And Darkness Consumes

Chapter Eight: The Calm Before the Storm

After reuniting with the two other Rogue groups, Kashya and Erich lead the entourage out of Yun's Den. Much to Kashya's surprise, their was no surprise ambush waiting for them at the entrance, nor were there any in the Caves or immediate area surrounding the Den. It was as if all the Wolves had just got up and left.

"Maybe it's because we killed Yun?" One of the Rogues had offered after Erich pointed out the absence of any Wolves in or around the Den.

"Perhaps." He replied. He had donned his Bonemold Cuirass, bracers, and boots, but his greaves and both pauldrons had been chewed to ruin by more then a handful of Wolves, and his Redoran Masters Helm was no where to be found. Although he knew Charsi had never even seen Bonemold armor before she met him, he decided to bring the destroyed pieces of armor to her to see if she could repair them.

"Who knows?" Kashya said, "Let's get back to the camp now. A merchant named Gheed brought the Paladin reinforcement Warriv requested. The camp is secure against any demon assault now. And Akara needs to have a look at those runes, so you and Kyoko can complete your mission." She said as she started back towards the encampment.

The expression on Erich's face went from neutral to out right surprise. He hadn't even mentioned that he snagged the scroll off of Yun's dead body, then he remembered that Kashya did happen to be right there when he did so, but he assumed she had been looking the other way. Obviously he had been wrong. Wow, she's good! He thought to himself, silently admiring Kashya. She was a lean and tough warrior, but she was still a woman. The hardened muscles on her arms and legs did little to subtract from her attractiveness, nor did her obvious age. She was at least twice as old as Kyoko, who Erich guessed was properly in her late teens, but even so, she was one of the more attractive women he'd seen in a while. She'd make a fine mate... Blinking in confusion at his own thoughts, Erich did a double take. A fine mate? What's that supposed to mean?

"Yes? What's so interesting about me that you feel the need to stare?" Kashya said angrily, taking not only notice, but some insult to Erich's staring. Shaking his head furiously and looking away, Erich stammered out an apology.

"No-nothing! Sorry!" He said, Kyoko giggling behind her hand at his obvious embarrassment. Kashya merely snorted and shook her head disapprovingly. She was used to being gawked at by a few of the Paladins and other Mercenaries who came with the Merchant traders that passed through the Rogue Monastery en route to the Eastern Kingdoms. She had assumed Erich was above that, but maybe she had been wrong about him.

Just more proof that men are all worthless. She mused darkly.

Stalking in the distance, like a hunter following it's prey, two Dire Wolves hounded the group from afar, making sure to linger out of sight, remaining undetected. They stalked the group all the way to the Rogue Encampment, always unseen, always unheard.

Upon arriving at the Camp near sunset, Erich and Kyoko were rushed to see Akara. The Rogue Seer glanced up from her seat as the dup were showed into her hut. "Erich, you are alright?"

"Yes. I also brought the inscription from the Tree of Inifuss." He said, presenting the scroll upon which the runes were inscribed.

"Did Yun or any of his wolves bite you while you were in the Blood Wolf's custody?" Akara asked, not even looking at the scroll.

Erich took a step back. "Bite me? No, not to my knowledge. I don't think any of them bit me." He had decided en route to the Camp that the final bite Yun had given him was all just a figment of his imagination.

"Are you sure?" Akara pressed.

"Positive."

"Very well. Let me read the scroll then, and I will be able to open a portal to Tristram." Erich handed over the scroll to Akara, who rolled it open and began to muse over it. "I see..." She said to herself, then looked up at Erich. "I will need some time to read over this. Come back in the morning, and I will have the translated copy ready for you."

Erich left the hut, Kyoko in tow. "What do you think?" He asked her over his shoulder. In response, Kyoko just shrugged.

"Dunno. We have an entire night to blow. But first, let's go get something to eat!" Kyoko latched herself onto Erich's arm, motioning for him to go with her.

"In a bit. Let me go see if Charsi can fix my armor. I'll catch up later." Dislodging himself from Kyoko, Erich headed off for the blacksmith's hut.

The wooden shack housing Charsi's workplace was relatively empty, save for Charsi, again working on another sword, each strike of her work hammer on the metal blade resounding with a loud CLANK. Erich cleared his throat to catch her attention. "Hmmm? Yes?" She said as she turned her head to look at him.

Thrusting out the burlap sack he carried the pieces of armor in to her, Erich asked in a clear and firm tone, "Charsi, think you can fix my armor?"

Standing erect and wiping her hands on her apron, Charsi accepted the sack and opened it, examining the three pieces of Bonemold armor. "I don't know. But I'll give it a try. Come back to me in the morning, and if I can't do anything for your armor, I'll let you choose something from our stock, okay?"

Erich nodded, resigning himself to Charsi's skill. "Okay. I'll see you in the morning." Walking away, he recalled where the cook's tent was, where he would find Kyoko.

"Tomorrow night's gonna be a full moon." He overheard a Paladin say to another as he walked past the two.

"Really?" The other asked, obviously the younger and more inexperienced of the two, shifting his large scythe from one hand to the other and back again.

"Of course. When you've..." The two's conversation faded into obscurity as Erich walked out of earshot range.

The smell of freshly cooked meat hung on the air as he neared the cook's tent. Just outside it was a large iron cauldron, filled to the brim with a bubbling dark liquid, chucks of meat and vegetables swimming in it. In front of this cauldron were round wooden tables with benches built into them, where the Rouges could sit and eat their meals. The chef was a portly, balding middle aged man, his apron covered with food stains. He stirred the contents of the cauldron constantly with a heavy iron laddle, ensuring that no food items became stuck to the sides. There was a scattering of Rogues, Paladins, and a few Mercenary types sitting at the tables, enjoying tonight's meal of beef and vegetable stew. Kyoko had somehow managed to find an empty table to sit at, and was waving Erich over as he laid eyes on her. Two wooden bowls of stew sat on the table, one for herself, the other obviously for him.

"Thanks for getting me a bowl." Erich said as he took a seat on the bench next to Kyoko. The other beamed brightly.

"No sweat. Dig in, it's great!" She gave her approval of the meal, then proceeded to follow her own advice, scooping a spoonful of the stew into her mouth. Smirking and shaking his head, Erich too dined.

An awkward air of silence fell upon the two as they dined quietly. It was obvious that Kyoko had something to say to Erich, but either couldn't muster up the courage to do so or didn't know how to put her thoughts into words. Either or, Erich couldn't tell which though. After half finishing his own meal, Erich turned to Kyoko and broke the silence. "Got something on your mind?" He asked.

"Erm..." Gulping down a mouthful of potato, Kyoko set her spoon down and tapped her forefingers together. "Yeah, I kinda do. I was wondering... Did Kashya assign you a tent to sleep in?"

Raising a suspecting eyebrow at Kyoko's question, Erich slowly shook his head. "Not yet, no."

"Well, um..." Kyoko looked up and to her right, away from Erich. Even with her head turned the other way, Erich could see that her cheeks were a rosy hue of red. "Uh... If you'd like, you could sleep in my tent tonight. I wouldn't mind sharing, and I have a spare blanket you could use if it gets cold."

Erich chuckled softly, putting a hand on Kyoko's shoulder, "Sure, I would like that."