Walter turned with his left arm around Lady Paige and his two handed sword in his right. He was grinning with her as she hefty her two handed hammer into the air in victory as they began to leave the guild just before his grin changed to a frown and his eyes went wide as he spun around. His sword swung up in front of Paige and came up over her head as he completed the spin and then shoved the tip of the sword into the ground. "Get down!" He yelled just a second before magical energies slammed into his sword and the enchantment of the sword dispersed the energies around the small group.
The energies going around the right side struck Jacob as the only one outside of the aura of Walter's sword and drove him backwards tumbling until he passed into the aura of protection afforded by that sword's enchantment.
Paige spun around and saw back by the so called throne Karl stood there laughing along with a sorcerer who was unleashing some kind of magic on them.
"You're a fool to think me beaten so easily Jacob and now you and your so called allies will know the consequences for challenging me." Karl yelled.
The bodies of Karl and the sorcerer being dragged away by the assassins suddenly dissolved into the ether they had been conjured from. Ray and Frankie both vanished into the shadow and then just as quickly appeared behind a couple of the assassins as they had begun to move towards the group. Their daggers flashed out and drove deep into the backs of both men.
Cabe's hand slipped into his robes and pulled out some small flakes of some kind of granular powder and he intoned words of power as that powder slipped off his fingers while looking at the other sorcerer. Karl looked up at the ceiling suddenly and then leaped to the side and tucked and rolled further away. A second later the ceiling over the throne gave way and came crashing down upon the other sorcerer and throne, crushing both to the ground.
As Karl came up he slipped into the shadow.
Lady Paige snarled and she flung the hammer in a striking blow but instead of it striking the ground a brash yellow light leapt from it and struck one of the assassins who had been closest to where Karl had disappeared. The light struck the assassin and threw him to the ground before it leapt and struck another assassin who wasn't too far away. The light leapt again and struck at something and Karl fell to the ground out of the shadow and the light leapt again striking another assassin.
Karl groaned as he had started to get up when he remembered something about the hammer of righteousness. As long as he didn't present himself as a threat the light wouldn't hit him again so he lay there for a moment.
Jacob while injured from the magical energies that had struck him, still managed to slip into the shadow and he took a single step and vanished from that spot to appear on the other side of Karl. He thrust his blade forward towards Karl's unprotected back.
Karl rolled quickly when he smelt the burnt odor from Jacob. He cried out as Jacob's dagger managed to stab him in his right side just below his clavicle.
Two of the assassins had moved up to stand just outside of the aura of Walter's sword mistaking it for a shield that would protect anyone inside from all attacks.
Allie stepped through the shadow and appeared behind the two assassins and her blade struck true on the first one as it passed through the left side of his heart and came out between his ribs just to the left of his sternum. As the body fell to the ground the other assassin turned to engage her.
With their two assassins dead or dying Frankie and Ray slipped back into the shadow and using the shadow they vanished and appeared on the other side of the room and engaged the two assassins who were moving towards where Jacob was standing by Karl.
Lady Paige seeing how close those assassins were she raised her hammer. "For the wise Lady!" She intoned and the white fire of Athena rushed down and swirled around the ground about them creating a swirling spider web like effect consecrating the ground under them. The two assassins engaged by Frankie and Ray began trying to retreat from that area even as their clothes and skin began smoking. Leaving themselves open to the attacks of Ray and Frankie.
Cabe cast another spell and that same red light that filled the square filled the room and forced the last four assassins in the shadow out into the open.
"Walter, give me a boost." Paige told him.
Walter looked where she was looking and nodded as he took his hand off the sword and made a cup out of his hands and Paige stepped into it. As she pushed against his hands Walter threw her as hard as he could. Paige sailed up in the air almost striking the ceiling. As she came down she swung her hammer and it struck the ground and sent a shockwave out in front of her and two of the assassins fell to the ground unable to stand through the swaying and rocking of the ground.
Karl tried to stab Jacob but Jacob was able to move back out of his range. Jacob grinned at him. "Poor Karl, you are already dead and don't know it."
