Sparrow glowered at the crackling fireplace of the Hero's Guild. There was grim silence as Hannah rolled out the bandages and ointment and began to bind wounds.
"There was nothing you could have done, Sparrow." said Theresa calmly "That was Lucien's Commandant and apparently he now controls a Shard - an Old Kingdom weapon of great power."
She moved uneasily as she faced Hannah and Sparrow, face uncommonly grim as she explained the circumstances they now faced.
"Lucien's strength grows ever more formidable as does his mastery of the Spire and its awful machinery-"
"And now he has Albion's most powerful Will user locked up in a hole somewhere." Sparrow added bitterly. Hannah slapped her back and grinned.
"Sounds like you could have used my help after all. I knew I should have come!"
Sparrow cast her an evil glare from her hunched over position, trying to strangle a groan of pain.
"We cannot allow Lucien to keep Garth." Theresa looked pointedly at Sparrow and continued, "You must get him out of there."
"There being the Spire?" asked Hannah. "We don't even know what's inside that thing much less how to get there!"
"There is one who might know." the hooded woman paused tantalizingly "When Lucien left for the Spire he essentially abandoned the castle staff. His old butler, Jeeves, now spends his days at the Cow and Corset."
Recovered from her friendly tap Sparrow straightened and smiled fiercely. "Another old friend, eh?"
"His butler?" said Hannah "I bet he saw his fair share of dirty dealings. Well, if it means a trip to the pub we'll just have to make that sacrifice."
Sparrow couldn't help but be amused at the enthusiastic grin on her friends face.
"The task requires tact and delicacy," Theresa berated in her schoolmarm voice "something I believe you are unfamiliar with, Hammer."
"….why are you staring at me?" inquired Theresa.
"This is the part where you say no offense." said Hannah. There was a pause as Theresa magnificently ignored Hannah and didn't bother to answer but turned away to examine a document on a table.
"Hmph." Hannah turned to Sparrow "Looks like you're on your own again. Bring me back something would you?"
A short rest and a couple days later found Sparrow fully recovered and nursing a pint in the crowded Cow and Corset. Having a well-known status in Bowerstone meant that when she did visit the pub she often didn't have to buy her own beverage and Sparrow had to turn down multiple well-meaning offers of alcohol. Tonight she needed to stay sharp.
The bartender caught her eye and gave a jerk of his thumb towards the stairs that led to rooms he rented out and she nodded.
She treaded lightly up the steps, the sounds of the tavern below her muffled through the floorboards. On silent cat feet she walked past occupied rooms; some occupants snoring loudly, others engaged in more carnal activities until Sparrow caught a voice that was unpleasant and rather whiny to the ears.
"Never been so insulted in my life! You heard my price - one thousand gold! For that kind of money, why – I could buy a house, and a new wig and….where does one buy concubines anyway?"
There was a muffled reply and the voice shrieked back,
"OUT! Get out and stop wasting my time!"
This was punctuated by a crash of a glass bottle hitting the door as a well-dressed fat little man made a hasty exit without even glancing towards Sparrow. The voice continued in a monotone grievance,
"Tight fisted bastard, left me without a bloody penny. I'll show you, I"ll-!"
Sparrow swung the door open silently, cutting off his tirade. The years had not been kind to the ex-employee of Fairfax Castle; his long face was sallow and sagging, his unshaven chin and dirty clothing made him look as though he belonged on a street corner begging for gold rather than serving what had been probably the most influential and wealthy citizen of Albion.
"Well, well well!" Jeeves glittering narrow eyes lit up as he took in Sparrow's appearance.
"Another offer! Dear me, so many inquisitive minds, so many who wish to know Lucien's dirty little secrets ."
Sparrow didn't bother to answer but nonchalantly stepped into the room and got closer to Jeeves than what was physically comfortable. A lesson she had picked up was that silence and a grim presence often did more for intimidation than bellowing threats.
She knew in the dim lighting of the room her newly acquired skills in Will would show more clearly and light would glint tantalizingly off the cold metal of her rifle and long sword.
