Warriv made a point of coming away from his caravan to see them cross the river and walk I into the encampment. It was just as he had thought it would be, the Paladin walk with such ease and self awareness, but the rogues looked down on him. They looked in awe of the Amazon though, some made motions to move towards her but didn't get any further. He shook his head with a wry smile; some things were to be expected.
"Well met, Noble Paladin," he said coming forward with his smile ready. "I suppose you have heard of the troubles that have been at work here."
"Just now," Geldar answered. "You're Warriv aren't you? Silverdart was telling me."
"That I am," he answered. "I know you can soon set things to rights."
Talina snorted but Geldar ignored her, it had been a while since he had seen such faith in the west. He didn't care, at least for that moment, what Talina thought. She nudged him and when he didn't respond she walked off in anger towards a tall red haired woman wearing mail. Geldar turned his back for the moment, let her be.
"To tell the truth, I'm looking for my squire Sinclair," Geldar answered, knowing at once he could be frank with him. "He was kidnapped about three nights ago by a dark cloaked rider, do you know anything."
"I don't know anything about a rider in a dark cloak," Warriv answered. "But a man and a dark cloak, they call him The Wanderer, went through here and brought about the ruin of the monastery."
"When could you say?" Geldar asked, this was a lead, a small one.
"Three, four weeks ago," Warriv said, holding up his hands. "I was heading east at the time but the pass is blocked."
"So there's no way at all?" Geldar asked.
"None," Warriv said plaintively. "You're heading east aren't you? When the pass opens I'll take you with me, and the girl."
"I can't stall any longer," Geldar said distractedly. "I have to keep on his tail, Talina says, she's the Amazon, he might be in league with dark forces and I don't disagree with her."
"You might want to talk to Akara," Warriv said thoughtfully. "She seems to be the leader of this camp, she might tell you more."
"Thank you," Geldar said, smiling to him.
"No, thank you," Warriv returned. "Did you tell me your name?"
"No I didn't," he answered. "It's Geldar."
"Mmm," Warriv pursed his lips and lifted a pot off the fire, smiling at Geldar as he walked away. He knew there was more to this Paladin that met the eye, he was sure of it.
"What do you specialise in?" Kashya asked.
"Javelin," Talina answered, and then added when she Kashya's response. "But the bow is no mystery to me at all. I can split an arrow eight times before it hits the target."
"That's something to be proud of," Kashya said. "But most of my best rogues have mastered the cold or fire arrow."
"Is Silverdart one?" Talina ventured.
"No," Kashya said bluntly. "She has the makings of a leader, but lacks the confidence. Sorry," she said to Talina. "I really shouldn't be saying that. I'm stalling you; Akara would want to talk to you."
There's a cloud of sadness and regret over this camp, Talina thought as she walked to where Kashya indicated. Hatred as well, she added, especially with Kashya.
Geldar was talking to Akara; she was a small woman in a hooded purple cloak but had an aura of power around her. Talina knew if she was like Geldar she'd be able to see it as well.
"The pass is blocked until Andariel is slain," Akara said. "If you want to go east, that is what you have to do. Though you won't be the first."
"I will slay her," Geldar said. "You have my word."
"But not mine, and not the Order's," Akara replied.
"What is it we have to do?" Talina asked impatiently.
Akara frowned; her attitude was not unlike the young rogues that came before her insisting they could make a mark as warriors. More than half of them quit before the first year was out and others didn't make the final selection by Kashya.
"Kashya's rogue scouts have informed me that a cave nearby is filled with shadowy creatures and horrors from beyond the grave," she said slowly and deliberately. "Kashya commands both the defence and offence of our Order," Akara added to Geldar quickly. "I fear these creatures are massing for an attack against our encampment."
"That's understandable," Geldar stated. "And you want us to nip this in the bud?"
"If you are sincere in helping us, find the dark labyrinth and destroy the foul beasts," Akara blinked and turned away from them and went into her tent.
"She's been through a lot," Talina said as they walked away. "Her daughter was among those who were corrupted."
"How terrible," Geldar said under his breath. "Is that why you didn't ask her straight away?"
"Yes," Talina replied.
"Understandable," Geldar said and there was a short silence.
"There's plenty of daylight left," Talina said quickly. "What say we can get it done and over with before nightfall?"
That was another thing about her; she could brush of tragedies as if they were merely blow flies. But was there any other way to deal with them?
"I have to have my sword smithed before it falls to pieces," Geldar replied. "My fault, but it was only my second best."
"Fine," Talina said sarcastically. "You do your housework and I'll go scout for this cave."
"Housework?" Geldar said in astonishment, but she was gone.
His 'housework' took no more than an hour. Charsi the blacksmith was good-natured and always ready with a quick witty remark. If it wasn't for Kashya staring at him for a distance it could have been better, but she didn't bother him, much.
"Where's your companion?' Kashya asked, she had an obvious dislike for him.