Karl coughed suddenly and he looked at his hand as he pulled it away from his mouth and saw he had coughed up blood. "Poison." Karl wheezed.
Jacob nodded. "A poison I had concocted just for this day. You might want to say any goodbyes that are pressing as you won't have much breath in a moment to do so."
Walter's hand had grabbed his sword after he threw his wife and pulled it out of the ground before he swung it around as he came down on his knees. His sword passed through the knees of the assassin that was fighting Allie.
The assassin fell to the ground screaming. Allie growled as she drove her dagger into his chest and his scream died quickly.
Lady Paige drove the face of her hammer into the side of the head of one of the assassins and there was a grating noise as the assassin's neck broke. The other assassin tried to slip into the shadow but found the red light still had completely cut off access to that other reality. He looked at Lady Paige and threw his daggers to the ground. "I surrender!"
The last two assassins fighting Frankie and Ray saw they had little choices left to them and both tossed their blades off to the side and knelt down surrendering.
Walter walked over to where Karl lie as convulsions began overtaking his body as the poison worked its way through his body. Walter raised his blade and thrust it down into his chest, piercing his heart and Karl's body gave a lurch and the convulsions jerked four more times and then as his last breath came out with a bloody froth he grew still. Walter pulled his sword out of his body and then he wiped the blood on Karl's clothes. He smiled at his wife standing on the other side of the room and as he walked over to her he sheathed his sword. He reached out and pulled her into his arms and kissed her again.
Paige smiled at him. "Didn't want to see Karl suffer?"
Walter shook his head. "I wanted to be sure this time that his body was real and not another illusion like the last one."
Paige grinned. "Good thinking."
Walter pulled his lute around and began playing while he sang to heal Jacob and a few injuries that were sustained by Frankie and Ray. As he finally stopped and put his lute back around on his back Cabe stepped up. "May I see your sword for a moment Walter?"
Walter nodded and pulled the blade out and handed it to Cabe. Cabe ran his finger down the blade and read the runes that had been etched into the metal. His brow furrowed as several of them he had never seen before. He held the massive blade back out and Walter took it back. "If you don't mind, when we return to the Keep, may I study the blade more in depth?"
Walter shook his head. "Not at all, as a Lore Master I understand curiosity."
Cabe nodded and just then a door in the side of the room opened and almost two dozen men poured into the room. Walter readied his sword as Lady Paige scanned the men deciding which the biggest threats were.
Jacob moved forward quickly. "Karl is dead and as second in the guild I claim leadership. That is unless one of you wishes to challenge me."
None of the men stepped forward and most of them shook their heads. Jacob reissued his orders concerning recalling all members of the guild from engaging Lord Beyon's forces and to aid in putting out any and all fires and helping the town's citizens. He also recalled the red and re-iterated that Lady Paige is no longer marked for death and any attempts to harm her, her family, or company would be dealt with most severely.
As the hall was cleared Jacob turned to the Lady Paige. "I can't thank you enough my Lady. Without your assistance I fear Lancaster would have suffered a worse fate."
Lady Paige smiled with a nod. "While I don't approve of such activities like this guild represents Jacob, I'm glad to see someone with some morals is in charge here."
Jacob grinned and bowed his head a bit.
Walter stepped up and slipped his arm across her back. "Whenever you are ready my Love I believe we are ready."
Paige grinned at Walter and nodded before they turned and walked back out of the hall as they had entered.
Walter looked at Frankie as they came out of the warehouse. "Must have felt pretty good getting involved in all of this after all your time as a jewelry merchant Frankie."
Frankie smiled. "Perhaps a little, but it was also kind of scary how easily I slipped right back into it."
Lady Paige looked at her. "While the market in the town outside of my Keep can't compare to the market here in Lancaster if you ever feel like you'd like a quieter life I'd be honored to have you move there."
Frankie smiled. "Thank you my Lady. Perhaps one of these days I might take you up on that."
As the group moved through the city they stopped many times to aid those in need. By the time they had finally returned to the hotel it was late evening. They found the lobby of the hotel had been turned into a temporary aid center. Toby was moving through the people rendering aid to those in need. Paige saw Ralph dutifully helping as he carried supplies for Toby as he moved from person to person. Happy was watching over all of the younger kids keeping them entertained and out from under foot with a few of the hotel's employees.
