Disclaimers: Well, time to renew our vows and remind everyone that all I own are names. Az'Ral, Iconnus, Firiel, Shadera and…that's about it. Really, I can't take much credit for Rage, and Darkangel is someone's account name. Ariana, though the name only appears once, is mine as well. Much of the storyline is Blizzard's, though I guess I do have claim to my view of Rathma. Oh! Nearly forgot. The character Az'Ria is actually a friend's. She is writing a story that will parallel mine, and we'll use each other's characters. We have no idea how this will work out, but we'll do our damndest! (ooh, I cussed! My bad) Sooo, now that I think I covered everything, let's get on with the fic!
Chapter 7"I come, as you know, from the City of Rathma, a gathering place for my kind, and also a place of learning. I do not know who my mother was, but that is the way of Trag'Oul's chosen. My father was, I believe, a priest of great power, one who quickly mastered the arts of summoning. Such were the expectations placed on me.
"I did not live up to them."
Az'Ral fell silent as the memories flooded back. He and Shadera stopped walking. She steered Az'Ral into a corner where they could sit. After all, her shadow would find them anyway, and there wasn't a lot they could do until she returned and they were certain that the mercenary was dead. Az'Ral continued his tale.
"I was, in general, a quick study. I mastered with ease the use of poisons, and was nearly unsurpassed in bone magic by the time I left. Summoning, however…the trademark of my kind and our primary branch of study…I have had…problems with. Skeletons are really not that difficult. Almost anyone could summon them, if they could get over the moral block of animating dead corpses. It doesn't take much energy. The mages are a bit harder, but not terribly so. Golems…golems always obey. But the revived. Ahh, the revived, the pinnacle of our power. To release the soul, and be able to control the body is what we all strive for. It is our final test, and a measure of our power.
"And I cannot control that power.
"The day of my Test came. I faced off with another…his name I cannot remember. We were to each revive one of the jungle creatures slain for that purpose. The creatures would fight to the death, and the surviving creature's creator would be accorded the acceptance and recognition and of the City.
"It took all of the willpower I had to bring my corpse back. And more than I had to control it until the gong to start was sounded.
"The creature burst from my control and attacked. Not my opponent's creature, but my opponent himself. He was…unprepared for it, as might be guessed. No one had ever broken that rule before. And so, I had lost. I knew that already. I could feel all that I had worked for shatter around me. Ah well, breaking further rules could not hurt me now, or so I believed. My creature was draining me, and I could feel that. It was more than a normal revived creature, and had I been able to control it, I certainly would have won. But I could not, and my opponent's creature could not possibly hold it off.
"I did what no necromancer has done before, in the Testing Arena or out.
"Twin fire golems crackled onto the battlefield, both under my control. But I was on my knees, barely able to keep consciousness. One simple thought was all I had time for before I went into a kind of coma-like trance. The Summoner's Trance, they call it. In that state, my minions were drawing freely off my life-force."
Az'Ral chuckled dryly.
"My hair has never been the same since. These two black streaks are all I have left of my original color. It was quite handsome, I'm told, when it was black. Apparently I had a very nice shade. Ahh, but I digress. I dimly remember coming out of the trance, and collapsing on the sand. I managed, barely, to life my head, and I saw that my golems had managed to destroy my creature. And they had both been destroyed by it in turn.
"That was also when I saw her.
"All thoughts for my opponent, for my reputation, for everything fled when she locked her silver eyes on mine. Maybe it was just me, but she seemed to understand what had just happened. We seemed to...connect somehow, and I knew I had to talk to her. She could understand everything, if only I had the opportunity to explain.
"But then, I lost consciousness."
Az'Ral paused, his voice choking up, as he finally caught up with himself and realized how much he had said.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I am talking far too much."
"No," Shadera said softly, moving to sit closer to him. "I want to hear. There is much pain, and an aura of something else about you. It is powerful, but I am not sure it is a good thing. Please, it will be good for you to tell it to someone. You've never shared this much of your past with anyone, have you?"
"No, I haven't."
"Then continue, please. I wish to hear more."
Az'Ral nodded, and continued.