Jeeves swallowed nervously and shied back but continued,
"Well, everything you want to know is written down and only I know where! Simply pay me two thousand-"
"That won't do." she interrupted quietly with a small unpleasant grin.
His voice went up an octave.
"Lucien's diary is a riveting read, I assure you! I'm sure some private collector will make a nice place for it in his equally private home-"
Sparrow casually tossed a small heavy sack at Jeeves feet and it made a provocative jingle.
"One thousand gold and-" she lowered her voice and put some menace into it "I do suggest you take it."
Greed seemed to stiffen Jeeves back-bone as he plunged a hand into the glittering contents of the bag.
He laughed ecstatically, "My thanks! It's a juicy little collection, I assure you , you won't regret it! I buried Lucien's diary for safe keeping – here's a map to its location."
Sparrow took the folded piece of paper from his fingers gingerly.
"I'd go with you but I've got some money to spend-" but Jeeves was addressing thin air.
Outside the pub the air was cool and Sparrow took a deep breath, shaking herself. He hadn't shown any recognition. but then, what was a couple of filthy street rats to someone like him? she thought wryly to herself. Bitter anger and resentment chased themselves across Sparrow's mind as she clenched the piece of paper tightly.
'He's far to cowardly to double cross you, the map will lead you the diary's location, I'm certain.'
Theresa murmured across their connection.
Sparrow shoved aside old wounds and trotted across the bridge, outside the gated walls and into the night.
Bowerstone Lake was lit by a nearly full moon. It was a beautiful night to be outdoors; away from the city the stars blazed in the skies and the air was clean and sweet. Sparrow had always felt more at home in the wilds of the trees and shrubs that surrounded the lake. She sincerely hoped that it always remained as thus, a quiet and serene landscape outside a busy metropolis.
Lessee, 'I buried it at the base of what is known as the Heroes Hill next to a rotted tree stump' it says…
Sparrow lowered the paper and gazed at her surroundings, scowling at the less than helpful instruction.
The hill where the Cullis Gate stood was a shadowed shape above of her, the light of the magic gate that led to the inside of the Heroes Guild was a pinpoint of luminescence in the dark. She stepped slowly around the small meadow at its base, turning in circles and stopped.
What the blazes is that SMELL? she wondered.
"Come here, Collin! Here boy, you smell that?"
Collin whined and twisted his body as though the horrible stench was attacking him personally. Her furry companion was behaving oddly; he was trying to get closer to a rotten tree stump in the middle of the field but kept shying away, snapping and whining.
Sparrow's blood surged and instinct screamed at her to move and she did so without thinking to disobey.
There was a low rumbling as the earth around her shook. In an explosion of rock and soil the tree stump heaved and buckled then rose out of the ground; underneath it was gigantic monstrous creature.
It roared; a low bass rumble that vibrated the organs inside her body. Swiftly the giant thing scooped an upended rock and hurled it at where Sparrow had been moments before.
Collin let out a howl and took off for the trees while Sparrow's mind screamed Bloody hell, FOREST TROLL!
That IDIOT buried the diary next to a bloody TROLL!
Sparrow came out of her roll and hurled a ball of fire at it then watched in despair as it simply dissipated without doing any damage.
Oh BUGGER! Why do these things always happen to me!? she thought wildly- though a part of her, the Heroic blood in her veins, rose with ecstatic lust for a worthy fight.
Sparrow didn't bother to wrestle with the feeling but let the joy of the fight take over and pulled her sword out. She made a dash towards the shuffling creature and it responded with surprising quickness; lifting a stubby leg it brought it down with incredible force that shook the surrounding earth and sent Sparrow sprawling to the ground, sword bouncing away.
A quick roll got her out of the way as it brought a gigantic fist down, crushing the ground where she had been.
okay, I won't be hacking it apart. I don't even know if that's possible, it looks as though it's made up of rock and vegetation.
