Chapter 23
- Any idea where to go? – Lyndon panted as he was running after Tyrael.
- Well… I suppose we can start at the marsh – the fallen angel offered, clearly having no plan whatsoever.
Not that anyone could blame him.
- Oh, the Blood Marsh. My favorite place! – Lyndon snorted wryly.
- If you have a better idea, I'm all ears, scoundrel!
Lyndon rolled his eyes at this, but kept his mouth shut. They zig-zagged among the alleyways, sometimes passing by surprised locals. Once Tyrael almost crashed through a freshly hung batch of washed clothes and the pair had to pretty much flee from the rightfully enraged housewife who threw herself after them, armed with a broom. Thankfully, they had managed to shake her off quickly.
- You are not the best at avoiding obstacles, are you, angel? – Lyndon snorted with glee after they were permitted to take back from their speed.
- Angels do not run, Lyndon! – Tyrael retorted angrily. – We fly at most, but never run on the ground.
- You really need to catch up with your learning about humans.
- I'm trying, alright?!
PAFF!
Tyrael collided head-on with someone after rounding a corner and he stumbled back. The unfortunate bystander sat down hard with a girly shout.
- Kyla? – Lyndon stared at the red-haired girl before them.
- Scoundrel! Angel! Good to see you! – she jumped back onto her feet as if nothing happened. – Father sent me to find you. Come, this way!
- One moment, please! – Lyndon suddenly called out, reaching into a pocket on his coat. He was just reminded of something important by that incident with the washed clothes back there.
Everyone looked at him, even Quiet on his back peeked over his shoulder curiously. The scoundrel pulled out a shiny, super tacky necklace he had stolen on his way to Westmarch. It was full of (fake but shiny) gemstones, silver chains and golden small pendants. Honestly, it was an ugly piece of jewelry, no woman with any taste would ever wear it. Still, Quiet's attention immediately focused on the shiny stuff. And so did Tyrael's. The big bald man's golden eyes immediately got glued on the necklace and he looked at it intensely, even following its slight swinging back and forth.
- What is it, scoundrel? – he asked, but refused to take his eyes off the prize.
- I fucking knew it – Lyndon smiled widely at the sight. – Angels are just fancy magpies!
- What are you talking about?!
- Shiiinnyyy – Quiet mumbled, eyes wide and sparkly, futilely reaching out with one short arm towards the jewelry.
- Ha! This is funny! – Kyla laughed at the scene.
Tyrael could finally tear his gaze away from the tacky necklace and glare angrily at Lyndon. Only… he would have done that, but his eyes kept on turning back to it. In the end, he cried out in frustration and closed them tight.
- Put that thing away, scoundrel! – he demanded. – We are in the middle of a crisis and you are playing mind games?!
- Nah, this is nothing compared to what we have been through so far – Lyndon shrugged, putting the necklace away into his pocket. – This had been an experiment long in the making.
- I forgot just how impossible you truly are – Tyrael grumbled, finally being able to open his eyes.
- It is my trademark, after all – Lyndon said then turned to Kyla. – Now, we can go.
The little girl complied, giggling all the way to her home.
The second they reached the entrance stairs, the mansion's door burst open, revealing Haile on the doorstep.
- Come in, quick! – he barked.
He ushered his guests into his dining room and sat them down, then began running up and down, hurriedly preparing something, enlisting even the kids' help.
- Haile, what is going on? – Lyndon frowned at him from the dining table. – You said you'd warn me!
- Aye! Well, Johanna had decided to play her cards differently this time. Whatever goddamned place she is coming from, she announced her arrival to Westmarch in a few days' time. Sounds like she's planning a gathering or somethin' -– Haile retorted angrily, currently from the other room.
- Why would she do that? – Tyrael shared a glance with the scoundrel.
Johanna was the Hero of Sanctuary, true, but she'd never been a public figure who preached about one thing or another. She just went and did her thing.
- Hell if I know! I was just about to send Kyla to tell you all this, but then I saw the smoke. And now Kyla ran into you on the streets. What the hell happened?! – Haile shouted, now from two rooms away.
- Kormac burst into the building and caused a fire – Tyrael sighed deeply. – I have no idea what came over him. He looked… bewitched, almost.
- Shit, things are even worse then. Just like you've said, Lyndon – Haile poked his bald head briefly into the dining room, glancing at the scoundrel.
- I told you I wasn't kidding – Lyndon grumbled. – Kormac wanted Quiet and he was ready to attack me for him. He believes… or at least says that Quiet is Mephisto in disguise.
