Hi everyone! Are we all safe and well?
Here's chp2 of Raven. Still on the angsty side but we're changing that soon. They're going on a rescue mission ;)
I took the time to fix a few things that some of you pointed out. Thank you for that. All fixed I hope.
Hope you like it.
Happy Holidays!
Chapter 2
"I was waiting for you."
The voice sounded from somewhere in the dark, making her stop on her tracks, a small basket dangling from one hand while the other held a burning torch. Looking over to the cabin front, Kara noticed the familiar silhouette, slowly rocking back and forth on a swing chair by the cabin's door. The dim light coming from inside enhanced perky ears barely peeking by the chair's arm.
"You know," Kara spoke softly.
She was met with silence.
Careful about her footing, Kara silently made her past the swing chair, placing the torch on the sconce outside by the door. Inside the dimly lit cabin, she placed the basket on the small table, taking the pot out to the hearth to get their dinner ready and warm. It gave her a bit of time to gather her thoughts, not that she had much hope of making sense of anything today. Soft sounds coming from the door warned her she wasn't alone anymore, and she looked around quickly, making sure nothing was misplaced.
"Sit down, mom sent dinner." Kara waited for the woman to make her way to the small table, close to the hearth, before placing a bowl with steaming reindeer stew in front of her.
"You must hate me…"
The shaky whisper caught her off guard. "Why would I hate you, Nia?" The warrior kissed the dark head, squeezing her shoulder gently. "Careful, it's hot."
"I had a vision before they left. I couldn't understand it. I—" Nia mumbled, ignoring the food in front of her.
"I know. Eat now."
Kara sat down in front of the dark-haired woman, noticing how the birthmark between her eyes, shaped like a dark Fehu, glowed faintly in bright purple. Scratching the dog's ears affectionately, she whispered softly to him. The grey Elkhound lifted his head and licked her hand before lying back down under the table, between both women, with a content sigh.
They ate in silence for a while, neither seeming particularly hungry. When Nia pushed her bowl aside, mostly untouched, Kara knew there was more to come, and she wasn't going to like it. But wasn't that why she had come all the way up here when it was dark already; because she knew there was more to come? Taking her bowl, she placed it down on the floor in front of the dog. It's not like she was hungry anyway. Birg's ears perked up at the sight of fresh food and he attacked the bowl with deadly intent. That made her smile a little, he was always ravenous it seemed, but her smile faded when cold fingers touched her hand, forcing her to tear her eyes away from the dog.
"Look at me…"
The softly spoken words made her swallow. She had been trying to avoid looking at the white, sightless eyes of the woman before her, but Nia always knew when she was avoiding her.
"He's dead, isn't he?" She felt bile rising in her throat.
The fingers touching her hand squeezed tightly, urging her to look up into the sightless eyes. There were tears there and the dark runes on her forehead and temples, the symbols that marked her as seeress, glowed bright purple, like the Fehu on her forehead. It was a sight that scared many but never Kara.
"He… he came to me today, in spirit…" Nia's voice trembled. "…as a white raven."
A choking sound left Kara's throat and her breath caught. He was dead… Her brother was dead. She would never see him again, would never laugh with him again; would never enjoy his warm hugs again. He was gone - forever. It was too much to handle. Kara left her chair, running hastily to the cabin's door, the bile in her stomach rising dangerously fast.
Her breathing was coming hard and fast and she dropped hard on her knees somewhere in the dark, one hand pressing against her rebellious belly. Opening her mouth, Kara spilled what little she had in her stomach until there was nothing left.
Her brother was dead… A guttural cry escaped from deep inside, and her eyes filled with tears again as she punched the dirt ground hard. And then again, and again, and again, until she had no strength left and her breathing was labored, and her knuckles were scraped and bleeding.
Her brother was dead… Gods, how was she supposed to tell mother? Looking up at the moonless sky, her eyes blurry, she prayed to the gods for guidance, for a sign, but the starry sky remained quiet. Maybe this was all just a terrible nightmare, a horrible dream because she ate too much stew before going to bed, but the pain shooting up from her knuckles and wrist told her this was no dream. This was her new reality and she hated it.
A wet nose touched her injured hand. Kara looked over to the side - she could barely make the dog by her side, it was so dark. Sniffing her hand, Birg decided it smelled nice and licked it.
"It hurts, Birg…" She whispered brokenly, petting his head with trembling fingers. "He was my best friend…"
Birg whined softly, scooting closer to the warrior. His head found her shoulder and his big furry paw touched her arm. Kara's anger melted away for an instant. Pulling the dog closer to her, Kara wrapped one arm around him, tears falling freely down her cheeks.
