Warning: this chapter contains incredibly heavy violence. You have been warned.


The air in the old Temple was hot, stifling. The stone walls amplified even the smallest of sounds, keeping Hammer and Garth painfully on edge. The dim torches lining the walls cast an ominous glow over everything. It was overwhelming, as though they had began to descend into the very core of the earth itself.

Garth's stomach was bruised and his jaw ached agonisingly, and he knew that was only the start of his treatment, were Hammer to drag him through the Temple. But it was the only way he could think of to get to Reaver - and the Guards would certainly want him to reach Reaver. He knew what they planned; they wanted to kill Reaver in front of him. They practiced mental torture as much as they did physical, and Garth knew that he would be torn apart if he were forced to watch Reaver die. His hatred for the Spire Guards flared.

Hammer was clutching his hand, stammering apologies and questions concerning his well-being. Garth had warned her to steel herself - if they ran into anymore Guards, he would receive the same violent treatment - but she was in shock. Garth supposed he couldn't blame her; she'd had to watch, unflinching, as the Guard attacked a helpless man. It went against every one of her morals. Garth chided himself for not thinking to warn her about it.

"Hammer, if you must apologise, save it for later," he begged softly. "Wait until we've found Reaver, at least."

Hammer sniffed and took a shuddering breath. "You're right, we're too close for me to fall apart now. I'm sorry-"

"That's what I want you to stop saying," Garth said dryly. Hammer blinked at him.

"All right, I'll give you that one." she chuckled and took another deep breath. "What now, Garth? Please don't tell me I'm to drag you through this place until we get to Reaver, because I know you'll be hit and kicked and I'll just have to watch it."

"Yes, you will." Garth agreed.

"Don't sound so at peace with it!" Hammer hissed. "Sometimes I wonder if you really are mental. You've walked straight into the hornet's nest here because of some self-absorbed pirate, and you're not even worried-"

"Are you done?"

"Quit interrupting me! I'm done for now." Hammer lifted her chin, looking indignant. "Come on then, let's get this over with so I can beat you up myself." She tugged the mask back over her mouth.

"Lovely," Garth muttered, and he allowed Hammer to hold his hands behind his back as she half-carried him through the dimly-lit corridor. It was only when they reached what Garth guessed was the central chamber that they ran into more Guards.

There were only three doors that led deeper into the Temple from the central chamber, and a Guard stood watch at each of them. At the back of the room stood an old, decaying wheel with meaningless symbols, and beside it, a lever. It had been used as some sick Temple of Shadows ritual, Garth knew.

As Hammer brought him into the centre of the room, the three Guards rushed over to greet them. "Look who it is," one of them sneered, the thrilled note in his voice sending shivers down Garth's spine. He glared up at them defiantly.

"Still stubborn as hell, too. You beat that Bowerstone Hero too, which 'as gotta say somethin'!" The second Guard laughed as Garth frowned, puzzled. "You don't know? Well then, I ain't gonna tell ye." It seized Garth's face and leaned in. "It's been a while. Ye look the same, though ye got more clothes on." The other Guards guffawed.

Hammer's grip tightened around his arms. Garth could feel her hands trembling.

"Ye remember what to do 'ere?" The third Guard pinched Garth's nose closed, cutting off his air. Garth automatically clamped his mouth shut, the memory of foreign objects being forced past his lips now fresh in his mind. But he needed to breathe, and finally, as his lungs began to scream for air, he unclenched his jaw and took in a gasping, grateful breath.

Nothing was forced into his mouth this time, but the Guards roared with laughter as he wrenched his head away. Just as he had told himself to focus on escape all those years ago, he reminded himself that he was here to help Reaver. Reaver, who had been dragged here simply because of his association with Garth. Garth chanted his purpose like a mantra in his head as he was jerked from Hammer's grasp and hurled to the floor. He felt one of the Guard's boots on his back, holding him down, and groaned involuntarily.

"We'll have some fun with ye before we hand ye over," one of the Guard's taunted, and Garth's stomach turned over unpleasantly.

"Enough."

Hammer's soft voice silenced the Guards like a shout. Garth managed to glance up in time to see her plunge a dagger into the first Guard's back. She turned the dagger around inside it and wrenched it free, slicing apart its ribcage.

