Chapter 12 (RHEN)

Rhen watched as Elini poked her head out of the door after the knight. The summoner stared for a moment, then turned back into the room with a smile on her face.

"I believe he has answered his own questions without knowing it," Elini said, chuckling.

Rhen frowned. "What? Is he all right, Elini?"

"He will be soon, or I am much mistaken. His steps led him down the stairs and he is not marking them, as far as I can tell."

Lars chuckled. "So the idiot's gone straight to Te'ijal without realizing it."

Rhen frowned. "Lars, Galahad's room is in the basement, too. They are vampires."

"Elini doesn't think he's gone to his own room, and I'm siding with her judgment."

Rhen turned a curious glance on the summoner. "How do you know?"

Elini sat in her chair by John and smiled serenely, though her eyes held a bit of mischief. "Let us just say, I have seen my fair share of reluctant suitors." She glanced to Lars, then John, and smirked.

John gulped and took a step backward. He looked between his companion's faces, the door, and to Elini's smirk and sighed.

"It's no use, is it? She's got her claws in me, whether I like it or not. I'm as good as doomed, ain't I?"

"Got yer sailin' orders months ago, Cap'n," Marge agreed from the corner. "Hope ye like sand. Ye'll be seein' a mess of it in Veldt."

Elini smirked and John groaned. "I'm notanswering to your other men, Elini. Get that straight."

A true grin lit up her features. "Ah! So you will marry me then?"

"Doesn't look like I have a lot of choice in the matter."

She frowned. "No, John. You have choice. I have not tricked you."

Lars raised an eyebrow, and Elini tipped something at her waist. Rhen caught sight of a glass vial hidden there—one with a pink liquid visible within—and her heart skipped a beat. A lovepotion! Where had she found that?

"Aye, that's true." His face hardened. "Or, is it? Have you slipped me something? You said yourself, you've no problems with Te'ijal's methods."

Elini hesitated, then pulled the vial out for all to see. "This, I think you will recognize." John stepped backward, horrified, until she raised it to show the wax seal, still intact. "I had considered it. But, see for yourself. I have not used it."

John's eyes narrowed. "But you would have, and you still will, if I refuse."

She shrugged. "Yes, I would have, but I will not now. Look." Elini pulled the cork from the vial and tipped it over, spilling the liquid harmlessly onto the floor. A floral smell filled the room. She dumped it out, shook the last drops from it, and returned the empty vial to her waist pouch. "There. No manipulation. You are free to make your own choices, John."

He growled and stepped forward, reaching for her pouch. "And how do I know you haven't got more of those stashed away in here?"

She smiled as he rummaged through her pack, checking every last vial. He sniffed the empty ones and replaced them one by one. The last one searched, his shoulders slumped.

"You don't have another tucked away somewhere else, do you?"

Her eyes twinkled. "You are welcome to search me anywhere you like."

John's was not the only face to redden; even Rhen's burned. Marge laughed outright.

"I-I'll hold off on that, if you don't mind," John muttered, backing away.

She smirked. "Oh? So you wish to do so at a later time?"

John choked and stepped back, into the wall. "By seas, woman, you know how to get under my skin! I said no such thing!"

Elini laughed. "Very well, John. Take your time. I will not force your hand, as you have seen. You may answer on your own will. You do not answer to my secondaries, either."

John sighed. "I'll make sure it is my own will, first."

"It is," said Rhen. "If she hadused a potion, you would never have resisted her in the first place. You'd be completely enamored with her, and it's clear you're, well, not. You're still you, John. Don't worry."

The sailor rubbed his forehead. "All right, all right. I suppose I can admit the truth, when it's staring me in the face. But as I see it, we've got more pressing issues at the moment. Like Te'ijal. Will she be okay?"

"There isone way we could know for certain." Lars raised an eyebrow at Rhen.

She groaned. "I hate to do it, but—" With a sigh, she pulled her hood over her hair. "Lars, do you have the strength to hide my scent?"

The sorcerer nodded. "I think so. Here." He waved his hand over her hair and smiled. "It's done."

"Thank you." She kissed him. "Wait here, everyone, and I'll see what's going on."

"You are going to eavesdrop on the vampires?" Elini grinned. "I have taught you well, child."

