Fleeting Light

Part II

"They're all around us!"

Ghalarin Searan waved his sword about, trying to hold the sohees back. The constant wailing around them made it impossible to figure out just how many were about to attack. Neganus dropped the useless lantern.

"Lystra! We need light!"

Lystra immediately complied. The proper prayer for ruwach came to mind and in a moment, a globe of blue light circled the acolyte. The sohees stopped wailing for a brief moment as the light illuminated them. Lystra watched the creatures with fearful admiration. The sohees did resemble beautiful payonese women, with their long, glossy black hair and smooth pale skin. They could have been easily mistaken for normal payonese noble women if it weren't for their feral looking, red eyes and the wicked- looking stilettos they brandished. For a second, Lystra wished she hadn't cast the spell. At least eight sohees surrounded the group, and the acolyte could somehow sense more of them floating about in the background, just out of her spell's reach. Maixanne struggled to keep her eyes open.

"They...they shouldn't be in the upper levels..."

Ghalarin watched the archer worriedly.

"Don't force yourself, Maix! Lys, can you heal her now?"

Lystra rushed over to the bleeding archer and passed a glowing hand over her wounds. Whispering a brief prayer, Lystra concentrated on sending the healing energy to Maixanne. The prayer worked as usual and Maixanne's wounds closed. The lost blood had to be recovered with rest though; Maixanne was still in no fighting condition. Neganus raised his sword mace. The male acolyte knew that the sohees would massacre them should they attack, but he refused to die without a fight...

"Stop!"

Another voice came from the darkness. Lystra's eyes narrowed to see who had spoken. Colrenz cursed under his breath even as a lightning spell came to mind.

"Great, another sohee! That's probably their leader..."

Lystra concentrated on the sohee that approached them. As if to confirm Colrenz' suspicions, the sohees parted when the new arrival joined them. Another sohee, this one about a head taller than the others, faced the new arrival. Finally, Lystra recognized the figure.

"Khaesilya!"

Khaesilya smiled at the acolyte.

"Master Makaelthos was worried..."

Khaesilya's expression hardened as she faced the leader of the sohees that surrounded them.

"Ascaer'nae, Khaesilya ..."

The other sohee spoke with a voice barely above a whisper. Khaesilya seemed to ignore the first words. The two sohees conversed in an unfamiliar tongue, Lystra tried to make out a meaning from their words, but all Lystra could make out was the fact that the other sohee referred to them as "Heiszvill" and referred to Khaesilya as "Ascaer'nae". Even Ghalarin could guess that the sohees were treating Khaesilya with contempt. Khaesilya ignored them however but then Lystra heard the other sohee mention the word "Solcry". Instantly Khaesilya's eyes turned icy, the sohee drew her own stiletto, causing the other sohees to grasp their own. The lead sohee signaled for a stand down however. After a few more harsh exchanges, Khaesilya finally walked over to them.

"We are free to go. The sohee will not harm us."

Lystra watched the sohee with concern.

"Khaesilya what did they mean by 'Askayrnay' and 'Heyzvill'?"

The sohee was silent for a while.

""Ascaer'nae, Khaesilya..." It means "Khaesilya the slave". "Heiszvill" means "lesser race" It's been a long time since I spoke in my racial tongue though."

Lystra regretted asking the question. She had no idea that Khaesilya had become an outcast among her kind. The other sohees departed, casting hungry and scathing glances at the party. Finally they reached topside; the sunlight was a welcome relief to the cave's gloomy darkness. Khaesilya bowed respectfully at Lystra before preparing to depart. The acolyte came after her.

"Wait! Did Sir Makaelthos send you to look after us?"

The sohee shook her head.

"I wanted to find out why the sohees moved from the lower levels to the upper ones. My race prefers the darker places..."

Lystra watched the sohee curiously.

"Did you find out anything?"

Khaesilya's face grew concerned.

"They were...displaced by some evil. Their leader, Aiselha, mentioned a group of humans descending to the ruined village in the lower levels. Soon after that arrived the powerful, floating corpses that forced them to retreat."

Colrenz walked beside Lystra once more as Khaesilya departed...

"The evil druids...but what could those people have done?"

The acolyte shuddered as she remembered the piles of dust she saw earlier. Despite the fact that they were also undead like most of the residents of the caves of Payon, evil druids simply did not belong there. It was as if the Payon caves were turning into extensions of the ruins of Glastheim itself...

"Something truly horrid if they brought forth such powerful beings...my sister once mentioned something like this..."

