Disclaimer: I do not own any of the races, classes, lore, spells, or mechanics of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition from Wizards of the Coast. This is a fanfiction story based in a personal world with original characters. No money is being made from this work. This is for pure amusement due to my fascination with D&D mechanics.

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Missteps

Chapter 43 – Moonlit Conversations

It was decided that Sol would sleep with Kerri and Elaine that night, and then in the morning they'd begin their preparations for the trek down to the Temple. Flyta had gone to bed shortly after Carric and Elaine had arrived back, but she'd made her distaste for their appearance known. Kerri did what she could to help, but even magic had its limit for cleanliness.

"If you're that concerned," said a voice from the stairs, "there is a bath house ten or so minutes from here." The group turned to look. Halfway down the stairs, their robe only loosely tied so that their dark bare chest was exposed, was Carric's companion from the night before.

Carric sighed and stood up. He walked quickly over to the man. "I said I'd let you know if I was interested in a repeat performance."

The man shrugged. "You took too long so I thought I'd invite myself. Do you want me to leave?"

Carric reached out and closed the robe over the man's chest. He grinned. "Why? You're already here."

The man laughed loudly. He looked over at the table. "If you do decide to use the bath house, tell them that Chaxelle sent you." Chaxelle winked and then the two of them disappeared upstairs.

"Where are they going?" Sol asked, her brows knitted together.

"To have fun." Kerri wiggled her eyebrows. The majority of the group laughed, and Elaine just rolled her eyes at their antics. Sol tilted her head to the side.

Kerri patted the girl's shoulder. "I'll tell you later."

Jun stood up. "I'm headed to the baths, who's joining me?"

Lia, Iados, and Ander all raised their hands.

"Do you think they'll have private baths?" Elaine asked as everyone stood up. Lia walked over and linked her arm with Elaine's.

"If they don't I'll just bathe with the guys and leave you alone, deal?"

Iados grinned. "I'm okay with that."

"Of course you are." Ander rolled his eyes. "Who says I am?"

The small group started heading towards the door.

"Let's see what the place is like before we make any final plans, ok?" Jun's voice sounded tired as he held the door open. He looked back at the two females left at the table. "You two going to be ok here?"

Kerri nodded and shooed him away. Once the door had closed behind him, Kerri turned to look at Sol. "What do you say we clean up in here, and I'll tell you what's happening upstairs?"

Sol nodded.

Twenty minutes later Ander came back and asked Kerri to magic him clean. The topic over the sink had moved on from the bedroom antics. Turned out that Sol was very familiar with 'sating desire'. Kerri surmised that there wasn't a wide range of activities available in the Temple.

A little over an hour later, Elaine and Jun arrived back at the Inn. Sol was outside, Kerri's cloak around her shoulders. She chased Shomma around in the snow that had begun to pile high. As they watched, Sol slipped and landed face first into a snow drift. Jun and Elaine started hurriedly towards her, but Sol simply picked up herself with a laugh.

"You're back." Sol practically skipped over towards them. "Kerri's inside, mentioned something about putting down notes for a new song."

Elaine raised an eyebrow. "She left you out here, alone?"

Sol shook her head. "Shomma's here, and she can see me from up there." Sol pointed up towards the second-floor. Elaine and Jun raised their eyes, and there sitting in the open window was Kerri.

"Do you really have that little faith in me?" Kerri played a low note on her pan flute. Elaine didn't respond as she trudged inside.

Jun waved for Kerri to go back inside. She closed the window behind her.

"So, have you given more thought into what you're asking from us?" Jun settled himself down on the edge of a wooden post.

"What do you mean?" Sol knelt on the ground and rained snow down on top of the weasel.

"You want us to free you and your sister, right?" Sol nodded, and Jun continued. "Sol, do you consider yourself free, right now?"

"What do you mean?" Sol turned to look at him.

"Look where you are. You're aboveground, playing in the snow under the moonlight. Besides your sister being down there, is there anything keeping you from just walking out of this town?"

"Mother, father, and Ma are still down there."

"So we need to bring them above ground as well?"

Sol shook her head viciously. "They would never leave the Tree. They're just as rooted to that place as it is. Everyone in the Temple works and breathes for one purpose, the continued growth of the Tree."

"Is it possible your sister tried to destroy the tree then, so that everyone could leave? Is everyone down there as 'rooted' as your parents?"

