Chapter 8

The stairs to the fifth floor started out looking like the cathedral stairs but as they moved down they turned into bare rock spiral stairs. The area smelled of death.

"The smell of death surrounds me," Derek said as they stepped into a large and dark room. Adrianna walked over to the wall and looked at the plaque that was placed there realizing that it was a tombstone on the marking a grave. They were obviously in the catacombs of the cathedral. The warriors moved around the catacombs noticing that the floor, walls and ceiling all looked the same. They were a dark brown and were all moist and cold. The walls were very rough. Tree roots hung down from the ceiling. There were few chests on the floor. The chests contained small portions of money, which they pocketed. The doors were square and heavy, for they were made of rock also. They came across a table with a huge sparkling boulder on it.

"Wait! This is the magic rock! I heard it had healing capabilities! It was on a caravan that stopped in the town many weeks ago. It was ransacked and all were killed. The rock was stolen by the small foul beings of the Catacombs. It is said to have come from the Heavens so they must have brought it here thinking it may grant them great power", Derek said picking up the large boulder. His muscles flexed with the strain as he lifted the stone. The warriors came across another spiral staircase that went up. They climbed up and found that they had come up to the town through the mausoleum. They went to town and went to Cain who identified it as the Magic Rock, which Derek took to his shop. Lothar and Jayalm walked over to Alyssia's hut and Adrianna went with Derek to his shop. She cast a quick looking for Daniel but he was nowhere in sight. Turning she followed Derek.

"What are you planning on making with the rock?" Adrianna asked when they arrived.

"Well I'm going to take pieces of it and make rings for us all". Derek disappeared into his house that was attached to his shop. When he came back he held three plain silver bands and two very nice rings that had blank sockets like they could hold stones, but didn't have any in them. Derek took an iron chisel and chipped off tiny pieces of rock and attached them to the bands and rings. When polished the stones took a light blue tint that sparkled when in the sunlight. When he was finished he showed them to Adrianna.

"See now we will have more vitality when we fight the demons". Derek took one of the nice rings and placed it on his ring finger on his right hand. He turned to Adrianna and gave her the other nice ring.

"These two rings belonged to my father. He wanted me to have one and give you the other. I guess they were meant to be promise rings that would bind us together or something. When you left he told me to keep them and give them to the one I would fall in love with, if I did. I gave up on that long ago. There was never enough women around especially once all the trouble began. So now I will give you this ring and fulfill my father's dream that you may one day wear it willingly". Derek said solemnly as Adrianna put the ring on her ring finger. He had a look of deep sadness. He was thinking of his father. Oh how she wished she had not been so cruel when the topic of his father first came up.

"Thank you. Again I am sorry," she said. "Um…. how did your father die?" she said quietly.

"Well….he, like your mother was caught in the fray. Stabbed right through from a dark warrior's sword," he said looking around the room. She felt bad. Did she really have any business being here in this town? He looked at her and smiled. The smile was a forced one and she knew it. She couldn't stand it. How on earth was she going to work with him if he kept her at arms length and made her feel so guilty. Something had to be done. She swallowed her pride.

"Derek. I really need to talk to you about something".

"I don't think we have anything to discuss", he said walking by her. She turned and grabbed his arm. She bounded around in front of him and said,

"Look, just listen to what I have to say, you don't have to answer but just listen. Please". Derek sighed and nodded his head.

"I know what you must think of me, the little brat who ran away from home to get away from her problems. Well I always thought things differently. From the day the prophet came to our town, I wanted to be the warrior she described. I wanted to protect my home. When my parents said I was to marry you, I knew that if I did that I would never become that warrior. So I left and I went to the Rogue Monastery to learn. I promised Agden that I would return and I have kept my promise to him. Out of everyone in this town, it is Agden that respects me, but I don't blame you. I probably would think the same. I just wanted you to know the truth. If you don't believe me now then it's your loss". She turned and left the shop, leaving Derek to ponder what she had said, knowing he would want to think before discussing the issue with her further if he chose to. She strangely felt better now. She went and met Jayalm and Lothar. Derek came and without looking at Adrianna, gave two rings to Jayalm and Lothar and pocketed the other for Daniel. Perhaps he thought he may come back. They decided to call it a day. Tired Adrianna went to the tavern to sleep and reflect the day's events. There was still no sight of Daniel.

