Chapter 5
Ky'itae huffed as she grabbed onto the rock wall, "How long have we been climbing this damn mountain now?" She grumbled. The late afternoon sun blazed down upon them from above.
Serosa'ruth, showing no signs of fatigue, answered simply, "Since sunrise."
"Since sunrise yesterday it feels like," Saeola grumbled from beside Ky'itae. She paused for a moment to wipe sweat from her brow with the back of her hand and catch her breath. "Are we at least close to the top yet?"
"Girls, we're climbing the Nether Mountains. Reaching the top will take days." Serosa'ruth, his hood covering most of his face, turned his head back to glance at his companions.
"Right... and... WHY are we doing this again?" Saeola huffed. Two months had passed since she joined the two elves in their adventuring, yet this was the first real quest they'd had outside of minor bandit hunting. The ranger somewhat regretted this… mountain hiking in this weather was not her idea of fun.
"Because word was there's a base for the People of the Black Blood hidden in these mountains. Saeola, you, of all people, I would think, would love to stop worshippers of Malar in their schemes, especially the lycanthrope ones." Her druid friend reminded.
Saeola sighed heavily and muttered as she began to continue her climb up. "Oh, right... I think the sun has killed off all my brain cells, so I forgot."
"Which is why we're going to try the cave entrance here instead of more pointless climbing out here." Serosa'ruth stopped and wove his fingers about in a spell. A piece of the rock wall in front of them moved aside, revealing the entrance to a cavern. Ky'itae's jaw dropped.
"But you said we'd have to hike for hours to get to--"
"--The top, yes." Serosa'ruth answered for her, "But I never said we were actually going to the top, now, did I?"
Saeola's green eye twitched and she lowered herself back down a bit to view the newly made cave. She gave Serosa'ruth a flat look. "It's a loooooooooong way down, buddy."
"And I'm also the best cave navigator. Good luck in there without me." His blue eyes twinkling in amusement, the druid entered first, away from the cliff should the women decide to push him off anyway.
Saeola only muttered something in reply and entered the cave after him, wobbling a bit on her feet to try and get use to level ground again.
Serosa'ruth and Ky'itae quickly tuned in their Darkvision ability, their eyes glowing red.
"We'd best tread carefully. We won't be the first to attempt to destroy the Malar-worshiper base, but hopefully we'll be the first to actually return." The male elf warned, cautiously scanning the area.
Saeola switched to her Darkvision as well and frowned slightly as she looked around. "Great. Only my second real mission with you guys and already it's a suicide one. All right, be on my toes then. Got it."
"First rule of adventuring, Saeola: Every mission is a suicide mission." Ky'itae reminded, keeping close to the wall and her ears alert.
"Smell anything odd, Ky?" Serosa'ruth asked. The moon elf took a few whiffs of the air, then slowly shook her head.
"Nope, nothing unusual... For a cave, at least. Ugh. It's really musty down here."
Saeola moved further into the cave and smirked at the statement, but said nothing. One hand came to the wall and she paused. "Heh, if its a good nose you wanted I could've brought Irek... not that I doubt your sense, Ky'itae." Irek was Saeola's wolf companion, and the ranger could have the wolf magically summoned to her side with an enchanted trinket she always wore around her neck, tucked into her tunic.
The moon elf grinned, her canines seemingly slightly longer than normal, "Oh, don't worry about it. Save him for a battle." She paused, taking another whiff in the air, "Hold on... something's... hmm... rusty. There's metal nearby... probably..." She inhaled again, "... prison cells, by the stink attached to it, I'd wager." Ky'itae wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Saeola blinked. "Prisoner cells? The fate of the other adventurers, I gather. Well, shall we start that way, then?"
Serosa'ruth nodded, "There will probably be at least a guard or two, so let's be wary. Lead on, Ky." He moved aside to let Ky'itae pass him, then followed her down the passage. Saeola followed right after him, keeping her sense sharp and ready for anything.
Ky'itae pressed herself up against the wall. "Guard. Human. With a panther of Malar. Fifty feet and closing." she hissed.