Quickly Sparrow reviewed what she knew about these creatures. Trolls were rare in Albion and very, very hard to bring down. Few survived trolls enough to bring back information about them. They were extremely territorial, once they found themselves a spot they liked they hunkered down and stayed there, killing anything that dared to disturb it.
and this one has decided Bowerstone Lake is it's new home, unless I can get rid of it!
The troll bellowed again, creating a queasy sensation in Sparrow's gut. Will pushed insistently at the back of her mind and she had to fight the urge to battle to let it come forward. She let it speak to her and she looked at the troll with new eyes.
Looking at it with Will showed that it glowed; it was a highly magical creature, so much so that it resisted nearly all magic. It was, in a sense, the Will of the earth. Dense, heavy, stubborn and immensely tough except…
There! At its joints, those glowing spots! Those are the weakest points which means….
Sparrow pulled out her rifle and took aim and cracked off a shot that hit the glowing point along its arm with pinpoint accuracy.
The troll screamed in the night and Sparrow clapped a hand to one ear, in pain but triumphant.
Spot on!
The troll did not enjoy being target practice, however and brought both its enormous fists down to connect with the earth and sent Sparrow sprawling to the ground again. While she struggled to regain her feet and keep the rifle pointed towards the creature the troll lumbered towards her, intent on ending the source of its irritation.
Giving up on trying to stand she simply rolled to her back with the rifle in both hands and pumped out three more shots, all dead on.
The troll bellowed again but it was weaker. Sparrow watched in astonishment as it sank to one knee and she scrambled up.
One glowing tendon remained and she took aim.
"Sorry, old chap."
And fired. The troll seemed to simply crumble apart; all that was left was a giant pile of dirt and rock and a few bits of vegetation.
Sparrow looked around and whistled for Collin.
"Its all right, boy! Fights done."
Collin came out of the woods with his tail between his legs in an almost apologetic fashion and Sparrow kneeled down to pet him.
"Don't worry about it, there wasn't much you could've done anyway."
Sparrow gave him a hug and stood up and retrieved her long sword.
"All right, boy – find the diary! Go on, find the diary!"
Collin let out a joyous bark and put his nose to the ground, sniffing. In moments he barked again and began to scratch at the dirt.
Sparrow scooped away some soil and picked up a leather-bound reddish colored book and grinned in triumph.
"Well done! I trust finding the diary was not too difficult." Theresa said, taking the diary from Sparrow hands. Sparrow gave Theresa a Look, uncertain as always when the woman was being sarcastic or not.
The three conspirators gathered close to look at their hard-earned prize.
Theresa opened the diary and Sparrow gaped; inside was not Bowerstonian but a series of symbols that she could not even begin to read. Theresa gave a faint smile.
"It will be little use to anyone but one who can translate it. I shall read it for you."
Hannah's eyes jerked up to look at Theresa.
"You can read that?! I mean- but your eyes…"
"I see other worlds than this one." was the mysterious reply.
"-and in other worlds you can see?"
"Shush. Westcliff! Lucien is recruiting guards from Westcliff!"
"Oh, come on!" replied Hannah "Westcliff's a dump! Full of brawlers and thugs! The only thing there is that arena!"
"The Crucible. Those who win it are physically tough and mentally weak. Lucien is recruiting the winners as guards."
Sparrow's interest perked up at the thought of a competition of physical prowess.
Theresa turned to her. "You must enter the Crucible in Westcliff and emerge from it victorious. It is the only way into the Spire, the only way to get to Garth and rescue him."
Sparrow nodded.
Hannah surged up and grabbed her war hammer with a huge grin.
"Finally, at last! Some action!" She threw the gigantic weapon over a shoulder casually and started towards the Cullis Gate.
"Meet you by the Bandit Road in Brightwood – last one there is a rotten hobbe!" and was gone.
Sparrow chuckled to herself and turned to Theresa as she said, "This research will prove invaluable. Now you should go after her before her enthusiasm wears off, though I wonder if it ever does."
"Don't worry, I'll keep her out of trouble. Come on, Dog!"
Sparrow stepped into the light of the gate and took another step towards her goal.