"When I finally awoke, I found that I had been moved into a dark room that smelled very strongly of herbs. I was lying on a table, which had apparently been rather hastily cleared. Someone had taken off my breastplate and bone armor, and, looking around, I couldn't see it anywhere. I had been moved into the City's component rooms, where we keep our herbs, potions, salves and poisons. The rooms are also used as a place for the injured to recover, as healing is always close at hand.
"Well, I had no visible wounds, and I felt much better since collapsing on the sands. I decided that staying there wasn't going to do me much good. I sat up, and after the dizziness passed was about to go looking for my armor…when the door was opened. And she walked in.
"It was her! The girl I had seen at the Arena.
" 'Who are you?' I asked. 'I mean…what are you doing here? And why am I here? I have things to do!"
" 'Um…' she replied. 'I am Az'Ria Shahara, and I'm here because it's my job to organize these herbs and components. You're here to recover.' She seemed very taken aback that I was even awake, much less speaking.
" 'Well, I'm fine, and I'll be going now. Where's my armor?' I said, irritated.
" 'Your equipment is in the other room.' She told me, pointing out the way she had come in. 'But really, you should stay here.'
" 'Look,' I said, as if explaining something to a small child. 'I've got a lot to do, and none of it can be done here.' I pushed past her, a bit rudely, I'll admit, and went into the next room. I reached my things, but was overcome by dizziness. Not quite ready to be up and about, I suppose. I staggered, but never made it to the floor. I looked to find Az'Ria holding my arm, steadying me. She sighed.
" 'Where do you live?' she asked. 'Just let me help you there so you don't fall over, if you're so dead set on leaving. If you collapse on the way you'll just find yourself back here.'
"Well, how can I argue with a beautiful woman if she makes so much sense? I sure as Hell didn't want to spend more time in that room. She gathered my things, lent me some support, and became my only friend on that trip home. But there was still the matter of my test. I could come back in a year, after more studying, and try again. But, even if I succeeded, would I be accepted? Still, I had to do it again. There was no chance of redemption if I didn't. I explained this to Az'Ria. Hmmm…such a beautiful name. So like my own. Wonder how that happened? Ah well, our last names are different enough. Ah, I digress once more. Forgive me.
"Anyway, I told her that I had things I had to do, alone, and I couldn't have anyone around. She seemed to understand. Hells, even if she hadn't, it wouldn't have mattered, since I was the only one in the City who knew where my crypt was. There I could do all of my experiments in peace. And I was definitely planning some good ones.
"So, I would study during the day, and go visit my friend in the evenings."
"Ah, so that is what you almost said when we were talking about the eclipse." Shadera remarked. "You hinted, accidentally, I think, about more than simply knowing where the sun should be."
"Yes, it was accidental." Az'Ral said. "I was thinking about her…and almost ended up voicing my thoughts. I barely caught myself, and evidently didn't cover it up very well. Still, this is not something I want the others to know about."
"I understand perfectly." Shadera assured him.
"Good."
"Alright. So time passed. Az'Ria and I grew even closer together. We each looked forward to the few hours we spent together in the evenings, but I could never really open up to her fully. She always wanted to know how my 'studies' were coming, but I could never really tell her.
"Because the things I did were things that you, as a Mage Hunter, would probably have had to kill me for. You would not have known me then. I was as cruel and ruthless as any corrupt mage. My experiments became more and more dangerous as I first summoned dead spirits, interrogating, torturing, and sending them screaming into oblivion. But still, no answers were forthcoming.
"I moved on to torturing creatures from the jungles, finally killing and reviving them. After these beasts came more intelligent beings, the Flayers. Still, whenever I revived them, the little bastards managed to resist. Soon I began summoning fire golems to protect me as I worked. One at a time, of course. I have never summoned two since that disastrous Testing day. After failing to get any answers from the Flayers or their Shamans, a lead I was sure would go somewhere, I decided to step it up a notch.
"Don't ever tell Iconnus…but once I nearly hunted down a crusading paladin. Truthfully, it would not have been difficult to subdue him with any of numerous poisons, bind him with bone magic, and keep him immobile in my dark lair while I practiced my art. I would have done it, but for the wards around Rathma. The City finished him before I got there."
He looked at Shadera.