She walked into the meeting room. Akara sat at the large wooden rectangle table, the other elders sat around her. Beside Adrianna stood Raven another strong rogue and another good friend. On the otherside stood Kashya. Kashya had been promoted to the commander of the Rogues in battle. A very high position that Adrianna somewhat envied, but she was proud of her friend. Her friend was outfitted in chain mail that reached halfway down her thighs. She wore red cloth on top of this chain mail. She wore more red cloth on her head and the end of it, flowed past her shoulder. She was wearing black thigh high boots. Raven had blonde hair and wore the same type of leather outfit that Adrianna wore. Adrianna and Raven were included in clan discussions because they were the strongest and smartest warriors. Akara stood.

"Ladies I have brought you here today because there is something most important to discuss. Please sit down". The three women sat down in chairs on the opposite side of the table.

"There has been a disturbance in our kingdom. An incredible amount of evil has erupted in the towns of Tristram and Tridosisos. I wish to send scouts there to investigate. Kashya, who would you suggest be the two scouts that we send?" Kashya rose.

"Strength and stealth wise, I think Raven and Adrianna are the best scouts to send. They are our best warriors", Kashya said eying Adrianna, "and they were our best warriors in the war so it would be common sense that they should go. I would go myself but it is my duty to the Eye that I stay here and command our Rogues should the need arise". Akara looked at Raven.

"Very well, Raven you are to report to Tristram and investigate the evil there and Adrianna you will go to Tridosios". Adrianna then rose.

"Elder Akara, I ask if I may switch with Raven. I do not wish to return to the town you have assigned to me". Akara looked to Adrianna with curiosity.

"Child you have become such a strong and powerful woman. Much stronger than the little girl I knew when you first joined us. The wars you fought have prepared you for your first missionary task. I know that returning to your hometown disturbs you, but you must confront your fears. This evil may affect us more than we know. I feel you are best for this task because you know the land well and know the people and how they will react to your presence. You can also better sympathize with the people. Do not fear now child". Defeated Adrianna sighed. This was going to be hard on her emotions.

The heat in her room was unbearable. The nagging thoughts of her problems, her fears and her past were keeping her awake. Unable to sleep, Adrianna threw off her quilt and went to her window. The moon shone dimly on the land below. Clouds obscured its light. In the dark, Adrianna sensed something. Scanning around, she saw a dark figure. A male figure crept down the path in town. He passed the inn and continued up the path.

She was wearing her leather armour, as the plate was bulky to sleep in. Now alert she turned and grabbed her bow and quiver. She crept down the inn stairs. She encountered only a few creaks. She had been trained to be quiet as to surprise her enemies. She slowly nudged open the inn door and closed it gently. Then looking up the path she saw the figure. She began to follow staying away from the figure. The figure then veered off the path and started walking towards the cathedral. He suddenly turned and forced Adrianna to move into the shadows. She saw a glint of metal as he turned and continued walking knowing that he was armed. She followed slowly behind him. He walked up to the mausoleum and then he disappeared into the shadows and darkness of the catacombs. Adrianna darted in after him.

