Chapter 12
Present Day
Road to Duskwood
The sounds of birds chirping overhead woke Kimeara from her dream/memory of the past. Dawn was here and the forest was coming alive with the sounds of animal greeting the morning sun and the nocturnal animals seeking their resting place for the day. Opening her eyes Kimeara blinked the sleep from them and sat up. She glanced around the camp and noticed that other than the cooks she was the first one to awaken.
"Good Morning Little Mistress," Calthix said from a branch above her.
"Good Morning Calthix," Kimeara said looking up at him. "How was the night?"
"Quite, Little Mistress," Calthix said. "Your wards kept away the nighttime scavengers and no one was lurking about."
"I find that strange Calthix," she said frowning. "The reports to the King stated that attack by worgen and undead on travelers had become common. We've been traveling the main road from Goldshire to Duskwood and are only half a day ride from Duskwood and we've encountered nothing."
"Maybe we have been lucky, Little Mistress," Calthix said, without out much conviction in his voice.
"No Calthix. This is too much to be simple luck. The worgen and undead are supposed to be mindless beast. They should have been drawn to our presence and attacked before now. Instead we've been left alone, and that shows that they are not mindless or that at least something or someone is directing the attacks," Kimeara said.
"I've been thinking the same thing," Tyon said sitting up from his bedroll a little ways to the left of Kimeara's.
"How long have you been awake mage?" Kimeara hotly said.
"I awoke a little before you, so long enough to hear your concerns and to share them," Tyon replied.
"Don't eavesdrop on my conversations mage. If you are interested in my option or want to know what I'm thinking ask me," Kimeara snipped. She got to her feet and started to pack up her bedroll.
"Clearly you're not a morning person," Tyon said smirking while getting to hi feet.
"I have no problem with morning's mage, only in spending them in your company," she grumbled.
The mage had pestered her every day of their journey, asking questions about her abilities and her knowledge of herbs and other wildlife. It seemed she no sooner answered one of his questions before he would ask her another. Late last night she had finally had enough and yelled at him to leave her alone before storming off to her bedroll and pretending to sleep. She'd thought he had gotten the message but apparently he had just been biding his time.
"I know you find my questions and presence annoying Kimeara but the King has instructed that we are to work together and I need to know what your capabilities are so that I know where we'll complement each other and where we might clash," Tyon said patiently and with all the emotion of a school instructor in his voice.
"The King sent you along to keep an eye on me," Kimeara replied. "He still doesn't know if I can be trusted."
"That is not true Kimeara and you know it," Tyon interrupted her. "If the King didn't think you'd be trust worthy he wouldn't have sent you on a mission of this importance."
"Fine, he wants to keep an eye on me to see if I will follow through with his agreement or if I decide to run, and probably to report back things I won't since he isn't sure what information I'll pass along and what I won't if I do work for him" Kimeara countered.
"He's not afraid or you running off child. He knows enough of your character to know that if you did decide to run you'd only do so after you've completed this task for him. You told him that you would look into this issue and he knows you'll keep your word," Tyon replied bending to pack up his bedroll also.
"But you don't deny that he sent you along to report back anything that I may choose not to pass along," Kimeara said standing up holding her bedroll and turning to face him.
"It's not that he doesn't trust you; but he also knows that you are used to living in the shadows and not letting anyone know about your actions. He thought, and I think rightfully so, that having someone along to help you acclimate to working with others and reporting to others might be prudent," he answered standing up also.
"Finally a truthful answer," Kimeara said staring down the mage.
"You are going to have to work on your trust issues child if we are to work together," Tyon said meeting her stare.
"A couple of days traveling on the Kings business is not going to erase eight years of habit mage," Kimeara said trying to keep her temper in check.
"I know child, but ignoring the issue will not help either," Tyon replied softly.
"I'm doing the best that I can but I'm not just going to open up because I've come to an agreement with the King and with Sandahl. The way I am has kept me alive for a long time and I will not carelessly through away my wariness of others," she hissed vehemently at him, throwing her bedroll back to the ground. "If you want to know about my past, of what skills I have and what I have picked up over the years, you'll have to earn that right and so far Tyon you haven't. I've forgiven you as much as I'm able to for your role in everything but that doesn't mean we're friends, only allies."
"Very well," Tyon said softly. "You've the right to decide such things for yourself but just so we understand each other my orders are the same. I'm to work with you and report back to the King and offer you support and guidance on this mission."
"So be it," Kimeara said and without another word stormed off into the woods with Calthix on her shoulder.
"He is not following Little Mistress," Calthix informed her.
"Good. I need sometime by myself Calthix," Kimeara said. "Could you keep as eye on the camp and let me know when breakfast is ready?"
"Yes Little Mistress," Calthix said taking flight and hovering before her. "But please be careful Little Mistress, just because we haven't encountered any problems so far doesn't mean that there aren't any dangers close by."
"Damn it Calthix I don't need you telling me what to do also, I've had it up to my ears with that damned Mage doing so already" she snapped. She had enough of people telling her things for "her own good".
Kimeara stepped around Calthix and quickly strode away.
Calthix started to fly after her, then hesitated and reluctantly turned and flew back to the camp.
Kimeara's angry stride quickly brought her to the ward line she'd setup around the camp during the night. She was nowhere near calm enough to go back to camp so turning to the right she continued to follow the ward line northward into the woods. She had needed to put some distance from herself and Tyon but now she was also upset that she had snapped at Calthix. He'd always been there for her. She knew that he cared for her and only offered a warning about the forest out of love and concern. Through their link she could feel his hurt and his worry.
Slowing she stood at the edge of her ward and sought her calm center. She stood with her feet shoulder width apart and closing her eyes she started on her breathing exercises to help her get control of her emotions.
In and out, in and out. She thought to herself with each breath she took. Centering her weight more fully on the balls of her feet she started to rock her weight back and forth. Then while leaning back she snapped a kick out in front of her and held her foot a head height without bending her waist. Drawing her knee back to her chest she snapped out again with her foot and then pivoting drew back in her leg and stuck out again to her side. Planting her feet again she started to rock back and forth once more then repeated her kicks with her other foot.
Kimeara did this several more times and then started to throw in punches with her kicks. She spun around with her leg flying low, as if sweeping the feet out from and enemy behind her, and while in motion she drew her dagger from her belt and flipped it from her right hand to left. Completing her spin she threw the dagger up in the air and catching by the tip she then flung it into a tree where it stuck. She drew two more daggers from her boots and let them fly at the same tree; they also struck true making a triangle with the dagger already there. Finally she drew her father's hunting knife and with one smooth motion planted the blade between the other three.
She had acquired the daggers before leaving Stormwind. She had always done well with only her hunting knife, but then she had always skittered away from trouble in the past and now she was rushing head long into it. She'd figured that the extra blades would come in handy.
Breathing a little harder for her exertions, Kimeara walked to the tree and pulled the blades out, placing them back into her boots and on her belt.
