sitting in silence before replying. "Yes. It does." Dornia wanted to ask but didn't, feeling it to be inappropriate. She, instead laid in silence for what seemed like forever before she broke the silence. "Hey Dauntless, I know you don't like to listen to me wallow in self pity and all but thanks... for listening I mean. I know I don't seem worth the trouble sometimes and that's okay. I'm just glad you gave me the chance and dragged me along with you on this crazy adventure. I swear sometimes you'll get me killed, or I'll get you killed, but I don't think I regret it." Dornia watched as the familiar shadows that danced across the ceiling and walls flickered with the candles glow. She looked over and saw her partner fast asleep, her arm still around her. That can't be comfortable. Dornia thought to herself, knowing all to well that once she has her grip on something, she isn't likely to let it go. She looked back to the ceiling, speaking aloud, "I think I'll call the ballad, 'No Triumph Without Strife'..."

[End of Chapter 4: Expect chapter five at the end of April and thanks for reading! I appreciate those who leave feedback and love constructive criticism that may improve my skills. Yet again, thanks for reading!]