Waterdeep II
The cloaked woman was waiting already as Duke Maelius Santos entered into the main room, she stood like a statue, unmoving in the room's centre. It was not even dawn yet, the room was otherwise empty of people; the duke walked so he stood near her.
"Lady Bel'cador? We should be moving off."
"And why are you here Santos? I was under the impression you would be busy today," she said bluntly.
"I have knowledge of this city, knowledge that you do not have," he had not meant to sound so imperious. He realised it was a mistake as the woman's black mask turned to face him.
"That may be so, human but I am neither helpless nor am I awed by your knowledge." Her voice was a sharp hiss.
"I meant no disrespect, but-," he began.
"Well that is good, that is like stabbing a man and then saying you did not mean to hurt him. Anything else? Have we wasted sufficient time with this inane banter?"
"If that is your opinion, then we will leave now," Santos said stiffly.
The elf nodded, "lead the way, knowledgeable human." The duke was not sure if he caught the next words right, he hoped not. "For in just a blink of an eye you will be dead," he let it go but was suitably worried by the words to keep an eye on her.
The streets were damp with morning dew as the two walked through the near abandoned streets, west towards the docks of the city. It was a nice area, the docks area was actually blocked by a gate and wall to stop people without business entering. The two guards were sullen looking men who looked with annoyed hostility at these two strangers who disturbed their comfortable rest.
"Gate's closed, see?" one challenged.
"I have the authority of the council of lords, you will let us pass," Santos gave over the gate-pass but the guard made no move to take it.
"Gate don't open till dawn do you will just have to wait," the other said smugly.
"I will deal with these fools," Liath said in elvish. She walked forward with an arrogant bearing. "So are you not going to let me through?"
"You heard right mister," the first guard said.
"Then I shall direct you to article fifteen of the laws and ordinances of this city," Liath held up a piece of paper which was again the abused ration order.
"What?" the second man said suspiciously.
Liath took out a charcoal pencil and made a note on the paper, "and what is your name, guard?"
"None of you damn business," the man snarled, revealing rotting teeth.
"Disobedience added to the list, I am with the inspector general's department and he will be sure to hear of this dereliction of duty. Now if you were to open the doors I might just let it drop, this time."
"You have no right to do this?"
"Of course I do, article fifteen clearly states that an order from the council is to be followed over all other instructions."
The men shifted a glance, "you not tell no one?"
"If you open the gate in the next half minute I will be persuaded to forget," Liath said tonelessly.
"Alright," the guard said and heaved open the gate.
"Fools," Liath said with a hint of enjoyment when they were out of sight.
"That was deceitful and wrong, what is article fifteen anyway?"
"Covers property rights for widows of those killed in the city's service."
Santos looked at the masked woman, he was worried about her careless and chaotic behaviour. She was definitely the opposite of the passionate and honourable Eairth.
"So tell me of yourself," he stated.
"Why?" she countered bluntly.
"Because we are allies and I like to know who I fight beside."
"I have no doubt you do human. Well you can dream on about getting an answer from me," she said stiffly.
"Would it help if I told you about myself first?"
"No, but you are free to speak anyway," she said flatly.
"Have you got a problem with me or my race?" he snapped angrily, his patience finally exceeded.
"Humans have so small tempers, keeps it in proportion with everything else I suppose."
"Answer the damn question, elf," he almost shouted.
"I have no problem with you, yet. You are slipping in my estimations towards the rest of your kind. Brash, impetuous and short-tempered, I thought you were slightly better."
"That makes me feel a lot better," he muttered sarcastically.
"I'm glad to hear it, can't have you sulking around like a monk in a tavern."
"I was being sarcastic."
"Really? I am being blunt, human," she said still without any emotion.
"I am this close to pulling that damn mask off, you hear me?" it was the wrong thing to say. Had he been thinking straight, he would have acknowledged this.
The woman turned so fast he swore it was a trick, a knife was pressing into a very private area, her voice was terrible. "And you are this close, human, to being castrated." The duke swore he could see some sort of burning fire through the eyeholes of the mask, she would not hesitate to kill him.
"I am sorry, I did not mean offence. I only wanted to know more about you,"
The knife was gone into the black folds of the robe, "that is what they all say," she said softly. Then louder, "if you try or say that again, you will not live over it," she said and stalked away down the road. Santos was thankful the streets were empty, he sighed and moved to follow her.
The wizard academy was a tall imposing building that seemed determined to make any visitor know that it was a magical university. Multi-coloured smoke rose to mingle with fumes from a dozen other sources, lights and sparks flashed from many sources and everywhere was the hiss of steam and the crackle of power. Even Santos, as blind to magic as a rock could feel its power about him; a wind blew about him, whipping Liath's robe up as much as it could. The door was a tall and imposing object, a double gateway made of wood reinforced by wood, it was surrounded by stone walls which gave the distinct impression of being watched.