"You're a good boy, Birg. Such a good boy…" Birg licked his snout, his tail wagging happily at the praise. "He loved being with you, you know that?"
She stayed like that until her tears dried out completely, with the Birg snuggled against her while she touched his fur gently. She cried more today than in the last five seasons and she was tired of it.
"C'mon, boy…" Kara patted his side, carefully rising to her full height while flexing her battered hand. How was she going to hide that from her mother? "Nia must be worried."
Birg nuzzled her hand and waited dutifully by her side for her to take the lead. Kara smiled at that. She had taught him, after all. Birg had been a birthday gift to Nia once her cabin was ready and livable. It wasn't safe to be up here all alone, and with Nia being blind, Alura worried, so Kara convinced Kal to go with her to a nearby village to get a puppy for their adopted sister. Old man Lars always had good breeds. She remembered how Nia argued about not needing a dog, but it lasted only until the puppy jumped on her and filled her face with doggie kisses. They teased her mercilessly after that.
Making her way inside the cabin, Kara noticed Nia now sat quietly on the bear's skin spread out on the floor, close to the hearth for warmth, the rune on her forehead still glowing faintly. This far north in Krypton, even if it was still the middle of summer, it was always chilly at night.
"Let me see it," Nia commanded softly, holding her hand up imperiously.
Kara shook her head but complied before sitting down by her side. It baffled her how Nia was always able to 'see' her reactions, how she always just knew something was wrong, like now. How did she even know her hand was injured?
"Ouch!" She hissed when a wet, cold cloth touched her scraped knuckles. She tried to pull her hand away, but Nia held it firmly.
"You're such a baby…" Nia mumbled, carefully cleaning her scraps.
Kara scowled. Any other day, she would find a suitable reply, but not today. Today she didn't care. "Is he in Valhalla?"
"No," came the soft reply. Without looking up, the Seeress continued to clean the drying blood.
Kara tensed. "Tell me. Don't hold back, Nia. I need to know."
Nia slowly felt around for the jar with a pungent-smelling ointment, taking a chunk of it with her fingers and applied it liberally over the blonde's knuckles, using a clean bandage to wrap around it when she was done.
"I don't know many details, Kara. Father Zor can explain everything." Her white eyes glowed bright purple for a moment. A tired breath escaped. "He's awake."
"Dad's awake…" Kara almost felt dizzy with relief. Despite her mother's words before she left, she wasn't sure he would make it. One last thing to worry about. "You said he came to you." Kara frowned, pulling her hand away, her eyes focused on her adopted sister's face. The glowing of her marks and eyes would tell her when she was connected to the spirit world.
"He did. He…" Nia hesitated.
"What? Nia, what did he say? Did he name his killer? How did he…" her voice cracked, but there was urgency in it. "How did he die? What happened?"
Nia shook her head, her marks glowing more vividly now, but her eyes remained white. "It was an ambush, on his wedding day… He… He didn't see his killer, his wife did. He… He was looking at her… Afraid for her… She looks terrified…" Nia searched for Kara's hand, holding it tightly. "Kal died without a weapon, Kara."
Kara's lips pursed angrily. To die without a weapon was a great dishonor for a Kryptonian warrior. It meant the warrior couldn't go to Valhalla, to join Odin and their ancestors.
"They must be avenged, Kara or they will be forever trapped in Fólkvangr." Nia's eyes suddenly flashed bright purple, her marks glowing brightly. Kara jumped a little. She was more than used to that, but it always caught her off guard. "The black cross brings shadow to the blood of Odin. Avenge them!" The intense glow vanished just as quickly as it started but her eyes remained bright purple. "Many still live, I can sense their beating hearts. There is still hope but I feel their time is limited." Sightless, bright eyes bore into steely blue. "You must hurry."
"I will find them, Nia, and I will bring them back, I swear it," Kara vowed in a fierce whisper, squeezing her hand. And then she was going to hunt down the bastards responsible for her brother's murder and she would kill them all, one by one.
Nia nodded, her eyes returning to their regular pasty white color. "I know you will." The seeress hesitated. "Please, stay the night. I know you want to see father, but I don't want to be alone tonight."
Kara's expression softened at the rare request. "I will. Let me put all this stuff away. You can make yourself comfortable." Besides, it was pitch black outside and even with the torch, she would have to go back home slowly. She wanted to go home, to check on Alex and their father, but she didn't want to leave Nia either. She was family too.
