Chapter Six
Elisha had used up every one of the white potions she had purchased from Akara with the change left over from purchasing the books. Akara had said that the potions would help her to keep up with the barbarian. Elisha was quickly beginning to realize that Akara had grossly underestimated the barbarian's endurance and running prowess. Elisha scanned the horizon, looking for the telltale signs of the ancient shrines. She did not see any, and she was losing ground to the barbarian rapidly. She was exhausted. She simply had to stop, so she did. She collapsed in a heap in front of a stone wall, gulping down air in great gasping breaths.
Gra-Tuke sensed the subtle change in the wind around him that told him that his companion had stopped running. He slowed his pace and turned back to see what had happened. Spotting her slumped against the stone wall, he became immediately alarmed. Has she been felled by an arrow from one of the corrupted rogues? Why did I not see the rogue? Did I miss the arrow? What a fool I am for not paying closer attention!
As Gra-Tuke approached closer, he noticed that she was still breathing and became relieved that she still lived. That was something, at least. She was desperately gasping for air, however and that reminded him of when his brother had been attacked by an Arcadian Strangle Serpent. It had snaked under his shirt and had constricted his chest so much that he had to fight to breathe, taking tremendous gasps for air.
As he got to the fallen sorceress, he noted no wounds, and decided that it must be another serpent. He placed one hand under her arm and lifted her to her straight to her feet. She gasped in response. Gra-Tuke's mind was racing at this point. Yes, it must be the serpent. All she can do is gasp. I must hurry and get it off of her.
He quickly began to search her back and chest for the serpent. He didn't find it, but did discover a rather strong and stinging slap across the face.
"What in the nine hells do you think you are doing!" Elisha shoved him away as hard as she could muster. She slapped him again, and then kicked him in the groin. He doubled over in pain, eyes bulging and gasping for breath himself.
"I…the serpent—"
"What serpent?" She snapped at him, her eyes blazing with electric fire, her hands preparing the minute ritual that would erase her protective mark from the barbarian.
Gra-Tuke was truly confused and hurting. He backed off a step, almost losing his balance in his bent-over stagger. "The serpent that was crushing your chest. I saw you gasping for air, so I thought you were being attacked by a serpent just like my brother had been."
Elisha paused the motion of her hands, interrupting the cancellation ritual. She shook her head violently as if to clear her mind of useless clutter. "You mean to tell me that you grabbed me because you thought I was being eaten by a snake?"
"Strangled by an Arcadian Strangle Serpent. You were gasping for air, just like my brother was."
"I was WINDED, you dolt!" She grabbed her staff from the ground and glared at him. "You think I can run like that all day? I used up every potion that Akara had in the shop just to keep up this long. Why wouldn't you stop?"
"But, you outran me back to the camp." Gra-Tuke was truly baffled by her words. She outran me. I know she did.
"I used the power of a Horadric Shrine to maintain my stamina. Didn't you see me activate the shrine back at the cave entrance?"
Gra-Tuke shook his head. He had not noticed anything. "You used Horadric magic to outrun me?"
Elisha readjusted her robes, realizing that the buffoon really was only trying to help in his own bizarre fashion. "It's not like I can cast any of the great Horadric magics, but I did study them for a while. I learned about all of the shrines they have scattered around the realms." She had become more restrained as she spoke, dark memories rose to the surface as she recalled her studies of the Horadric magics. She shuddered with the memories of the results of that course of study. Seeing the concerned look on the dull barbarian's face broke her out of the dark recesses of her memories. She smiled at him, once more secure in the thought that she didn't have to face her memories alone. At least not for now, anyway.
Gra-Tuke smiled back, having caught his breath again, the sharp pain fading to a dull ache. "So, there was no snake?"
"No, there was no snake. I wasn't being strangled." Elisha's voice took on a sterner tone. "And if you ever try that again, I will fry you until there's nothing left of you but a puddle of quivering flesh."
