"Break beneath the endless tide."
To say that Kormac was impressed, would be the biggest understatement of the century. He watched Natasha battle Maghda with a fury that he hadn't seen before. It was as if her hatred for Maghda fueled her, pushing her past her normal limits. Whereas most people got sloppy when angry, Natasha seemed to fight with a renewed precision. He stopped his fighting when he heard Natasha cry out in pain, she had been so focused on Maghda that she didn't see the cultist behind her.
The sting of a blade slicing through skin jolted him back to reality. He twisted his body, forcing the coven member back with his shield. He brought his blade down and watched as it sliced through the cultist's neck. Though he understood Natasha's reasons for chasing headlong into Maghda's lair, he sorely wished Eirena and Lyndon were there to back them up.
Not that he would ever admit to wishing for Lyndon's company, even in battle.
Natasha flipped back, dodging Maghda's magic and releasing an arrow into the cultist's head. She dashed forward with a cry that verged on animal. At the same time that Kormac cut down the last of the coven members, Natasha dropped a caltrop next to Maghda.
Stuck in her position, Maghda growled angrily at Natasha, "You think this silly trap will stop me?" She brought her hands up, magic striking the caltrop, freeing her, but it didn't matter, Natasha had gained the time that she needed.
Kormac was behind her swinging his blade down, it slashed through Maghda's back and shredding the butterflies that held her up. Kormac stood behind, weapon at the ready, but he knew that Natasha needed the final blow.
Maghda fell to her knees and a laugh escaped her lips.
"Does your death amuse you?" Kormac asked, gripping his weapon tighter.
She looked up to sneer at Natasha's back, "I must imagine this is how Cain felt. Right before I killed him."
Natasha yelled out in anger, she wanted to make this slow and painful but her hatred got the better of her. Turning to face her, Natasha drew an arrow. Kormac watched as it whistled through the air until it met its target. With a sickening thunk, it pierced Maghda's skull, splattering blood across Natasha's face. Maghda's dead body collapsed on the ground, blood pooling around her.
Kormac dropped his shield and blade, walking forward until he reached Natasha. His hands grasped the sides of her face as he searched her for fatal wounds, "Are you okay?"
"I'm...I'm," as she released a breath she seemed to deflate, collapsing against Kormac's chest. Despite his best efforts, Kormac hissed in pain causing Natasha to look up, "Are you okay?"
Her eyes searched him until they found their target. A large gash across his side that stretched onto his abdomen, "You're hurt. Here, let me help you." She pulled Kormac along until they passed a very confused looking Lyndon and Eirena. She pushed him back until he sat on one of the crates that were stacked against the building. Her nimble hands tugged at his badly damaged armor and she sigh as she tossed his chest plate to the ground.
"It might be salvageable...but it's probably best if you get a new one."
She kept tugging at him until his torso was left without armor. All that he had on now was a cloth shirt, which she was instantly pulling up. Her eyes flew to his, "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"This...is going to hurt."
Her hands gently pressed against the sides of the wound, making Kormac gasp.
"I'm sorry!"
Kormac chuckled, "No, your hands are cold."
Natasha smiled nervously, "Oh."
By this time Eirena and Lyndon had caught up with them. Eirena poked her head over Natasha's shoulder, "Is he okay?"
Natasha shook her head, "Can you do anything?"
"I can...try. Much of my magic has been drained but I'll do my best."
Natasha stepped away giving Eirena room to work. She was pacing angrily when Lyndon popped up beside her.
"He'll be fine you know."
"I know," she growled, "that's not- its not...it was my fault."
"What?"
Natasha blanched, "No. I mean. I didn't hurt him, but he...I was distracted...or at least too focused on Maghda and a cultist attacked me from behind. It distracted him, he wanted to help me and I got him hurt. This is why I can't. We can't...ugh," Natasha continued pacing, "Why am I even talking to you about this?!"
Natasha felt Lyndon's hand on her shoulder, "You, my friend, are far too tense. How bout after lovely Eirena fixed up our Templar friend, we all go find a nice tavern and drink a little too much ale and play some cards?"
"Lyndon-
"Don't you Lyndon me. You're exhausted. I'm exhausted. We're all exhausted. It's time for a break. Maghda is dead, the coven members, the few that are left, have fled and it is dreadfully hot out here. We've earned a break."
Natasha looked back at Eirena and Kormac, then back to Lyndon, "Fine."
Eirena walked over to the two of them, "It isn't fully healed but it is not nearly as deep as before."
Natasha walked over to Kormac, Eirena was right, it wasn't nearly as deep but she was still concerned.
"I have a salve that she help speed along the healing but that is the extent of what I can do."
Natasha nodded at let Eirena finish her work.
"I swear this was much closer when we were walking here," Lyndon whined. They all knew how much he 'disliked' the heat. Eirena giggled and Natasha watched with envy. How could they laugh so easily? Was that normal?
Natasha slunk to the back some more. She wished she were alone again. It was much easier to ignore her flaws when she was alone, without a perfect specimen giggling in front of her. Natahsa's eyes watched as the sun shined on Eirena's golden hair. How did it stay perfectly where it was? Her clothes, though dusted with sand were not nearly as dirty as Natasha's blood stained armor.
Natasha tried to look at her own hair, it was tangled and in dire need of washing. She grumbled to herself. It probably had sand and blood all in it. Maybe she didn't want to think about it. She watched as Lyndon and Kormac looked at Eirena's laughing figure, it made her scowl even further. Not because Eirena had all the attention but because he she cared. Since when did she care who Kormac looked at?
"I don't."
Lyndon looked back at her, "Say something, dear?"
"What? No...just, uh...coughed."
Lyndon smiled, "Mmhhmm."
Damn him, Natasha thought, I don't care!
Natasha was silent for the rest of the walk, as the other three, even Kormac in his injured state, talked happily on the way back to Caldeum.
A/N: As always I love to hear from you guys so please R&R. I've finally found some free time and I intend to make the most of it! The next chapter should be up by tonight or possibly tomorrow. Thanks for sticking with me and please R&R! :)