Nia gave her a grateful smile. It didn't take long for Kara to have everything tidied and Birg taken care of. Now the grey dog sat down on the rug, looking back and forth between her and the bed, with his big puppy dark eyes.
"Sorry, boy, I'm taking your spot tonight, I know." Kara shrugged helplessly at the dog.
The big dog gruffed loudly before dropping down on the rug, resigned.
"You're lucky he loves you," Nia spoke softly, cuddling the moment the blonde lied down.
"Very lucky." Kara smiled. Pulling the wool blanket over them, she fidgeted with the hem of the blanket, an unconscious quirk when she wanted to talk about something.
"What is it you want to ask?"
Kara hesitated. She wasn't sure she wanted to ask. "What about Sam? Is she alive?" Gods, she hoped so. Alex needed good news.
Nia was silent for so long, Kara thought she wouldn't get an answer. Fear gripped her heart. Sam was dead too… Oh, gods… But then Nia's soft voice cut through the silence.
"I—I can't sense her spirit. There are many that I can't sense."
Kara frowned, her heart beating fast. Maybe there was still hope. "What does that mean?"
Nia closed her eyes, hiding her face against Kara's broad shoulder. "It means that there are several still alive but I'm not sure who they are. But just because I can't sense her doesn't mean she's alive."
Kara nibbled on her lip worriedly, remembering Alex's slurred words. "Alex thinks she's alive. She said she can feel it in her gut."
Nia sighed. "They are soulmates, she would know if Sam was with spirit, but…"
"But?"
"But grief and pain can sometimes dull our senses." The seeress squeezed her muscular arm. "I don't want to give her false hope, Kara. That will destroy her."
"I know," Kara pulled the smaller woman against her, soothing her long black hair with her uninjured hand. Nia didn't usually allow herself to take comfort but somehow, she always sought it out when she was around. "But not knowing is hurting her. You know she doesn't handle emotions well."
"Keep her away from the ale, Kara. It clouds her judgment, and you need her clear-headed." Kara felt the warm exhale against her skin. "The return of those who still live depends on you both being focused on their rescue and not revenge. The time for that will come."
Revenge… Kara's jaw clenched. Lionel of L'uthr had no idea of what was coming for him.
##
Kara arrived at the northern gate a little after first light, surprising the sentinels. It took her forever to fall asleep the night before and what little sleep she had was nothing more than restless slumber, filled with tormenting dreams.
Gazing up to the fortified watchtowers on each side of the gates, with their silky blue banners draping from above, Kara couldn't stop the pang of sadness and hurt that threatened to overwhelm her. Soon enough, those silky banners decorated with the town's coat of arms, a red inverted Valknut with a slithering snake expertly sewed in its center, would be replaced with more somber ones, the black banners with the silver coat of arms, so that every one that came to town knew warriors from Argo had been sent to Odin.
"Morning, Kara," a guard opened the gates wide and locked each door to the palisade to keep it from closing with the often strong winds blowing from the bay. The gates were closed every day at nightfall and reopened the following day. "No word from the ships yet."
Kara nodded at the guard before riding inside the short tunnel made of stone and wood that led inside the fortified town, torches on each side lighting the way. "I know…" There would be no ships coming in today.
The guard frowned, confused. "How do you know?"
But Kara chose not to reply, silently riding away towards home. It was a quick ride since many were still in their homes, having a hearty breakfast with their loved ones before starting the new day. Thankfully, no one stopped her to ask for news about the ships.
Once inside, Kara went straight to her sister's room. Opening the door quietly when no one answered after she knocked, Kara poked her head inside to check on her sister, but almost lost her meager breakfast on the spot over the nauseating stench of vomit.
"Loki's balls…"
Taking a deep breath, Kara pulled her red tunic up to cover her nose and rushed inside the room to open the windows and let much needed fresh air in. She didn't care if it was going to disturb Alex's sleep. The stench was unbearable.
Grabbing the bucket with a grimace, Kara hurried outside to dispose of its contents and wash it before going back in. At least it was breathable inside the room now, with the windows open and the fresh morning air and the scent of her mother's herb garden from somewhere below.
Wetting a cloth in the washbasin by the window, Kara cleaned her sleeping sister's face and neck, careful about not waking her up, though she doubted Alex would wake up anytime soon if her snoring was any indication. It was better anyway. She still hadn't decided on what to tell her after her conversation with Nia. She didn't want to keep it to herself, but she wasn't sure about telling her either.
