Chapter 7:

Revenge

It was dark, inside the cave. A hooded lantern was ablaze in Primrose's hand as she led them through it. While Olberic had tried to dissuade her from this rash action, when he caught wind that it was a brothel and when there were women who were trapped in it's service, his tune had changed quite quickly. H'aanit found the whole concept of a brothel rather strange, but accompanied them to learn more.

When Arianna had come to get them, she had warned them that the coachman of the carriage was very… curt. Indeed, he was quite immune to Primrose's charms and they were certain that he wouldn't budge for a Sister of the Sacred Flame either. Of course, if they really were new girls as they had told him, a cleric wasn't exactly going to fit very well.

A trip to the general store had fixed that, though the shopkeeper had been rather appalled to discover that he had such clothes available for sale. As such, Ophilia was clothed very similarly to Primrose, though she also had an opaque veil that rested on the back of her head. She had also insisted on white, and the dancer had been gracious enough be fine with it.

Ophilia wasn't sure if she could die from embarrassment. From both the look the coachman had given her and Primrose, to the raised eyebrow of Olberic. Still, it wasn't exactly attire for the Frostlands and Primrose had also given her a warm cloak and insisted on boots and leggings.

Of course, they had also ended up dragging the tavernkeeper into the mess, as Oren the coachman still had refused them. Primrose had charmed him into assisting them, and they seemed to work out some sort of deal concerning the debts that Oren had. Things had proceeded rather smoothly from there.

Olberic and H'aanit had agreed that they would follow the carriage discreetly, as the knight didn't fit the clientele and H'aanit did not know enough to pose as one of the 'new girls.' Ophilia thought she didn't know enough either, but when Primrose had mentioned going herself, she had reconsidered that and gone along with it with Arianna's words ringing in her ears.

Arianna had accompanied them on the coach as well, and had parted ways with them after directing them to this cave It was well hidden some distance away from the road. She had mentioned that she had to 'go to work.' The large manse that she had called the Obsidian Parlor was rather intimidating where it stood, nestled amongst the forested hills. She made mention of the buying and selling of girls, and how many would appear and disappear abruptly and how she was afraid that it might happen to her. But when asked why she would not leave…

Arianna had replied:

"… Where else would I have to go?"

Ophilia hadn't had an answer for that. She was still dwelling on it as they continued through the cave. Though several beasts attempted to ambush them, H'aanit was vigilant enough to warn them something was coming close.

Despite the slow going and the inhabitants of the cave, they finally found a set of stairs hewn into the stone that led up into a set of stone hallways told them that they had arrived.

Primrose doused the lantern and set it aside as they entered the Parlor. She peered around the corner of a hallway before gesturing and they all followed her. Surprisingly enough, they did not run into any guards, at least not until another junction where Primrose walked around a corner and then quickly stepped back.

"Guards. Must be someplace important." She peered around the corner carefully again. "Just three..." Olberic stepped up and placed his hand on her shoulder, drawing her gaze.

"H'aanit and I will distract them then, and prevent reinforcements from interrupting your time with the Master." He drew his blade, sharing a nod with H'aanit and Linde. Weapons in hand, they charged around the corner of the hallway, filling the air with the sounds of battle.

As Primrose moved to go, Ophilia caught her hand and gave it a brief squeeze. "I'm with you, Primrose." Primrose only nodded. The dancer took a deep breath, and then ran around the corner with Ophilia right behind her. They ran past their companions who were fighting with the guards. From the corner of her eye, she could see one of the guards fleeing in another direction. Seems Olberic had been right about reinforcements.

The guards had been guarding a passageway, which led to another room. The room was spacious and dimly lit, with a set of 4 stairs that led up to the Master's throne. Ophilia was at Primrose's side as they strode into the room and they laid eyes on him. She took in his blonde hair, his hard features, his black leathers, and the tattoo on his arm all at once. She could hear the dim ringing of conflict behind them as well.

"Mark of the crow on his left arm..." Primrose was muttering to herself, eyes glued to him. Although it seemed he had not noticed them quite yet…

"So we finally meet again." The dancer called out, drawing her dagger. "Oh how I've waited for this day..."

The man only tilted his head, studying them from his throne. "Have we met, milady?" He replied. "Wait a moment..." A moment of silence. "… Didn't I see you dancing on a stage in some desert town?"

Ophilia had her staff in hand, just listening to the exchange.

"I am Primrose Azelhart." Primrose cast aside her cloak at that moment, prompting Ophilia to do the same. It would just get in the way against a foe like this.

"My my… the young lady of House Azelhart? A little far from home, aren't you?" He got to his feet, opening his arms in a gesture of welcome. "Why yes… I'd be all too happy to welcome Geoffrey Azelhart's little girl. He was a tough old bastard, good with a blade." He grinned. "Your father made far too many enemies little girl. It's bad for one's health, you know."

"He did not deserve to die!" Primrose fired back, her voice thick with emotion.

"He did. He came to know something that he had no business in knowing. And so we swept him, and his knowledge back under the rug." His grin grew wider as he flexed his thick biceps.

Primrose's dagger spun in her hand. "My father always told me to be true to my beliefs..." She began. "To have faith in myself, and never fail to carry out what I knew must be done." She raised her weapon and pointed it at him. "You three, bearing the mark of the crow. I will kill you all." Her voice turned cold. "That is the only thing I believe in now; My reason for being."

"You aren't the first little girl, nor will you be the last." He drew his own blade. "I will bury you, just as I've buried the rest." He drew up to his full height, brandishing his weapons and sending the three girls around his throne scrambling to get out of the way. "I am Rufus, the left wing of the crow." He declared as he approached the top of the steps. "Now come, precious daughter of House Azelhart. I will send you to your father's side."