"Wha-"

The second Guard was silenced as Hammer thrust the blade into its neck, instantly killing it. The third started towards her, sword raised and anger gleaming in its eyes, and Garth gathered his wits in time to fire a Shock spell at it, electrocuting it. It was reduced to nothing but a skeleton within moments.

Garth climbed to his feet shakily as Hammer, spattered with blood, rounded on him. "Do not ask me to watch that again," she whispered fiercely. "The things they were saying… Oh, Garth, tell me it's not what I'm thinking!"

"I don't know what you're thinking," Garth replied carefully, and she heaved a heavy sigh.

"No, of course not. But no more." She tucked the dagger away in her belt and narrowed her eyes. "I can't just watch as these sick freaks just… they have…"

"We need to get to Reaver." Garth said firmly, but she shook her head.

"Then hide in the shadows, or hide behind me, I don't care. Just no more!" With that, she turned her back on Garth. "It wouldn't be so bad if you fought back, but you don't!"

"The idea of 'disguise' is clearly lost on you," Garth snapped. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, to empathise with Hammer, and finally gave in. He could see he wasn't going to win this one. "Have it your way. Pray that this doesn't add to our problems."

"Action, not praying, helps." Hammer said flatly, and Garth agreed with her. She turned back around. She had pulled the mask down again, and relief was clearly evident on her face. "They mentioned Sparrow. What do you think they were talking about?"

"Who knows?" Garth replied heavily. He was worried about the bodies; if another Guard found them, the alarm would be raised. "They may have been bluffing. Or they may have alerted Sparrow to Reaver's capture somehow. Clearly they don't realise how much those two hate each other."

"Sparrow wouldn't leave Reaver here though," Hammer said uncomfortably.

"You don't sound very sure of that." Garth pointed out bluntly. "In any case, we need to hide these bodies." He eyed the lever beside the strange wheel thoughtfully. They were clearly on a platform of some kind, as the stone in the circle was different to the rest of the floor, so perhaps…

"Hammer, come out of there." he ordered quietly. Hammer blinked before realising what he meant, and hurried out of the circle. Garth gingerly pulled the lever, careful not to break the old thing.

The wheel began to turn slowly. Bits of rotted wood flaked off it as it gathered speed, thankfully without much noise. It finally slowed to a stop, and the bodies on the platform began to glow and transform into…

"Chickens?" Hammer hissed incredulously.

"Dead chickens," Garth pointed out, just as astonished. "And a chicken skeleton. You've got to be kidding me."

"This was the Temple of Shadows, right?" Hammer asked doubtfully. "The same folk that tainted the Wellspring of Light and massacred Oakfield? Did they really turn people into chickens?"

"It would appear so." Garth would have laughed, were his mind not focused on more important matters. "Never let it be said that evil lacks creativity. But we don't have time for this." He glanced around. "I suppose we start at door one?"

The corridor was as dimly lit as the others, but the thing that separated it from the others was the twisted and broken statues that lined the walls. Garth took one look at Hammer and moved to see if he could fit in a crouch behind the first. He could. He shot Hammer a grin.

"So you dart from one to the other as I take a stroll through the evil park?" Hammer asked. She looked relieved - Garth was hidden. "I can deal with that."

It was that or drag Garth through the labyrinth to be abused. Garth knew which he preferred. They only ran into two other Guards in the hallway. Garth stayed in the shadows and Hammer tensed up as they passed, but if anything that made her look even more like a Spire Guard. They were three-quarters the way down the corridor when a loud crash resounded throughout the Temple. Hammer shot Garth an alarmed look.

"Wait here," she whispered. "I'm going to see what that was. Won't be a minute." She took off before Garth could stop her. He snarled with frustration and crouched down behind a statue, knowing it was best if he waited for her to return.

It was then that he heard that heaven-sent familiar voice float down the corridor.

"This is the worst party I have ever attended."

Heart in his mouth, Garth crept forward cautiously, edging closer to the door at the end of the corridor. He had a clear view of the room from behind the last statue, and he nearly laughed in relief.

Reaver was there, wrists shackled to the wall, but altogether unharmed. Five Guards stood watch in this cell: one against the adjacent wall, two by Reaver, one by the door, and one over in the corner with its back to the rest of the room. Garth resolved to wait for Hammer; if Reaver was unharmed, the Guards probably had orders to keep him that way. He would be safe for now.