"And that is the only thing that stopped me. The poor, foolish knight never realized how lucky he had been simply to have been frozen in place and torn apart by ravening undead creatures. I had grown rather…skilled at pain and torment, be it a spirit or living creature. His time as my 'guest' would not have been pleasant.
"So, is that enough for your Order to judge me corrupt and in need of removing?" asked the necromancer with a slight sneer. In that moment, he almost hated himself, for what he had and had very nearly done. But then, Hatred was such a strong word…
"Az'Ral." Shadera whispered, putting an arm around his shoulders and settling herself against him. "Know this. I am your friend, and your fighting ally. Though I have not known you for long, I would trust and follow you anywhere. And although it would normally be my duty to kill you now, simply because you have done and could do these things again…I trust you with my life, as you are trusting yours to me. And if this sounds too sentimental for you, think of it this way: my main purpose is to stop the demonic corruption of the Three Evils from rising again. That means stopping the Three themselves. You can help me with this, corrupt or not. Besides," she said, kissing him playfully on the cheek, "I didn't help save you from saber cats just to kill you now."
"You make a good point." Az'Ral said. "Still, I haven't gotten to what you would consider my worst of transgressions.
"Oh? And these are?"
"Demon Summoning.
"As the weeks and months dragged by, and I still had nothing to show for my time, I began to get desperate. This is where things take an enormous downward spiral.
"As it turns out, I'm far better at summoning demons than I am at the traditional necromancer's minions. Perhaps it was all the experience I had with spirits. Whatever the cause, they came readily enough to my call…and blood, only to find themselves trapped in this plane. Requests, bribes, sacrifices, and torture…nothing helped me gain the power I so desperately craved. The demons I summoned became more and more powerful as I grew more and more desperate for answers. Their promises of vengeance became more and more severe. Still, I laughed in their ugly faces, destroying some, pain wracking others. Soon I was summoning the Venom Lords and Balrogs, the most powerful and dangerous demons of the Hells.
"I was ready to take the final, fatal step in my search for power. One last demon, not as a source of information, but as a sacrifice. Surely the combination of a Pit Lord and a bowl of my blood would be enough to attract the attention of one of Hell's lesser Demon Lords.
"Surely, Azmodan would hear my call."
Az'Ral paused for a moment, to let the implications of that chosen course of action sink in.
"Yes, I was willing to bargain with the powers I'm now supposed to help destroy. Darkly ironic, and quite amusing, if you like dark ironies." Az'Ral looked at his well-worn boots, unwilling to meet Shadera's eyes. He allowed himself a short humorless laugh. "Such a fool I was then." He said, looking up to his friend.
"I would be forced to agree with you in this instance. But it is a good thing that you can recognize that." Shadera added, a bit teasingly: "So you're still not beyond hope."
"I'm glad to hear that," Az'Ral said, smiling for the first time. "But now we get to the really fun part. While I was having fun with the Balrogs and other demonic nasties, my experiments took longer than they normally did. Consequently, I missed a few evenings with Az'Ria. Consequently again, she decided to do something about it.
"How she found out where my dungeon was…yes, it could be called a dungeon by now…was located, I will never know. Perhaps she followed me one morning. Maybe I talk in my sleep. Trag'Oul only knows.
"The important thing was that she walked in right as I was…ah…persuading…my newest capture to submit to me. Certainly, it was about the worst time to be interrupted, except maybe for the Summoning itself. But she saw me at my worst, dark fire flickering across my imposing bone armor, not to mention the blue mist that writhed and coiled about my captive, and originated with my raised hands. That my eyes were probably flashing a blazing green probably didn't help. I looked every bit the evil necromancer of legend.
"It must have looked so...wrong, to her, walking in and expecting me to be sitting at a table. Instead, here I was, standing, conducting the darkest of dark rituals. How could that be the Az'Ral she knew? It couldn't. It wasn't. I was totally absorbed in the spell, the torment, and ready to call to Azmodan. Ready, in that moment, to promise anything. Ready to kill anything, or anyone for the demon that would soon be my master.
All but for Az'Ria, then my only friend.