Walter stepped over and grabbed a bottle of wine from the cardboard where they were kept for the diners. He quickly opened it and took a long drink from it and then pulled his lute around and as his fingers strummed the strings people looked over and he raised his voice.
Ralph turned at the sound of Walter's lute and his face changed from one of a grim seriousness to a grin that stretched from ear to ear. He fought against his desire to run to his parents so he could help Toby. Finally he sat that bag down and ran for his Mom.
The magic produced by Walter's playing and singing moved out and reached inside of everyone within the area of effect and they felt their fatigue fading and their aches and pains began to grow less as he continued to play. Those with wounds felt them beginning to itch and stared at amazement as his music caused their bodies to begin healing.
Paige kissed Walter's cheek before she had to catch Ralph as he leaped into her arms. She pulled him up tight against her chest and kissed and hugged him many times before she finally lowered him to the floor. She moved over and hugged Happy.
Toby smiled at her and she could see how tired he was but see could see it fading as Walter continued. "You made it back in time my Lady." Toby told her. "With so many wounded throughout the city the Clerics have had their hands full and then some. The less severely wounded had been brought here. I still ended up performing surgery on a few and directing others in how to care for wounds and stuff. Walter's gift is greatly appreciated."
Paige smiled. "I am thankful that all of you insisted that you accompany us this time. This visit has certainly been anything but normal."
Toby nodded as he moved over and sat down to rest and absorb more of the magic that Walter's playing so freely distributed throughout the hotel. As Walter played doors to the various rooms upstairs began opening and people stepped out onto the balconies and silently listened as he continued to sing.
Walter had to stop from time to time to drink from the bottle of wine to restore his throat so he could continue playing. Paige picked Ralph up again and carried him back over to stand close by Walter and they stood there while Paige swayed to the melody he produced.
Lady Juniper entered the hotel with Lord Beyon. Lady Juniper and Lord Beyon's faces showed the fatigue they felt and they both stopped almost instantly as they felt the impact of the healing melodies Walter was producing. Lady Juniper smiled at Lord Beyon and gestured and seeing a couch along the wall Lord Beyon nodded and they stepped over and sat down to rest and absorb the healing.
As the bottle of wine was finished Walter looked about and saw the faces of all who were present smiling towards him and he nodded slightly as he judged that everyone had been restored. He turned his lute back around to his back and everyone began applauding him. Walter smiled and bowed before he took that short step to his wife and son and embraced them tenderly.
Lord Beyon stood up reluctantly and moved over and greeted them. "My Lady Paige, my deepest thanks to you and Walter and your company. I had received word that this was over only because of your actions. I can't thank you enough. But for now, it is time that your family and company travel with my Lady and I back to the castle where we will dine and then retire for the night. And tomorrow I will do my best to think of someway to repay you for your services to my people."
Lady Paige smiled. "Your gratitude is more than enough my Lord. But I agree, it is time to think of food for this day has been most taxing."
Greetings! Hope this finds you all doing well! Been enjoying a bit of this weather. Woke up a little cold this morning and was thinking my furnace must have gone out when I remembered it was off and I left my window open. So it was a cool 60 degrees. lol
Railman - hehe Karl had a trick up his sleeve but seems he over estimated how well his trick would work. lol Thank you! I hope not too, I type a lot all day long. If I am not writing I'm usually chatting with people. And a lot of the time I am doing both.
Heleen - Aww, thank you! We'll see how "Caber" works out. It is so dark I've been writing alternative chapters for it. Right now I think the main story will be 8 chapters. The alternative will be the same chapters 1-4 but 5-8 will have differences and it will probably have a 9th chapter to complete it.
Franxine - Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy them even if they wear you out! hehe
Margaret - Sometimes it does. I was shocked, as I said typically when I have that big of a writing day I'm wiped and the next day I wrote over 5k words just didn't write enough to finish this chapter to post yesterday. Yesterday I wrote somewhere north of 3k words so a big writing weekend altogether.
To the Adventure! -Tim