And of course, he was making a royal pain of himself, Garth was pleased to see.

"Oh, can't we just slit his throat?" the first Guard (whom Garth had so cleverly titled Guard One) complained.

"Now, now, you heard the fellow with the pointy things in his head: I'm to be kept alive." Reaver said smugly. "Wait until the Mage gets here, then you can kill me all you want!"

"And if he doesn't come for you?" Guard Three sneered unkindly down at the Thief. Garth's stomach knotted at the sight of it.

Reaver however, remained unperturbed. "Then he's actually listened to his brain for once." he replied, shrugging as best he could in his chains. "He tends to ignore it when it comes to me. But then, that happens to most people. I'm too much for them."

"Yer too much for me," Guard Two growled. "I'm gonna enjoy cuttin' your tongue out."

"Well, until then, I'm going to enjoy irritating the life out of you!"

Garth shook his head, unable to keep the grin off his face. He knew he should have expected Reaver to be indignant over his treatment, rather than fearful. Did anything scare the man?

"You there," Reaver addressed the third Guard. "Bob!"

"Bob?" the Guard sounded bewildered.

"Yes. Seeing as you have yet to introduce yourselves, I've had to give you names myself. If you must know, that fellow is Frank-" he nodded to Guard Two "-and that one is Eugene." He nodded at Guard One. "I've yet to title your other friends because I grew bored. Anyway, what do you plan to do to the Mage when he gets here? I can't imagine you'll be treating him to tea and biscuits and things of such nature."

"None of your damned business," Guard Three growled.

"How rude! No wonder nobody likes you."

"Back down, man." Guard Four stepped forward and waved the others back. He sneered down at Reaver. "You know, the Will User's mouth got him into a lot of strife in the Spire. The Commandant didn't like his stubbornness."

"So I've heard." Reaver's amiable tone had disappeared, and was now replaced by something far more deadly. "So, was it protocol to rape your prisoners? Or was that something a number of you did, something to make you feel powerful in your otherwise meaningless lives of servitude?"

"I'll kill 'im." Guard Two started forward, but was stopped by Guard Four.

"Don't let him get to you." it said, and Garth realised that this Guard was probably in the running to become a Soldier. It turned back to Reaver. "If you must know, orders were given to punish him whenever he displeased the Commandant. Method of torture was usually never specified, so it was up to the Guard. And if it had been a while…" It broke off horribly and leaned in close to Reaver, grinning. "Rape wasn't the only torture method used on him though. Want to know what else we did?"

"The bile rises to my mouth at the thought," Reaver replied, and Garth had only ever seen the murderous smirk on his face a handful of times. "But do tell me. I need to know how horrible I should make your death."

The Guard seized his face and tilted it up, for no other reason than to demonstrate the power it held over Reaver. "We could show you, if you like." it snarled.

"You certainly could," Reaver agreed, and he lashed out with his foot and caught the Guard in the groin.

Garth had no love for the Spire Guards, but he couldn't help but wince as it stumbled back and doubled over.

"You- Low blow-" it snarled.

"I'm gonna enjoy killin' you," Guard Two growled at him.

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing to you!" Reaver exclaimed. "I'd say that great minds think alike, but… well, you clearly don't have a mind."

"Enough of this." The fifth Guard, the one who had previously been working on something in the far corner, now turned around, a small vial in his hand. "Serves you right for not tying his legs up too. You didn't even think to gag him."

"At least one of you has half a brain."

"Indeed." It held up the small vial. "And seeing as gagging you is apparently out of the question, we'll have to silence you another way. Hold his mouth open."

It was over almost as soon as it began. Reaver's head was wrenched back by his hair and his jaw held open securely, despite his struggles to pull away. The contents of the vial were poured down his throat and he choked, coughing and spluttering as he struggled to draw breath.

"That should do it." Guard Five stepped back and nodded, satisfied.

Reaver's head lolled forward, hiding the agonised look that Garth had managed to catch from his captors. Garth clutched onto the side of the statue until his knuckles turned white, his heart thudding in his chest as Reaver's laboured breathing slowly evened out.

Hammer, where are you?

Reaver finally glanced up, all humour, deadly or otherwise, gone from his face as he snarled at the Guards. He opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a rough, choking noise and he winced, hissing in a breath in pain.