" 'Az'Ral!' she screamed, shock and terror in her voice. My name seemed to have been torn from her throat. A raw cry…a plea…for what?
"She shattered my concentration as I was about to slash down on my wrist with my dagger. As my concentration broke, so did the barriers and the hold I had on the Pit Lord. Fortunately, I had not spilled any of my own blood, or there would have been far more to worry about than a single enraged demon.
"Still, a single enraged demon was enough to knock me to the cold stone floor and put a long rent in my black metal armor. Ironically again, the dagger that would have doomed me now saved me. AzRia screamed my name again, and my fire golem jumped to my aid as I desperately fended off the demon's attacks. Fortunately for me, the Pit Lord had no weapon, aside from its claws and teeth.
"I barely managed to parry with my forearm and dagger long enough for my golem to join in. From there the fight became fairly one sided. Distracted by my golem, the Pit Lord ignored me long enough for me to slash at its throat and stab its chest a few times. I was aiming for its heart, but I'm not sure what I hit. Nevertheless, the combined wounds from my golem and me were enough to finish it off. Its corporeal body faded back to the Abyss where it belonged.
"Then, the adrenaline and relief at being alive faded enough for me to realize just what had tipped off the incident in the first place. I grabbed Az'Ria roughly by the shoulders.
" 'What in the Nine Hells and the Abyss did you think you were DOING?!?' I shouted at her, practically slamming her into a wall in my fury. I was angrier than I have ever been before, or since. 'I TOLD you, stay AWAY! What did you do?! Interrupted me in the middle of spellcasting! You nearly got me killed, and you nearly got YOU killed!' I raged as I have never raged before, caught up in my anger at the opportunity lost.
"It looked more like torture than spellcasting." Az'Ria said coldly.
"And what would you know of that? Have you ever tortured, ever been tortured?!? How could you possibly know?!' I yelled. 'What have you ever done besides mix potions? What hardships have you had?!? Don't talk to me of torture, when you can't possibly know what you're saying.'
"She began to shout back. 'You know that we can't mess with the planes! I don't know where you got that idea you can summon something that powerful, but you could have gotten ALL of us killed!
Not just me and NOT just you! Now let me go!' She said, struggling against the stone wall
" 'You wouldn't understand, you've never understood what I've been though, and you NEVER will! I have to do this for myself, for you, for me!" I shouted at her.
" 'No you don't!' She insisted. 'You're doing this for power! Look at yourself Az'Ral! Look at what you've become!' she said, tears streaming down her face.
" 'How, how would you know what I've become! You've only known me a little while, yet you insist you know what's best for me!" I said, pressing her farther into the wall. Az'Ria flinched at the pain I was inflicting.
" 'Let go of me Az'Ral' she stated calmly, eyes dry once more. 'You could have told me what you were doing, told me why you had to stay away. I missed you, how could you expect me to stand by without knowing?'
" 'Because,' I said coldly, slowly. 'I thought you were something that you're not. I thought you to be a rational, grown woman with some amount of common sense. But no. You are nothing more than a hysterical little girl!' I finished, screaming in her face once more.
" 'And you care more for your work…your torment…than you do for anyone else! You selfish-'
" 'GET OUT!' I roared, interrupting her mid-sentence. 'GET OUT, and leave me alone!' I shoved her toward the door. Tears started to form once again in those dazzling silver eyes.
'Then if you truly care more about your work, let it stay that way! I will leave you in the company of your blood, bones and demons. Enjoy your work, and burn in Hell!' she ran out, not really able to control the second onslaught of tears.
"I sat heavily on the floor, and with a wave of my arm I dismissed my fire golem. I sat in thought for a while, trailing my finger in a small pool of blood. Some of mine, shed when the demon clawed through my armor. With that thought came the pain, and the realization of what I had just said and done. To my friend. My best and only friend."
Az'Ral's green eyes shimmered, as he blinked back tears of his own. Shadera laid her head on his shoulder, understanding now the burdens and pain that this necromancer carried.
"That…was the turning point." He said, voice quavering slightly. "It was then that I realized how far I had gone, and what I was capable of doing. I was a danger, to my people, my City, and Az'Ria. If she had been killed, or if I had made a pact with Azmodan…how could I stay? Knowing that I could do something like this again showed me how much of a danger I was. There was really only one thing I could do. Leave, and search for my answers elsewhere.
