The Black Marsh
Chapter 12
I awoke to a mass of hair in my face. I pulled Kiara close, inhaling the sweet scent of sweat in her rich, lustrous hair. She stirred, then rolled over and faced me.
"Ready for a repeat performance?" she asked, a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Ordinarily, honey, I would without question answer that with a yes," I replied. "But we do have work to do."
Her face instantly changed. "Oh, no! Where are Paige and Ravina? Did they sleep outside?"
"I don't think it rained. . . And besides, I'm sure they didn't mind." I sat up. "Come on, Kiara, get up. We have to clear the Forgotten Tower today." She started to rise, and I pulled her into a tight bear hug, pressing my lips to hers. She responded, and we sat in that position for a while, sharing our love. We finally broke free, gasping for air.
"Maybe we should move away from each other, we'll probably get more done that way." I moved across the tent, which was only about five feet wide anyway. I watched as she rose, pulling on her shirt. She bent and drew up her leggings. God, she's beautiful. I dressed as well, then we prepared our equipment. Finally in our proper kit, we stepped outside.
All eyes swung toward us, reflecting a myriad of expressions. Most of the Rogues were either smiling outright or trying to hide the laughter in their eyes. Ravina and Paige were both blushing, and our newcomers just went about their business. Akara and Cain both shot us quick, small smiles, and even Kashya seemed a little less likely to kill me with a look.
"Paige, Ravina, I didn't mean for you two to sleep outside last night. I would like to apologize," I started, but they both turned on me.
"Apologize? For what? Finding a little happiness in this dreary world?" Paige asked. "I congratulate you for that. And you said it yourself, no apologies."
"Xavier, any time you two want to be alone, for any reason, just tell us," Ravina added. "Of course, we'll expect the same." She shot Paige a look that made the both of them blush. "But, maybe we should get a tent of our own. . ."
Kiara laughed. "No, you two. We won't get you another tent, we'll just renovate the one we have, say, split down the middle. . . not longways, but the other way?"
We all shared a laugh at that. Hearing our lighthearted conversation, Alanna and Riega approached, followed by their Rogues. "We should leave soon, Paladin," Riega stated, "if we want to dispatch the Countess by nightfall."
"Yes, you are correct, Madame Assassin. Is everyone ready?"
Our crew, eight of us in all, set off for the Dark Wood, taking that mind- altering step through the Portal. Upon our exit, I could see the two new Rogues, Blaise and Amplisa, stagger under the influences of the ride, but they recovered faster than I did. We spread out, the Rogues taking positions to each side, with me in front, Alanna following, Ravina just behind her, and Riega watching our backs. Kiara and Amplisa were to the left, and Blaise and Paige were to the right.
We crossed the forest easily, the demon spawn deciding our group was too large for a successful attack. The air soon grew thick, the smell of brackish water rising into the air along with fog. Pools of dark water, most covered in some form of algae, dotted the landscape. The ground began to squish under our feet. A light path wound through the marsh, attempting to avoid the deeper pools. A tower soon rose out of the fog, it's stone walls covered in slime.
"The Forgotten Tower," Kiara announced. "Deep within will we find the Countess."
"Then what are we waiting for?" I checked the straps on my buckler and exchanged my sword for my mace, expecting skeletons, and stepped inside. The others were close behind. The only thing in the room was a hole with a ladder sticking out of it.
"Ravina, two fire bolts down the hole, to clear anything down there, and to give us a good idea of what that room looks like."
We both approached the hole. She fired, the bolts shooting through the hole. I looked down and didn't see anything. "There's nothing in there. Someone cover me as I go down." Kiara moved to the head of the ladder.
"You better make yourself small if anything does enter. I would sure hate to kill my future king because he was stupid."
I just smiled at her and started down. Hitting the floor, I scanned the room, noting nothing of interest, except a single door. I faced it, and shouted for everyone to come down. Minutes later we walked through the door. . .
And were confronted by three goatmen. All of them were killed by arrows before I had a chance to raise my mace. We continued, through four levels, cutting down (or shooting down) anything in our path. We were able to recover enough armor to outfit the newcomers and their Rogues. Soon we arrived at the fifth level. The level we were looking for.
"Alanna, Riega, you all go right. We'll take the left."
We set off, searching the rooms we encountered. The first was full of gold and other items.
"Let's come back for this later, so it doesn't weigh us down."
As we turned to leave, I heard Alanna shout for help. We raced out into the central square to see them surrounded by goatmen. I drew my sword and rushed in, slashing through the bodies in front of me. Arrows and fireballs darted past me to burrow and burn into the thick hides. After the fighting was over, we decided to stick together. We found only two other doors. Looking into each, we found they circled around and met the other.
We went through one, and followed the passageway, which opened onto a smaller courtyard. In the center of this courtyard was a huge tub, filled to the brim with blood. The walls and floor were splashed with blood as well, reminding me of the recent battle we fought. Surrounding the tub were Corrupted Rogues, there bodies a dark blue, the sweat shining in the light of the torches. Suddenly, one of them stepped away. Her skin was darker, richer, almost healthy-looking, except for the fact it was as dark as night.