"That will keep you quiet for a while," Guard Five said. It wrenched Reaver's head back again and sneered down into his face. "That was never done to your Will User, simply because he so rarely spoke. We had other methods of gagging him though. Would you like to see?"

Reaver kicked out at it and the Guard caught him by the ankle, as though it had been expecting that. It seized Reaver's other leg and held them together, ordering them to be tied, and Garth snapped.

Don't let them touch him.

He unleashed a Force Push spell, so powerful that it slammed the five Guards up against the wall, one narrowly missing Reaver. Reaver turned his head against the blast, bracing himself as best he could, and when he saw Garth he lunged forward as though to help, forgetting about his chains momentarily. He grunted in pain as he was jerked back.

Garth hurried over to him, wanting to make sure Reaver was shielded from the Guards' attacks, as well as his own spells. "Just wait," he murmured, and Reaver grinned up at him, though he was still obviously in pain.

"You!" the fourth Guard was on his feet, his cutlass drawn. "Take him down!"

"You're going to pay," Garth hissed, and he sent forth a powerful burst of lightning that had the Guard twitching on the spot, unable to even scream in pain as the flesh was melted from its bones.

Garth summoned his protective Blades quickly, a moment later hearing the familiar pang as a Guard's attack bounced off them. He spun around and blasted the closest Guard with Inferno, only relenting when it fell to the ground, dead.

His arm was seized and he was spun away from Reaver; stumbling, he fired an Inferno blast blindly, heard the Guard hiss as it singed its side, felt the room shake as it crashed into the opposing wall. His coat was torn from his body as he was forced to his knees, his arms held out on either side of him, the Guards clutching his wrists so that he couldn't manoeuvre his hands to aim his spells at them. The third Guard stepped into view, tilted his head up and regarded him for a moment. Then it looked over its shoulder at Reaver.

"Watch," it ordered expressionlessly. "We will show you another torture method."

It took its place behind Garth now, and Garth was able to meet Reaver's eyes. There was a short silence, in which Reaver appeared to be holding his breath as he tried to twist his wrists out of their shackles. Garth heard the scraping of a dagger being unsheathed, felt the point of it press against the skin of his left shoulder blade. It was only when a strip of flesh was cut from his back and slowly pulled down did his mind register what was happening to him.

He was being skinned alive.

He had known pain before, had endured torture in the Spire until he finally passed out, only to wake in his cell later, roughly healed. But this was unlike anything he had ever felt. It whitewashed his mind, obliterating everything else until he could barely remember where he was, and as the strip of flesh, slippery with blood, was slowly razed, the scream he had been holding back erupted from his throat.

And this time, the Guards had no master for whom to keep him alive, no need for him in the future. This would last for a very long time.

He could hear his own screams, the rattling of chains, the thudding of footsteps, prolonged in the eternal present brought on by the excruciating pain. In a moment, the faces of all those he had known, loved and hated alike, flashed before his eyes, close enough to touch: Reaver, hair tousled and eyes bleary as he lay beside him in bed; Hammer, her young face eager as she prepared to avenge her father; Sparrow, determined to rescue him and leave the Spire alive; countless Castle Fairfax servants, too many to name, all looking at him curiously; his two brothers, his mother, his father; the residents of the gypsy camp in which he had spent his childhood…

And finally, Lucien, handsome in his youth, his eyes bright as he informed Garth of their staggering progress in locating the foundations of the old Spire. Garth could only scream as the apparition aged before him, gun poised at his head as it spoke of its intent, as it told Garth that eventually his very life force would be needed to make it happen…

Oh, but Garth had loved that young, knowledge-hungry man.

Suddenly he fell forward, dimly aware that the parting of his skin from his flesh had stopped, and as he pressed his cheek to the cold stone floor he realised the Guards must have let him go. There was shouting, gunshots, followed by the sickening crunch of bones as they were crushed under a massive force. And then, silence.

He lay on the floor, blood pooling around him as he stared, unbelieving, up at Hammer.

What happened?

"You're alive." Hammer sounded distant as his vision swam before him, and he realised he must have spoken out loud. Hammer had removed the mask, and she looked sickly pale as she crouched down before him.