The mage raised his eyebrows. Lystra's older sister, Silmeia Cafilence, was a highly experienced priestess. She knew a lot of lore regarding the Church's early history, dating all the way back to the Church's standing in the glorious days of early Glastheim.

"Interesting...can you share it?"

The acolyte's expression darkened slightly.

"There are accounts in Church history that deal with deviant priests who experimented with spells that could manipulate or even create undead creatures. They say it first started with Abraxil Sovivor, the last High priest of Glastheim. Apparently there were others who were attracted to his ideals and took up what he left behind after he became the Dark Lord."

Colrenz nodded in understanding.

"Death cults... deviant acolytes and priests who devote themselves to the propagation of undeath...I've heard of fleeting rumors regarding some scattered incidents about them although the Church is quick to cover them up."

Lystra's expression darkened further.

"I overheard my sister talk about it with Sir Makaelthos once. There are rumors that there's a particularly large death cult here in Payon..."

Lystra did not mention that her sister found her eavesdropping and had to send her away with a reprimand. The acolyte was a bit indignant about the whole thing. She wasn't some sort of kid! She was already a high ranking acolyte!

"Hey, Lys...something on your mind?"

The acolyte shook her head and smiled.

"Not really. I have a feeling that this mission is far more serious than even we expected...looks like we reached the inn, Colrenz, I'll have to see to Maix' wounds."

The mage nodded again and moved ahead.

"I'll see what I can ferret out of the townspeople."

Neganus suddenly walked beside the mage...

"I'll go with you, Colrenz. If that sohee's words can be trusted then someone from that "group of people" may be watching us. It won't be wise to walk the streets alone."

Lystra frowned at the other acolyte.

"What do you mean by "if", Neganus? I've known Khaesilya for a while now. She can be trusted. Sir Makaelthos wouldn't be keeping her close to his side if she wasn't!"

The acolyte adjusted his sakkat again.

"Khaesilya is a sohee, Lystra, and she was talking to a group of sohees who have decided to move to the caves' upper levels. If you don't find that suspicious then you're about as naïve as it gets."

Lystra bristled at the remark. She had been taking a lot from Neganus' cynicism and today's ordeal wasn't helping her temper either.

"The sohees were driven out, Neganus, and Khaesilya is an outcast. Didn't you see how they were treating her?"

Neganus' face remained impassive.

"What I saw, Lystra, were two sohees conversing in their language. Sure Ascaer'nae means "slave" or so Khaesilya says. It could mean "mistress" or "agent". I don't recall you being an eloquent in the language of sohees which means you're hanging on a demon's every word, Lystra. Your sister isn't here to do your thinking for you so I suggest you do it for yourself!"

Colrenz' eyes narrowed at Neganus' last remark...

"You're going too far, Neganus!"

The acolyte merely started walking ahead.

"I have other things to worry about other than a fellow acolyte's delicacies or naiveté, Colrenz. For instance, this mission; are you coming or not?"

The mage clenched his hands and walked beside the acolyte.

"Fine, let's go. We'll see you later, Lys."

Colrenz gave Lystra an apologetic glance and went to follow Neganus. The acolyte immediately went over to help Ghalarin carry Maixanne to a room...

······

"What in the hells is wrong with you, Neganus? You've been rude to Lystra all day!"

Colrenz looked indignantly at the acolyte beside him. Neganus Caranis had always been cynical about everything especially about Lystra's capabilities. But today was even worse. The acolyte didn't even look at him as he answered.

"Rude? You're exaggerating, Colrenz. Your feelings are causing you to look at everything about Lystra as extreme."

The mage grew angrier.

"That smug attitude of yours is what's extreme, Neganus. Just what makes you think that you're better than Lystra?"

Neganus looked scornfully at Colrenz.

"Smug? Better? Where do you get these things, Colrenz? This mission is extremely crucial for me and I don't want her screwing it up by failing to consider every option, including the fact that the sohee could be lying to us!"

Colrenz' voice became low and dangerous.

"You're a racist, Neganus."

The acolyte adjusted his sakkat again.

"And you're a lovesick fool, Colrenz. Face it; you're accusing me of racism and rudeness because you can't stand anyone who says anything negative about Lystra. Yes, she's pretty, Colrenz, and you lust after her like an animal, but that doesn't make her perfect. As a matter of fact she's far from it. I'm beginning to agree with mayor Ralatyl, perhaps Silmeia Cafilence should have been the one who was sent."

Colrenz flushed in anger. His fists started shaking as he stopped momentarily.

"You take that back, Neganus!"

The acolyte did not glance behind him.