Sol shook her head. "There's no reason for anyone to leave. The Tree and the Temple is all we know. Some of them have vague recollections of a large city inhabited by thousands, but they have no desire to leave. They've grown content with their life underground."

"Sol," Jun moved and knelt down next to the young woman. "If we go down there to retrieve your sister, will they let us?"

Sol looked away as she thought. Finally, she shrugged. "I don't know. The only ones who've ever went down before were the Chosen ones."

"The Chosen ones? Who are they?"

"They're given to us by the above grounders in exchange for wine that we make from the Tree's fruits. My sister is in charge of the hand-off, and I'm in charge of the Chosen ones. I learned Common from them."

"What role do the Chosen ones do?"

"They water the Tree."

Jun felt goosebumps form up and down his arms, and it wasn't from the falling snow. He smacked his suddenly dry lips. "What do you mean they water it?"

"I take the blood from the Chosen ones and pour it at the base of the Tree." Sol stood up and stretched.

Jun stood up as well. "Why not just use regular water?"

"When the Temple fell, it fell into a cavern. No soil, no earth, only rocks all around it. No water either. My father was desperate to keep the Tree alive. He was entrusted with it by a goddess, and it has a destiny. It's meant to reach and guide the ley lines into place. It's an important piece of the puzzle, it just has to get stronger." Sol lifted her gaze and watched the snow fall from the sky. "Since they had no water, my father's acolytes kept the Tree alive with their own blood. Shortly after, the goddess sent Mother and her warriors to the Temple. They too bled themselves for the Tree, but it wasn't long after that that the above grounders broke through."

"That's when the deal was struck?"

Sol shook her head. "Initially they wanted to take the Tree back to the surface. They tried to uproot it, but according to the stories the Tree screamed and lashed out. My father and Mother decided the Tree would never leave. To thank them for their loyalty, the Tree bore fruit and told them how to make it into wine. With the wine they were able to strike an agreement with the above grounders."

Jun narrowed his eyes. "What happens with the Chosen ones?"

"I take care of them, until they can't give any more blood. I feed them, I keep them company. I only take a bowlful of their blood every few days or so, so they last a long while. Eventually they fall asleep, and don't wake up. That's when Mother has the guards take them away and we wait for a new one."

"When they fall asleep, where do they go?" Jun asked.

"Mother says they go upstairs. I never see them leave. I'm always busy cleaning and getting ready for the next Chosen one." Sol turned to look at Jun. "Father says I have the most important job of all, because the stronger the Chosen one, the stronger their blood is for the Tree. I can keep the Chosen ones awake for a long time before they have to leave." Sol smiled, and suddenly that smile wasn't very sweet in Jun's eyes.

Up above them Kerri stood at the window. "What do you think they're talking about?" She called back to Elaine who sat on one of the beds.

"No idea." Elaine's gaze was concentrated on Ander's pants that were in her lap as she sewed up a rip. Next to her were a few other articles of clothing that she'd promised to mend for some of the others.

Kerri turned back around and studied her friend. "Aren't you going to admonish me?"

"For what?"

"For messing around with Kalia when I wasn't quite sure you were alright." Kerri crossed her arms. "We'd already been told several times by Loiwin that you and Carric were more than likely dead, but still I went and shared a bubble bath with a perfect stranger."

"Kerri, if I got mad every time you'd gone off to share a bath with some stranger I'd be in a perpetual state of anger." Elaine pulled up on the needle and watched as the tear came together in the fabric.

"If you're not angry at me, then why won't you look at me?"

"Because I'd rather not poke myself in the finger." Elaine tied off the knot. Finally she looked up. "Why do you think I'm mad at you?"

"Anger is just the first thing I could think of." Kerri sighed. "I know you're something at me, but I can't put my finger on it. Ever since I woke up in the Cavern, you've been giving me these weird looks. Not to mention the vice grip you had on my arm for so long I'm pretty sure you left a bruise."

"Kerri, you're the type of person who just inspires people into giving you weird looks." Elaine picked up Iados's pants from the pile. She wondered if he'd noticed they were missing yet.

Kerri crossed over to the room and sat down on top of the pile of clothes. "What aren't you telling me?"

"That you're being extremely annoying." Elaine tugged on the pants under Kerri's butt and succeeded in knocking her over. "Why is this such a big deal to you?"

"It's a big deal, because I feel more like myself than I have in months." Kerri twisted around so that she sat facing the Cleric. "For months I've felt like this huge weight had been pulling me down. Even after speaking with Maron and clearing the air somewhat between us, I still felt out of sorts. It's hard to explain."