Liath showed no hesitation as she walked up to the door and knocked on the heavy wooden panelling, there was silence as a light breeze ghosted around them.
"I hear the wizards never get up before noon," Santos said in a doomed attempt to inject some life into the conversation.
"Well somebody is awake," the elf said blandly.
A peephole opened above them and a suspicious eye looked down on them.
"Yes? What is it?" it asked in a pinched tone of one who believes they have been disturbed from something vital.
"Greetings, I wish to enter your academy to study the portal over Undermountain." Her words were in high elven, it seemed she disliked speaking common almost as much as the race that had created it.
"And what makes you think we will let you enter?" the voice replied in the elvish, it was slightly more interested now.
"I have authority from the council of the city and a recommendation from the leader of Neverwinter."
"I am sorry, only those who are part of the guild may enter, it is clear you are not."
"And if I wished to join this guild?" Liath asked patiently, it seemed she had reserved judgement on the speaker until its race was revealed.
The door opened and a half-elf with the robes of an apprentice wizard stood before the two of them. Liath had her hands clenched behind her back, the only thing worse than humans was those impure elves who had taken these mortals as lovers. She had to restrain her anger and try to speak normally.
"So? Are we able to join your academy?"
"I am not authorised to do this, I will fetch Master Straii," the half-elf said nervously.
"Then pursue him with alacrity and return!" Liath said in exasperation, the half breed fled, closing the door. Santos was surprised the woman had lost her temper, she did not seem the sort.
For five minutes they stood like children before a headmaster's door before the door opened to reveal a wizard of high rank. To Santos' relief, he was an elf with imperious eyes and a blue robe, carrying a black staff.
"Can I help you?" he asked in elven.
"I seek access to study the portal into Undermountain, it is a matter of some importance."
"I see you have a message from the council, very well you may enter but only members of the guild may enter the room where the portal is."
"Are you so restricting the adventurers sent by the city?" Liath asked pointedly.
"No, they will be specially prepared and monitored by us."
"So how do I join?" Liath asked quickly.
"Normally, one must pass entrance exams or perform some great service to this guild," the elf wizard said grandly.
"I am in a hurry, wizard, I do not have time for this. Do I have to get the Magus himself down here to let me enter?" she was irritated at this delay.
"Can you do any magic?" the wizard asked, expecting the usual negative he could use against them later on.
"Of course I can, defensive and dispelling spells only of course. I use them to supplement my fighting skills," Liath sounded rather pleased at the surprise on the other two men's faces.
"Can you show us?" the wizard prompted.
"If it is going to move this procession along, yes," she said irritably.
The elf raised her hands, muttering something before bringing them together; there was a flash of light which faded to reveal a small weapon in her hands. It seemed to be made of white crystal, about the size of a dagger, she grasped it and it vanished like ice in the sunlight.
"Satisfied, mage?"
"It will do, payment of three hundred gold is also required."
"Fine, here," she handed him the gold and strode past the two men towards the sealed doorway distant.
"Is she often like this?" the mage asked in exasperation.
"At least you are an elf my friend, if you were a dwarf she would have tried to kill you."
The wizard frowned and walked towards the door.
As the mage entered the room on the other side he was greeted by a pair of humans and a gnome who started talking with him with great animation. Liath looked around the room; it was a long, low hall underground. Rectangular in shape, the room was nearly twenty yards high, light coming through thin windows at the very top. The walls were made of stone, tiles of several colours covered the floor which was empty save for the milling people and a few benches by the walls. The forty yards of hallway led to the far wall which was filled with a narrow stone arch, the arch left just a yard between its far side and the wall. In that space however was a azure blue glow which make that single yard theoretically infinite in space. The arch was a hexagonal shape, eight foot across and ten high, it seemed to be made of black iron but Liath knew this was not the case.
Straii, the elf mage walked back to Liath, "this is not a good time. My associates are detecting the power level is rising quickly, we do not know what is happening."
"The portal is being activated obviously, what you have to do is reverse the-" her urgent words stopped as her head jerked up in surprise.
"Liath? What is it?" Santos asked in surprise.
The elf woman drew her sword with a suitable metallic ting, she brought the blade to the salute and was backing away as the attack emerged.