"Or what? You'll attack me? If you interfere with this mission, Colrenz, I'll have you taken out of it with a single report to the Church. Even Lystra wouldn't be able to help you then..."

The mage unclenched his fists and walked on.

"You're a bastard, Neganus."

The acolyte simply smiled sardonically and walked ahead. The sun was setting as they reached the main square. The tavern would be the only place to listen to rumors for now...

······

"How's Maix?"

Ghalarin looked anxiously at Lystra, much to the acolyte's amusement.

"Maix will be fine, Ghalarin, just lot of gashes, nothing deep or broken. She'll have to rest though..."

The swordsman breathed a sign of relief.

"That's good to hear! By the way, where are Colrenz and Neganus?"

Lystra looked out the window of Maixanne's room. The sun had set completely. From the second floor of the inn, she could see the numerous lights from Payon's houses. Unlike Prontera, Payon had few streetlights to brighten its streets, so people often walked around with hand held lanterns, while occasional acolytes, priests, mages and wizards used their spells to provide themselves with light.

"They're in town trying to gather rumors about what we're facing."

The swordsman grinned and sat beside the archer's sleeping figure.

"That's good to hear. Those two can piece together any rumor that comes their way!"

The acolyte was silent...

'Yes, they're the thinkers...Colrenz, Neganus, Sir Makaelthos and my sister...I just heal people...'

Lystra pondered bitterly on how her sister would handle the situation. If Silmeia was here instead of her, Maixanne wouldn't be injured, Neganus would be silent and that evil druid would have been destroyed. What's more, the entire death cult would be exposed as soon as they got back in town and they'd be making a report to the main Pronteran church by morning...

"We'll have to leave it to those two, Ghalarin. Let's just do what we can here..."

······

Colrenz watched as the archers of Payon gathered together inside the tavern. In the more prominent tables sat the hunters, bragging about their current kills or debating on whose archery was the best. A few bards and dancers conversed, talking about their next performance or how much they earned for the day. All of a sudden, the mage felt very out of place in the tavern.

'How are we supposed to listen to rumors when all we're getting are boasts and tavern tales?'

Neganus on the other hand was staring intently at another out of place character in the inn. Of all people, it was a female assassin. Colrenz studied the woman. She had shoulder-length blue hair and dark brown eyes. Her pale skin was marked with small scars around her arms. To their surprise, the woman walked towards them...

"Well you're certainly new to this place. Mind if I sat with you guys?"

The acolyte said nothing, forcing Colrenz to reply to the assassin.

"We don't mind, milady. We're..."

The assassin grinned and leaned closer...

"Looking for information right?"

The mage raised his eyebrows.

"How'd you...?"

The assassin cut him off...

"You might say I'm interested in anything that has to do with Abraxil Sovivor, mage. I can lead you to something interesting if you like..."

Neganus swallowed a slice of the steak he had ordered before regarding the assassin coolly.

"And what do you get out of this, assassin?"

The blue-haired woman looked at the steak and shook her head.

"You should avoid those things. They're bad for your heart..."

Colrenz' eyes narrowed as he saw the assassin lick her lips briefly.

"I have my own reasons. What do you say, acolyte?"

Neganus stood from his seat.

"We'll take up your offer, miss..."

The assassin smiled and stood up as well...

"Call me Maiha, Maiha Xalascent."

Colrenz rose from his seat as well and leaned slightly towards Neganus to whisper...

"You're the one being too trusting now, Neganus."

The acolyte shrugged his shoulders.

"She's our only lead. Besides, she has no reason to kill us. Even if she did, she probably knows that Lystra and the others will come searching, along with Sir Makaelthos and Knight Commander Sialsanderin."

The two of them were silent after that and followed the assassin into Payon's darkened streets...

······

'They're taking their time...'

Lystra began to pace nervously inside Maixanne's room. Ghalarin had fallen asleep already...

"Lystra..."

The acolyte turned to find Maixanne trying to rise from her bed...

"Maix...don't strain yourself."

The archer grimaced but managed to sit up.

"Where are the others?"

Lystra explained to the archer. To her surprise Maixanne's eyes widened.

"What? They should have consulted with me before going out at this time!"

The acolyte's eyes narrowed.

"Why? What's wrong at this hour, Maix?"

The archer struggled to stand up.

"They might end up meeting her..."

Lystra raised an eye brow...

"Meeting who? What's going on, Maix?"

The archer looked at the sleeping Ghalarin with a brief hint of regret...

"I'm sorry, Lys. But the mission ends here..."

The windows inside Maixanne's room shattered as strange, cloaked men burst into the room...