Rhen chortled as she made her way to the door, then slipped silently beyond it. Her companions' voices drifted into the hallway and faded as she slipped down the stairs into the dark basement. She stood still against the wall for a long moment, letting her eyes adjust to the low light. When she could make out the edges of objects in the hallway, she crept along the walls toward Te'ijal's room. Voices drifted to her from around the corner. She counted their low volume as a good sign.

"…I have an eternity to perfect my technique." Galahad said.

Te'ijal's laughter made Rhen smile. "Yes, you do. I, I love you, Galahad."

"I love you, too."

Rhen her hand over her mouth to check a squeal. She peeked around the corner and caught a glimpse of Te'ijal's armor pressed against Galahad, their lips locked together. Rhen grinned and backed away from the vampires, but not quickly enough.

Te'ijal's voice rang out, "Have you satisfied your curiosity, Sword-Singer?"

Rhen's cheeks burned. "Uh, um, we were just worried about Galahad."

"I am well," he huffed. "If slightly annoyed."

"Sorry, Galahad. I didn't expect to intrude on that."

Te'ijal lit a torch and handed it to Rhen. "No, I did not expect it, either. But I am happy. Are you, Galahad?"

The torchlight caught his smile. "Happy? What are you talking about, Demon-spawn?"

Te'ijal paused. "You are not?"

He chuckled and kissed her cheek. "I was trying to, well, you know."

Her eyes twinkled. "Ah! I see."

Rhen burst into laughter. "Galahad, you're cute when you're floundering. I'll leave him in your care, Te'ijal. Unless you need me?"

The vampires shook her head. "No, we will come with you, instead. As much as I enjoy him, we have a task. If Lars is well enough, the Time Druid is still frozen, and Aveyond awaits."

Rhen nodded. "Indeed. Well, let's go then. Lars will be all right. I'll hold on to him during the trip over, and he's stronger than he looks."

"I think you will not mind that, Sword-Singer." Te'ijal turned toward the staircase and led the way back into the light. "You love him, do you not?"

Rhen's ears burned. "I, I think so. Perhaps I have for some time."

"We have thought so, too. When the sun druid came, we were not as certain." Te'ijal sighed. "Rhen, how do you fare? Are you healing?"

She smiled. "Lars is healing me. And I wasn't really that much in love with Dameon. It was stupid of me to accept his proposal." They had come to Lars' room. "Besides, what's done is done." Rhen raised her hand to push the door open. "All right, everyone. Te'ijal and Galahad seem to have worked out their situation. Judging by what Isaw, toward the better. I don't want to hear any more complaining out of you, Galahad, not after that."

Galahad's cheeks reddened. "Ah, well, I—"

Elini's eyes twinkled. "What didyou see, Northerner?"

"I'll never tell," Rhen said with a wink, "but they're on speaking terms. And then some. At any rate, let's get some rest. If Lars is well in the morning, we'll rescue Vata. I'm staying with him. Everyone else, clear out."

"Aye, cap'n." John made for the exit, Elini shadowing his steps. "Woman, what does a man have to do to be rid of you?"

Elini smirked. "I will stay by your side 'til death do us part."

"Light, preserve me 'til then," he groaned.

The fairies from the Dark Caverns flitted around the Memory Caverns, their tiny forms casting rainbows on the darkened stone walls. Some of their new friends had come along, too, and their combined glows filled the cavern with light.

Rhen walked close to Lars as they followed the fairies to the temple across the chasm, carefully marking his steps. He had yet to recover his strength, but the man refused to rest for another day. She had only allowed him to come on the condition he stay right by her side, not that she minded. His nearness comforted her as they walked through a narrow stone arch and into the Temple of Time.

Lars leaned into her, breathing hard. "I need, a moment."

"I've got you, Lars," she whispered.

He pressed his cheek against hers. "I know."

Rhen held him steady for a bit. When he could breathe with ease, she led him to the statue in the center of the room. The stone face of an old man stared back at them, his eyelids frozen open in an expression of horror. Vata. Elini clucked at the statue and drew one of her soul orbs from her waist pouch. A violet light swirled within.

"Poor man," she said. "Here. This, I believe, is yours."

She touched the ball to the statue, and the purple light faded into the stone. The rock smoothed and softened, taking on the life and color of the druid's features. He blinked as the petrification vanished.

"It is all right, Vata," Elini soothed. "You will heal in a moment."