Hearing a shuffling sound behind her she said without turning, "I said I needed some time alone."
No response came to her except for the shuffle to get a little louder. Wheeling about she was about the yell at Tyon go the hell away when the words stuck in her throat.
It wasn't Tyon that was approaching her. It was a host of undead at least fifty strong.
Kimeara looked into the empty socket of the skeleton closest to her at ten feet away and said "Crap."
Calthix hated leaving his mistress alone, but he was also hurt that she had snapped at him. Reluctantly he followed her command and returned to camp without her. He spotted the mage Tyon over by the breakfast fire drinking coffee and landed on the log beside him.
"Is she always so stubborn?" Tyon asked of the imp.
"I'll not speak ill of my Mistress," Calthix replied.
"I'm not asking you to speak ill of her Calthix. I'm trying to understand her so that this will be easier for us all," Tyon said. "I know a little about the bonding of demon and Warlock and I'm not asking you to betray her."
Calthix sat quite for a while, pondering what the mage is asking and deciding if it would be in his mistresses best interest to talk with the mage. He knew that the mage wasn't an enemy of his mistress but bridging the gap between the two was beyond him. He was reluctant to admit that while he had been her teacher in many things, how to get two humans to behave with one another was beyond his understanding.
"She is trying Mage," Calthix said slowly. "When her father was murdered in front of her she lost much of her faith and trust in her fellow man."
Tyon watched the imp with great attention, not daring to speak for fear the Calthix would stop talking.
"Seeing something like that would be hard for any child." Calthix continued. "But I think that she still blames herself a little for his death to this day. She's become very powerful and confident in her abilities and if she continues to grow into them, and I have no about she will, then he power will eclipse that of her mother and of Sandahl. The thing that keeps her from bridging that gap is that she partially hates herself for being a Warlock. She thinks that if she hadn't been born a Warlock he father would still be alive."
Tyon finally spoke up, "She needs to forgive herself for her father's death and come to terms with the fact that she is not to blame."
"I know that Mage, and deep down so does she. In truth that potion you gave her might have helped her confront what she has been running from for so long," Calthix said. "After her father died my only priority was to keep her safe and to teach her what I could of protecting herself. I did this in the memory of her father and also my old mistress. I helped teach her to hide who she was. Too bury her true self down deep where no one can see. It was the only way I could think of to keep her safe. I taught her to live in the wilds and on the outskirts of the civilized world and as such the only knowledge she gain of how to interact with others was how not to be noticed or remembered. She always kept herself apart and never fully trusted anyone."
"That must have been very hard on a young girl," Tyon said, his expression clouded trying to imagine such a life.
"That the thing Mage," Calthix said. "While you and I know it as hardship, she took it in stride. Except for the first couple of months after her father's death she never asked for the comforts of home, or of a companion. Slowly she changed from the carefree little girl I first met, into a hardened woman. She stopped asking to go places with people. Instead to wanted to see more of the wild lands and what lay over the next horizon."
"Sounds to me a little like growing up," Tyon observed.
"I would agree with you Mage but she also walled herself off from the world emotionally," Calthix said. "She would still show compassion for those how deserved it."
"Like give the cook Bridget?" Tyon asked not really needing the confirmation.
"Yes, but when she'd show compassion, it would always be in a way that would be appropriate for whatever "role" she way playing," Calthix said. "Of course Mary the bar wench would be worried over the cook's son, and so she has done similar things in the past in other cities and with other people."
Here Calthix paused as if contemplating what to say next to try to make the mage understand.
"Those sound like good acts, even if she did it in the persona of the disguise she was in," Tyon said.
"Never once in all these years did she let anyone see her for herself Mage," Calthix said softly. "The first time anyone anywhere saw her for who and what she truly is was when she rescued the Prince. I taught her to hide so well that until now the only people that knew, Kimeara StarKoff existed were her, her enemies and I. Even Sandahl did not know she lived until he came into the throne room. I didn't teach her to trust in anyone or anything, I taught her to rely solely on herself and on me when I'm with her. I didn't teach her how to interact with others, I taught her how to read people and how to determine if they are a threat to her or not. I taught her how to survive but no how to fully live. She learned what ever skills she could to increase her survival, including those of a less than legal nature Mage."
"You make her sound like a cold-hearted weapon Calthix, but I know she is not. While she was in the cell and before we left on this mission the King requested that I search the records of any strange cases involving an unknown woman, do you know what I found?" Tyon asked.
"I could guess," the imp said wearily.
"Going back a quite a few years, in different small towns around the Kingdom, there are numerous reports of a mysterious woman either helping someone out or robbing someone," Tyon said. "In the cases where someone was helped, almost all the time the stranger never once asked for anything beyond some food or lodging for the night. In the cases where someone said they were robbed under closer examination it almost always turned out that the "wronged" individual had tried to cheat or swindle the unknown woman prior to the alleged robbery. Even counting the cases where the person clearly stole something, if that person indeed was Kimeara, then these are not the actions of an unfeeling weapon."
"You did a lot of research in a short amount of time Mage," Calthix said.
"In truth most of the work was already done by the kingdom intelligence team," Tyon said with a rueful smile. "They had much interest in this unknown individual flitting about with no known name or history and quite skilled in all sorts of useful talents. Of course now that they're aware of the full scope of her talents they are even more interested."
"I trust that you, Sandahl and the King will keep them away from my Mistress?" Calthix asked.
"The King had them turn over all their notes and ordered them to leave her alone. She'll be monitored in the Capital but that is true of all powerful people visiting the city," Tyon replied.
"Understood," Calthix said, then sighed deeply. "You understand some of her past Mage, and yes Mistress is more than just mindless weapon. What I'm trying to help you understand and also that the King and others will need to understand if that you cannot expect her to react to anything in the exact same manner as anyone with a more normal upbringing would react. She is almost always going to think about survival first and everything else second or not at all. It's what I trained her to do and she is damned good at it."
"Why tell me all this Calthix?" Tyon asked.
"Because I've shown her how to survive Mage; it will be up to you and others to teach her what it is to live and to trust," Calthix told him. "In reliving her past she came face to face with herself for the first time in years. She's agreed to this and to have contact with Sandahl to try to gather power to strike back at those who killed her father."
"Shouldn't they be brought to justice?" Tyon asked.
"They should Mage, and I will enjoy taking them down," Calthix said with a wicked gleam in his eye before his face became serious again. "But anger and vengeance will only carry my Mistress so far. If she is truly to live in the world again she must learn to trust and to depend on others. Those are things that I cannot teach her Mage and so it must be you and others her guide her along that path to regain what she has lost."
"You really do love her don't you imp?" Tyon asked.
"More so than even her mother Mage," Calthix replied without any hesitation. "I've had hundreds of masters or mistresses Mage and none can compare to her and her mother. I promised her mother that I'd protect her daughter and I have done so for eight years. Now I ask that you help my Mistress find her path that she will walk the rest of her life Mage. It's not something an imp can show a human, only another human can do so."