There was a burst of white light, a resounding crack, then the contained area of the portal seemed to freeze solid. It seemed as though the air became darker and colder, there were flashes of light and a buffering gust of wind. A final flash of light dazed all those in the room, leaving, in the afterglow, drow. Appearing through the portal like they were pushing through treacle, they jumped down and drew their swords and crossbows. The Waterdhavian wizards were too surprised to react as first one, then two, then a dozen drow pushed through the portal. The drow, dark-skinned elves who had none of the kind nature of their surface cousins fired a hail of bolts. The wizards, a score of them began to cast whatever spell first came to mind, creating an odd flickering display of lights; many disappointed as the wizards were hit by bolts and fell. Straii pushed his way forward, his blue robes behind him, raising his staff, before he could complete the third syllable though, a black feathered bolt was in his lungs so he fell to the ground. Dropping their single-shot crossbows and drawing their swords, the drow moved forward, several of the wizards managed to get spells off but the majority were hampered by the close press of swords and anger. The dark elves pressed their advantage, their leader in particular showed great pleasure as he set about the mages.
A wizard stabbed at him with a short sword, the elf turned the blow aside and rammed his own blade into the man's heart. More drow and even some duergar, dark dwarves, were coming through the gate into the room. Half the wizards were dead, they were not battle mages, most were just researchers or loremasters, now they paid the price.
Santos drew his sword and was moving forward when a strong hand grabbed his hand, "you are no good to anyone dead. Help me barricade the stairs out of here," Liath ordered.
"Wizards of Waterdeep, pull back to the surface!" the duke shouted.
Six wizards made it to the stairs but only three made it up the black stone steps, the rest falling to bolts of magic or steel. The last three reached the top as wizards and guards poured out of the rooms all around and charged down towards the doorway.
Liath felt only calm in the midst of the panic, she smiled in her mask. The drow were a race she despised almost as much as humans, the fact they had once been proper elves only added to her anger. Her blade was held to attention as the first drow, a crossbow wielder came up from the tunnel, blinking in the light. She gave her no chance, her foot kicked aside the bow whilst her long blade slid into the dark stomach. The creature looked surprised for an instant before the sword was ripped free to parry an ill aimed cut with a blade. Turning the parry with considerable skill, the drow's weapon was thrown from its hand whilst Liath's blade chopped down once. A duergar hacked down with a battleaxe, the steel head aiming to slay the elf woman; Liath was not fooled and spun free, her sword coming down on the dwarf's lower spine with lethal speed. A drow cleric was halfway through a spell that would immolate Liath before a sword cut up across her stomach; an eager duergar sought to capitalise on this but a swift kick followed by a slice removed its bearded head.
Santos stared as the elf woman cut down a half dozen enemy in a half minute, he resolved not to let her fall alone and, with a dozen other fighters charged into battle. Wizards were finally using their magic to devastating effect, the bottlenecked drow and duergar forces were being massacred as they struggled forward. Still they pressed on, driving even the lethal elf lady back before their numbers.
Eager not to be surrounded but having lost the advantage of surprise, Liath stepped back from the fight. She parried two swords but could make no headway against the elite guards. There was a scream as a dark dwarf halberd hewed a man's leg off at the knee, immediately his place was taken but this man fell also to a chopping blow. The ground was slick with blood and carpeted with bodies but there was no result in sight, unless the Underdark forces withdrew soon however, the scratch force of fighters would be overcome and the wizards would be assailed. Liath cursed the milling humans around her, she needed space and these fools were dying for nothing; she resolved to fight her own way. Swinging the sword down to force a dwarf's axe down, she kicked the bearded nose head on with sickening force before moving on to the next foe. Now the enemy was about five yards from the doors and always pushing forward. Screams and cries filled the air; some of the drow at the rear were firing burning arrows randomly around the collage to burn what they struck. A sword cut ripped the elf's cloak and scrapped on the concealed armour beneath; with a deep breath she drove forward and stabbed, the drow fell fatally wounded to the ground. There was a cheer, the elf stepped back and around to see a contingent of guards arriving, their high helmets and large shields giving them an imposing feel as they moved forward. Liath ran to the commander who fortunately had seen her fighting against the drow and so did not draw his blade on her.
"Who are you? What is going on?"
"The drow and duergar are coming through the portal, we need to block the entranceway to the passage."
"Who are you?" the commander asked again.
"I am on your side and know what I am doing, introductions can wait. Now, get your men to lock shields and charge through the enemy position."
The soldier saw the wisdom in this and called to his men, "form up! Lock shields, advance!"
The Waterdhavian soldiers sheathed their swords and braced their heavy shields against themselves, screamed a warcry and charged full tilt at the enemy line. Most of the weary defenders managed to get out of the way but some could not escape and were trampled to death by their allies. The drow were physically forced back and down to the ground with crunching force, the first rank of soldiers joining them on the ground. Liath held her sword hight and charged into battle with the rear ranks of the human soldiers, vaulting over a body, her blade stabbed a drow in the heart. The forces of the Underdark, their lines broken neither retreated not tried to contain the break in, instead they were soon being surrounded by the vengeful defenders.