"But first, I had to try to apologize. Az'Ria hadn't deserved any of the fire I had thrown at her. Truly, she deserved my thanks, for she had saved me…and likely Rathma, from certain destruction. I owed her that much, and I had to try to pay that debt, even if she rejected me on the spot. It would have been well within her rights, and about as much as I deserved.
"However, before I went anywhere I would need to gather my things. Money. Money I would need to book passage out of here, because I planned on getting as far away as I possibly could. Armor, check…sort of. I was wearing it, but I'd have to get it repaired, and there wasn't a lot of point in wearing it to Az'Ria's. Unless of course, she tried to sink a dagger in my spine, which I decided would have made the world a better place anyway. So, moot point. I stripped off my armor, and was soon wearing only a comfortable vest and gray pants. I replaced the metal greaves I was wearing with my favorite pair of high black boots. Heh, I hardly went anywhere in the city without them.
"Weapons. Can't go adventuring without those. Well, I had my faithful dagger, and a few vials of poisons. What else could a traveling necromancer need? Well…I would need a cloak, to hide what I am from the world at large. That I would have to go home for. I didn't have any spare cloaks lying around my study.
"So I gathered my gear and walked home, feeling the warm jungle air. I breathed deeply. This could be the last time I would see my homeland.
"I arrived at my humble abode and went straight to the storage shelves. I pulled down my favorite cloak, the one I took with me on my jungle forays, and looked around quickly to see if there was anything else I would need. Something sparkled from atop my table, so I walked over and picked it up. I remember chuckling to myself, yet another irony. The thing I held was a pendant I had been working on in my rare free moments, mostly in the early, early mornings. It was a dragon I had carved and shaped from pure white bone. The detail was quite good, actually. The creature curled around on its tail, wings folded to its back, so it was a nice round shape. But what had sparkled and caught my attention was the emerald I had set into it as an eye. I had meant to add another one…but now I was saying good-bye. Well, decided to finish it off, and take it with me when I apologized to Az'Ria. It was supposed to be for her, after all.
"So for over an hour I worked painstakingly on the pendant, making a hole for the small gem and fitting it in. I even did a little spellcasting and shaped the bone more tightly around the emeralds, locking them in. I debated whether to carve any type of message in the back, but decided against it. It would sound so cliché, no matter what I wrote. It was beautiful the way it was. I clenched it in my fist as a got up to get the chain.
"I lay for a long time on my back, holding the pendant by the chain. I watched the dim candlelight flicker over the facets in the eyes, and outline the perfect curves. Finally I put it down, sighing. There was really no point in delaying and the sooner I left the better. I decided to go ahead and leave the candles burning, since I expected to return in a short time. For the very last time.
"And so I walked purposefully out my door, clutching the pendant to my chest. To anyone who might have been watching, nothing would have seemed out of place. Though I was nearly infamous in the City for my…weirdness, I frequently cast aside my armor and wore just the vest, pants, and boots when walking about. The armor was really only for ceremonies, special days like the Testing…and while I summoned."
Az'Ral paused to take a break from so much talking. He looked to Shadera, and the two sat in silence for a moment. Finally, he continued.
"I almost didn't do it, and was about to turn around and just get out of Rathma when I found myself at her doorstep. Well, I thought to myself. Moment of truth!
"I knocked on the door. A muffled 'Hmmm? Come in.' sounded from somewhere within.
"I pushed open the door to find Az'Ria sitting at her table, an amazing amount of jars and herb components scattered on it. 'Uh…' she said, without looking up. 'If it's salve, just set it by the door there. That'd be good.'
"I stood there with my hands clasped in front of me. 'Az'Ria…?' I asked, trying to say 'hello' and 'can you forgive me?' all in the same sentence.
"She looked up at me, and her silver eyes widened. 'Az'Ral! What are you doing here?' she sounded more shocked than angry. Maybe this was a good thing.
" 'Az'Ria…' I said, not quite sure where to begin now that I was actually there. 'I want to…to tell you something. I…I'm sorry.'