"Sisters!" she cried. "We have visitors!" The other Rogues turned toward us, raising their bows. Five arrows snapped past my head, blossoming in two of the possessed ones. Five more soon followed, dropping two more of the Corrupted Rogues. Riega appeared beside me.
"Should we join this fight, or let those with ranged weapons do all the work?" she asked, one eyebrow rising to accentuate her question.
I gripped my sword tighter. "Let's take the Countess." We rushed the fallen one, our blades flashing in the light of the fires burning in the room. The Countess turned, seeing us approach, and fired an arrow. I caught it on my shield, hacking it off with my sword. Riega's katar plunged forward, splitting the other's bow. I brought my sword up, and brought it down into the demon's chest. A harsh scream filled the air as the former Countess's soul was released from it's Hellish imprisonment. The body slumped to the floor. We turned and saw the line of bodies in our path, all with arrows or burn marks covering them.
"You two need to learn to kill the minions before going after the leader," Kiara chided, stepping to my side.
"But darling, I know you will always be back there to cover my back."
She laughed. "It's a good thing there weren't anymore. We are all out of arrows, and Ravina's out of mana. Now, before anything else walks in, let's go gather out the goodies in here and get back to the Encampment."
We gathered approximately a thousand gold coins, and several magical items. Arriving back in the Encampment, Kiara through our stuff into a chest, while Warriv located and emptied some other chests for the rest in our party. I took the magical items to Cain, leaving with a couple katars, an orb, three bows, four hard leather armors, three rings, and a few charms. The rings, armors, bows, and katars I passed to Alanna, to distribute them as she pleased. I handed the orb to Ravina, but she decided to continue using her staff. I handed her a few charms that would add to her mana, and held on to the other, the one that add to my magic find ability.
"So, Paladin, how is it you managed to avoid coming back unconscious this time?" I turned and looked into Kashya's eyes.
"Because I have the best bow on this side of Aranoch protecting me, and others with whom I can share the kills with. I no longer have to rush directly into a fight. I can work my way through a group."
Her eyes narrowed. "Very well. I just want you to know, if Kiara comes back like you did last time, I will personally string you up and make you an example to others."
"Kashya, if Kiara comes back like I did, I will sit by her side until she recovers. When she does, you will then ask her if you can string me up." I turned on my heel and walked away.
Chapter 12
I awoke to a mass of hair in my face. I pulled Kiara close, inhaling the sweet scent of sweat in her rich, lustrous hair. She stirred, then rolled over and faced me.
"Ready for a repeat performance?" she asked, a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Ordinarily, honey, I would without question answer that with a yes," I replied. "But we do have work to do."
Her face instantly changed. "Oh, no! Where are Paige and Ravina? Did they sleep outside?"
"I don't think it rained. . . And besides, I'm sure they didn't mind." I sat up. "Come on, Kiara, get up. We have to clear the Forgotten Tower today." She started to rise, and I pulled her into a tight bear hug, pressing my lips to hers. She responded, and we sat in that position for a while, sharing our love. We finally broke free, gasping for air.
"Maybe we should move away from each other, we'll probably get more done that way." I moved across the tent, which was only about five feet wide anyway. I watched as she rose, pulling on her shirt. She bent and drew up her leggings. God, she's beautiful. I dressed as well, then we prepared our equipment. Finally in our proper kit, we stepped outside.
All eyes swung toward us, reflecting a myriad of expressions. Most of the Rogues were either smiling outright or trying to hide the laughter in their eyes. Ravina and Paige were both blushing, and our newcomers just went about their business. Akara and Cain both shot us quick, small smiles, and even Kashya seemed a little less likely to kill me with a look.
"Paige, Ravina, I didn't mean for you two to sleep outside last night. I would like to apologize," I started, but they both turned on me.
"Apologize? For what? Finding a little happiness in this dreary world?" Paige asked. "I congratulate you for that. And you said it yourself, no apologies."
"Xavier, any time you two want to be alone, for any reason, just tell us," Ravina added. "Of course, we'll expect the same." She shot Paige a look that made the both of them blush. "But, maybe we should get a tent of our own. . ."
Kiara laughed. "No, you two. We won't get you another tent, we'll just renovate the one we have, say, split down the middle. . . not longways, but the other way?"
We all shared a laugh at that. Hearing our lighthearted conversation, Alanna and Riega approached, followed by their Rogues. "We should leave soon, Paladin," Riega stated, "if we want to dispatch the Countess by nightfall."
"Yes, you are correct, Madame Assassin. Is everyone ready?"
Our crew, eight of us in all, set off for the Dark Wood, taking that mind- altering step through the Portal. Upon our exit, I could see the two new Rogues, Blaise and Amplisa, stagger under the influences of the ride, but they recovered faster than I did. We spread out, the Rogues taking positions to each side, with me in front, Alanna following, Ravina just behind her, and Riega watching our backs. Kiara and Amplisa were to the left, and Blaise and Paige were to the right.