"I will do what I can, and what she will let me. I can promise no more than that," Tyon replied.
"Thank you. Mage Tyon." Calthix said before lapsing into silence.
The sat together staring into the campfire, both lost in their thoughts about the girl who wasn't present.
Around while they had been talking most of the camp had awoken and been fed. The noise of armor being donned and tents being struck filled the morning air. They would be leaving soon and camp was always its most alive and bustling during this time.
"Shall I go get us some breakfas..." Tyon began to ask before glancing up at Calthix and going silent.
Calthix had stood upright with a jerk looking back toward the forest where Kimeara had walked off to, a look of fear and pain across his face.
"Little Mistress..." he croaked out.
"What is it?" Tyon demanded in a loud tone, bolting to his feet and drawing the attention of those close by.
"She's under attack by the undead...That way… about a quarter mile," Calthix said in a pained voice pointing in the direction Kimeara had gone.
"Lead the way Cal..." Tyon began but stopped as Calthix's body faded away. The imp had been dismissed either by the order of his Mistress or by her death.
"TO ARMS AND FOLLOW ME," Tyon yelled running through the camp in the direction Calthix had pointed. "TO ARMS THE UNDEAD ATTACK" He shouted again and again. As he ran he thought to himself Don't be dead. Hold on Kimeara we're coming.
Stumbling further into the woods Kimeara blasted the skeleton in front over her with another fire ball. She had destroyed the first five skeletons that had come after her but the other had forced her to retreat. It took all her skill, and more than a little luck, to stay a few feet ahead of the shambling horde. Somehow they had gotten between here and the camp so that with every step she took to evade them she drew further away from help. She kept scanning from side to side looking for anything that might help facilitate her escape.
"Calthix," she called out again in her mind and this time she felt his answer.
"Little Mistress," his voice echoed back faintly.
"I'm under attack by a host of undead. I'm roughly about here," she focused her thoughts and sent him a rough guess at her location.
Suddenly four skeletons charged in at her at once and she had to drop her mental link with Calthix to concentrate on calling forth her magic again. She summoned a huge orb of Dark energy and flung it at the ground before the charging skeletons. The orb hit the ground and detonated creating a large shock wave that knocked the skeletons off their feet. While they were not destroyed, there were down and it would by her a little time.
Staggering a little as the energy drain hit her, Kimeara thought over her options. She had cast several spells in only a few minutes with little time to catch her breath in-between and it was starting to wear her out. She could continue to flee as she was but eventually the skeletons would catch her. They had endless stamina being dead and would dog her steps until she was dead. No, continuing to run wasn't the answer. She needed to find a way to get past them and back toward her allies at camp.
"Calthix I dismiss you," Kimeara thought in her mind and felt his presence disappear. Summoning another orb of Dark energy she threw is into the horde that was getting closer to buy some time. She needed to summon Gorthen to try to smash her way through the undead. She threw one more orb of Dark energy and then ran to the nearest large rock she could find.
Kimeara knelt before the rock and quickly drew the summoning circle for Gorthen. It was a complicated circle and she pushed herself to her limits to complete the circle in less than a minute. The sounds of the horde coming closer filled her ears while she worked. This was her only chance and she had to make it count. If the horde got to her before she was done, she was finished.
Drawing the last line in the circle Kimeara slapped her hand down in the middle and shouted into the morning air, "Gorthen I summon you, come to me."
With a burst of dark shadows from the circle Gorthen burst forth and immediately threw himself into the nearest skeleton to Kimeara.
Mistress what are your orders? Gorthen's voice echoed through her mind.
I need to get through the horde and back to camp. Kimeara replied while getting back to her feet. She also gave Gorthen a brief rundown of the current situation and both their approximate location and the location of the camp.
I cannot take on all of these skeletons at one Mistress; they are beyond the scope of my power right now. Gorthen replied.
We only need to get through them not destroy them. Kimeara said. I need you to help clear me a path so I can rejoin the forces at the camp.
As you will Mistress. Stay close behind me so that you can follow in my wake. Gorthen said as he moved toward the horde.
Concentrating Kimeara summoned fire in both her hands and threw balls of fire out on either side of Gorthen. The sight of Gorthen hitting the front line of the undead was very reminiscent of a large boulder rolling down a hill and blasting through the wall of a house. Skeletons went flying into the air in every direction except behind him. Some were missing arms or legs but most appeared unhurt except for the fact that they were now airborne.
Kimeara stepped quickly to keep herself just a few feet behind Gorthen. As he ploughed his way through the horde she released ball after ball of fire to the left and right of him, trying to keep him from getting bogged down in enemies. The only thing they had going for them was momentum and if the she stutter or falter for even a second they would be overwhelmed. Every step took them closer to the safety of the other side but also placed them deeper into the undead. Those undead that were thrown in the air regained their feet after landing and came again. Those missing a leg would crawl across the forest floor in pursuit of their prey.
They are crossed the half way point and now more enemies started to come from behind them than in front of them. Sensing danger, Kimeara spun and threw a ball of fire into the face of a skeleton closing in. The blast of the first blew the head straight off and sent if flying into the air.
Though now headless the body still came at Kimeara forcing her to take a step back toward Gorthen. Her back bump into something at the same time she felt skeletal hands grab her shoulders. She quickly grabbed her hunting knife from her belt and stabbed it just through the jam and into the skull of the skeleton about to bite into her. On a human it would have been a killing wound but on the skeleton all it did was locks its jaw shut so it couldn't bite her.
Kimeara kicked and thrashed about, trying to break free of the skeletons grip. She had almost made it when the headless skeleton in front of her wrapped its boney fingers around her neck. Just before he air was cut off she shouted "Gorthen."
Mistress, she heard echo through her head. Glancing back she saw the Void Lord trying to get back to her but he was being pressed back by eight skeletons at once and couldn't reach her in time to help her. She jerked around trying to break the hold of either skeleton but when she whipped her head to the side the hilt of her knife opened a cut on her right cheek.
Kimeara stopped struggling and concentrated on trying to bring her magic to bear. Turning her concentration inward she felt her magic power flicker as her vision dimmed. She only had a few more seconds before she'd pass out from lack of air. She had to get the skeleton to let go of her throat at least. Gathering her power she drew upon the Dark energy of the Abyss to conjure an orb of Dark energy in each palm. Once the orbs were formed, she smashed them into the forearms of the skeleton choking her.
The blow back was hard since she released the spell too close to her own body and her head smashed into the knife hilt again opening another cut on her cheek, but it had been worth it. As the dizziness from lack of air and from the spell wore off Kimeara was able to reach up and knock the now lose fingers from around her neck. The arms of the skeleton in front of her had been destroyed all the way back to the elbow.