Gra-Tuke had no idea what she was talking about, but shrugged anyway. This sorceress is impossible to understand. It's a good thing she is competent in battle. "Let's get moving again. There is still a long way to cross before we get to my tribe. I promise to stop more often so you can catch your breath, OK?"
"Sure. Fine. Let's go."
They traveled together, pausing more often than Gra-Tuke would normally prefer. He accepted the delays because he found himself greatly appreciating the combat support she provided. They had run into numerous groups of undead and demons along the way, but the monsters fell easily before their combined efforts. The only real challenge for them was a group of exceptionally tough zombies that required the prodigious consumption of potions.
Elisha shivered in the cold wind. She had not prepared for such conditions. I am a follower of the discipline of the lightning stroke. This cold is not my thing. Why did I sign on for this trip? Her musings were met with the memory of a fragmented and image. One that made her soul scream in fear. Quickly, she closed her mind to the horrific image, concentrating on her breathing and pace alone. The tread of her feet and steady rhythm of her breath was a comforting distraction from the dark memories swirling below the surface of her mind.
"Elisha? Elisha, are you alright?" Gra-Tuke had stopped alongside his companion. She had suddenly slid to a halt and stared with open-mouthed horror at something. He had drawn his axe and scanned the area, looking for whatever it was she was staring at, but saw nothing. Then, inexplicably, and without a word, she had started running again, still staring into the distance.
"Oh, no, nothing's wrong. It's just…it's just cold is all. How much longer do we have to travel to get there, anyway?" She welcomed the conversation. His voice had finally pushed the memories below the surface of her consciousness. Of that, she was very grateful.
"We are nearing the demesnes of the Tribe of the Stunned Bear. I will be home soon." He replaced his axe in the straps on his back as he put on a burst of speed to keep up with his suddenly highly motivated companion. He felt a renewed energy filling him. He was at last returning home, even if it was for only a short time. He felt his belt pouch for the ointment that Akara had prepared for him. He felt its radiating cold even through the pouch. The thought of bringing such help to his Tribe warmed him. He pressed his pace even harder as he approached the familiar hills near the tribe's village.
Elisha noticed the change in her companion. He suddenly moved with more alacrity, his footsteps springing and his head held slightly higher. He seemed to move with more of a purpose than she had ever seen him move before. She interpreted this all as signs that they were close.
Her conjecture was confirmed as they crested a particularly steep hill and saw the village below them. It wasn't all that different from the Rogue's camp in that it was surrounded by a stockade wall of sharpened timbers. Instead of tents, however, there were several longhouses scattered throughout the village. Elisha could see smoke rising from several cook fires. She considered it a good sign.
Gra-Tuke charged down the hill, entering the flat before the gate at full speed. He charged headlong, bearing down on the still closed gate at an alarming pace.
Elisha shouted a warning to him. Doesn't he see that the gate is closed? He's going to smash his head in at that speed! She slowed her pace, prudently waiting for the gate to open up before charging in.
Gra-Tuke announced his arrival with a shout as he leaped clear over the gate, leaving the two guards stunned from the sight. Could this truly be the runt returned?
Gra-Tuke ignored the guards who were gradually regaining their wits and moved to open the gate. In moments, they assisted him and let Elisha in. She marveled at the size of these men. She had thought Gra-Tuke to be tremendous. These men easily dwarfed him. She suddenly gripped her staff a bit tighter and moved to stand near Gra-Tuke.
In moments, Gra-Tuhlk emerged from his longhouse to greet his returned son. "Gra-Tuke! The gods smile upon us, this day! Welcome back. Is this the Rogue's healer, come to aid us against the plague?"
Gra-Tuke noticed that there were no more than five others out and about in the village and wondered just how bad the plague had gotten. "No, father, this is not the healer. This is Elisha and she has accompanied me on this journey. She is a powerful sorceress." Gra-Tuke paused as he presented Elisha to his father. "I have brought an ointment from Akara, the healer of the Rogues. It should help."