Liath's sword whipped the head off a dwarf but received a cracking blow on the ribs from another axe, the blow did not penetrate but still drove the armour painfully into her side. The elf did not stop, such a move would be fatal but instead she hacked down the axe haft to sever her foe's fingers. Leaving this foe to be finished off she moved on to a drow with a sword who barred her access to the tunnel, bolts still flew thick, the screams were just as loud but the enemy was finally being driven from the surface. Her opponent was a leader of some sort, saw Liath as a vital opponent and attacked. The two elves duelled, sword and shield versus greatsword; Liath kicked the drow in the knee, drove the pommel forward and swept his blade down. Her opponent, eyes glinting in anger sliced with the razor edge of his shield, cutting a gash on Liath's upper right arm, the masked elf counter attacked. With an elegant swirling parry, followed by a precise stab, the drow staggered, his leg cut open. The dark elf tried to regain the initiative but Liath did not stop, a final downward cut cleaved the drow's skull.
"Wizards! The tunnel, collapse the tunnel!" she shouted before the body had even fallen. They stared at her, Liath rammed her sword into a corpse and seized a wizard. "Blast the walls and collapse it or we will not be able to stop them!"
The wizards finally got the idea, though many of their men were still fighting at the entrance, the dozen or so mages who still lived combined their powers into a beam of coruscating power. The bolt slammed into the side of the tunnel with tremendous force, shattering the stones apart in a cascading tide. The explosion emptied the corridor of both attackers and defenders, the shockwave throwing down anybody in its path. When the smoke cleared there was just a pile of rubble and the scores of dead from both sides on the ground. Liath stood from her crouch and retrieved her blade. She saw Santos clean his blade of thick dark blood and would have moved over to him if a sudden cry had not pierced the air.
"They are coming through the windows!"
"Men of Waterdeep, with me!" Liath called, her instincts as a commander taking over her dislike for humans.
The drow had scaled up the walls and were coming through the small windows that provided air for the chamber beneath the ground. The enemy must have seen their predicament and were thus desperately trying to escape from the death trap of the room. Liath had her sword sheathed and became a leader once more, pushing the troops into line, directing their fire and organising counter attacks. As she led a squad of troops forward, two crossbow bolts hit her in the chest, the armour stopped most of their power but one got through to dig into her skin. Santos looked at her to see the elf looking in puzzlement down at the wounds, then she threw off her indecision and ripped the bolts from her skin. The Duke of Westphal looked in amazement as she threw them aside as though they were nothing, then he forgot the elf and defended himself against a wild series of swings and cuts from a duergar infantryman.
As Liath paced along the lines, she knew what she had to do, she just had no way to do it, as she directed a half dozen archers to fire into the underground room a mage ran up to her.
"Lady Bel'cador?"
"Speak quickly, we do not have time to waste," she snapped.
"Archmage Lidhir says that barrels of alchemist's fire were placed around the walls in case this happened. We need to get close enough to explode them."
"Understood, get your men together and follow my lead," she ordered, the mage scurried away.
The sword was drawn once more, glinting in the light of the sun, even though it was obscured by smoke from the burning building all around.
"Forward!" she yelled and led the charge of a dozen men, all that remained of the regulars who had broken the first line. The drow were few but they fought with grim determination, their weapons took many lives before they finally were overcome, the mages ran forward and began to chant their spells. One last drow oppose Liath, an assassin who fought with two short blades, using them with lethal skill. Liath parried a blow but felt one blade drive through her upper leg, it deflected from the armour but still had caused an injury. Liath ignored the blow and chopped horizontally to cleave the dark elf's ribs apart. Two of the three mages were hit by bolts from inside the room but the last got off his fire spell before he fell, pierced in the throat.
The bolt of fire struck a section of wall underground covered by wooden boards, the bolt easily punched through stone and wood to detonate the explosive within. First one barrel, then another, then three and finally the whole air was filled with the rumbling crackle of explosions and detonations. The walls of the chamber, old but well made resisted the explosion until the pressure was too great, a hundred barrels had been placed around the walls and the exploded almost in unison to kill every drow in the room beneath. The blast flicked up, tearing through the windows, a shockwave throwing men and material aside. Finally with a dull, loud rumble, the cavern began to give way, rocks fell inward as the ceiling and walls gave way. The very ground moved as instantly, the inclosed space was filled with stone and wood from all around it, burying the battlefield and the room in dust and smoke.
The university was in ruins, whole buildings had been burnt to the ground whilst the battle raged, powers had shifted from the explosions and so many were dead. To Duke Santos, ruler of the ruined city of Westphal, it was memories of his home all over again. So many were dead, the ruin was total, only now were regular infantry arriving to care for the wounded and inter the dead. So many of the dead were nothing but pieces, the explosion tearing them to bloody ruin, their names never to be known. The noble thought of Liath, she had to be dead, no one could survive that blast but yet, but yet there was something about that woman that unnerved Santos. He half hoped she was dead whilst the rest of his mind hoped she lived. A captain, thinking he was in charge, which he technically was saluted.