Kimeara only had a second to enjoy her victory because the now hand less skeleton raised what was left of its arm, which now had a sharp jagged edge, and stabbed her in the left shoulder. The pain was immediate and intense and blood started to flow from the wound. Bracing herself against the skeleton holding her from behind, Kimeara kicked out with both her legs sending the skeleton in front of her falling to the ground. When her legs came swinging down from the kick she threw her upper body forward and bent at the waist causing the skeleton holding her from behind to be thrown over her shoulder to lad atop the other skeleton.
Gorthen was still surrounded by skeletons and was being beaten back from her, but to her right Kimeara noticed a gap between the two groups of skeletons. Seizing the chance she ran as fast as she could for the gap to try to slip away to freedom. As she ran she grabbed a healing potion the pouch on her belt and quickly drank the whole thing down. It wasn't enough to completely heal her shoulder but it stopped the bleeding and her throat wasn't as sore from the choking.
A skeleton stepped up to block her path and without any hesitation she leapt into the air and smashed both her heels into its chest. The skeleton was knocked away but the strike threw off her landing and Kimeara ended up flat on her back instead of her feet like planned, knocking the air out of her. She scrambled back to her and lurched toward the gap once again.
Just as Kimeara reached the gap she heard a mental screech and turned to see Gorthen fade into nothingness. The feedback of their bond struck her and for a second he visions dimmed before the pain washed away. Enraged that these disgusting skeletons had injured her demon fire flew from her palms once more. She threw ball after ball into the horde, all thoughts of flight gone from her mind. Endlessly the horde bore down on her and she met them head one.
Kimeara noticed movement off to the side and in a quick glace saw more figures moving in the shadows beneath the trees. She grew worried then. Already she was tiring in trying to hold back the horde before her. Her anger and fury had given her a burst of energy but even that has its limits. She didn't know if she had the strength to fight even more of these damnable things, her fire balls were barely keeping back those in the front if she had to content with an attack from the side also she'd be done fore.
Kimeara kept up the fire on the skeletons and also kept an eye on the new comers as they drew even closer. The advancing column hit a patch of sunlight through the branches overhead and the light of day glinted off metal. Great, she thought to herself. These ones have armor.
The column continued to close with her until they were about ten yards away. A shout of "Militia Charge!" rang out. With a furious crash the advancing group slammed into the skeletons before her and bone shards littered the air. The skeletons and the militia quickly became intermixed so Kimeara had to stop her flow of fire balls, least she hit her rescuers. Every militiaman bore a shield and mace with a sword on their belt. Their chain mail armor and steel helmets slowly formed a wall between Kimeara and the skeletons, which still numbered a little over two dozen. The armor they was of such a dark gray color that you'd almost mistake it for black. Even being out numbered their skill and strength in arms slowly drove the undead back.
Kimeara stood there mesmerized by the precision on display until she heard a cry and saw a soldier fall from the line with his arm spraying blood. His fellows immediately stepped closer together to close the hole in the line but none could be spared to tend him.
Kimeara moved quickly to the fallen soldier as he tried to get back to his feet.
"Stay down and let me treat you," she said kneeling next to him and reaching for his arm.
"I gotta get back to the line," the soldier replied trying to pull away from her, his face was starting to pale from blood lose.
"You'll stay right where you are until I tend to your wound," Kimeara said with steel in her voice. "Then you may go rejoin your unit, not before."
With that the soldier sat back down and held his arm out to her. Working quickly she tore off a strip from her under tunic and bound the man's wound. Then reaching for her belt pouch again she pulled out another one of her healing potions, removed the cap and handed it to him.
"Drink this, it'll help stop the bleeding," she said watching as the soldier downed the potion and got back to his feet.
"Thank you Ma'am," he said tilting his head at her.
"Least I can do since you guys saved my life," Kimeara said rising to her feet. She was a little worried as the soldier rejoin the line but she could tell that that battle was almost over. There were less than ten skeletons left and the militia made short work of this without incurring any losses. Finally silence, broken only by the sound of labored breathing, filled the air.
"Check the bodies for any with life left in them and bind your wounds. Thomson I want three scouts to out ranging to make sure there are not more of these bastards lurking about. Hop to it everyone we left to rejoin the main unit in five minutes," a commanding voice rang on in the still air. The owner of the voice was only a little taller than Kimeara and any doubt that this soldier wasn't female was immediately dispelled by the obvious curves in her chain mail. The female officer left her soldiers to their work and walk over to Kimeara.
"Are you the Warlock Kimeara?" The officer asked coming to a halt in front of her.
"Yes, and it's just Kimeara, Captain," Kimeara said.
"It's Lieutenant actually, and well met Kimeara," the Lieutenant said hold out her arm.
"The well met yourself Lieutenant," Kimeara said grasping the lieutenant's forearm in a classic adventures clasp. "Thanks for the save." The Lieutenant hesitated only a second before returning the clasp before they both released each other.
"Just doing my duty Kimeara. Our main group is back with you comrades, they got bogged down with another group of our wonderful friends here," the Lieutenant said gesturing toward the skeleton remains.
"Are they alright," Kimeara asked.
"They're fine," the Lieutenant replied. "There were only about thirty of them in that group so they didn't pose much of a threat other than the delay it would have cost the group in reaching you. Mage Tyon requested that a small unit be sent to re-enforce you until the main unit could catch up and the Captain agreed so my patrol was sent."
"My thanks again. I don't know what I would have done if you guys hadn't shown up. Gorthen was down and I was running out of energy to fight them off," Kimeara said.
"Gorthen?" The Lieutenant asked.
"A Void Lord serving me," Kimeara answered. "He held them off as long as he could but there were just too many of them. Even then he was able to take about half with him before he fell."
"Half?" The Lieutenant said in surprise doing a quick tally of the skeleton bodies in the area. "Well shit if I had known there were close to fifty skeletons attacking you I'd brought more men."
"Good thing you didn't or they would have had nothing to do," Kimeara said laughing lightly at the shock on the lieutenant's face.
"True enough," the Lieutenant answered smiling also. "By the way my name is Cachanne"
"Hell no! Really? You got to be kidding me?" Kimeara said laughing harder.
"What's so funny," Cachanne asked a frown on her face. She didn't like people making fun of her name.
"Just thinking it's a small world Cachanne," Kimeara said gaining control of her laughter. "I have a letter from you brother Waldon in my pack back at camp. You just saved me the trouble of having to find you to deliver it."
At the dramatic reversal of a frown to full blown smile on Cachanne's face, Kimeara burst into laughter again and this time the other woman joined in. When the cleanup was done, Kimeara retrieved her hunting knife and joined Cachanne and the patrol on their way back to camp.
It took Kimeara and company close to half an hour to make it back to the main camp. Kimeara was surprised at how far she had been driven into the woods during the battle. Cachanne had sent word ahead that they had found Kimeara and that they were all headed back to the main camp without any casualties via a communication spell keyed to her Captain. Along the way they had come across the remains of the skeletons Kimeara had destroyed in her flight and only stopped long enough to ensure they were truly dead once again.
