Chapter 11
Cecil was only just waking up when they returned to the slaver's stronghold. He was certainly unhappy with the idea of returning, but couldn't argue with the logic behind it. He had seen with his own eyes the wounds they healed upon Jim's body. He would be happy for them to do the same to him.
When the party approached, their hopeful reserve quickly vanished, replaced by panicked terror. Lucy and Jim were immediately on guard. The unmistakable signs of a great battle were clearly present. Someone attacked the slavers. And by the looks of it, the Marauders were to blame.
They cautiously entered the compound. Go stayed with Cecil while Lucy and Jim scouted ahead. They felt fortunate that there they found no Marauders here, but alas, there were also no survivors.
As the duo returned, Go overheard Lucy saying, "I know the slavers and the Marauders were enemies, but I've never seen them hit something this big before."
"They didn't. But we are meant to think they did." Go looked about him. "The Marauders wouldn't leave bodies behind, they eat human flesh. And these wound patterns; too precise, they died instantly. Marauders bleed their prey before they die."
"Someone's framing the Marauders for this slaughter?" Lucy asked. "Why?"
"It's less about framing the Marauders as it is about hiding the identity of the attackers." Go's face turned pale. He faced Jim. "My boy, did they, at any time unwrap your Mirror Shard?"
Jim nodded.
"Yeah," Lucy remembered. "They unwrapped something and handed it to..."
Lucy jumped on her horse and galloped off, ignoring Go's protestations. "No Lucy! Don't go! It's too dangerous!"
Black smoke billowed mightily, churning back and forth through the sky. Its origins; Lucy's home.
"Uncle! UNCLE!" Lucy cried out, looking for any survivors. The bodies of old friends, slaves, and farmhands lay strewn about the devastated plantation.
Then she found him. His remains were difficult to identify, but the chain he wore about his neck was unmistakable. His mouth was frozen in a cry of horrible pain. His body was a charred black husk, still smoking. They tortured him before burning him alive.
Lucy was filled with an overwhelming sense of shame and guilt. Everyone she ever knew died, all while she was away from home.
Lucy spent too long alone with her thoughts as she trotted her horse back to the encampment where she left the others. In her absence, Go had found the healing salve the slavers use and used it to heal Cecil's wound.
Not one word was uttered at Lucy's return. The grim expression she wore told that there was nothing they could say to comfort her.
"They're dead." She said at last. "They're all dead..."
"There's nothing you could have done, Lucy. They would have murdered you, too. And the Shard would be in the hands of the Dynasty."
"I'll go." She said. "I'll go with you to Alder. I want to become a Paladin of Fi, like my mother."
Originally posted on 5/23/13 at empowernetwork (dit) com/leewhittaker/?p=118
For a sneak peak at Chapter 12, go to empowernetwork (dit) com/leewhittaker/?p=120