"A flash of anger flew across her normally calm face. 'Are you really, Az'Ral. The things you said I didn't take lightly.'
" 'Az'Ria, please, if you could just try to listen to me…' I was almost ready to start begging.
"She seemed to think about that for a moment, as if trying to decide if I was even worth her time. Finally she said, glancing down, 'I'm listening.'
" 'I really am sorry...' I said. 'I know I overreacted there...but I was...just...'
" 'Worried about me, were you? Az'Ral you have to understand you looked terrifying to me, I was sure that you were going to strike me down for being there.'
" 'I know. I do understand. I would not have wanted to see myself as you saw me. But there is no telling what I would have done, which is why I didn't want you there. Because...I care about...for… you.' Why was I hesitating so much! Gaaahh! This could not have sounded good to her ears.
"Az'Ria smiled a bit "That's why I went looking for you Az'Ral, because I was worried. Because I cared for you.' She stood up and walked over to me, embracing me as hard as she could. 'I forgive you, Az'Ral' she said.
"Music to my ears.
" 'Then, will you trust me for a moment?' I asked, slyly, starting a smile of my own.
Az'ria broke off from me to look me in the eye. 'Of course.' She said
" 'Close your eyes for me,' I smirked, I admit. I did. Smirked the 'Az'Ral Smirk,' as she called it once. Evidently I do it a lot."
He demonstrated for Shadera's benefit.
"That is pretty unique," she said, laughing. "You'll have to do that more often once we join back up with the others."
"That I will." He said, still smirking.
"Back to the story. She sighed, but closed her eyes anyway, probably wondering what noxious fumes I had been inhaling. I leaned over her, and lifted up her long silvery hair so I could see what I was doing. I fumbled for a bit with the small clasp, but eventually got it closed. I straightened the pendant, and let it fall to her chest. 'There,' I said. 'Take a look.'
"She looked down, and I watched her eyes widen as she lifted it to get a better look. 'Az'Ral…' she breathed. 'It's…beautiful.' She looked up, probably to see me grinning like an idiot. She smiled to. 'Thank you.'
" 'Az'Ria, you are far more than welcome.' I said sincerely. I owe you so much more….but I am glad you like it.' I returned her previous embrace, but this time it held for much longer. I leaned closer and kissed her. Almost to my surprise, Az'Ria kissed me back. She pulled away and smiled. 'You're one good kisser.' she said, starting to laugh.
" 'Thanks,' I said, smirking once more. 'I try so hard, you know.' I kissed her again.
"Suddenly, she broke off. I looked quizzically at her, wondering what was happening. 'Az'Ral,' she said. 'I have something I want you to see.'
" 'What is that?' I asked, curious. Where was this leading?
" 'Close your eyes, and turn around so I know you aren't cheating.' She said.
" I did as she told me, saying, 'Ha, you just want me to close my eyes like I had you do. What are you plotting?'
" 'You'll see.' I heard some noises that sounded like she was rummaging in a drawer. Her footsteps came closer after a moment, and I nearly turned around. 'I'm warning you, she said teasingly. 'Don't you even think about looking.' I felt something cold and metallic close over my arm, and almost flinched away. Az'Ria's footsteps moved back. 'There, take a look.' She said, repeating my earlier words.
"I turned to face her and opened my eyes, looking down. What she had placed on my arm was a golden tinted armband, with a coiling dragon etched into it. I still wear it now, though it's under my chainmail. Here, I'll even show you."
Az'Ral quickly undid the bone/metal breastplate he wore, and pulled off his dark chain shirt. He unclasped the small band of golden metal and held it into the light.
It was a beautiful piece of work. The dragon that had carefully been etched into the metal wound its way around the band, its tail curling around the world: Trag'Oul, the World Serpent.
I stared at it, unable to believe that she had done this for me. 'Az'Ria…' I said breathlessly. 'You...did this…for me? I…I will wear it always.'
"And so I have," said Az'Ral, slipping it back on and beginning to put his armor back on.
"I can see why," said Shadera, appreciative of its beauty "So much time must have gone into it."