The terror didn't fade from his expression.

"Is he okay?" Lars said.

"Should be," Rhen replied. "He's intact."

As he regained function of his mouth and chest, Vata took in a deep breath and gasped out, "It's a trap. Run!"

Rhen drew her sword in an instant. "What's a trap?"

"No time!" the druid hissed. "Just get out of here before—"

"Foolish old man," a voice called from the shadows. "You ruined the surprise!"

Rhen's heart pounded and her hands clenched so tightly around her sword hilt, her palms ached. "Dameon! Show yourself, you treacherous slime!"

"Hello, my queen." The sun druid stepped out of the shadows, arrayed in fine garments of yellow and red, and with a black circlet on his head. "And, may I add, you're looking lovely this evening."

The fairies zoomed out of sight, taking their glow with them. The traitor-druid held up a hand. Light spilled from his fingertips and filled the room, along with the acrid smell of evil.

"Shut your lying mouth," Lars snarled. "She's not interested, druid."

Dameon jumped. "Lars? But Aesma, he, you should be—" He cleared his throat. "Never mind."

Lars sneered. "Wanted me dead? Hmm. Another brilliant failure from the idiot-in-chief."

Rhen scowled at the sun druid. "For once, Lars, I'm not going to shut you up." Her eyes flicked to the staggering Time Druid. "Te'ijal, is Vata all right?"

"Healing, Sword-Singer," the vampress said. "He is frightened, but will recover."

"Galahad, Elini, guard him. Te'ijal, come here."

The vampress nocked an arrow to her bow and strode to Rhen's side. "Should I loose this into the traitor's heart?" She scowled at him. "No, that is too good for him. Between his legs, perhaps?"

Dameon lifted his hand, and a bubble of grayish light surrounded him. "Go ahead and try."

"My pleasure." Lars launched an inferno at the druid, but Dameon yawned as the fire lapped harmlessly at his shields.

"Not up to your usual standard, Sorcerer."

"That was just a warm-up. Wait until I—"

Rhen cut him off. "Lars, no. Save your strength. That's an order."

Lars sniffed. "I'd like to kill the bastard."

"No dirtying your hands with his blood," Rhen said, more gently. "It's not worth it." She turned to the sun druid and shook her head at what he'd become.

"Dameon, once I came to you in love. If you ever loved me, I am asking you now, come away from darkness and help us. Ahriman will not help you."

"But he has already. I am more powerful, stronger. And I cannot turn back."

"You can, Dameon." Sheathing her blade, Rhen stretched her hand toward the druid and spoke in a gentle voice. "Please, put the grudges aside. Your mother did what she had to, to save your life. Come. Leave with us, and be what you were always meant to be, Sun Druid."

He shook his head. "I will never forgive her, and I have a purpose here."

"Is this really what you want? To dance attendance on a demon? He'll destroy you!"

Dameon snickered. "Not I. He needs me."

"You're a damned fool, if you believe that for a second," Lars snapped.

"He needs you, too, Rhen," Dameon continued, ignoring Lars. "Come with me and let these idiots go."

Rhen stood firm. "No. I will never abandon them."

He shrugged. "Then take them with us. We would be a formidable team."

Lars spat at the druid. "I'd rather die."

"That can be arranged," Dameon growled.

"You already tried that, remember? Apparently you suck at arranging things."

Dameon sniffed. "Rhen, come away with me. You need a real man at your side."

She shook her head. "I need no man, but I have one."

Lars shouted, "That's right, Traitor! She's mine now, and it'll be a cold day in hell before I let your filthy hands anywhere near her!"

Dameon's false smile twisted into a snarl. "You lie. She is mine."

"No, Dameon," Rhen snapped. "You lost my heart when you tried to murder us all. Lars is mine, and you will not harm him. Nor any of us." She drew her sword again and glared. "I will kill you before I let that happen."

Dameon's eyes turned hard. "So, you choose the sorcerer over me. Then, I feel no pity for this!"

He disappeared in a wave of light and two demons took his place. Rhen recognized the icy, willowy Indra. The other, a knight of terrible strength, watched them from beneath a steel visor. Plates of armor covered his entire body—only his mouth and chin could be seen. A chill passed over her flesh.

"Agas," she breathed. "Light help us!"

"Light? You will not find it here," the steel-demon hissed.