- Ain't that guy one of them Burning Hell Assholes? – Haile asked, once again disappearing into the depths of his home.
- The oldest of all the Evils, The largest of Tathamet's heads. Lord of Hatred – Tyrael massaged his forehead.
- Leendonn, what is "essholl"? – Quiet blinked up to his caretaker.
Lyndon screwed his eyes shut and withstood the temptation of headbutting the table.
- It is an adult word, Quiet – he finally said.
- Is it a bad word?
- Yes, very bad word. You shouldn't use it.
- Like "sonuvabeech"?
The scoundrel almost fell off of his chair at this.
- Where did you learn that?! – he shrieked.
- You said many times. Mostly when you angry.
Tyrael silently but closely watched the scene unfold before him. Lyndon looked like he wanted to blush and pale at the same time.
- These are curse words for grown-ups – he hurried with a defense. – You are too little to use them yet!
- Why? – Quiet cocked his head to one side.
- Because I said so!
- Inarius had always been the curious type – Tyrael chimed in softly. – It is a rare trait among the seraphim. But he was nearly always looking for answers for one thing or another, no matter how small it was. One could have mistaken him for an angel of Wisdom at times.
- Good to know – Lyndon grimaced.
Thankfully, Quiet picked on the mood, and chose to fall silent and busy himself with drawing shapes onto the table's surface with his finger. In the path of his touch, the wood turned into polished silver.
- Inarius, stop that! – Tyrael frowned at him.
Quiet glanced up at him and went "pth-th-th-th-th-th-th". It took the fallen angel a few moments to realize that the kid just stuck his invisible tongue out at him.
- You little… – he hissed angrily.
Quiet just went back drawing silver lines onto the table. Lyndon wasn't in a big hurry to scold the child, either.
- Here ya go, lads! – Haile burst into the room, carrying a large bundle. – Food for the road.
- Wait what? – his guests blinked up at him.
- What, you thought I would let you go without anything? Bah! – the captain snorted, stuffing it into Lyndon's mostly empty backpack.
- I'm going with him – Tyrael announced. – I attacked Kormac and knocked him out.
- Yeah, he saved my life – Lyndon nodded sincerely.
- If you see any of my Horadrim returning from their missions, please tell them of the situation – the fallen angel asked. – Especially Lorath.
- Sure thing, lad – Haile nodded.
- Thank you.
- So now what? – Lyndon asked, standing up and hauling his backpack to his back. – Got any further tips?
- Johanna's still some time away, supposedly, so you don't have to hide from her yet – Haile shrugged. – I suggest you take the main road. Fastest way out of the city, in any direction.
- Do you know any good place in the Blood Marsh where we can hide, even for a short time? – Tyrael asked.
-… Not sure. Farthest away from those little sh… – here he was stopped by a warning look from Lyndon –, shrieking bogans, but that is a given thing. Those fancy ruins you lot went in not long ago to find that biiii—witch Adria?
- Hey, that is a good idea! – Lyndon exclaimed. – That thing is a maze, we can avoid Johanna well there temporarily.
- No, the Ruins of Corvus are shielded from angels and demons alike. That is why I wanted to hide the Black Soulstone there. Inarius wouldn't be able to enter – Tyrael shook his head.
- How did Malthael get the stone then?! – Lyndon glared at him.
- He had changed so much by then that the ruins could no longer recognize him as an angel – Tyrael trailed off, glancing at Quiet who blinked back just as blankly. – Then again… perhaps Inarius might be accepted as well.
- We will just have to try then – Lyndon frowned, taking his charge's offered hand into his own.
- Thank you for everything, Haile – the fallen angel turned to their host.
- Don't mention it, lads – the captain shook his head then glanced at Lyndon. – You know your purpose yet, kiddo?
-… Not completely, no – Lyndon admitted uneasily.
- Then work on it.
- Thanks, the moment I'm not running for my life from Johanna, I'll make sure to look into it…
- What? – Tyrael blinked.
- Nothing! – Lyndon snapped at him.
- Your life will depend on it, lad! – Haile stated in the perfect voice of steel, before growing slightly gentler. – But besides that… take care. Stay safe, you three, alright?
- Thank you, Kapten Heylee – Quiet waved at him.
- Take care of these two dorks, will ya kid – Haile smiled down at the child.
- Leendonn take-s care of me. Teeriel is just mean and angry.
- Ha! Got that right – Lyndon snorted, earning a frown from the fallen angel by his side.