"The Guards are dead," she told him, and suddenly she turned her head to the side, her hand over her mouth as her breathing hiccupped. "S-sorry. I'll bandage you up until we can get you proper attention."

He was shifted gingerly, propped up and pressure was applied to his wounds as Hammer bandaged him with who-knew-what. Slowly, the haze of pain began to disappear now that the dagger had stopped piecing his flesh. He groaned softly. "Reaver?"

"He's fine, though he hasn't said a word." Hammer sounded confused.

"They forced him to drink something." Garth was able to hold himself up now, though he felt light-headed. His body was unpleasantly sticky with blood and the material Hammer was using to bandage him was red, though whether that was its original colour or it was simply stained with blood, he couldn't tell.

"Did it hurt you?" Hammer wasn't looking at him, so he ignored it. She still looked horribly pale. "I rather like the quiet, actually."

Reaver made an indignant noise, and Garth looked over at him. Catching his eye, Reaver grinned. His wrists were still chained to the wall, but his right fingers were wrapped around the standard gun of a Spire Guard. He was able to use it, with difficulty.

"Done." Hammer stepped away from Garth, her hand hovering over her mouth again. "That was just sick. Free Reaver while I-"

She broke off and hurried from the room, and Garth understood that she was throwing up. As he grew closer to Reaver, he saw that the Thief too was looking a little pale. He supposed that having to watch someone be skinned was as sickening as it was painful to endure. Especially if it had affected Reaver.

The world began to spin around him and his stomach lurched, forcing him to prop himself against the wall beside Reaver. He gasped as he brushed his wounded back against the stone and fell forward, trying to overcome this wave of nausea.

"Give me a moment." he muttered to Reaver, and Reaver simply shook his head and rolled his eyes. Then, he froze, a frown overtaking his handsome features. A light pressure was placed on Garth's arm, and a voice, childish and new, followed it.

"Are you Daddy's friend?"

Garth looked up so quickly that he thought he would be sick. Once his vision focused he stared in shock as a little girl, no more than four years old, eyed him dubiously.

"Aunty Hammer said you're Daddy's friend." the girl repeated. She was dressed in grubby nightclothes, her blonde hair in pigtail-plaits and her lightly browned skin smeared with dirt. But there was no mistaking her eyes: impossibly bright, sky blue.

"Are you Sparrow's daughter?" Garth forced himself to smile at her, vaguely recalling Sparrow mentioning his youngest child. "Yes, I'm your father's friend. I'm Garth."

"She's bold, isn't she?" Hammer had returned now, some colour back in her face as she smiled at the little child. "That noise before, it was a Guard smashing something in front of her, to scare her into shutting up because she wouldn't stop crying. Her name's Hannah."

Garth almost laughed. How very like Sparrow, to name his child for the most important woman in his life outside of his family. He watched as the girl ran back over to Hammer, hiding herself behind Hammer's legs. "I'm three." she said, holding up four fingers. She quickly changed it once she realised her mistake. "How old are you?"

"Much older than you," Garth chuckled, and turned his attention back to Reaver. How would he get those chains off without the key? He certainly had no idea how to pick locks. He glanced at Reaver helplessly. Reaver simply blinked up at him.

"You're not older than my Mummy, but. My Mummy's older than the whole world!"

Reaver made a strangled noise as he tried to laugh, and Garth chuckled again. "Ouch, Hannah. That's cold!" Hammer commented, sounding amused. "She's trying to one-up you, Garth. Are you gonna take that?"

Cold…

Garth ignored them as an idea suddenly came to him. He had once started to create an ice spell, but had abandoned it in favour of others. It wasn't strong enough to use in battle, but surely it could freeze the chains for him to smash! He looked at Reaver.

"Can you pick locks?" he asked hopefully. When Reaver nodded, he sighed in relief and spoke of his idea. Reaver slowly grinned, and rattled the chains that bound his right wrist. He waved the gun pointedly.

"Shall I break them with that, then?" Garth asked, and Reaver nodded sharply. "Fine." He took the gun and set it aside for the moment, and slowly began to freeze the chain links.

"Hurry, Garth." Hammer sounded slightly panicky. "I killed a bunch of them when I was coming back, but I don't know how many more there are."

"You took them by surprise?" Garth asked. He was in no mood to speak, but he knew that talking calmed Hammer's nerves.