"Does that feeling have anything to do with the weird tattoo on your back?" Elaine threaded another needle while Kerri was struck speechless for a few seconds.

"You knew?"

Elaine nodded. "You're not as stealthy as you might think. I've known about it since the first night on the boat ride to Marblebrooke."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Trust me, your choice in body art was way down on the list of questions I wanted to pester you about." Elaine pierced the fabric. "I figured it'd come up one night over a drink."

Kerri pursed her lips as she studied her friend. She brought the pan flute up to her lips and started to play out a sweet, but purposeful melody. She repeated it over and over again, till she saw Elaine began to sway in with the melody. She did one more round of music, before she transitioned to the lyrics.

"They all see you standing strong,

As you chant them back to health.

But I can see you as so much more

Than just a healer from death's door.

Pelor's in your heart

And he whispers in your ear.

So my friend don't be afraid,

Don't let your choices keep you here.

Spread your wings and fly

And be the one I see inside."

Elaine stopped her task and looked her friend. "What was that?"

Kerri smiled and set the pan flute to the side. "Your Inspiration song. You never seem to need my singing as much as the others in combat do, but right now you seemed to have something weighing you down."

Elaine laughed. "Just because I won't tease you about getting lucky, you think I have a secret?"

"It's more than just that!" Kerri groaned. "You once hounded me for a month because of a henna tattoo I had to wear for a production back home."

"I hounded you because the tattoo completely blacked out a thick circle on your arm, and it kept smearing on my clothes."

"What about that time you followed me on my date, because you thought the other guy was a murderer?"

Elaine shrugged. "I got a bad feeling off of him."

Kerri raised an eyebrow. "You based it off the fact that he wore two left shoes."

"I'd also overheard him make a bet with his buddies on who could get you into bed first." Elaine admitted.

"Where could you have possibly been, to overhear that?"

Elaine smiled sheepishly. "I might have been hiding under a cart with my alms box at the time."

"So what, you didn't want me to sleep with him because he made a bet like a jerk?"

"No," Elaine hesitated before she hung her head. "His friend said that if they won they'd donate the money to the Church."

Kerri squeaked and shoved Elaine. "You ruined my date for money?"

Elaine laughed. "Yes, and I'd do it again."

"You'd give me grief and butt in on all of that, but on the worst day of my life you wouldn't bring up the tattoo on my back?" Kerri's smile faded. "For all these months later, you didn't even ask."

Elaine turned and faced Kerri on the bed. "To be honest, I wasn't quite sure where we stood. As you and Maron got more serious, the more I got left behind." Elaine reached into her bag that sat behind her on the bed. She rummaged in it for a seconds before she finally pulled out a small rolled up piece of parchment. She handed it to Kerri. "Until I got this, I wasn't sure if you even needed me still."

Kerri unrolled the paper. The slanted words written on it were hastily scrawled, but legible. 'Kerri needs you. Dock 13. 7 AM'

She read the words over and over again. Three words had made her best friend in the world leave her life behind. Three words that she didn't even question. Three words that made she sure wasn't alone on the worst day of her life.

Tears started to run down her face, and drip onto the parchment. Kerri launched herself at Elaine and enveloped the other woman in a hug. "Thank you for not being dead." She whispered in the Cleric's ear.

Elaine returned the hug. The held on to each other for a moment before they let each other go. Kerri wiped her eyes and handed the parchment back to Elaine.

Elaine didn't take it. Suddenly, she couldn't meet Kerri's eyes.

"Everything ok? I didn't hurt you, did I?" Kerri bent down and tried to get in Elaine's eye line.

The dark-skinned woman took a deep breath and looked her friend. "I am keeping something from you. I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure what to make of it."

Kerri's eyebrows knitted together. "Well, what is it?"

"You died." Elaine gulped. "In the Caverns when that rat bit you. You weren't just near-death, you were dead. You stopped breathing, your heart didn't beat. You were dead, and I was too late."

"If I was dead, then how am I not dead, now?" Kerri spoke slowly as she processed. "I mean, I am alive, right?"

Elaine nodded. "I heard this voice, and it said there was still time. It offered to save you. It was in my head, it saw my thoughts, my desires before I'd even fully formed them in my mind. It told me that this time was a freebie."

"So, this voice brought me back?"