Upon walking into the main camp they were greeted by several cheers and greetings from different soldiers. Some of them bore bandages from the recent battle. From the way the soldiers moved you could tell that while some of the injuries might be painful, none to sever. The spirit in the camp was high making smiles and jokes a frequent experience. Along with the jokes and greetings word was passed to Kimeara and Cachanne that they were to report to Captain Deller, leader of the militia, and Mage Tyon. Nodding their assent the two made their way toward the middle of the camp while the patrol with them sought out their fellows.
"Ten to one I get yelled at," Kimeara said softly to Cachanne as they drew closer to where Tyon and Captain Deller waited.
Seeing the look on Tyon's face Cachanne replied with a smile "I'm not taking that bet. The expression on yonder Mage's face is a fight waiting to happen."
Kimeara pretended to pout and let her face slip into a carefree mask as they came to a stop before their seniors. Cachanne immediately stood at attention and saluted her captain, while Kimeara somehow seemed to lounge while standing and exuded a totally relaxed attitude despite her shoulder being bandaged.
"Report Lieutenant," Deller said returning Cachanne's salute.
"We found her close to a mile away being attacked by a little over a score of undead skeletons. Her demon had been defeated but she was holding off the horde with fireballs. We rushed in and formed a barrier between Kimeara and the undead and proceeded to dispatch them. During the fight Connor was seriously injured but Kimeara patched him up and gave him a healing potion. He should be back to normal with a few days of rest; Minor injuries to most other, nothing worth reporting. On the march back we can across about thirty more skeletons, some dead other still with life but unable to fight. We dispatched the ones that were still moving and returned here," Cachanne stated her report with no emotions and sounded like she'd read it from a scroll.
"She took down thirty skeletons on her own?" Deller asked in a tone of utter disbelief.
"Yes Sir, with the help of her demon skill destroyed or incapacitated close to thirty of the fifty or so undead," Cachanne replied with no hint of doubt in her voice.
Deller looked at Kimeara, sizing her up. It was a penetrating look but not vulgar in any way. It was the look any warrior would give another just to see how big of a badass they are. Kimeara met his look with only thinly veiled steel in her eyes. Just to see his reaction she let her power slow just enough to cause amethyst lightening to spark across her eyes.
"Purple hunh," Deller murmured, far from being spooked his only reaction was mild surprise and interest.
"If we're done posturing could we get a move on Captain? I have things I want to do before we leave camp," she said. Since she failed to get a more entertaining reaction from the captain she let her power fade so her eyes returned to normal.
"Indeed." Deller said. "Seems things might be livelier with you around Warlock, try not to get yourself killed."
"Continue to call me "Warlock" Captain and you'll cross to the other side before I do," Kimeara replied with a smile so wicked that even the battle-hardened Captain hesitated.
"Kimeara it is then," Deller agreed. "We'll be headed out shortly, its only about half a day's march from her to Duskwood.
"Thank you Captain," Kimeara said.
"Cachanne!" Deller said in a commanding tone.
"Sir," Cachanne replied while saluting again.
"Mage Tyon and Kimeara will be joining your patrol from this point on, acquaint them with the situation here and or our procedures," the Captain ordered returning her salute before walking off.
The Captain's voice could be heard ringing out over the camp, orders were shouted and different people sprang into action. This was lost on Kimeara and Tyon for as soon as the captain had left they had locked gazes with one another and a silent battle of wills started, each one daring the other to speak first. Tyon's eyes held anger and reproach while Kimeara's eyes held stubborn defiance.
Glancing back and forth between the two Cachanne held up her hands and slowly started to back away. "Perhaps I should give you two a few minutes alone," she said weakly.
"Stay there Lieutenant, you should hear what I have to say to this child," Tyon growled out.
"Stop calling me child, old man," Kimeara growled back.
"I will when you stop acting like a spoiled brat," Tyon snapped at her.
"I've done nothing of the sort you puffed up old goat," Kimeara said, once again lightening skittered across her eyes, but this time it wasn't done on purpose.
"You ran off into the woods in a fit because an argument didn't go your way," Tyon accused.
"I walked to the ward line to get some peace and quiet away from the braying ass that was pestering me" Kimeara fired back. "I stayed inside the wards and did my morning workout to warm up; it is not my fault that we didn't know the undead could bypass out wards without setting them off."
"What do you mean bypass our wards, you crossed them first I felt it," Tyon said.
"I crossed the ward line because the skeletons had circled around behind me. They were between me and the camp or I would have run here instead of into the wood," Kimeara said in a firm tone.
"The undead cannot cross a ward line without triggering it," Tyon insisted.
"Mage Tyon," Cachanne interrupted drawing the mage's gaze to her. "I hate to say this but Kimeara is correct. We lost several patrols before we figured out that ward lines were useless with this new threat. We've gone back to have people stand watch in teams instead."
"How is this possible?" Tyon asked.
"I don't know Sir," Cachanne said. "As I said we didn't figure it out quickly enough and lost several patrols when they made camp trusting in the safety of their wards."
They all were silent as they processed them grim tidings. The anger and fight drained out of both Tyon and Kimeara, much to Cachanne's relief.
"We'll have to rethink our strategies on how to deal with this new development," Tyon said. "Without war lines we'll have to rely on human eyes to guard us while we sleep out of the cities and humans don't have the best eye sight at night."
"We've taken to having the people standing watch stay inside a torch line," Cachanne said. "It will limit the range they can stop trouble to the outer perimeter of the camp but we saw no other alternative."
"Are the undead doing anything else outside the norm?" Kimeara asked.
Looking around Cachanne noticed that the camp was almost ready to move out and they still hadn't gotten Kimeara's wound tended or their horses set with their gear.
"Mage Tyon, Kimeara, the camp is just about ready to head to town. Why don't we end this conversation for now and once we are in town I'll fill you both in on the situation here," Cachanne said.
"Agreed, I'll go get the horses ready and you two meet me there," Tyon said turning to depart.
"I can see to my own horse," Kimeara said still not willing to give an inch to the mage.
"The Mage will see to it Kimeara. I need to take a look at your shoulder before we leave so we had best do that now," Cachanne interceded before another fight could start waving the mage away and guiding Kimeara to the first aid tent which was about to be cleaned out to be struck.
"My shoulder is fine," Kimeara said as stubborn as ever.
"Great then this will only take a minute," Cachanne said stopping Kimeara's argument cold.
"One minute men," Cachanne said to the soldiers about to take down the tent. "I need to look over her shoulder; it should only tack a minute." Cachanne breezed by the soldiers ignoring their protest. The two women walked into the tent and Cachanne pulled the flap shut to give them some privacy.
"Alright take your shit off and lets have a look," Cachanne said opening a chest full of medicinal items.