"We estimate the enemy brought through about two hundred troops who fought sir."
"What are our losses captain?" Santos asked wearily, he was tired and hurt but he would live.
"Eighty four dead or about to be and the same injured. Hard to tell though sir with the way it is."
"I see, at least the portal is buried, see to the wounded, captain and well done.
Santos walked back to the edge of the smoking pit, the ruin beneath him was total and complete, nobody could have survived.
He turned back, knowing he should help where he could with organising the troops when he saw a familiar figure.
The cloak was torn in places by shrapnel, the black mask was scratched to reveal steel beneath and she was limping. To Santos' horror, she still had a knife in her leg, she nodded her head.
"A good day's work Duke Santos," she said calmly.
"You have a knife in your leg," he said the first thing he could think of.
She looked at it and shrugged, "I will remove it." The elf wrenched the blade free, causing a wince from the duke and threw it aside.
"Not poisoned, so not important, I could do with a bandage though, I did not expect to fight today."
"We did well," Santos said in spite of the evidence, she looked at him.
"Did we? We lost two thirds of our men and only just succeeded, that is not cause for celebration."
"I see you are still alive and healthy."
"Your sarcasm is noted, come, let us go before questions start to be asked.
"Questions like; who are you and why are you here?"
"The very same, human."
Liath had walked back the entire way, ignoring the fact she left a small trail of blood behind her from her leg, she would not be stopped. Finally she entered the Yawning Portal to the collective gasps and looks of surprise from her audience. Linu ran over, seeing the wounds, she saw a strange scar through the cut on Liath's leg but before she could investigate she was pulled upright.
"Thank you for your concern but I am fine. I need time to rest and bandage these injuries, if you wish to come up and talk, do so an hour after dusk. If not, I will not object, farewell."
Even her remarkable endurance could not hide her limp as she slowly went up the stairs to her room.
"What in the name of the nine circles happened?" Sharwyn demanded. "We wanted to go help but we were kept out of the docks area whilst they brought in troops."
"The drow came through the portal at the wizard's university, hundreds dead. We collapsed the room on them, it might not destroy the portal but it has certainly ruined its operation."
"And Liath?" Linu asked.
"I counted sixteen enemy dead by her hand, she got pretty beaten up as well though."
"She needs help, I will go to her," the elf cleric said in worry.
A hand caught her arm, "no my friend. Let her be, she almost killed me when I asked about her past."
"Fine, I will not go, I am still not happy about this."
"Neither am I but it is for your safety."
"Yes."
Six hours later, a knock on the door roused Liath to her senses, she had lay down to get some rest after repairing her clothes and tending her wounds. Now she looked mostly the same as she had done except for the dirt and tears in her cloak.
"Enter," she commanded.
Linu walked in the door to see the now familiar shape of Liath on the bed, mostly returned to normal. The elf woman got slowly to her feet, the bulge of the bandages on her arms and legs and the lack of armour apparent.
"Come in my elvish friend," she said in her race's language.
"Are you alright, I was worried but knew you needed rest."
"I am fine, I have taken far worse my dear. I just hope I don't have to do that again tomorrow."
"I never realised you were so good a swordsman, Santos told us about the fight."
"How old are you, priest?" Liath asked, seemingly ignoring the last words.
Linu frowned but answered, "one hundred and nineteen."
The mask's gaze wavered for a moment. "When I was your age I had already been enslaved, sold, escaped and fought in six major engagements." Linu did not interrupt, she did not want to lose this change to explore the woman's past. "Not a good start but it eventually got better I suppose."
"How old are you Liath?"
The watchful gaze was back, replacing the temporary look of openness. "Six hundred and thirty seven," she said grudgingly.
"Where are you from? Your accent is not one I know."
There was an air of humour about the hidden face, "I suppose you wouldn't have, it will remain a mystery to you then." The elf had somehow managed to obtain black paint to redo the mask's scratches. Linu saw for the first time, a necklace, the bulge clear because of the lack of armour beneath; Liath saw the gaze and shifted her cloak so it remained hidden.
"To answer your previous question my friend, hard experience and long training have taught me how to fight and how to win. Part of that is knowing that whatever injury you suffer is not half as bad as the one you will take if you react to the first one."
"But surely they hurt?"
The elf opposite her sighed, "I am used to pain my friend. After a while it gets so that you can endure it."
Linu's head echoed with the words, whatever she suffered must have been considerable to put up with such injuries so easily. "I am sorry."
"You have nothing to fear from me, or pity me for. Now go on my dear and leave me."
"Are you sure?"
"If you wish to talk longer then go ahead, I am not likely to be responsive and I do need rest."
"I will not keep you long Liath, do you think the drow will attack again?"