"Yes, but it used me to do it. I felt this power surge into me, a power unlike anything I'd ever experienced before. It was like I was being shown how to do it." Elaine reached out and touched Kerri's chest, right over her heart. "I saw the magic as it flowed from me into you. I saw it wrap itself around your heart and force it to beat again. I watched as it filled your lungs and make them move. The magic swirled around your spine, your liver, in and out of every muscle and ligament. I didn't just watch it, I studied it." Elaine's voice had gone softer as she finally gave voice to the thoughts that had swirled around her head. "All of this magic was connected to my hand. With hardly any effort, your body had become a puppet, and I the puppeteer. Before I could flex my own muscles and make you move, the strings left my hand. The voice was there with me, not speaking, but I felt their presence. They took the strings from me, and had me watch as they used those magical strings to almost sew your soul back into your body. Your soul that had been fighting against leaving, was given back to your body. Or more accurately, your body was given back to your soul."

Elaine blinked and looked up into her friend's eyes. "And you woke up." She gave a small laugh and let her hand fall back into her lap.

Kerri reached out and took Elaine's hand. "You saved me. Thank you."

Elaine shook her head. "It wasn't me. It was the voice. I was so desperate to save you that I barely even questioned some disembodied voice who said they could bring you back."

"What did they want for it?"

Elain shook her head again. "They didn't want anything. They said next time it'll cost me, but not this time." Elaine wrenched her hand away and stood up. She walked closer to the window and gazed out at the night sky.

"I'm more concerned about myself. For a single instant, I had control of your body. For a single moment, I knew what it was like to reanimate a body with no soul. To have total control over another living thing." Elaine shivered. "Part of our training, we had to read a letter a necromancer wrote to the Church. In it, they'd said that until we'd held the power they did, the power of a soulless body, we wouldn't understand why they couldn't stop. That the followers of Pelor would never understand the rush it was to have another creature under that measure of control. A creature that didn't have thoughts of its own, a creature who's entire existence was in the palm of their hand, and who existed only to achieve your every whim.

"We all just thought they were the ramblings of a mad man. We couldn't understand how someone could wield that kind of power and influence over another living creature. But that was the problem. It wasn't a living creature. A creature without a soul is merely a puppet, and now I know how little it actually takes to make a dead body into one." Down at her side, Elaine's hand shook. "Now I know how thin that line truly is, and it scares me."

Silence stretched between the two of them as they both mulled over their own thoughts.

"It sounds like the voice did you a favor."

Elaine scoffed. "How so?"

"How are Pelorian clerics supposed to fight the undead, unless they know how the undead are made? Isn't 'know thy enemy' some kind of proverb or something?" Kerri stood up and walked over to Elaine. "Listen, if given the choice, would you have rather had me as a puppet, or brought back my soul?"

"Your soul, the body is just a vessel. Who you are is in your soul."

Kerri smiled and clapped her friend on the shoulder. She twisted Elaine around until they stood toe-to-toe. "And that, is the key difference between you and the wacko necromancer. The necromancer didn't give two shits about souls. But you do. It sounds like that voice of yours walked you through the process, to show you that it takes more than just animating a body to bring someone back to life. Remember soul over body, and you'll be golden."

Elaine still didn't look convinced. "What if the voice wants something more from me?"

Kerri reached up and slapped her friend in the head. "You follow a freakin' god. Isn't messages taken on faith kind of your deal? Don't you think that if the voice was evil, that Pelor would have sent you a sign or something?"

Elaine sighed and rubbed the back of your head. "You're right, I let myself get way to wound up. Thanks."

"That's what friends are for. Now, to change the topic. You want to hear the story of this bad tattoo?"

Elaine nodded and the two of them settled back on the bed. Kerri told her friend everything she knew about the necromancer Maccus Leigh, the mark on her back, and the job she'd been naïve enough to undertake.

The more she talked, the more she realized she wasn't in pain. When she'd told the story to Xayoe back at the Entertainer's Guild, the pain had been immense and it'd been like she couldn't breathe. Now, there was nothing. She was in such shock with the realization, that she stopped halfway and had Elaine help her look at her back.

With the aid of a couple of mirrors Kerri was able to see that the mark had changed. It was as if a layer had been peeled off the top and exposed more of the design underneath.

She suddenly wanted to kiss the rat that had killed her.

A/N: So it looks like a Wednesday release is the new norm rather than the Tuesday I wanted. Every chapter is sent to a beta reader first, and it takes them a couple of days for them get back to me. Thanks for reading!

Till Next Time!