Chapter VI

They eventually got to the graveyard; it was guarded heavily by rogues as well as skeletons and other vermin Geldar couldn't identify. They were lying in the grass, discerning how they would approach such a hive when Talina cried out.

"What is it?" Geldar whispered.

"Great Athulua," Talina breathed and she pointed. "That's her!"

Geldar followed Talina's direction and immediately felt like cursing. No wonder Kashya had such a hardened heart! No wonder Akara seemed like nothing more than a stone statue!

"So what do you think?" Geldar asked, trying to sound casual.

"I can see one solution," Talina said, she looked around frantically as they would be spotted soon due to their aura. "We have to corner her, her advantage is she runs away and fights. Very effective tactic but generally only effective in an open area. Once we get her between the fences of the cemetery we should have her."

"But it will be tough," Geldar noticed. "That last thing we did was really to cut our teeth, this is the real fight."

"Then lets hope Athulua is with us," Talina said. "On three we roll out of here."

Together they ran towards the graveyard Geldar with his shield in front of him and Talina carrying a spear in each hand and extending them out either side of her. There were skeleton warriors, zombies as well as a few corrupt rogues surrounding the cursed Bloodraven.

"Get them at the sides," Talina called as she hurled a few spears. "That's their weakest point."

"There's too many," Geldar called back, they were almost surrounded and it was an effort to keep a gap at his rear. "Fall back," he said, taking a few steps away from the graveyard. "Let them come to us."

"No way," Talina replied, curtly smashing a few skeletons that threatened her with the side of her spear.

"We have to let them follow us," Geldar reasoned. "Fall back."

Geldar concentrated for a moment bringing his thorns aura out to affect Talina. Several skeletons followed them as they retreated but they exploded on impact with his aura. Within a few minutes Talina and Geldar were behind a large rock gasping for breath.

"You hurt?" Geldar asked and he quickly looked around.

"No," Talina said and she stole another look at the graveyard. "You're right, there's too many of them and she keeps making more. We might have more luck if we run straight for her."

"We could get attacked from behind –" Geldar argued but Talina silenced him with a wave of a hand.

"We'll have to take that risk," Talina replied. "If you can take the rear and get them off me I'll take her on."

"And our strategy?" Geldar asked.

"It's still on," Talina said and she licked her lips in anticipation. "They're coming," she said as the clicking of bones and clash of steel came nearer. "Head straight for the gates," she said. "Don't stop, hack your way through and we might be able to lose them."

"Right," Geldar said. "You go first," he said and then added quickly when he noticed her expression. "I'll distract them once you get in the gates, that way not many will follow you."

"Good luck," Talina said and without another word she was off.

Geldar waited a few seconds after she had gone then rolled out from behind a rock to survey the scene. It looked promising, quite a few of the vermin had followed Talina who was on the point of entering the graveyard proper. Getting to his feet he ran towards the stragglers, as he did he prayed to Akarat and summoned Holy Bolt at the skeletons who had noticed him. The spell blazed blue and white, knocking the life out of the undead but he paid them no heed as he ran. He summoned it again and again, ignoring any who didn't approach him.

Talina was just ahead, and by the flashes of fire near her she was closing in on Bloodraven but not getting within attacking range. He pressed harder, reaching into himself for some reserve energy. He slashed again and again, bashing some with his shield and cutting a few zombies to ribbons. He was surprised that within a few minutes there were only a handful of zombies between him and Talina.

"Help me out," he urged her and she felled a few with her javelin.

"Join my army!" Called out a great and terrible voice that made Geldar look up.

Bloodraven stood before him smiling in the way a demon would. She was almost a skeleton and her flesh was so white which contrasted starkly with her flaming-red hair. She raised her bow and aimed at Geldar, he could just see the fiery tip of the arrow before he let it land in his shield.

"I'll take her on," Geldar said and he charged straight at her, he held his shield to protect his face and torso, and also to slam straight into Bloodraven and knocking her off balance.

Bloodraven roared, gnashing her teeth and retreating to summon more zombies but Geldar wasn't perturbed.

"See to them," he said, reaching into his belt for a knife which he threw forcefully at Bloodraven's retreating back. It missed. Cursing, he charged again and smashed her face with the back of his shield.

"You will die!" She declared in a mouthful of bloody feet and she ran again.

They were approaching one of the fences rapidly and Geldar noticed that Talina was advancing too. He smiled but she didn't return the gesture. They didn't need to speak, it was clear anyway. Talina threw a javelin that skimmed past Bloodraven's leg; she gave a burst of speed and turned at fired at them.

"Stagger," Geldar called out, making his run erratic so she couldn't land a shot easy.

But Talina was almost on top of her, shouting at Bloodraven in some undiscernible language as she advanced with her spear in front of her. The tortured woman fired several of the arrows burning Talina but she didn't move from her attack.

Then it was over, Talina's spear protruded from Bloodraven's throat and she fell, cursing as she did. For a moment her sprit hovered overheard and flashes of light came out of several of the graves as they opened. Several zombies died on the spot. When it was over there was silence.

"Rest in peace, sisters," Talina said as she walked towards Geldar with a smile. "Well?"

"We need to keep moving," he said looking around at the undead on the other side of this fence. "This place needs to be cleansed."

"Humph," Talina said, removing her spear from Bloodraven's throat move savagely than necessary.

"You're wounded," Geldar said as they walked back to the camp.

"It's nothing," Talina said huffily.

"Don't lie, I can tell such things," Geldar stopped and felt Talina's shoulder; underneath her red armour it was sticky with blood. "Here, let me…"

But Talina drew back and gave him a look of pure poison.

"Don't," she cautioned.

"Hey, I was only trying to help," Geldar said. "I was trained in healing in the East."

"I'm going to see Akara when we get back," Talina replied. "What's this?"

They were almost on the edge of the Cold Plains when they came across a large square stone set in the ground. Carved into it was a circle that was split into four segments. There were several runes carved into the stone that Geldar knelt down to examine.

"Well?" Talina asked.

"It's a waypoint," Geldar replied. "We have them in the East, you have to say the Horadric runes that are written and they take you wherever you want."

"Like to Tristram?" Talina asked, she was relentless.

"The rules of the magic state you can only go to places you've been before," he answered he and he recited the incantation to take them back to the camp.