"Saeola, think you can get them with your arrows?" Serosa'ruth asked in a hushed voice.
She nodded silently and removed her bow from its place on her back and took an arrow from the quiver. She pulled it back on the string and aimed once she had the guard in her sight. She let the arrow fly.
The guard let out a cry that quickly turned into a gurgle. He crumbled, and his panther snarled, leaping towards the adventurers. Serosa'ruth quickly withdrew his blades, meeting the panther head-on. "You guys head on. I'll take care of this beast." The elven male growled. Ky'itae motioned for Saeola to follow her, and the two woman went on. The Malar panther's yelps of pain assured them that Serosa'ruth had no problem fighting it himself.
As they continued down the path, the way began to widen slightly, iron bar doors lining the walls.
"Looks like I was right about the prison cells..." Ky'itae murmured.
"And I was right about the fate of the other adventures," Saeola replied, noticing dried crimson on the peeling rusty bars. Wonder there's anyone alive in here? She thought curiously, peeking in through the bars cautiously.
Rustling noises from a nearby cell caught the women's attentions. A medium-sized humanoid figure swung into view, upside down with its hands on the prison bars.
"Well, well. Paint me red an' call me an overgrown imp!" A young man's voice exclaimed in a thick Cockney accent, "Izzat a wild 'alf-elf I see? Or is da blood jus' rushin' to me 'ead? Coulda sworn I was da only one in existence, dese days. Oi! OI! Ladies! Mind 'elping a bloke out jus' a bit?"
Saeola stopped in surprise at the odd voice and turned sharply to the cell behind her. She blinked at the half-elf man and walked over, peering through the bars with her hands on her hips. "That's a possibility." She glanced over her shoulder at Ky'itae. "Think you can break it? I'm not sure I can with the weapons I have."
"Eh..." The man hesitated, "I... wouldn' try dat if I were you, dove. See, I've already tried... bugger door's magically sealed. If it weren't, I woulda picked that lock days ago. An'... dere's an antimagic field around dese cells, so I con't blast meself out, ya see?"
Ky'itae raised an eyebrow, "And just who are you?"
"Me, Fey woman?" A glimpse of near white broke the darkness for a moment as the man grinned. His pure black, spiky hair dangled below him, while his long, narrow, pointed goatee seemed to defy gravity and remained upright. The half-elf winked, saluting the women adventurers, "Faelar Thielin, professional thief an' amateur sorcerer atcha service. Wouldja believe I didn't end up 'ere due to my profession? Nay, was a bloody accident. Apparently, I stepped on da wrong rock at da wrong time on da wrong mountain. Damn concealed magic traps... Anyway... any 'elp would be great. If not, ya know... it's fine. Da view's quite nice from 'ere." Faelar cracked another upside-down grin.
Saeola arched an eyebrow at him and crossed her arms out over her chest. He was an odd one, all right. "I'm not sure if there's anything we can do in that case. But we can't just leave you here..."
"That 'uman bloke -- I'm assuming ya nailed 'im dove, by the gurgles I 'eard earlier -- was carrying a set 'o keys, methinks." The rogue stroked his goatee in thought, which in most situations would make him look rather serious and pensive. Yet his upside-down position and entire strange... aura... made it only look comical. "Dunno if 'e's still got 'em. Worth a look though, I'd guess?"
"I'd say," Saeola agreed and turned, walking back to where the guard had fallen. It didn't take her long to find the ring of keys on his waist and she took it, moving back to Faelar's cell. She held up the mass of keys. "Any clue as to which one? I have a bad feeling what would happen if I accidentally used the wrong one."
"I'd wager da one dat 'as a rune reading, 'door' on it, dove."
"And I'd say there are about ten keys with that rune on it," She huffed. "Oh well. Hope I don't kill us." She counted the keys for a moment before choosing the sixth one and slipping it into the keyhole. She turned it with a loud noise and sighed softly, happy she had guessed correctly as the door creaked open.
"Excellent dove!" Faelar grinned, clapping his gloved hands, "Now... eh... could you... uh... unshackle me, maybe?" He gave another crooked grin.