"Yes. She had done this for me…and she cared about me. That was something I could not truly say about anyone else in Rathma at the time. Of course, there had been lovers before, but…could they really have cared about me as much as Az'Ria did? 'Thank you, my friend,' I said, embracing her once more.
" 'Oh, Az'Ral,' she said, wrapping her slim arms around me. 'I'm glad you came…but I have so much to do…and I'm so tired.'
" 'Az'Ria…have you any idea what time it is? Surely your work can wait till tomorrow.'
" 'No, no, I'm fine,' she insisted. 'Just one more combination to try…then I'll rest.'
" 'Oh no you don't,' I said, catching her. 'Not while I'm still here.' I picked her up and plunked her on the bed, laughing. 'Now I'm going to watch and make sure you sleep.'
" 'Hey!' She cried. 'Get down here!' she pulled while I was off balance, and I tumbled onto the bed next to her. 'Az'Ral…' she said. 'I'm sure you have things to do…but stay here tonight, please?'
" 'I will, but only if you promise to get some sleep.' I said, pretending to sound stern.
" 'Hold me then, and you've got a deal.' she smiled.
" 'Done.' I said, leaning against the wall, still sitting on the bed. She leaned into me, and I put my arms around her. I kissed her silver hair and said, ' I think I love you.'
"She sighed and snuggled closer. 'And I you, Az'Ral.'
"Those were the last words I've ever heard her say. She fell asleep then, there in my arms."
The necromancer sighed.
"Then came the moment of reflection. I didn't want to leave her. I briefly thought of asking her to come with me in the morning…but then I looked down. I knew she would have said yes if I had asked, but how could I? I couldn't take her from her life. No, I had to leave. And it would be best that I go without any warning, sooner rather than later. Sooner was now."
Az'Ral looked to Shadera. "And so, I left her there, sleeping peacefully. I couldn't say goodbye…at least, not in person. After a day or so, she would surely go looking in the City for me. So I could leave something of a farewell note at my home.
"I went came to my living quarters to find the candles I had left burning barely hanging on. I quickly relieved the current ones of duty and appointed to new ones to take their places. Soon I had my poisons and dagger tucked away, and my cloak over my armor. Time to go. I would have to wait and get the armor fixed later. The last thing to do was write the note, which turned out as more of a poem. Hmmm, I still know how it went:
'When the dark path stretched before me
And all the ways were overgrown
I stepped where I should not have stepped
Where no light has ever shone.
I did not believe…I could not see!
Although you came to me that night
When my dawn seemed to be forever lost…
I could not leave the Darkness without fight
Turn your thoughts to your own path
Let your heart now be free
But when a dark night seems endless,
Please, remember me.
And now a mountain looms before me
Climbing steadily, ever higher
But I will trek on until the end
Through cold ice and blazing fire
Az'Ria…remember me'
"I left it on my table where it was sure to be found when she came looking for me.
"And then I was off, running through Rathma's aboveground streets towards the dark jungles. I picked my way through the tangled forest, avoiding what creatures I could, and arrived in Kurast on the second day. My time there was really not exciting. I got my armor repaired by a queer man named Hratli, and bought a few more poisons from and even queerer fellow known as Alkor."
Az'Ral stopped, laughing at the memory. "Someday, you'll have to come with me to Kurast. We'll see if he remembers me, or if he says the same thing to every necromancer who walks by."
Shadera nodded, smiling. "Could be fun."
Az'Ral continued. "So, good as new and a bit lighter in the purse, I booked passage across the sea. I wandered for a few months before hearing tales about 'the dead walking', and a greater mummy named Radament. I believe you know the rest."
"In the sewers beneath Lut Gholein you met Rage and Firiel, and a few days later, Darkangel and Iconnus. Then me." Shadera finished for him.
"Exactly so. And here I am, telling my failures and darkest, closest kept secrets to an assassin while out to stop a Greater Demon Lord from Hell from freeing his brother, also a Greater Demon Lord. Now if this isn't a bard's tale, I don't know what is. What the Hell happened to my life!?! All this little adventure needs to be complete is for Az'Ria to walk in."
Shadera lifted her head from his shoulder and asked, "Do you think you still love her?"