"I said I was fine," Kimeara grumbled crossing her arms with a wince that Cachanne didn't fail to catch.
"So fine that you can not cross your arms without pain, hmmm?" Cachanne said arching an eyebrow.
"This isn't necessary," Kimeara said.
"Kimeara the Captain put you and Mage Tyon in my patrol which means that I'm not responsible for you and that you will follow my orders. Now you can either remove your shirt to let me look at your wound or I'll call in the soldiers getting an earful outside and have them remove your shirt for you. Either way you're not leaving this tent until I check you over," Cachanne declared in such a firm tone that Kimeara was sure she would make good on her promise.
"Fine you win," Kimeara said sitting on the cot in the tent.
Gently she removed her outer tunic and her shirt. Since the injury was above her chest she left on her linen wrap to give herself some modesty. She didn't really care if her breast were exposed since the only other person in the tent was female. But she had failed to don her gloves this morning and once her tunic was off the scars on her arms were exposed. She was still self-conscious about them, even after all these years. She glanced up and saw Cachanne look at them but the other woman made no comment.
Her patient finally ready Cachanne concentrated on the task at hand. She knelt in front of Kimeara and gently cleaned the wound with a damp cloth. The wound was sealed by a rough scar looking at least a day old if not more. The scar was still soft and she was very careful not to tear it open or the bleeding would start again.
"What caused this?" Cachanne asked.
"I blew the arms off of one of the skeletons at the elbow, unfortunately for me the thing decided to stab me with what was left of its arm," Kimeara answered grimacing a little as the still tender flesh was poked and prodded.
"Did you clean the wound before using the healing potion?" Cachanne asked noticing some discoloration on the right edge of the wound.
"No. I didn't have time in the middle of battle to do so. I was more worried about bleeding out than any infection," Kimeara said noticing a flash of concern on the other woman's face.
"This is probably going to hurt," Cachanne said and before Kimeara could process that statement she sharply poked the upper right side of the scar.
"Ahhh," Kimeara said leaning away from her and grabbing her shoulder. "What the hell did you do that for?"
"You have a piece of bone shard stuck in the wound and since you used a healing potion to seal the wound it's now tapped inside you," Cachanne said. "The little patch of black by your scar is a necro-virus that these undead carry. In most cases a healing potion would stamp the virus out of any wound, but in your case a bone shard carrying the virus is still in you so the virus cannot be stamped out."
"What do we do?" Kimeara said quickly coming to terms with this information.
"We're going to have to cut the bone shard out," Cachanne calmly said. Turning her gaze to the front of the tent she called out to the soldiers outside, "One of you fetch Stella for me and tell the Captain we're going to need a little more time."
Following a quick discussion with his fellows and male voice replied, "Right away Lieutenant." The sound of several of the soldiers outside ran off in different directions to fulfill her orders.
"In my pack I have some potions to increase my stamina. I think I'll need one for this unless you want to carry me out after," Kimeara said.
"Someone also fetch Kimeara's pack," Cachanne shouted to the front of the tent. More footsteps could be heard running away. Turning back to face her patient Cachanne said, "You're going to want to remove the wrap and lie down."
"I want to summon Calthix back before we start," Kimeara said.
"Calthix?" Cachanne asked.
"My imp," Kimeara said.
"Why? That will just put more strain on you," Cachanne said.
"That's my choice. I might pass out and Calthix knows what I'd want done and not done to me while I'm out," Kimeara said. "Either I summon him or we don't do this."
"Fine, but be quick about it," Cachanne said giving in.
Kimeara got off the cot and gently knelt on the ground. Pulling her hunting knife she deftly drew a summoning circle in the dirt. Concentrating she light the circle with purple fire and called out, "Calthix come to me my friend."
The light in the circle started to pulse brighter and brighter.
"Are you alright in there Lieutenant?" A voice called from outside.
"Everything is fine, stay where you are," Cachanne called back.
In once last pulse of light the flames spurted higher and Calthix appeared in the middle of them. He didn't waste any time looking around but flew right into Kimeara's arms where she embraced him tightly.
"Are you alright Little Mistress," he croaked out, he had clearly been worried about her.
"I'm fine Calthix," Kimeara said gently. "Sorry for worrying you and for snapping at you earlier."
"I know Little Mistress," Calthix said. Sniffing sounds could be heard and suddenly Calthix perked up and said, "You have infection inside of you Little Mistress."
"I know Calthix. That why I summoned you. This is Cachanne," Kimeara said indicating the other woman with a nod. "She leads the patrol that saved me and is going to cut the chard of bone out of my shoulder that is causing the infection."
"Cachanne? Isn't that the one you have the letter for?" Calthix asked.
"Yes," Kimeara said.
Leaving his mistresses arms Calthix flew into the air and hovered before Cachanne's face at a comfortable distance.
"Thank you for taking care of my Mistress," Calthix said.
"You're welcome," Cachanne said.
"When are you going to remove the shard?" Calthix asked.
"As soon as another of my patrol gets here," Cachanne said. She then added quickly seeing Calthix's gaze darken, "Don't worry it's another woman, you Mistresses honor is safe."
"Thank you. I'll just observe," Calthix said and flew to sit on the edge of the cot.
"Kimeara if you could remove your wrap now and lie down," Cachanne said turning back to her patient.
"Sure thing doc," Kimeara said flippantly as she started to unwind her wrap.
"Are you the company healer?" Calthix asked.
"No," Cachanne replied. "With the increase in undead attacks there are not enough healers to send out on every patrol. Plus the ones we do have are already overwhelmed with caring for the injured in town, so a few people in every patrol were given a crash course in healing. It's not extensive enough to treat all cases but in most situations we do alright and in the most severe cases we might be able to patch them up enough to make it back to town."
"I trust this is not a severe case?" Calthix asked.
"No, "Cachanne confidently reply. "Once the shard is removed and a bandage applied then one of her healing potions should stamp out any remains of the infection."
Finished with removing her wrap Kimeara lay down on the cot. It was strange with how she felt more vulnerable laying down with her chest uncovered than standing up. In an attempted to calm herself down she closed her eyes and ran through her breathing exercises.
Seeing the discomfort that Kimeara was in both Calthix and Cachanne moved to alieve it. The imp hopped forward along the cot until her could put one of his clawed hands into her right hand. At the same time Cachanne took a large linen bandage from the chest by the bed and draped it over Kimeara's chest. Feeling both the cloth and the hand of support Kimeara was able to relax her breathing and reopen her eyes.
"Thank you both," she said.
Before either could reply a large commotion arose outside and several raised voices were heard.
"Out of my way," Tyon said.
"Sir you cannot go in there," a new female voice replied.
"I'm under the King's orders to ensure her safety damn it now move," Tyon ordered again.
"King's order or no you will not set foot in that tent Sir!" The female voice said again. "I will help tend to her and when she is well you may come in."
Cachanne and Kimeara could see the silhouettes of two individuals on the other side of the tent flap.