"They sent two hundred and thirty troops against us today, unless that is the entire army of the Underdark, I think we can expect far worse."
"I had hoped that this problem could be settled quickly but it seems that it is to no avail. I had hoped after Neverwinter that I would not have to fight much."
"What was your relationship with Eairth?"
Linu smiled, "I was good friends with him, we sort of helped each other with our skills. He was a good man, I do not think that anybody could have done better than he did."
"What was your relation to him?" Liath asked again, the cleric frowned.
"Well, I was a close friend but not anything more, we both had a job to do and, and-" she trailed off.
"He already was close to the human, yes?" she asked.
"They never admitted anything but he and Sharwyn were, were a little more than just companions. She clearly disliked his leaving, I think that they may have been in love."
"I knew it," Liath hissed. "I would not be surprised if he was a half-elf."
"Would that make him a worse person?" Linu asked, unaware of the dangerous ground she was on.
The mask glared at Linu, "yes it does. Elves twisted with humans? It is not the children's fault but the parents, the parents," she gripped her hands together. "I still respect him but he willingly fell for this, this human," he said the last word like it was painful.
"What did they do to you to make you hate their race so much?" Linu asked and leaned forward.
"They have done many things to me!" she snarled. "Hypocritical fools, I know what the humans did!"
Her voice was a near scream, Linu desperately leaned forward and took her hand. "It's alright, they cannot hurt you now. Calm, please calm down."
The masked woman seemed to crumple but was caught by the cleric who laid her on the bed.
Linu shushed the other woman gently and stepped back, "I will be back in the morning, sleep Liath."
"I am sorry my friend," she whispered as her friend left the room. Then the elf remembered nothing more.
Linu slowly walked down the stairs, her head full of the voice of the suddenly out of control elf. She worried about her, perhaps her priestly training or her in built compassion made her feel for the woman who would probably not feel the same.
"How is she?" Santos asked from a wooden table, the three other members of her band were listening also.
"Apart from the last two minutes, perfectly composed and healing well."
"And those two minutes?" Daelin asked.
"Ranting about something I could not understand."
"I think that madness is inevitable if one goes on for long enough in this job. I think it may be her injuries talking though, she did a better job then I today. Final casualty reports are in, seventy nine dead, eighty injured and fifteen missing presumed dead. A small but potent list."
"And many of the wizards," Linu said.
"Yes, a third of the dead were mages and a quarter of the injured. A sad day that was solved only by luck, tomorrow we make ready to establish a beachhead on the other side of the portal."
"What about the last portal?" Sharwyn asked.
"It is being closely guarded by the best soldiers available, we will be ready tomorrow."
"We don't know how to work the portal though."
"We have a good idea, the wizards at the university knew but they were not telling until now."
"We had best get some rest, we will do no good tired," Daelin said and turned to walk back to his room.
Liath slept, she rested so that her wounds might heal and so she might think about what she must do. She dreamt, but at once knew it was no dream, it was real. She was seeing her enemy move against her, her mind saw it as though it was right before her.
The circular room was dim, only the light of a few torches flickered the shadows across the room. On one side was a pit which boiled with flames and smoke; perversely, it made the room darker. Darker because of the presence above it, a vast, red skinned creature hovered over the pit. A daemon of the infernal planes it was, power coruscated from it, coming up short against a shimmering wall surrounding the pit. The daemon was tall, nearly twelve feet, carrying an enormous staff and with great horns sprouting from its skull.
In the centre of the room were two individuals, one hidden and one clearly revealed, the hidden one wore a shadowing cloak that seemed to exude evil and darkness. The other was a tall drow woman, skin almost midnight-blue, eyes burning with light and a great mane of white hair. She carried herself with the assurance of a monarch, a long sword in her hand, she looked to the shadowy figure.
"You promised me that they would not intervene," she demanded.
"I made no such oath, lady. I told you that Eairth Fel'dore would not intervene, it seems our enemies have sent another against us." The voice was filled with evil and power, a decomposing quality almost in the sibilant voice.
"She disrupted our first incursion today, who is this woman? And no lies!"
"I do not know until I see her lady."
"You will call me the Valsharess! I am the leader of this army, you will bow before me."
"Indeed I will not," the cloaked one responded. "With so much of your power granted by you by my master, it is not wise to threaten me. But we should work together," it hissed, "so I will call you Valsharess if it pleases you."
"What if this woman is a threat? We need to consider the dangers involved."
"Until I see her, I cannot say."
The Valsharess turned to the daemon who seemed slightly amused, "dread Mephistopheles, I command you to show us this new opponent. The masked fighter who stopped us today."
The daemon bowed its head, "I will do as you command, great Valsharess." The sneering tone in the voice was undeniable.
