This story will be told from multiple perspectives. I'll try to indicate the change by separating the points of view by a line. This chapter is rated "M" for mature audiences. There is violence, death, some sexual content, and language.
I've been assigned to spy on the Balaur. Most of the scouts have been. Our ability to stealth and observe is what's kept us ahead of the Balaur. But the death toll is rising. More teleporters have failed and now the kisks have started to fail as well. Getting supplies and medical aid to those who need it is becoming a logistical nightmare. The failures appear to be planet wide. The Elyos are suffering the same types of failures. As of this moment, our peoples are united in trying to eliminate the Balaur threat forever. If we fail, Atreia will fall.
The fighting has been particularly brutal in the abyss. The Balaur are attacking all of the abyss gates. With the failures of the teleporters and kisks, the leaders believe it's only a matter of time before the gates begin to fail as well. We must wipe out the Balaur before that happens. For too long, we have been bickering with the other races instead of eliminating our biggest threat. And now we are paying the price for it.
I've just given my report to the Eltnen Fortress commander and am taking a much needed break. Our last encounter with the Balaur cost me the use of my left arm. The injury isn't bad, but I have to wait for a healer to become available before they'll let me back out into the field. In the meantime, I have a bandage on it. Even the healing pots are getting low, and are only being used on the direst of injuries. I certainly hope Herrel is doing ok. I've lost track of him. We promised Jaisea we'd look out for each other. I hope he's still alive. Please gods, let him still be alive.
It's cold and dark here. I'm not sure where they've taken me and I haven't seen anyone in a while. They've taken my clothing and my cube. I have no way to escape this place. I think she drugged me. My head aches and I have a very bad aftertaste in my mouth. If it weren't for the baby, I'd try to rush the guards, but with my big belly I don't think I'd be very effective. At least I'm not chained up anymore. I'm feeling weak and tired. I think I'll lie down for a while. I need to conserve my strength and wait for the right moment to escape.
I must have been dozing for a light touch on my shoulder jerks me awake. An Elyos healer is standing next to me with a translator. He asks if he can take a look at my arm. He looks very young for a Daeva and I hope he has some skills. Through the translator, I learn that his name is Darien and that he is a songweaver. I hold up my arm for him to look at. He lightly touches my shoulder with one hand and the underside of my wrist with the other. A gentle glow envelops him. I can feel a trickle of his power flowing down my arm. It feels different than what I'm used to. After a few minutes he removes his hands.
Well, it's not broken, but you have been poisoned. It's something new the Balaur have come up with and we don't have a cure. Reaching into his bag, he pulls out a bottle. Rolling open a clean bandage, he pours some of the thick liquid onto it. He then indicates that he's going to re-bandage my injury. He lets me know that I'll be able to use the arm, but to not use it heavily. It will take a couple of days for the poison to clear my system. Great, just what you want Madrion, a vacation in Eltnen. I sigh. Thanking the healer for his time, I grab my gear and head off to the barracks. I won't be on the duty list until the wound is healed.
Julia is here again. Coming to check on her prize I suppose. If she thinks Madrion will be dumb enough to fall for her trap, she'd better think again. But then I remember some of the looks he's given me, the concern he's shown for me. He might just be that stupid. He'd better not, or I'll give him a piece of mind, so help me gods! Julia throws something at me. I flinch. I don't want anything from her. She laughs her creepy laugh and tells me I'd better keep up my strength. I reach out to pull the bag towards me. It's a water flask. I haven't had anything to drink in ages and my thirst is a roaring need that my body can't ignore. I only take a few sips. I don't know when I'll get any more, so this will have to last. I lay back down again. She's right about one thing; I need to conserve my strength.
I'm standing in the chow line, when a shugo comes up to me. He hands me a letter and walks quickly away. I turn it over to see who it's from. I don't recognize the handwriting but the paper looks expensive. It also has a faint perfume scent to it. Curious, I tear it open and begin to read.
Dear Pet,
I have your whore and if you ever want to see her alive again, you'll bring me the artifact and of course yourself. You can find us in the Malek Mines. Come alone or she dies! I can't wait to see you my pet.
Included in the letter is a lock of hair; Jaisea's hair. It has her scent and I'd know it anywhere. All the blood drains out of my face and I feel faint. Who in the hell is this? What artifact are they talking about? And then I remember! The trinket! I still have it. With all the fighting going on, I'd completely forgotten about it. My gods, is it that important that someone would kidnap Jaisea for it? Quickly stepping out of line, I run back to the barracks. I quickly scribble a note to the commander. Someone needs to know where I am, even if they can't spare any manpower to help me.
I grab up my gear, and slinging my bow over my shoulder I head out. If I'm quick enough I can just make the rift back across to Beluslan. At least the rifts still work. There it is! I sprint towards it and leap through just as it starts to close. I crash through the other side, landing on my bad arm. It goes numb for a minute and the pain begins. I shake it off. I have no time to cater to any pains.