"Well, I still had that rotten mask on. And they didn't expect to be attacked from behind by one of their own…"

"Done." Garth whispered, even as Hammer continued speaking. He drew Reaver's wrist from the wall, holding it firmly and pulling the chain taut. He could hear the ice cracking it already as he picked up the gun and held it steady as he fired. The bullet shattered the frozen metal into pieces.

"Next one." Garth muttered, moving gingerly around Reaver, the pain in his back flaring up again as he began to give the second chain the same treatment.

"Oh, don't try to be quiet or anything." Hammer said from the doorway. "It's not like we're sneaking around or anything."

Reaver rolled his eyes, and Garth felt like doing the same. "I was screaming before. I think we can safely say discretion is off the list."

"Oh yeah, good point…"

Garth felt Reaver's fingers on the side of his face. He thought nothing of it at first; his Will scars were a source of endless fascination for Reaver, and he was constantly tracing them with his finger when he had a moment spare. It was only when Reaver's hand moved down behind Garth's neck did Garth realise he was up to something else. Suddenly, impatiently, he was pulled into a kiss.

He felt Reaver's tongue brush his bottom lip, he tasted the foul liquid the Thief had been forced to drink as he responded. Behind him, he heard the little girl descend into uncontrollable giggles and Hammer's irritated reprove at the sight of them.

"What the- Oi! Cut that out!" she hissed. "This is not the time!"

Reaver didn't let go, so Garth supposed that it was the time. He kissed back desperately, trying to convey all the stress and the worry and now the relief had felt in the past few hours.

"I'll come over there and separate you myself! So help me, I'll do it!" Hammer threatened, and it was only then that Reaver broke the kiss. "I was not expecting that. Honestly, he's chained to the bloody wall…"

Reaver grinned up at Garth as he moved to break the second chain. "We've upset her," Garth commented lightly. Reaver shrugged.

"…Spire Guards at our arses and these two think it's a prime location for romance…"

"We may have even broken her, it seems." Garth said, and he fired the gun at the frozen chain, shattering it. Reaver dropped his hands into his lap gratefully, and Garth guessed that the Thief had lost all feeling in them. "You'll have to pick the locks on the cuffs." he said, pointing to Reaver's wrists. Another wave of nausea swept over him and he staggered, groaning as he toppled sideways. Reaver caught him and gently lowered him to the ground.

"Garth! Are you okay?" Hammer's voice sounded distant again. He reached out to clutch at Reaver, but the Thief was gone. Confused, he glanced around and eventually spotted Reaver in the corner, where the fifth Guard had previously been. Reaver's weapons must have been there, because they were now sheathed in their familiar spots around his hips. After a few minutes he turned back around, free of the cuffs. He tossed them aside carelessly.

"Can we go?" Hammer asked anxiously. When Reaver nodded impatiently, she pulled Hannah to her side. "Stick close kiddo, but get back if we need to fight. Do what we say, all right?" The little girl nodded, her blue eyes wide.

Garth climbed slowly to his feet and retrieved his ruined coat. It was torn and covered in blood, dirt, and other stuff he didn't want to think about, but he still put it on. He felt naked without it, especially with Spire Guards around.

He was suddenly pulled off his feet as he was swept into Reaver's arms. Reaver manoeuvred him carefully, mindful of his injured back, and Garth ended up with his arms clinging around Reaver's neck as Reaver carried him as best he could. Garth glanced at him questioningly, and Reaver rolled his eyes and slowly mouthed one word.

Run.

"Ah." The meaning clicked in Garth's head. "I can't run when I'm injured like this." he stated, and Reaver nodded sharply. "But you can't shoot, carrying me like this." he pointed out, and Reaver rolled his eyes. He shifted Garth so that he was propping him up with one arm, his free hand clutching his pistol.

"Fine," Garth conceded, and Reaver sheathed his pistol and went back to holding Garth with both arms. "But should we need to stop and fight, you will put me down." Reaver thought for a moment, then nodded.

"He's quite pleasant when he doesn't talk!" Hammer commented lightly, and she turned to lead the way out of the Temple. "We should keep him like this more often, eh?"

"Perhaps we should," Garth agreed, and chuckled when Reaver huffed indignantly.