"Out scouting for the cave," Geldar said. "I had some things to attend to."
"Akara wants to test both of you," Kashya sneered. "Why is she out alone?"
"Who am I, her keeper?" Geldar retorted and then repented for turning in anger.
From a distance Warriv was watching him carefully. The fire had grown more prominent, it was getting dark and she wasn't back. Going towards the gates Geldar made the mistake of turning left instead of right and bumped into another merchant.
"Welcome my friend!" he said with a fake smile and spread his arms as if to embrace him. "I can tell I'll be your closest ally here in the terrible place."
He found his arm was taken and was forcefully pulled towards a derelict caravan. The small, smiling man took out a sword, noticed the blade was beginning to fall from the hilt and he quickly righted it. But Geldar wasn't deceived this easily, he left with out a word. But he wasn't easily let away.
"Looking for someone are you?" He said, quickly blocking his path. "I'm Gheed, perhaps I can help."
"No thankyou," Geldar said firmly, and he was let through.
This was the first and last time he was seeing this person. He had to go out on the moor to get away from Kashya's watchful eyes and Gheed's smile. He relished the idea of seeing Kashya's face when he brought before her the head of Andariel.
Talina stood out vividly, the red leather a stark contrast against the green. At least some parts of the wilderness hadn't been corrupted. But he had spoken too soon, littering the ground were the slain bodies of vermin; Talina left a trail of destruction to where she stood. Just ahead of her was a cave.
"It's about time you showed up," Talina mocked, skewering a skeleton with a javelin.
"I didn't want you to have all the dirty work," Geldar said, summoning Holy Bolt to smash another and turning to her with a grin.
"Show off," Talina said taking out three zombies with one blow.
"Speak for yourself," Geldar remarked, he couldn't resist baiting her.
"Excuse me?" Talina's eyes focused on Geldar for a moment but his face didn't show any sign of what he had said.
Within a few minutes they were inside the cave, the light was dim but there were several torches here and there. Within a few minutes Geldar's eyes adjusted, and the demons attacked. There were even more down here, some different from the ones outside. Geldar quickly identified a few fallen led by a shaman, zombies and skeletons. Most of them held weapons and were closing fast.
"Get to the shaman or we'll get nowhere!" Geldar yelled as he threw back a few with his shield.
"I'm not stupid!" Talina called back.
She didn't have to say that, Geldar added in thought as he hacked his way through the demons. When the shaman was down they were easier to handle, though Talina got burnt by his staff a few times. They were easier to handle after that, dead in a matter of seconds.
The undead approached then, Geldar was ready with Holy Bolt. Some of the blows hit Talina who was already melee, this didn't really matter it even helped, but in their separate ways they got the area cleared.
This happened again and again when they moved to an unknown part of the cave. The demons weren't that difficult, it was only a bit of a challenge when there were many to worry about. Several times Geldar saw stockpiles of roughly made weapons, Akara was right, they were planning an attack. But he saw no forge or demon smith, which was strange.
"Kashya must have sent some down here before," Geldar said as they stopped to catch breath. "It makes you wonder why they weren't very successful."
"Do you think there's many more?" Talina whispered.
"I'd say only a handful," Geldar replied. "The air smells less foul now, when in doubt follow your nose."
She looked at him depreciatingly before they continued into the last corner. But it was not as they had expected, in the corner surrounded my zombies was an anomaly. He seemed to have a glow of light around him, almost like an aura. This fiend, Geldar knew was no ordinary demon, and this was clearly apparent when a bright, blue, bolt flew from the demon straight towards him. Luckily he was quick enough to deflect it onto the wall.
"Corpse Fire," Talina breathed and Geldar noticed the light was surrounding him was really flames that flickered through his body without burning.
"Incredible," Geldar whispered, and drew his sword. "Take him from the back, I'll distract him."
Geldar held his shield in front of his face and used it to reflect the light in the direction of the zombie. He noticed and slowly came towards him, groaning all the way. He moved quickly, toying with his aggressor, always keeping just out of range. With a few quick slashes he slew the minions and dodged in time as Talina was lining up her shot.
Talina was behind the enemy, readying her javelin but the mark always moved just as she lined it up carefully. Impatiently, she closed her eyes and requested the help of Zerae. Then she threw the javelin, as it flew from her hand it was magically charged with electricity. It landed directly in the zombie's back, Geldar cut off his head as he went down.
"Where did you learn that?" Geldar asked.
"A while ago," she answered. "I must please the goddess; it had more power than before."
Geldar frowned but looked up as he saw the light diminishing and felt the ground shake beneath their feet.
"The cave is collapsing," Talina said and started to run for the entrance, but Geldar caught her by the arm.
"No it isn't," he insisted, looking around and listening as the rumbling ceased and moonlight ebbed through the cracks. "The spirits in the cave were reacting to the absence of evil, all is well now."
"Is that all?" Talina asked, though they both knew the answer.