"Hold yer horses," Saeola replied, moving carefully into the cell. After she was sure no traps would go off she moved over and kneeled beside Faelar, finding the key for the shackles and unlocking them.
The thief shot down towards the floor, but, surprisingly, managed the push himself against the ground and spring himself back onto his feet in less than a few seconds. Apparently, he was still completely outfitted in his own gear -- near-skin tight leather covered his entire torso and legs, while soft leather boots adorned his feet. Open-fingered gloves covered his hands, and he had two blades strapped to his belt -- a short sword and a dagger. Three ring earrings and one spikelike earring decorated each pointed ear, and the rogue looked ready to cause mischief any moment.
Smiling widely, he clapped a hand against Saeola's back, perhaps a bit harder than he meant to. "Aye! Knew ye could do it, dove! Eh... Whot's yer name, now, dove? An' you, Fey woman?" Faelar tapped his three ring earrings in one ear a few times in curiosity.
"Ky'itae of the moon elves. Pleasure." The fighter elf smirked, amused by the half-elf's antics.
The ranger coughed at the rather hard pat and moved away from him in annoyance, stepping out of the prison cell. "Saeola."
Faelar clapped another hand on her back, and his other on Ky'itae's. "Well, I thank ye very much, ladies. If ya want da favor returned--"
"Perhaps our new friend could help us?" Serosa'ruth approached the group, raising green eyebrows at the rogue, "Faelar, was it?"
"Aye. Damn. You elves got even betta ears dan us 'alf-elves... though dat makes sense, I suppose." Faelar tapped his earrings again in thought, "And you, strange bloke, would be...?"
"Serosa'ruth. Just Serosa'ruth."
"Ah. Using code names, are we?" Faelar grinned, "Fine wit me, Mr. 'Nature's Fury. Will ya like da assistance of a rogue on... eh... whatever it is yer doin'?"
"If we don't end up in a cell for it, then sure."
"Oh. Burn. I like dis bloke already."
Saeola studied Faelar flatly, bending her arms behind her head. "Hmph. You're a thief, right? Mustn't be a very good one if you got trapped here. Are you sure you won't just slow us down?"
Faelar shrugged nonchalantly, "If ya don't want me, carry on witout me. Though, I suspect you'd want dis back ferst, dove?" The wild half-elf male opened up his palm, revealing an oak carving of a wolf -- the magic trinket used to summon Irek.
Saeola's eyes nearly fell out of her head and her mouth opened in silent astonishment. "When did you... How did..." She stammered stupidly before her eyebrows furrowed angrily and she snatched the pendant back from his hand. She wanted to say something else, but she already felt stupid enough as it was, not to mention embarrassed. She had only known this guy for about two minutes and already hated his guts. Why in the nine hells did I rescue him? I should've known he'd be annoying when he was hanging upside like that... She grumbled to herself.
Ky'itae eyed Faelar's fairly tight and seemingly pocketless clothes. "I'd like to know where he was keeping them." Faelar laughed.
"Uh-uh, Ky'itae," he mock-scolded, waving his index finger back and forth, "A thief neva reveals 'is secrets... and neither do sorcerers. Seeing as I'm both, dat rule applies to me twofold." He stretched, "So... are we going? Me fingers're itching to 'ave some fun." The rogue grinned widely, his fingertips grazing the hilts of his blades.
Saeola gave him another flat look. She wasn't thrilled about him coming, but bit her tongue and nodded. "Let's go, then," She agreed.
"Why don't we let our new... companion scout ahead for us, then?" Serosa'ruth suggested. Faelar made a brief bow at the druid.
"'As ya wish, boss. 'Tis done." With that, he utterly disappeared from sight, even with heat vision.
"Great, just what we need," Saeola muttered sarcastically. "For him to cast invisibility spells..."
"It does come in handy. And he obviously has quick fingers." Serosa'ruth pointed out, "I didn't even notice him casting his spell." The druid paused, then sniggered lowly, "Saeola, you keep Irek's pendant around your neck at all times, right?"
Saeola's eyes snapped toward Serosa'ruth. "Yes, always. Why...?" She trailed off and her hand came to touch her pendent.