"He can't even argue!" Hammer laughed. "It's beautifu-" She broke off as gunshots resonated throughout the Temple. "What's going on?" she hissed, on her guard again.

Garth took one glance at Reaver's face before hissing "Run, Hammer."

Hammer swept little Hannah up and they were off, none too keen to find out what those gunshots were. Each step Reaver took jolted Garth's shredded back, and he dug his fingers into Reaver's shoulders and bit down on Reaver's collar until his jaw ached, trying to block out the pain. Reaver's arms tightened around him.

Bodies of dead Spire Guards littered the corridor; Hammer had done an impressive job of killing all she came across. As they grew closer to the central chamber, they could hear inarticulate shouting in between the gunfire. Whatever was happening was causing the Spire Guards great distress. Garth dimly realised it was the reason no more of them came running to Reaver's prison cell.

The central chamber was empty. Hammer stopped so abruptly that Reaver had to veer off to the left to avoid colliding with her. "Graceful," she muttered to him, and he shifted Garth onto one arm so that he could flip her off.

The gunfire ceased. The Temple fell quiet, save for the footsteps running closer and closer every moment. The echo made it impossible to discern how many there were, only that they were coming from the doorway opposite. Reaver placed Garth down gently and drew his gun; he was ready for a fight. Garth prepared himself.

The man skid to a halt in the central chamber, his blonde hair whipping around his face as he spun around, turning his gun on the party. He froze.

"You're all here!" Sparrow gasped, disbelieving. "What-"

"Daddy!" Hannah wormed her way out of Hammer's grasp and began to run across the chamber to her father. Sparrow gave a strangled noise, caught between a laugh and a sob, his face shining with relief as he knelt down to greet the little girl, his arms outstretched.

Too preoccupied with the sweet family reunion taking place before them, none of them heard the heavy footsteps, noticed them halt, or heard the weapon as it was unsheathed. The little girl was stopped short; she fell to the ground, bleeding, a single bullet wound in her chest.

Sparrow's scream would haunt Garth in his nightmares.

"Hannah!" Hammer swirled around, her weapon in her hands and her expression furious, but Reaver beat her to attacking. There were three Guards in the last doorway: he killed the two stragglers with a single headshot each, and he shot the gun out of the assailant's hand. He shot the Guard's wrists and kneecaps, and it crumpled to the ground, roaring with pain. Slowly, his face impassive, Reaver went over to it, wrenched its head back, and forced his pistol into its mouth. A moment passed, and he pulled the trigger.

Hammer was frozen in place, her eyes wide, and when she next spoke she sounded uncharacteristically frightened. "Reaver, that was… cold, even for you."

Reaver glanced at her, snarled, and spat on the dead Guard's body. He knelt down and began to search its pockets.

Sparrow was cradling Hannah's body, whispering to her as he tried to halt the blood flow with his hand. Garth limped over to him and touched his shoulder.

"Rookridge Inn is just down the road from here," he said, his voice shaky. "There will be a doctor there, Sparrow. They can help her."

Sparrow blinked up at him, the rims of his eyes wet.

Having found what he was looking for, Reaver went over to Sparrow and nudged him with his foot to get his attention. Sparrow turned and glanced up at him, and Reaver held out his hand: he had found a health potion. Sparrow took it with a small nod. Whispering to his daughter drink this, it will help, he held the vial up to Hannah's pale lips. After a moment, they parted, and Sparrow carefully fed the potion to her.

It wasn't a powerful potion, but one look at Reaver told Garth that it was all the Thief had been able to find. It was just strong enough to stem the blood flow. Sparrow took a shuddering breath and stood, clutching his child to his chest. "We need to leave." he said steadily.

"Run, Sparrow." Hammer said emphatically. "Go to the Rookridge Inn. We'll be right behind you."

Sparrow glanced at her, then turned on his heel and sprinted to the exit.

Reaver picked Garth back up, and Garth could feel the Thief's heart hammering in his chest. It mimicked Garth's own, which was racing just as quickly. As Reaver carried him out of the Temple, Garth wasn't ashamed to admit that he clutched onto the Thief far tighter than was necessary.


Note: That line, where Hannah boasts about her mother's age, was inspired by a little boy who attended the preschool at which I used to work. He boasted the exact same thing after asking me my age. It was hilarious and almost impossibly innocent, so I simply had to include it.