Az'Ral met her smoky, dark-eyed gaze. "After all these months, you mean? Truthfully…I'm not sure if I can. She may have found someone else by now. Four months is enough time for feelings to be dulled. I just don't know. I will likely never see her again, as she is back in Rathma. Even if I do return from this insane quest someday, that day is so far into the future that she will move have moved on. I will always wear the band, to remember our friendship, but I told her to let her heart be free, and perhaps she has. But I still love the memory of her, and I cannot let that go."
"I understand that," Shadera said. "Just be sure you do not let this past pain interfere with what we do now. You know how important this is."
"Yes, now more than ever. After the fight we had with the saber cats I had a …dream, I think, though it seemed so real. But then, most dreams do, while they're being dreamed. Still…it was…disturbing." He told her about the dream, wherein the Prime Evils had appeared, though he decided not to say anything about the dark, whispering voice. After all, he wasn't truly sure that the two were even remotely related.
"That sounds very unusual," Shadera said thoughtfully. "I think it was a warning, and a reminder that we had best get going."
"Still," Az'Ral said. "It seemed…more, somehow. Mephisto almost seemed to be offering me the power I so desperately craved four months ago."
"Hmmm…Az'Ral! Wait!" Shadera suddenly brightened. "Here, look through this book and tell me what it says." She pulled a small, battered book from somewhere on her person and handed it to Az'Ral.
He took it and thumbed through a few pages curiously. His eyes widened. "Where did you find this?" he breathed. "It…it looks like a journal…it has diagrams and notes…on reviving creatures!"
"I thought it might." Shadera smiled. "I followed you down to Radament's lair and looked around after you and Firiel killed it. I found this book. I sensed something odd about it, but couldn't quite place my finger on it. When I flipped through it, it seemed to be a sensei's journal, showing stances and proper balancing techniques. I'll wager that if you gave this to Atma's cook it would have recipes for maggot pie and better ale!"
"Shadera…this is truly a treasure…no matter who holds it." Az'Ral turned through another page, suddenly becoming very excited. "There! Surely this is it! Shadera…I need to kill something. I have to try this. I'm sure it's the key!"
The assassin laughed. "Well then, let's get going," she said, standing. She helped Az'Ral to his feet. "My Shadow will return soon, but she will find me no matter where I am."
"Then let's hurry!" said Az'Ral excitedly, tossing the book back to Shadera. "This has to work! I know it will! Oh, if it does I cannot thank you enough!" Az'Ral stopped suddenly, a weird expression on his face. "By Trag'Oul. I sound like I did when I raised my first skeleton, when I was nine. Please slap me. Nevermind, I'll slap myself." He threw a huge hug over his friend, and she returned it with equal enthusiasm.
Then she laughed, and ruffled his short hair. "Then let's find out if it works, and if it does I'll owe you a drink."
Az'Ral smirked. "Deal."
And so, Qualinesti finally finds a way to write in the infamous Book of Skill. Yay! Well, this is by far my longest single chapter, with the Author's Note part topping page 11, I think. Well, when you're on a roll…
I meant to have this published on the 17th of June, which would have been exactly one year from my first publishing date. Alas, FF.net had issues again, and I couldn't. So I've gotten this up as close to The Date as I could. But hey, two chapters at once isn't too shabby, so I'm happy! Ah yes, random thought time. I just had one.
Donde estan mis pantalones?
Where are my pants? I really don't know. Right now I have my brother's boxers…ooh, bet that was a bit too much information…
Anyway, I love all of you who have reviewed. (especially with criticism, it helped me a lot) and if anyone else wants to review, I'll love you, too. And I'll read your stories, if you have some up. I always go look at the people who read my stuff. Ah, and if you read that hilarious crap story of mine, Diablo Endorses Diablo II, be sure you have a dictionary handy. I do not provide definitions for all those words. I may actually update that one with some limericks, though they weren't the limericks I turned in. Anyway.
Ah yes, I promise that if you e-mail me, I WILL get back to you. I don't know who I've replied to or not, but my inbox is so horrible I will never know. Well, enough about my Chaotic and Disorganized habits.
See ya all around. Catch me on Yahoo messenger sometime….
~~Qualinesti~~
Maybe someday I'll actually write that DragonLance fic I first set out to do…