She knew this man was a warrior, but who would be crazy enough to enter the cathedral alone? Her next thought struck her like a bolt of lightning. The only person she knew to be crazy enough to enter a cathedral alone would have to be Daniel! Of course, he figured he would be able to defeat the demons alone. She notched her bow and looked around. Her sixth sense alerted her to the sound of metal hitting something. She started to move down the hall. What she saw next was unbelievable. There was an entire horde of grey skeleton archers firing arrows at the melee warrior. Daniel used his shield as best he could to defend himself. Every time he moved to target a skeleton, the skeleton moved away. She was about to start firing when several small bent demons appeared out of nowhere. They swarmed the surprised warrior. Adrianna set loose a chain lightning arrow towards a small group of archers. The arrow hit one demon shocking it and then the lightning leaped and attacked the other demons in the group. They all collapsed in a pile of grey bone. Daniel swung his hammer around missing the demons as they kept disappearing and dodging him. Afraid of hurting him, Adrianna aimed for another group of skeletons taking them out quick and easy. She then focused on the small dodging demons. In the darkness it was hard to get a good look at them, but using her sixth sense, Adrianna was able to hit her targets.

Exhausted and in pain, the warrior collapsed as he had been severely injured. He leaned against the wall breathing heavily and then slowly he slid down the wall unconscious. Adrianna moved across the room to the fallen warrior. She tried to shake him, but he did not waken. She saw a movement out the corner of her eye and turning fired another arrow. It hit one of the hidden demons and killed him as groaned and appeared on the floor. She knelt down beside Daniel. She searched in her pack and found a small healing potion. It would not heal him completely, but it would help and prevent him from dying. Because he was unconscious she could only apply the potion externally. She reached into her pack and pulled out a smaller pack. She pulled out a couple white rags. She poured some of the potion on one and began to apply it to the many cuts and wounds on his body. He was not wearing the armour that Cain had given him, nor was he using his special hammer. He was a stupid man for pulling this stunt, yet he was lucky to be alive. She could quite easily pull out her dagger and stab him to death yet she decided that enough blood had been shed, besides she was not so cruel that she would strike a man when he was down.

After applying the healing potion, Adrianna sat down beside his body and leaned against the cold wall. She knew she could not pull him back to town for he was too heavy and she didn't want to leave him just in case more demons came. She sat there for what must have been hours before she heard him begin to awaken. Above her she could see the first rays from the sun through the mausoleum entrance.

He groaned as he came fully awake. He seemed disoriented at first. He looked around and became alert as he spotted her. He got up quickly and immediately leaned against the wall weak.

"You have been hurt badly. I did what I could with the healing potion I had left. You are very lucky to be alive".

"Why are you here? I don't need anyone's help".

"If it weren't for me you would be dead by now. You are lucky I didn't try to kill you. I realized, however, that if I killed you than I would be no better than the demons down here and you. I had mercy on you." Daniel mumbled something she couldn't quite hear, but she disregarded it. She stood up tiredly.

"We had better get you to Lithious to be properly healed. That's if you know what's good for you". Unfortunately for Daniel, all he could do was comply. Adrianna turned and opened a portal. Weakly Daniel walked through limping the whole way. Adrianna stepped behind him as he would not let her touch him and help him.

Adrianna was sitting outside of Lithious' hut. She was thinking of how much she actually missed travelling to distant lands. She had travelled the western kingdoms. She had gone to the Far East to Lut Gholein. She even visited Kurast. There were still many places she wanted to visit. There was the Amazon Islands in the churning Twin Seas and Barbarian Highlands high up in the North by the mountains. She vowed to herself that she would see those places when this battle was done. She heard footsteps. She turned half expecting to see Daniel step out and try and kill her, but it was Lothar and Jayalm, the two men from Aranoch.

"Hello", she said half-heartedly.

"Adrianna what is wrong?"

"It's this place. I dreaded coming back here. I knew that when I came most the people would feel hate and anger towards me. I want to go back to the Rogue Monastery where I can be with people who don't hate me. My friend Raven is in a town close to here called Tristram. I wonder if it is time that I went to see her, find out what she has discovered".

"Perhaps it is. You go we can handle the catacombs while you are away. We do not feel anger towards you but I sense that this Raven has a very important role in this mission of yours and perhaps ours as well".

"Thanks I will return as soon as I can. By the way, watch out for 'Mr. I kill all' here. He tried to kill himself last night. He will probably join us again".

"Very well", the two men bowed and walked away. Adrianna herself got up and went to the inn to tell Agden that she was leaving for a short time.