"Mage you coming in here and I'll set your beard aflame….Tyon! Mage or no I'll knock you out if you enter…For crying out loud stay outside and let that woman come in, you old goat." Calthix, Cachanne and Kimeara all shouted at the same time. Many male voices burst into laughter at this. It looks like they had drawn something of a crowd with all the shouting.
"Child we've been over this. I've seen it before and I have your pack," Tyon said.
"I was unconscious at the time and didn't have a choice in the matter mage, give the pack to the woman with you and wait outside," Kimeara shouted. "Unless you want to tell the King that I died because you we're being unreasonable."
"Fine," Tyon said and they watched his silhouette shove something into the woman next to him before he turned and departed to much laughter from outside.
Once the commotion had died down a little a young woman, more of a girl really since she couldn't have been older than seventeen walked into the tent carrying Kimeara's pack.
"Gesh, I thought he'd never leave," she said her voice light and carefree.
"He's a stubborn one," Kimeara said accepting her pack. She wasted no time in taking a stamina potion our and downing it in one go.
"You hit that like you're coming off the wagon and it's a bottle of the good stuff," the girl said.
"Taste horrible so best to get it over with quickly," Kimeara said making a face as the extremely sour taste.
"I'm Stella by the way," the girl said offering her hand.
"Kimeara and thanks for helping," Kimeara said clasping arms with the girl. "No offense but aren't you a little young to be in the militia?"
"I'm not really in the militia per say," Stella said evasively.
"She works as my aide and will officially join the militia next years when she turns eighteen," Cachanne stated.
"Yeah that's right," Stella said smiling impishly.
"Let's get this over with," Kimeara said lying back down on the cot, she wanted to get this done before the potion wore out.
"OK. Stella grab the foot of the cot and let's move it from the wall so you can get on her right side," Cachanne said. Before Kimeara could even offer to get up the two women lifted the cot and moved it about a foot to the left before setting it down again.
"Now I'm going to have to cut open the wound to be able to get the bone out," Cachanne said before giving everyone their marching orders. "Calthix I need you to move up by her head and try to keep her calm while we work. Stella I need you to help hold her down and once the incision is made I need you to help hold the wound open. Kimeara this is going to hurt a lot but I need you to remain as still as possible, can you do that?"
"Yes. I'm going to try to put myself in a trance to help you. Calthix let them know when to begin," Kimeara said.
"Yes Little Mistress," Calthix replied.
"Bite down on this," Cachanne said holding out a roll of thin leather.
Kimeara took the leather and set it between her teeth. Then she closed her eyes and once again tried to fall into her breathing. She tried to let her mind go blank but the sounds of Cachanne getting things ready distracted her and kept her from focusing.
"Concentrate on my voice Little Mistress," Calthix said and she did. "Do you remember the summer we spent on that costal trader? The smell of the sea air and the sway of the ship as she sailed across the sea? How about that short little man that tried to get you to go on a date with him? What was his name? Bobson, Tobson, Fobson no those aren't right…Dobson that's it. That horrible mole he had right on the end of his nose? I so wanted to just fly by invisible and slice it right off."
Calthix kept talking about their past adventure and she found herself being drawn into his voice. He'd always been a great storyteller and she had spent many hours around the campfire listening to him. It was one of her favorite things. Sometimes he'd tell her stories of old masters and mistresses he used to serve and sometimes he'd recount their own adventures. He would always and in some twist or lesson depending on her mood and she especially enjoyed them when he'd turn them into a comedy when she was felling down.
Kimeara was soon so relaxed that she didn't even register the pressure on her shoulders when Cachanne and Stella held her down to start the incision. The cut itself wasn't that bad though it did burn; but when people start pulling cut flesh in two directions as once, it doesn't matter how good a storyteller you are, it hurt. Kimeara bit down hard on the leather tears leaking from her eyes. She wanted to pull away or blast them with her powers, anything to end the pain.
"Easy Little Mistress," Calthix soothed her while brushing his hand along her head. "Stay calm, they are only trying to help you. You don't want to hurt them, they are nice women. No don't look at them look at me!"
Lightening had once again started to spark from her eyes as she swung her gaze back up to Calthix. She could feel their fingers digging around for the bone and each little movement felt like a hot brand being scraped through her insides. She fought her body's instinctual fight or flight response and concentrated on remaining still. She growled and cursed into the leather but no other part of her body, except her head, moved an inch in any direction.
"That's right Little Mistress. Fight it, master your body and stay in control. Let the magic go, letting to trickle down into nothing," Calthix continued to coach her until the lightening left her eyes. "Yes, Little Mistress, good just like that."
"Got it," Cachanne said and Kimeara felt something plucked from inside of her. "I'll pour a few drops of healing potion into the wound to kill the infection before sewing you up."
Kimeara nodded her assent while panting heavily around the leather.
"No not that one, that's a strength potion, if you give that to her you will never be able to hold her down. Us the one with the red cork," Calthix said.
Grabbing the correct potion Cachanne carefully pours four drops into the wound and watched as the potion destroyed the infection. When Kimeara's flesh lost the black tint she quickly stitched the wound closed and covered it with a bandage.
"All done," Cachanne said and she and Stella stood up to give Kimeara room.
Kimeara sat up and spat out the now slightly sodden leather and grabbed the open healing potion from where it sat on the floor. She downed the contents in one pull then grabbed a flask out of her pack and uncorked it. The smell of strong mead filled the air and she took a long pull from it. Choking the strong liquor down Kimeara offered the flask to the other women who were staring at her in shock.
"Gods above that hurt like hell so don't stare at me for having a stiff drink after," she said loudly.
Laughter and groans bust out from all around the outside of the tent as Cachanne took the flask and had a small pull before handing it to Stella. Stella took an even smaller pull from the flask before corking it and putting it back in Kimeara's pack.
"Oye, what's with the groans? I get the laughter but groans I don't understand. Someone hoping I kicked the bucket?" Kimeara said loudly and more laughter sounded from outside.
"No Ma'am," a young male voice said from outside. "The groans were from the people who lost."
"Lost what?" Kimeara asked even though she was sure she knew the answer.
"The bet Ma'am," the voice replied.
"What was the bet?" Kimeara asked sighing, soldiers were the same wherever you went, they'd bet on anything and anytime.
"If you'd pass out or not," the voice replied with barely restrained laughter.
"Who ever won owes me a round when we get back to town," Kimeara said loudly so everyone could hear. This time the laughter was greater and only a couple of groans could be heard. One groan in particular sounded familiar.
"Tyon you bastard that's why you wanted inside the tent, isn't it?" Kimeara said outraged and this time everyone, including herself laughed. "You owe me two drinks Mage."
"By the way Cachanne, here's the letter from your brother," Kimeara said reaching into her pack and extracting the letter. The task complete Kimeara set about getting dressed again.
"Thank you for bring it all this way," Cachanne said clutching the letter to her chest.