The cloaked figure nodded its approval as a tide of magic and lights pin wheeled around the room, dancing and flashing. Finally, it coalesced in the centre of the room into a mirror like surface, pulsing with power. The silvery surface, once opaque, now became clearer and clearer until it showed a very good image of Liath Bel'cador, standing after the battle that day.
A hollow, sickly laugh erupted from the cloaked figure, the Valsharess turned, surprised and irritated by the noise.
"Liath Bel'cador! This crippled elf is who they pin their hopes upon? Very amusing."
"You know this opponent?" the drow empress asked aggressively.
The drow was sure the cloaked figure was smiling, though she could not see to be sure. "I do not think I know her, we had a certain acquaintance for a time, in a manner of speaking."
"Is she dangerous?"
It considered, "yes, dangerous and unpredictable. She could be useful to us though, her hatred and anger could be her undoing. We shall see if she survives before we think more on this."
"I will send orders for her to be killed."
"I am sure that will not work. She must be lured in and killed at the right moment."
"Very well, but I will have no tricks from you or your master," the Valsharess declared and strode from the room.
The cloaked figure looked to the daemon, the hood fell back, revealing a face from a nightmare. Twisted skin and bone had made the face into a sculptor's disaster. The crude lips smiled, "and how are you going to stop us?"
The daemon bowed his head, "I am yours to command, servant of the master."
A guttural laugh echoed through the room.
Liath shot upright, her hand on her sword. She sat up, her eyes adjusting to the darkness of the room, there was an assassin in the room. The drow held a rapier in her hands, she seemed surprised her target was awake.
"I sense your presence, drow, I am ready for you. Come, come and die." Liath hissed her words as she stood, sensibly, she had worn armour to bed.
"Your death will be another foe who has fallen before the Valsharess."
The rapier snaked forward, the greatsword was too slow and the blade scored across her leg. Liath did not reach but swung a series of rapid cuts and slices that the drow avoided with difficulty; the dark elf counter attacked, her blade lashing out again and again. Liath was surprised by the agility of this woman, in the dark she had the edge; Liath had had enough, she sliced a great cut at her foe and moved forward with terrible speed. The drow stepped back and cut with the rapier, it could not penetrate the armour though; Liath caught the elf on the jaw with a fist. The dark elf, her rapier lost in the confusion, backed up against the wall.
"You can kill me now but a dozen more will take my place," she sneered.
"Who says I will kill you? Where I come from, drow are kept alive for weeks at a time before we let them die. Would you like that?" Liath opened a small gash on the drow's stomach with the greatsword. "A dozen cuts like this and you will be in no position to fight back."
She saw fear in the dark-skinned face, she tried to struggle but the sword blade was driven through her right foot. The drow screamed and flailed at her captor; the masked elf drew a knife and cut the assassin's hands.
There was a flare of light and the door opened, there were shouts and then torches appeared in the room. Tamsil, Durnan's daughter was beside Daelin and Linu, both armed for battle.
"What happened?" the half-orc asked.
"What does it look like happened? This scum tried to kill me as I slept, now she will learn the error of her ways."
Linu looked at the terrified drow, the bloody knife and the cuts across the dark elf's body, she shuddered. "Liath, please do not fall to their level. They deserve death but do not become a vicious torturer."
The mask looked back, the knife held low, "that implies I care about her. I need nothing from her, just her pain." There was another swift movement, the dark elf shuddered as another cut was opened, she looked imploringly at Linu.
Tamsil had never seen such cold blooded brutality, "stop this now!" she shouted.
"You think this is suffering human? You know nothing of pain," and thrust. The knife drove in under the ribcage, the elf gasped once and fell bonelessly to the ground. The greatsword was pulled free and sheathed, then Liath turned to the three others in her room, Linu stepped back at the reflection of light from the eyes of the woman beneath the mask.
"Why, Liath why?"
"He is working with the drow, I saw it in my dream, when I find him I will kill him. Until then, any who do his bidding will die," the voice was so bland and cold, the temperature seemed to drop in the room.
"Who Liath?" the elf cleric asked.
"The one who did this to me," she said with bitter hatred and pushed past them, out the door.
Durnan sat with Santos in the main room, two others were dead this night, the drow assassin had killed them whilst they slept. The two men were tired, their dreams of success fading rapidly. The door opened and Liath swept into the room, Durnan stood.
"You're alive, we heard a scream and though the worst."
"The assassin is dead, now it makes sense," she stated blandly.
"What makes sense?" Santos asked.
The elf gave him a dismissive look, "this attacker was sent from the Underdark. If we do not wish for more incursions, we would be wise to go now and try to discover their cause."
"Do you know something you are not telling?"
"Of course not, human." Santos gritted his teeth at the last word.
"The party will not be ready before noon, it takes that long for the portal to open. Until that time, we can only wait."