Haile rolled his eyes at this as they headed for the exit.
oooOOOooo
- So why do you think the Ruins will let Quiet inside, even though he is an angel? – Lyndon asked as they slogged through the marshwaters, avoiding the bogan-lairs as best as they could.
-… Just a feeling – Tyrael mumbled after he spared a glance at Quiet who took a ride on Lyndon's back.
- Aha, sure. Out with it.
- Why would you care, honestly?! You have clearly ignored all of my other statements about him so far.
- Because those are all clearly bull— – Lyndon quickly bit down on the curse, before continuing –, but this, I am interested in!
- You are so gracious with your attention, scoundrel…
- I know, I know. I'm a generous guy, you see. Now spill it.
-… Do you see the gems in Inarius' wings and tiara? – Tyrael glanced at Quiet again.
- Yes, and they are very interesting – Lyndon nodded. – Never seen a gem with a structure like that.
- They are pretty – Quiet announced proudly, sticking his wings out of his cape, showing of the ruby wrists on them.
- Only one gem in all of Creation had ever had this appearance – Tyrael mumbled uneasily. – The Worldstone.
- Wait, the Worldstone? – Lyndon paused for a moment. – Didn't you destroy it?
- I did. That is why I do not understand this – Tyrael admittedly, eyeing the small wings of light. – How and where even did he get his hands on these shards?
- Worrlddston must be pretty – Quiet wondered aloud.
- No how. They grew out of him – Lyndon shrugged.
- Eh?! – Tyrael stared at him.
- Sometimes Quiet goes through these quick growths randomly, two so far. He just gained those gems during the first one, I believe. Why is that strange? Didn't you say once that angels grow and change their own armor according to their personality as well?
- Yes, but we do not grow gemstones out of ourselves, and definitely not shards of the Worldstone itself! – Tyrael exclaimed angrily.
Lyndon thought for a moment.
- This Worldstone… did it have another name, perhaps? – he asked then carefully.
- Yes. The Eye of Anu. Why?
The Eye… of Anu.
- The funny statues called me "Eye" – Quiet chimed in. – I did no like it. Ugly name.
- What funny statues? – Tyrael asked.
- Those seven jade figurines I told you about, in Gea Kul – Lyndon explained. – The ones that gave us a ride on the back of the sea monster.
- And they called Inarius the "Eye"?
- Yes. They also called him "Origin of All" and me the "Guardian of the Eye" – Lyndon recalled. – I have no idea what that was all about, honestly.
Tyrael's stared blankly at them, his mind clearly working overtime to connect the dots.
- What in the Burning Hells is going on? – he breathed, clearly stunned to his core.
Something flashed before Lyndon's eyes. He grabbed Tyrael by the shoulder and strongly yanked him away from his spot. A millisecond later, the muddy water blew up like a geyser, sending them tumbling to the ground. Lyndon barely had enough time to twist around in mid-air, in order to land on his belly instead.
- Good question! I was thinking about the same thing myself!
Lyndon felt his blood freeze as he spat the dirty water out, glancing behind his back.
On the other side of the newly formed crater stood Crusader Johanna in full battle gear.
oooOOOooo
Tyrael caught himself reminiscing of the time he could greet the Hero of Sanctuary as a friend, as if that had been a lifetime ago.
Now, he lied in the mud, leaning on his elbows, staring at the spot he stood at just seconds ago, now turned into a smoking crater. The crater that had almost been him.
Scared to his core, he glanced up at their ambusher. Johanna stood in front of them, fully clad in her armor, lazily swinging her burning flail in one hand like it weighted nothing. At first, she appeared completely normal. But then her face held a smug, wide grin that was not typical of her.
- Honestly, Lyndon, what has gotten into you? – Johanna looked at her former comrade with disdain and pity even. – Has Mephisto's influence proven to be too strong to fight off?
- Cut the bullshit, Johanna! – Lyndon spat water in her direction, struggling to his feet. On his back, Quiet clung to him for dear life, trying to hide, eyes wide with terror. – Your stupid little trick is not working on us!
- Do you see, Tyrael? – Johanna turned to the fallen angel nonchalantly, as if she didn't just try to blow him to smithereens. – Are you going to help me stop this Evil from spreading once more.
Tyrael could feel that strange illusion trying to take over his vision as he too rose to his feet. The power evaporated quickly, however, as must illusions do once the target knows of its existence.
- Your trick does not work on me, Johanna – he called out. – It failed with Kormac, as well.
Johanna frowned slightly at this.
- Eh, whatever – she shrugged finally. – Well then. I will just take the little creep myself. If you value your lives, you hand him over willingly.