Gra-Tuhlk noticed the worried tone in his son's voice. It was subtle and none other would have noticed it, but he knew the boy better than anyone else. He sensed the concern and decided that he needed to speak with his son in private. "Come, let's go into the longhouse. I'm sure it has been a long time since you have had a proper meal. You can tell me all about this ointment and the healer inside."
Gra-Tuke gestured to Elisha, indicating that she should join them. She was relieved. She was tired, hungry, and in no mood to deal with the behemoths walking around this village.
The three of them entered the longhouse. Inside, they ate a hot meal and discussed the events of the past weeks. The plague, it seemed, was getting worse and there had been many frightening creatures testing the defenses of the village. Few of the tribes' warriors remained healthy enough to fight them off. Gra-Tuhlk was growing increasingly concerned that the monsters would overwhelm the few remaining guards.
Gra-Tuke relayed the news of the fall of the monastery and the retreat of the Rogues. He also described the creatures he and Elisha had encountered along the way. Elisha interrupted often to add additional detail, especially when describing the glowing zombie from the cave. Throughout the telling of the tales, Gra-Tuhlk remained largely silent, taking in all the two said.
Once they had finished, he spoke quietly and seriously. "We shall try this ointment, but I fear it will be ineffective. More and more, I fear this plague is not natural. The signs tell me that it is related to the growing population of monsters out in the plains and beyond. There is a corruption growing in this land. It is the corruption that must be stopped." He paused, seeming to dwell on his own words for a moment before continuing. Elisha and Gra-Tuke both listened with rapt attention.
"Even if the ointment does work, we will have to deal with the monsters and the corruption. We must deal with it at the source. Once you have regained your traveling strength, son, I must send you out again. I'm sorry, but this is how it must be."
Gra-Tuke hesitated momentarily, but then set his jaw firmly. "Very well, father, but what is it I must do?"
"You must gather allies, for this is not a test that anyone should embark upon alone. If Elisha here will accompany you, then that is a good start, but I sense great peril ahead. You will need more friends and allies if you are to hunt this corruption down to its source."
"I'll go. I must go." No question or request had been specifically addressed to her, but Elisha responded nevertheless. She had her own reasons to see this through.
"Very good." Gra-Tuhlk smiled at her and returned to his instructions for his son. "You must return to the Rogues. This corruption is what drove them from their home, and they will likely know more about its source than I can fathom from here. Perhaps they can aid you in destroying whatever is behind it all, perhaps not. No matter the case, you must return to them and speak with the wisest of their number. Find out what you can and act as swiftly as possible. The sense of impending doom grows with each day."
Gra-Tuke merely nodded at his father's instructions. Deep down, he knew that he had no choice in the matter. He could not leave this to his brothers. No, this was his trial, his destiny. He steeled himself for it. "I will return when the corruption has been ended. Then we shall all enjoy a great feast and tell tales of our triumph!"
Elisha smiled weakly. She did not share her companion's desire for glory, but she was resigned to this course nonetheless. "I can get us back to the Rogue's Camp in a matter of moments. If things are truly that urgent, perhaps we should leave now."
Father looked at son. Son looked at father. No words were exchanged, yet a full understanding passed in those moments. Good luck, my son. May the gods protect you, for I fear you may have need more help than you can imagine.
"Yes, you two should go as soon as you can. Thank you for bringing the ointment, and you have the thanks of us all for undertaking this task. Now, off you go."
Elisha opened the blue book she had purchased from Akara and activated the first page of arcane. Immediately a large, shimmering blue oval of energy formed in the air before them. Without another thought, Elisha grabbed Gra-Tuke by the hand, waved briefly to the man's father, and then disappeared through the blue haze, dragging the confused barbarian with her. In an instant, they were back in the Rogue's Camp and headed for Akara's tent.