"What a mess…" Kara rubbed her face with both hands, flinching when her injured hand protested against the movement. Punching people was far less damaging than punching the hard dirt ground.
Alex rolled over to the side, mumbling something about squirrels, a deep frown on her sleepy face.
That made Kara smile. "You hate the furry buggers, don't you?" Making sure her sister was comfortable and warm, the blonde squeezed her shoulder gently and kissed her forehead. "I don't like them either." Noticing the two cups on her nightstand, the blonde grinned. "It's better than being miserable all day, big sis."
Still grinning, Kara left her sister's room, wandering quietly down the hall to her parent's. She just wanted to check on them before going to her own room. She had a plan. She was going to wash up, eat something, and then force herself to get some sleep. She was sure she was going to need it.
Poking her head inside after a soft knock on the door, she spotted her mother lying on the bed, all snuggled against her father's much larger frame, her hand clenched around a chunk of his tunic. Kara couldn't see her face from where she was, but she could hear her mother's ragged breathing. Her heart clenched. Her mother knew…
Feeling like she was intruding on what was the privacy of her parents, Kara started to close the door behind her. She needed to escape to her room, to be alone with her thoughts, but a gruff and raspy voice called out.
"Don't leave, daughter…"
Swallowing at the sound of her father's deep voice, Kara stopped, her hand gripping the doorknob. She didn't want to. Not that she didn't want to hug her father, she did, but she didn't want to hear it from him. It would make everything… real.
Her feet moved out of their own accord and she found herself standing by her parent's bed, pinned by pained, puffy eyes, as blue as her own.
"Come here…" Her father's large and sunburned hand patted the side of the bed, his arm opening in silent invitation.
Licking her suddenly dry lips, Kara lied down and snuggled against her father's side. She almost lost her composure when his arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her closer against him.
"Kal…"
"I know…"
Just like her mother, Kara's fingers wrapped around the wrinkled fabric of his tunic. She didn't want to cry again. She would not cry again! She was Kara Zorsdóttir, a daughter of Odin. She would not lose it in front of her father, not when he needed her to be strong!
"It's my fault… I shouldn't have agreed to this. I—" His voice cracked, and it almost broke her resolve.
"It's not your fault, daddy…"
There was a choking sound, but she didn't dare look up.
A warm hand covered her own and she opened her eyes to see her mother's hazel eyes glistening with tears. Kara tried to smile at her mother, but she wasn't sure she was being successful. Releasing the fabric she was still gripping, she entwined her fingers with her mother's instead.
"El mayarah…"
The tears fell from her mother's eyes at the sound of her soft-spoken words. Never had her old family motto made so much sense like in this moment. They weren't all together. Kal was gone forever. Alex was still snoring out her drunken stupor and Sam… Dear Odin, Sam could still be alive, somewhere in that gods' forsaken Celtic land. They weren't all together here but even in spirit, they would always be together and would always be stronger for that.
##
Still resting in her father's arms and holding onto her mother's hand, Kara summoned her courage. She needed to know. "Dad… I—" Her courage failed her, but her mother squeezed her fingers gently and she took strength from that.
"You want to know what happened…" Her father's deep voice sounded almost like a whisper.
Kara nodded. "I need to."
Zor was quiet. She could hear him swallow, his heart beating faster under her ear. She knew what she was asking of him.
"It happened at the wedding festivity. Everything was going so well, everyone was enjoying themselves and Kal… Kal was so happy, so taken with his beautiful wife…" His voice faltered and he had to stop.
Kara felt her mother's fingers tightening their hold around hers.
"I had to go outside… nature's call… I could hear the laughter and then there was shouting but I thought it was just drunk storytelling… I—I remember smiling, wondering what outrageous tale Olav was telling those innocent L'uthronian maidens." Kara couldn't help but smile a little at that. Olav, the Storyteller was well known for embezzling the tales of their adventures. "I was about to head back when I heard a deep croaking sound. I looked around but I couldn't see any raven, so I looked up and I panicked. The full moon was red, just like Nia said it would and I—I felt fear in my heart because I knew something terrible was about to happen. I ran inside that gods' forsaken tent and I—I…" Zor cleared his throat as Kara looked over at her mother. Alura was covering her mouth with her free hand to keep the sobs from escaping. Kara swallowed hard, bracing herself for what she knew was coming. "I looked over to where he was supposed to be and I... I saw my son… my boy with a bloodied sword sticking out from his chest and I couldn't get to him… I couldn't save him… My son… I couldn't save my son..."