- Yeah, that's not going to happen – Lyndon hissed, taking a step back.
- Do you even know who this little nothing is? – Johanna blinked at him in pity.
- Inarius. Creator of Sanctuary, Father of the Nephalem – Lyndon. – And the angel who is staying out of your grabby hands, bitch!
- Ah, you caught up, finally – the Crusader briskly nodded. – Took you long enough.
- Leendonn – Quiet whined softly, shaking from fear.
- Why do you want him? – Lyndon snarled, trying to put up a brave front.
- You must have mistaken me for Azmodan – Johanna grinned. – Ha! Remember him? He just loooved to boast about his plans! It was starting to get annoying after a while, constantly getting the surprises spoiled.
Suddenly her carefree expression melted away and was replaced by a definitely in-human snarl, her teeth turning into fangs.
- Now hand that unfaithful bastard over! – she shrieked, swinging his flail.
Whatever magic she conjured up, Lyndon didn't bother to stay and find out.
- Quiet! – he shouted, to which the little angel sprung a 10-meter-tall granite wall up from the ground, right between them and the Crusader.
Lyndon grabbed Tyrael's arm and teleported them away, deep into the Blood Marsh. They stumbled in the pool upon arriving, the fallen angel clearly disoriented.
- We have to find the Waypoint here and go to Corvus! – Lyndon shouted, pulling him back up to his feet.
- Can you not just teleport in there? – Tyrael panted as they started running.
- I'd rather not miss and get us hopelessly lost down there!
- Fair enough.
Quiet let out a shrill cry, quivering his wings. The voice rang across the land and almost immediately the answer came in the form of a myriad creatures bursting forth from every little nook the marsh offered. Bogans, thousands of them. Lyndon and Tyrael stopped dead on their tracks with dread, but the little hellspawn creatures swarmed past them, giving them a wide birth. They all headed in one direction.
- They fight Johhana! – Quiet explained hurriedly. – We must go quickly!
- They do not stand a chance – Tyrael cried out. – How did you even—?!
- They will buy us enough time to find the Waypoint – Lyndon interrupted. – Get moving!
They started running again, hopelessly zig-zagging among the trees, bogs, pools and other horrid things the marsh held within it. It was impossible to tell the places apart. Their only indication of a direction was the distant sound of battle as Johanna had been assaulted by the bogan army. At least they could tell which way not to run into.
It appeared there was no way out, but then, finally, they spotted something. Sunken into a smaller hill stood an entrance framed with dark stone, the pavement before it shinning with the blue contours of the wind's symbol.
- That's it! We are on the right track! – Lyndon exclaimed, grabbing Tyrael's wrist and pulling him along.
He could not remember which entrance to the ruins was the right one (the Nephalem builders had been crafty), but he knew the Waypoint was close to these openings. Soon, much to their relief, they saw the blue haze of the Waypoint's flames in the distance.
Horse hooves sounded up in the distance, no doubt that creepy ghost battle mount of Johanna's she could conjure up for some unexplained reason. Still, it was some distance away, they would make it!
Lyndon almost jumped onto the platform, the rune-covered circle suddenly the most beautiful thing in his eyes. Tyrael followed his suit. Just to make sure the circle would transport Quiet as well, Lyndon quickly settled him down onto the pedestal, between himself and the fallen angel.
- What if the Ruins do not accept Inarius? – Tyrael shouted.
- Plan B is the Ruins of Secheron, then – Lyndon quickly answered, coming up with it right on the spot. – Ready?!
- Ready!
The flames blazed up, gathering the energy to transport them to Corvus. Suddenly their light turned to green, however. It took Lyndon a moment to realize that was due to the strong yellow light that rained down upon them like a spotlight.
A far too precious moment.
Johanna slammed down with all the fury of the Heavens themselves, just as the Waypoint activated. She landed just in front of them and for an eternal second, Lyndon locked eyes with her as he was propelled back by the shockwave, Quiet's small hand slipping out of his grip.
Death was all he could think of in that moment.
A familiar blue flash washed away everything and he felt his own teleporting powers coming to life. He collided with something as his vision failed him.
And after that, nothing.
FALLING SWORD, BITCHEEEESSSS! It is one of the most powerful abilities of the Crusader, both in Diablo3 and in HoTS. I just had to put it in here. ;)
Now... let us see where we are going from here. It's gonna be great! :D
Forward, cupcakes! I love you all!
GUEST REPLY
PaulM: Thank you for staying on board so far, despite all these pauses. ^^ I truly appreciate it!