We crossed the forest easily, the demon spawn deciding our group was too large for a successful attack. The air soon grew thick, the smell of brackish water rising into the air along with fog. Pools of dark water, most covered in some form of algae, dotted the landscape. The ground began to squish under our feet. A light path wound through the marsh, attempting to avoid the deeper pools. A tower soon rose out of the fog, it's stone walls covered in slime.
"The Forgotten Tower," Kiara announced. "Deep within will we find the Countess."
"Then what are we waiting for?" I checked the straps on my buckler and exchanged my sword for my mace, expecting skeletons, and stepped inside. The others were close behind. The only thing in the room was a hole with a ladder sticking out of it.
"Ravina, two fire bolts down the hole, to clear anything down there, and to give us a good idea of what that room looks like."
We both approached the hole. She fired, the bolts shooting through the hole. I looked down and didn't see anything. "There's nothing in there. Someone cover me as I go down." Kiara moved to the head of the ladder.
"You better make yourself small if anything does enter. I would sure hate to kill my future king because he was stupid."
I just smiled at her and started down. Hitting the floor, I scanned the room, noting nothing of interest, except a single door. I faced it, and shouted for everyone to come down. Minutes later we walked through the door. . .
And were confronted by three goatmen. All of them were killed by arrows before I had a chance to raise my mace. We continued, through four levels, cutting down (or shooting down) anything in our path. We were able to recover enough armor to outfit the newcomers and their Rogues. Soon we arrived at the fifth level. The level we were looking for.
"Alanna, Riega, you all go right. We'll take the left."
We set off, searching the rooms we encountered. The first was full of gold and other items.
"Let's come back for this later, so it doesn't weigh us down."
As we turned to leave, I heard Alanna shout for help. We raced out into the central square to see them surrounded by goatmen. I drew my sword and rushed in, slashing through the bodies in front of me. Arrows and fireballs darted past me to burrow and burn into the thick hides. After the fighting was over, we decided to stick together. We found only two other doors. Looking into each, we found they circled around and met the other.
We went through one, and followed the passageway, which opened onto a smaller courtyard. In the center of this courtyard was a huge tub, filled to the brim with blood. The walls and floor were splashed with blood as well, reminding me of the recent battle we fought. Surrounding the tub were Corrupted Rogues, there bodies a dark blue, the sweat shining in the light of the torches. Suddenly, one of them stepped away. Her skin was darker, richer, almost healthy-looking, except for the fact it was as dark as night.
"Sisters!" she cried. "We have visitors!" The other Rogues turned toward us, raising their bows. Five arrows snapped past my head, blossoming in two of the possessed ones. Five more soon followed, dropping two more of the Corrupted Rogues. Riega appeared beside me.
"Should we join this fight, or let those with ranged weapons do all the work?" she asked, one eyebrow rising to accentuate her question.
I gripped my sword tighter. "Let's take the Countess." We rushed the fallen one, our blades flashing in the light of the fires burning in the room. The Countess turned, seeing us approach, and fired an arrow. I caught it on my shield, hacking it off with my sword. Riega's katar plunged forward, splitting the other's bow. I brought my sword up, and brought it down into the demon's chest. A harsh scream filled the air as the former Countess's soul was released from it's Hellish imprisonment. The body slumped to the floor. We turned and saw the line of bodies in our path, all with arrows or burn marks covering them.
"You two need to learn to kill the minions before going after the leader," Kiara chided, stepping to my side.
"But darling, I know you will always be back there to cover my back."
She laughed. "It's a good thing there weren't anymore. We are all out of arrows, and Ravina's out of mana. Now, before anything else walks in, let's go gather out the goodies in here and get back to the Encampment."
We gathered approximately a thousand gold coins, and several magical items. Arriving back in the Encampment, Kiara through our stuff into a chest, while Warriv located and emptied some other chests for the rest in our party. I took the magical items to Cain, leaving with a couple katars, an orb, three bows, four hard leather armors, three rings, and a few charms. The rings, armors, bows, and katars I passed to Alanna, to distribute them as she pleased. I handed the orb to Ravina, but she decided to continue using her staff. I handed her a few charms that would add to her mana, and held on to the other, the one that add to my magic find ability.
"So, Paladin, how is it you managed to avoid coming back unconscious this time?" I turned and looked into Kashya's eyes.
"Because I have the best bow on this side of Aranoch protecting me, and others with whom I can share the kills with. I no longer have to rush directly into a fight. I can work my way through a group."
Her eyes narrowed. "Very well. I just want you to know, if Kiara comes back like you did last time, I will personally string you up and make you an example to others."
"Kashya, if Kiara comes back like I did, I will sit by her side until she recovers. When she does, you will then ask her if you can string me up." I turned on my heel and walked away.