"Wait!" she hissed, "waiting is not an option, we must move now."
The two men seemed surprised by her sudden rage, "they are working as swiftly as they can."
"Then perhaps I should encourage them," the elf said grimly.
"Just leave here, your anger will do nothing but hinder their progress." Durnan stood to confront the woman he spoke to.
"Do not presume to tell me, human-"
"Just go! Go and be back at noon." Durnan snapped.
"I shall remember this insolence, human," she said coldly and left.
"What in the name of Tyr has come over her?"
"She had a dream, she is hiding something," the voice of Linu came from behind him.
"What? She told us she knew nothing she had not said?" Durnan barked.
"Then she lied, how much else has she lied about?" Sharwyn, back from checking the roofs said.
"Then we will have to see whose side she is really on," Daelin said determinately.
Liath walked out onto the street, the dream in her mind. It was not dream though, it was a clear vision of what would happen. Her thin body shook with a mixture emotions; pain, fear, anger and hatred filled her at the sight of her enemy. She would find him and would slowly take him apart, as he had done to her. Her hand brushed her mask, she shuddered, she would have revenge.
Her private, dark thoughts were interrupted by a hailing from the other side of the square, she turned to see a mage hurrying towards her. He was a tall human with a brown moustache and greying hair, he carried the usual staff and wore a cloak of dull grey.
"Lady Bel'cador?" he called.
"What is it?" she snapped, in no mood to be pleasant to anyone.
The man seemed unruffled, "my name is Sobrey, I was a wizard who fought beside you at the academy. You saved my life from a drow swordsman."
Liath remembered the man now, he had seemed more capable than the rest of them, he was still alive as well. "I remember, and?"
"You saved my life so I will return the favour. I have something that might help you," he said.
"If you have something useful, let me see it," she demanded.
The mage still did not seem concerned by her, "of course, here." He held out a white rod about a half foot rod, it seemed to be made of ivory or bone. "This is a very rare device, it is a spirit channeler. You know about resurrection?"
"Of course, I have been forced to do it in the past to others. And this is effective?"
"It is, it was part of a pair but the other was used a decade ago. It may save the life of one around you, literally."
"How did you acquire this?" Liath asked, her tone softening as she took the rod.
"It was in the vaults, the council was resolved to give you nothing but I do not let valour go unrewarded. I would appreciate your silence on this matter."
"As thanks for this, mage, you will not hear of it again. I have always possessed this, understand?"
The mage bowed, "of course my lady. Thank you for your help."
"Charmed, mage." Her voice was almost gentle as he vanished into the morning mist, one human at least had not betrayed her.
"Liath?" a soft voice called from behind her. The masked elf turned to see Linu walking out the doorway into the courtyard outside the inn.
"Yes my friend?" Liath asked impatiently.
"What happened? How did you know to wake up?"
"I suppose that a long life has taught me the value of being prepared. You would do well to always be ready for trouble."
"Are you always so angry?" Linu asked.
"Yes I am, get used to the fact that I am and be done with it. When I find him and end his existence, then, maybe then I might have peace."
"Who? This, this person who fights with the enemy?"
"He is a monster, an evil creature who deserves death," the voice was deceptively calm.
"What did he do to you?" the cleric asked, making sure she was out of range of any retaliation.
Instead, the black clad woman sighed, "isn't it obvious?"
Before she could ask more, there were large footsteps behind them and Daelin, the half orc joined them. He slung his double headed axe on his shoulder, staring down at the erect and motionless woman. Eventually Liath deigned to acknowledge him but turning and raising her head, indicating she looked down on him.
"Might we talk?" he asked.
From the slight shudder, Linu could sense that Liath would rather have her eyes gouged out then talk with the half-breed. Nevertheless she nodded. "Go on then. We have time to pass before the portal is open so talk, if you can."
A slight tightening of the massive hand on the axe shaft was the only obvious response. "Why are you here, you clearly have no interest in doing the right thing for its sake. So why are you here? For the reward?"
The elf cocked her head to the side, a low chuckle echoed from behind the mask. "It may surprise you, half-orc, but I have never broken an oath or a promise. That is why I am here, to fulfil my oath to deal justice to my enemy. Does this astonish you, half-orc?" she asked, stepping forward.
It was clear it did, "so you have a reason for being here besides the reward? What of the desire to do the right thing."
"And what is the right thing, half-orc?" Daelin was getting agitated at the constant use of his race in her words. "As for the gold? Why do I want money? I have no use for the stuff."
"You just want revenge?"
"You are a professor in the making," she said sourly. "Does that offend your sensibilities? This conversation is over, half-orc."
Liath turned scornfully away, "I suggest you get ready, I will be down in time."
When she was gone, Daelin turned to Linu, "why is she so nice to you anyway?" he asked in puzzlement.