Silent sobs wracked through his chest and he couldn't speak for the longest time. Kara kept quiet as her parents grieved the loss of their son, her eyes focused on an invisible point somewhere on the wall, glistening with unshed tears. The thought of her brother's murder in such a cowardly way was playing havoc with her emotions. She had to keep herself under control.
"Did you see who did this?" Kara asked softly when she felt him calm down.
Zor shook his head. "No… he was wearing a white hood over his head… They were all wearing white cloaks and hoods with a black cross painted over the chest. War Monks, I'm sure of that."
The black cross brings shadow to the blood of Odin. Avenge them! Nia's words screamed in her head and Kara raised her head, staring at her father. The black cross… "War Monks? Monks are peaceful. They do not engage in battle."
"We heard the stories about them when we got there, the monks that roam the countryside forcing their God's 'justice' on people. The people fear them, even the nobles." Zor glanced up at his daughter, his blue eyes tired and bleary. Cupping her face, he went on, "They didn't kill any of the locals, only Kryptonians. This wasn't a random attack, Kara. It happened when none of the royal family was around with the exception of Lena. It was a trap."
Kara's eyes darkened, anger festering inside. "What about Sam? Did you see her? Did she—"
Zor shook his head, his hand dropping from her face heavily. "Last I saw Sam she was trying to get Lena under a table for protection. The royal guards swarmed in, attacking us as well. Next thing I know, my men are dragging me away from the tent and we're on the run." His voice grew tired, heavy with shame. "I don't know what happened to her… How do I tell Alex? She'll never forgive me..."
Kara shared a look with her mother.
"There was nothing you could have done, Zor. You were betrayed and you were outnumbered," Alura said, her voice rough from crying. "If you had stayed you would have been killed too and we would still be waiting for you."
"I know, but…" his deep voice was almost a desperate whine.
"I went to Nia, dad. There are survivors."
Zor moved to a sitting position so fast, Kara almost lost her balance and fell off the bed. "There are survivors? She's sure? How many?"
Kara nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed. "She is. She can feel the beating of their hearts, but time is running out. We need to get them out!"
"Sam?" Her mother's desperate hold on her arm almost made her flinch.
"She's not sure. She doesn't think she's with spirit, but… she can't be sure."
"Start gathering men and ships," Zor ordered, trying to leave the bed.
Kara frowned.
"What are you doing?" Alura asked, her voice stern.
"Getting out of bed to start preparations, what does it look like?"
"Zor Yarsson, you will not get out of this bed until I tell you to!"
Zor stopped abruptly and Kara looked away. It was never a good thing when her mother called someone by their full name. She learned that a long time ago.
"Alura…"
"You are still injured and weak! You're not going anywhere. Your daughters can handle this!" Alura glared at Kara. "And you all better make it back in one piece, daughter!"
Kara swallowed, her eyes wide. "Yes, mother."
"Alura, I know the place. I can—"
"You can tell us all you know, dad, and we appreciate it," Kara interrupted him smoothly, shrugging one shoulder at the look of betrayal on his sunburnt face. "Sorry, dad but mama's right." Kara kissed his cheek, before making a quick retreat. "I'll go get Alex."
She closed the door just as the argument became heated, her parent's voices raised. It wouldn't last long. Mother would have the last word and they all knew it. Sometimes she wondered why her father even bothered disagreeing with his wife.
Now, to check on her sister. Hopefully, she was up already.
##
Alex tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt heavy and unresponsive. Her lips and throat felt dry like she hadn't had a single drop of water in days, not to mention her head was killing her. She tried once more to open her eyes, succeeding partially. Moaning, Alex forced herself to roll over, only to fall out of bed on the hard floor below with a surprised yelp.
The pained groan followed by heavy cursing sounded muffled against the rug she had fallen on, but she made no move to get up. She just couldn't muster the energy, so she just let herself stay where she was, even dozing off for a bit. When she woke up again, Alex forced herself out of the floor with a grunt, clumsily clinging to her bed for support until she finally managed to sit upon it. Dropping her throbbing head on both hands, the redhead groaned miserably.
"Gods kill me now… How much did I drink?" And why was her head spinning?
Blindly reaching up for the cup on the nightstand, she took it with one hand and brought it to her lips, but the awful scent made her stop in time.
"Crap... I'm being punished, I know it…" It was her mother's infamous hangover medicine. It was a lifesaver, but it smelled awful and tasted worse.