He leapt down the stairs and charged at them the moment he hit the ground. Primrose met his charge and deflected his blade, scoring a shallow cut across his stomach as she rolled past him. He turned and swiped with his sword, missing as she danced away from the blow. A ray of magic struck and burned him from behind as Ophilia made her presence known.

"She's not alone, you thug." The cleric exclaimed as she pointed her staff at him again. He was a tall man though and reached into his coat, drawing and throwing a knife at Ophilia in the same motion. She barely threw herself aside in time to avoid it.

Primrose darted in and struck but Rufus was able to catch her strike with his sword just in time. "Little girl's got some claws after all." He grinned at her, and her expression hardened.

"Little girl knows how to use them." She shot back, dancing away from his next blow and putting her hands together, palms toward him. But while Rufus's attention was on Primrose, Ophilia had crept up on him. She angled her staff and tripped the crow as he raised his sword toward the dancer.

He rolled over and swept out with his sword, Ophilia only barely deflecting the blow with her staff. As he leapt to his feet and she blocked his next strike, he leaned in close over their deadlocked weapons – looking her up and down. "Hmm… You aren't so bad looking either, little lady. You'd be perfect as one of my girls." She shivered a little at his words, shaking her head.

"I don't think so." He shoved her back forcefully and she lost her footing, falling over herself. Ophilia scrambled to pick herself up, moving just in time to avoid his next blow.

"You sure precious? I could set you up for an easy and lovely life." He grinned from ear to ear and it made Ophilia's skin crawl.

The cleric saw it forming at his feet though. "I'm afraid I must decline. I have other obligations." She answered as she pointed her staff at him.

At the same time, dark magic rose from the circle at his feet and encased him in a pillar of onyx and violet light. Rufus screamed as he couldn't move, even as Ophilia's light lanced him through the chest.

The magic dissipated after a moment and Rufus fell to his knees. And then Primrose was there, shoving her dagger into his back and twisting it. With a roar, he picked her up bodily and threw her over his shoulder, at Ophilia. The cleric dropped her staff as they collided, and the impact sent them both tumbling to the ground.

Dazed, Ophilia tried to pull herself out from under Primrose. The dancer didn't respond to her touch and Ophilia could see that she was bleeding from the head. The cleric did manage to get out from under her after a moment, just in time to see Rufus finally managing to grasp the dagger in his back and pull it out. He held it in his hand before he spoke up with a dark chuckle. "'Faith shall be your shield' huh? I'm afraid it's time I put an end to this… farce." His hand snapped out in their direction.

Ophilia watched the dagger leave his hand as he threw it at them, and she made her decision. She shifted over Primrose and it buried itself in her back. She screamed because it hurt. She was so caught up in the pain that it surprised her when Rufus picked her up by the hair, standing behind her. "Yes, I do think you'll do nicely my pet..." She struggled a little, until he twisted the dagger just a little. That silenced her protests. "Be a good little girl and wait for me to finish with this one."

He pulled the dagger from her back and threw her aside. "Now then. Say hello to your father for me, would you?" Rufus loomed over Primrose as he raised her dagger.

Ophilia screamed again. "No! Primrose!" She could only watch from where she was lying on the floor.

As he brought the dagger down, the dancer's hands caught his by the wrist. "Faith, shall be your shield." Her words echoed through the room as there was a flurry of motion. The next thing Rufus knew, he was lying on his back and Primrose had his sword in one hand, and her dagger in the other. "And I will have my vengeance."

She was standing over him when he started laughing. "Vengeance hm? Is it as sweet as you dreamed it would be, all these years?" Primrose shifted, and she held his sword to his neck.

"This is only the beginning." She answered.

"Hah… so it is. But you'll never know the truth. Not without going home… to Noblecourt. Do you have the strength to face it?" He was taunting her.

Primrose leaned down and with her dagger, cut his throat before stabbing him in the chest. As he fell still, she dropped his sword and took a deep breath before a hand touched her shoulder. She pulled her dagger from his chest and it was at Ophilia's neck before she realized who it was.

"You got hurt because of me." She stated tonelessly.

"It was my turn to protect you." Ophilia answered as Primrose pulled her arm back, spinning her dagger before sheathing it. The cleric winced. "He's… dead then?" She wobbled a little, and Primrose caught her arm to steady her.

"Yes, it is done. Careful Ophilia… He stabbed you, didn't he?" Ophilia was surprised to hear the concern in Primrose's voice.

"It's mostly healed. It just took more out of me than I thought it would." Ophilia answered. It was then that Olberic burst into the room.

"Are you both all right?" His sword was bloody in his hand, and the two ladies shared a glance.

"Yes… it's done. Let's get out of here." Primrose answered for them both.

"Good timing then, it's time to go. We just routed another group of guards and I think it's safe to say they know there are intruders in the building." Olberic gestured.

Arianna burst into the room as he finished speaking. "Time is of the essence. I told the guards I saw the intruders fleeing to a different part of the Parlor, but we must go. Quickly now."

"Ophilia, you can use my shoulder. Come, let us leave." She spared one glance over her shoulder at the corpse of Rufus.

"Primrose?" Ophilia murmured.

"It's nothing." Primrose shifted to better support Ophilia as they left the room and the corpse behind.

Author's Note: Hi again! : ) Another chapter, this one is mostly action though. I may look at rewriting the start of the chapter since I think I confused myself while writing it. Want to thank my readers for favoriting and following once again!

EJ17: Honestly, I'm pretty excited for it too. But the 'ending' is so far away! : 3 I did finish the Gate of Finis today though! As always, thank you for the review.