"Doesn't the chain trail down rather... far?" Serosa'ruth's bright eyes twinkled. Ky'itae, realizing his point, laughed.
"All right, I'll be blunt for Sero: Saeola, isn't it kinda interesting Faelar was able to reach down into your cleavage and remove something without your notice? Quick fingers, indeed."
Saeola stared blankly at the two elves before her face flushed bright red. "Why that perverted son of a..." She'd kill him. As soon as he came back into her sight, she'd kill him.
"Son of a whot? Last time I checked, we share the same kinda lineage, dove." An amused voice whispered in her ear.
Saeola twitched and whirled around, taking a swing at him. Of course her fist only sliced thin air and she yelled in frustration. "Shut up!" She cried, shaking her fist at the general direction his voice had come from earlier. She knew he wasn't there. "I should lock you back up!"
"Good luck with dat, dove." Taunting, he now spoke behind her, "I already took da keys from yer belt."
Saeola's eyebrow twitched in annoyance and she stormed past the entire group to stand a little further ahead, arms crossed over her chest and tapping her foot furiously. "Can we go now or what?" She demanded.
"We could, if you 'adn't just triggered the plate dat seals us in dis area." Faelar reappeared, less than an inch away from her left cheek. "I thought rangers were good trackers? Caves not yer thin', dove?"
"Now when I'm being pestered!" Saeola snapped, quickly distancing herself from him. She had only made that mistake because he was distracting her. How dare he make her look like an idiot!
Faelar laughed, poking her cheek, instantly springing away when she tried to smack at him, "Aw, jus' buggin' wit ya, dove. We're fine. Dere's a few 'umans wit torches in da caves ahead, but fer da next 'undred yards, we're good an' clear…"
Saeola threw up her hands in defeat and turned sharply, storming ahead of the group, fuming.
Faelar rubbed his chin, "Though dere is one trap dat's quite easy to--"
"AUGH!"
"-Avoid. 'Ow's dat net feel, dove?"
Saeola found herself in a rather uncomfortable position within the net, shaking with anger. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" She screeched at Faelar, wishing she could reach her bow and arrows.
"An' 'ow're you gonna do dat witout dis?" He held up her sheathed rapier, "or dese?" He lifted up his other arm, holding her quiver.
"ARRRRGGGHHH!" Was Saeola's only reply.
Faelar's hand flicked, and in the next moment, the rope holding the net up ripped, sending Saeola crashing to the ground. "Yer welcome, dove."
Saeola muttered many, many swears under her breath as she crawled from the net, brushing herself off when she stood and holding out her hand to Faelar with a glare that could freeze fire. "Give them back. NOW."
"Already done, dove." Faelar continued slinking down the hallway, her belongings gone from his hands. The ranger looked down, seeing her blade and quiver strapped exactly where they should have been.
"Hm... Things won't be dull with him around, will they?" Serosa'ruth asked with a chuckle, "Let's go."
"Yeah, but he's gone when we're finished here," Saeola muttered, hurrying after Serosa'ruth with one last cold glare at Faelar.
"Calm down, girl," Ky'itae chuckled, half nervously, patting the young woman on her back, "Perhaps if you weren't so serious most of the time, he wouldn't push your buttons so well?"
"Maybe if I threw him off a cliff he wouldn't push my buttons either," Saeola snapped.
"Perhaps you'd best not attempt that." Serosa'ruth chuckled, "I get the feeling he'd somehow make that backfire on you."
Saeola merely replied with a disgruntled snort. She was silent after that, merely content to fume. I finally meet another wild half-elf and he's more annoying than a fly. Isn't that just my luck?
Welp, that's all for the first update; more chapters will be up soon. Reviews are appreciated, as are constructive criticisms. Yeah, I realize this story might seem to move faster than the last one… But there's a lot more happening this time through, and SL and I don't usually have a lot of time together to write… so just keep that in mind. Hopefully, you've enjoyed it so far. I'll try to have more chapters fixed up and publish before I move next Friday (8/5/05)
--Holly-chan