Scrunching her face in disgust, Alex pinched her nose and downed the awful beverage down her throat in one gulp. Gagging, she discarded the cup and quickly grabbed the other cup which she knew would be a mint infusion with honey, to take the awful taste away. Still holding the cup in her hand, the redhead dropped back down on the bed with her eyes closed. She needed to go down to the village to check on incoming ships. Maybe she could take one of the rowboats to the fjords. She could keep watch from there. If only this damn concoction worked faster to make her head stop spinning and hurting.
##
Spotting Alex's form hunched over herself on her usual perch, Kara exhaled heavily. She knew she was headed this way the moment she opened her bedroom door and didn't find her. Stubborn thing. Patting her horse's back affectionately, she whispered that she would be back soon to take care of him properly.
The horse whined, hitting her with a swish of his tail on the back of the head.
"Hey, behave or no apples for you!" Kara warned while rubbing the back of her head. "I have a big sister over there to take off first."
She watched as Alex's head tilted back, clumsily downing the contents of the mug on her hand. Kara scowled, noticing the door to her cabin was ajar.
"She's been raiding my keg…" Kara stormed over to where Alex was sitting, trying to empty the mug down her throat. "Dammit, Alex, that keg was pricey! Gorm does not sell it cheap!"
Alex looked over her shoulder, raising the empty mug in a salute. "It's worth every coin…"
Kara snatched the mug from her sister's hand, finding it almost empty. "That's enough for you!"
"Hey!" Alex shouted angrily, rising to her feet on wobbly legs. "Gimme that!"
Kara emptied the mug on the grass, throwing it away while glaring at her sister. "Enough! We need to go back to town. Dad is awake."
"I don't care…" Alex growled, intent on going back to the cabin, but Kara stepped in front of her. "Get out of my way, Kara."
"No! You need to sober up. You've been drunk since yesterday."
"That's my problem!"
"You're behaving like a child!"
"Just like you were when Sara died, and no one blamed you for it!"
Kara's angry words died in lips, her breath faltering for a moment. She hadn't thought of it in so long, but she was finding that after all this time, it still hurt. Her face set into a cold, unreadable mask as she rolled up her tunic sleeves, exposing her strong tattooed forearms.
"Kara…"
Alex took a staggering step back, one hand rising in warning, but Kara wasn't listening, not anymore. She knew exactly what Alex was feeling, she knew how much she was hurting, but Sam could still be alive, and they had people to rescue and they were running out of time! With a swift move, Kara wrapped her arms around her sister's waist and tossed the woman over her shoulder, stomping down to the shore with Alex kicking and punching and yelling at her the whole time.
"Kara, n—" Alex's honey-colored eyes widening comically when she realized what Kara was up to. "Kara!"
Unceremoniously, Kara dumped her older sister in the cold, shallow waters of the bay with a splash. Crossing her arms under her breasts, Kara waited, her face impassive. If her sister wanted to act like an ass, she would treat her like one.
Alex emerged, spluttering indignantly. Stumbling to her feet, the redhead stomped out of the cold water, fuming, but once she was within reach, Kara pushed her back in again, making her fall in the water with a yelp.
"What the Hel!" Alex yelled at her sister, water dripping from her long red hair onto her face.
Kara glared and pointed a long, accusing finger at her. "The first one was for being rude to me. That was uncalled for! The second one is for you to sober up!" Planting both hands on her hips, Kara's face was stony. "Do I need to dump you again?"
Alex growled. She was soaked and still sitting where she had fallen but she shook her head.
"Good. Now get your sorry ass out of there, you look like a drowned rat. I'm making mint infusion and broth."
Without waiting for an answer, Kara turned her back on her sister and made her way back to her cabin, hoping she made the right move. She needed to get Alex focused. She needed her tactical mind to plan the rescue of their warriors from the walled citadel of Metropolis, and they had to move fast.
##
Dungeons Level
L'uthr
A heavy iron door closed with a muffled thud as a cloaked figure made its way inside the dark and cold dungeon. Sitting on a low wooden stool, the cloaked figure removed a small basket from under the cloak. Placing it on the stone floor, an elegant pale hand pulled the hood back to reveal a dark-haired woman.
"I raided the kitchen for pastries," The woman said in a low tone, smiling at the cot's single occupant.
A dark eyebrow rose in amusement as the cot's occupant reached for the basket. "You're going to get yourself in serious trouble one of these days, Lena of L'uthr."
Bright green eyes full of mischief twinkled.
###
TBC
Tell me what you think :)
Remember, receiving a comment is as important to a FF writer as getting a Kudo :)