Looking around I discover I've come out in Frost Spirit Valley. Damn, I'm not anywhere near the mines. I'm going to have to fly, and it's a long way to the mines. But first I need to lighten my load. Opening up my bag I lay out all my gear. Most of the small weapons I can tuck around my body for quick use. The swords I decide to leave behind. They are heavy and are harder to conceal. I go with my daggers instead. They are very sharp and can cut through anything. I decide to take the bow as well. Even though it's not my strongest weapon I can still use it to good effect.
Packing the rest of the gear back up, I conceal it under some rocks. It's begun to snow again, so any evidence I was here will vanish soon. Taking my bearings I leap into the air and head towards Malek.
Julie sits in her quarters luxuriating in a nice warm bath. She's had her note delivered and now just has to wait for her pet to show up. She has a special present for him. She can see it on the table from her bath. It's a nice collar, made just for him. She has her watchers out, just waiting to see when he comes. She giggles to herself.
I've finally arrived. It's taken me four hours to fly here. I'm exhausted. I've never flown for that long in my life. I'm concealed behind some boulders up high on the peaks. It's getting dark, and with the snow still falling it's hard to see. But based on all the lights over to the north side, I'm guessing there is a sizeable camp here. I'll need to be careful. I can't leave a trail of bodies or they'll know I'm here. Stealth is what's needed now.
Finding Jaisea is another matter. This place is huge, and there are no maps that I know of. I'm going to have to do the best tracking of my life, or she'll pay the ultimate price for it. I take a few more minutes to rest and to eat. Then I spread my wings and begin to glide down towards the mine entrance. I can't stealth while in flight, so I'll have to take care not to be seen.
Landing close to the mine entrance I slip into hide. I scout around a bit, but don't see any evidence of guards that might indicate Jaisea is on the surface. She must be in the mine itself. I move towards the entrance and slip inside. It's warmer in the tunnel and there are light scones along the walls. I can hear the sounds of men working, so I'll need to be careful. Taking a deep breath I begin my search.
Julia is just finishing her bath when a knock on the door distracts her. Angrily she demands to know who it is. It's Rocco my lady. The assassin has arrived. Julia jerks open the door and inquires if he was seen or are they just guessing. One of the miners saw a shadow gliding through the air. No animal would be out so it has to be the assassin. She thanks him. Time for the game to begin.
I've finally found her. She's lying naked on floor some 10 yards below me. I haven't seen any guards which worries me. She should be able to get out. I slowly look around. There are a couple of openings about 10 feet off the ground. I don't see anyone else though.
I softly call out her name. She doesn't stir. Is she sleeping or is she drugged? I call out to her again. She still doesn't move. Taking another look around I still don't see anyone. So, I leaped off the ledge and that's when disaster struck. My wings failed to open. I fell 30 feet to the floor and landed badly. Rolling to break my fall I landed on my bad arm and a rock or two. I heard a snap and felt some ribs break. Damn it. The pain is excruciating. But I have no time for it. Gritting my teeth I stagger to my feet and limp over to Jaisea.
She's lying on her side, her face very pale. She's covered in dirt and bruises, yet she's still the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. My eyes wander over her body, looking for any injuries. She doesn't have any that I can see. Placing my bow on the ground, I pull my cloak off with my good hand. I drape it over Jaisea. She finally stirs. Blinking her eyes at me, she jerks upright, dislodging the cloak and exposing her breasts and belly to me. My face turns red.
"You IDIOT!" She hisses at me, and then she's in my arms crying. She's freezing cold and I gather her in closer, ignoring the pain to my broken ribs. Thank the gods she's all right. I find myself stroking her back, her hair, and finally I push her away so I can see her face. Fear and anger flicker across her expression. She snatches up the cloak and pulls it around her, and then she hugs me again. I grunt in pain.
She pulls back, giving me 'the look'. "You're hurt," she exclaims. "It's nothing," I reply through clenched teeth. "You're a really bad liar Maddie." A woman's laughter echoes throughout the chamber. Standing in one of the openings I saw earlier is a woman. And with her are a dozen guards. Oh crap!
The Balaur have amassed several ships at one of the abyss gates. The gate is taking heavy fire and most of the ground troops were killed during the first volley. A frontal assault on the ships will be useless. Their only hope of stopping the ships is to board them. On the other side of the gate, Beluslan prepares for trouble. The energies in the gate are raging out of control. The Daeva's are doing all they can to maintain it, but eventually the gate collapses. Most of the guards are killed immediately from the backlash of power.
A smaller Balaur ship crashes through what's left of the gate, tearing the upper part of the fortress to shreds. Falling debris kills several hundred of the people down below. More Balaur pour through the opening and the fight is on to defend Beluslan Fortress.