"No thanks needed. Your brother was honest with me and gave me good information about the palace and some good stories to pass the time, this was merely repaying the debt," Kimeara said.
"Is that the only reason you carried it?" Cachanne asked her tone a little stiffer than before
"Your brother is a good man Cachanne and he did me what I considered a favor. That's not something I view lightly so yes that is why I did it. If you're asking if I would have brought the letter without the debt then then answer is probably no," Kimeara said fully clothed once again.
"Is that how you view your interactions with people, as checks and balances," Stella said softly from the side.
Working her shoulder around to stretch out the muscle Kimeara picked up and shouldered her pack being careful not to jostle her injury too hard. She considered the question from the young girl.
"Yes, for the most part that is how I view things," Kimeara said turning to face Stella and Cachanne.
Stella had a slightly crushed look on her face and Cachanne look if anything a little disappointed.
"Then that banter just now with the soldiers and the drink, was that just balancing out the books?" Cachanne asked.
"The banter is something that soldiers expect and are used to so I banter with them. If they see me as one of them then I might be able to count on them to have my back when we're out on a mission," Kimeara said not understanding why the other two women were upset.
"And the drink," Cachanne asked in a soft voice.
"We'd all just been through an ordeal that took a toll on all of us in some way, the drink was to help ease that toll," Kimeara said truly perplexed at Cachanne's obvious hurt feelings.
"Do you always look at the world and the people you interact with in such a way?" Cachanne asked in a tone that hinted at anger.
"Of course," Kimeara replied.
"Don't you understand how that makes other people feel or what it means to them to be looked at in such a way?" Cachanne said clearly angry now.
"No, she doesn't," said Tyon who walked in through the flaps on the tent. He looked over the three women there. Kimeara who clearly didn't see why everyone was so upset, Stella who now looked completely and utterly crushed and Cachanne who looked so furious that you could tell Kimeara's words had hurt her deeply.
"What do you want Mage?" Kimeara asked.
"Little Mistress, now is the time to listen," Calthix said landing on her shoulder.
"I'm here to help you child," Tyon answered. "You've deeply hurt people who could be your friends and don't even understand how or why you hurt them."
"I've done nothing wrong," Kimeara said defensively. She couldn't argue that she had hurt Cachanne and Stella and the mage was right she didn't know why they were hurt.
"It's not entirely your fault child," Tyon. "The life you've lived has forced you to look at the world a certain way. It's not an evil view of the world but neither is it a kind one."
"I answered their questions truthfully, why would that be upsetting?" Kimeara asked.
"It's not that you told the truth child but what your truth is that is upsetting to them," Tyon said indicating Cachanne and Stella with a wave of his hand.
"You're speaking in riddles old man," Kimeara said not understanding the mage.
"How could anyone be so dense?" Cachanne exclaimed.
"As I said it's not entirely her fault and you'd have to know more of her life to understand why the way she is," Tyon answered Cachanne while looking at Kimeara with a question in his eyes.
Kimeara knew what that look meant, he wanted her permission to talk about her past. She knew he wouldn't say anything unless she gave the OK, but she was tired of talking about things better left unspoken. Cachanne and Stella looked between the two waiting for Kimeara's reply. She did like them and she did feel bad that somehow their feelings got her, but way was all this her fault?
"Tell them if you want Mage but I will not stay to listen," Kimeara said turning and walking to the tent flap, before pausing at the exit and looking back over her shoulder at the three of them. "Tell them only the essentials Mage, nothing more. I'll meet you at the horse line" After that Kimeara left the tent with Calthix still on her shoulder.
"Gods she's a stubborn woman," Tyon said softly to himself.
"How long have you known her?" Cachanne asked.
"Just under two weeks," Tyon replied.
"Two week? That's all?" Cachanne said. "I thought it would be longer given how you two argue."
"What can I say? We get along about as well as fire and water," Tyon answered smiling slightly.
"So from your experience this behavior is normal for her?" Stella asked in a soft voice. She was a bright and open girl and had instantly taken a liking to Kimeara and the old woman's attitude had hurt her deeply.
"Yes please explain this Mage Tyon," Cachanne said. "Her bearing and manner after the battle and for most of the time in the tent seemed completely different to me form the cold manner she confessed to viewing the world in. If I didn't know better I would have said I was talking to two completely different people."
"In some aspects you're not far off the mark Lieutenant," Tyon said. "In many ways you could said that that woman is the world's best actress, in a way she is always on stage and is probably only her true self when she is alone with Calthix."
"What do you mean?" Cachanne asked.
"She has been on the run for most of her life and has learned how to interact with people in a manner similar to their own so that she can blend in with the crowd. If you were to ask the soldiers about her a week from now they might be able to give a vague description of her but the only thing they could say about her bearing was that she was tough and had a soldiers sense of humor. It's nothing that could be used to readily identify her from anyone else in a crowd. She is kind of like a human mocking bird in that she mimics the behavior and actions of those around her," Tyon said.
"Is she a fugitive?" Cachanne asked her expression darkening.
"No, no, nothing like that," Tyon said.
"Then why has she been running?" Cachanne asked not yet believing the mage.
"It's not really my story to tell but, since I doubt she would be willing to open up anytime soon, I'll give you a few basic facts," he said. "When she was five she first summoned Calthix as her imp. It is almost unheard of for a Warlock to summon a demon before puberty but she is an exception. For reasons unknown someone wanted to kill her and when he got wind of this her father took her and ran."
"Where was her mother?" Stella asked interrupting Tyon.
"Her mother had died giving birth to her," he answered before continuing on with his story. "After many years on the run with her father they settled down in a small village thinking they were safe. They were there for a few years and during that time she grew up as most little girls do, having friends and playing with other children. Her and her father hid her magic but she kept practicing and Calthix was a near constant companion."
"I'm sensing a "But" coming soon," Cachanne said.
"Indeed you are right," Tyon said. "When she was twelve someone witnessed her summoning magic and word got back to a visiting holy man, who incidentally was the same man who had been hunting her since she was five. When word of her reached him he incited the town's people against her and convinced them that they needed to burn her at the stake."
"That's horrible," Stella exclaimed covering her mouth with her hands with tears in her eyes.
"It was," Tyon said solemnly. "The inn was attacked and her father was slain in front of her by the very people they had once named friend. She lived only because of Calthix's magic and her own. She was able to escape the inn, which had been set on fire, but severely burned her hands and arms in her flight. She also killed her first man that day to prevent him from raping and killing her."
At this point Stella had started crying softly so Cachanne pulled the young girl close and held her while she cried.
"That would go a long way to explaining they was she is," Cachanne said softly.
"It does," Tyon said. "After fleeing the inn Calthix taught her how to survive in the wild and how to stay hidden from her enemies. She's always had to be on her guard and never stayed in one place for long. I know from what I've been able to find out that she's been all over this continent and has even traveled across the sea to explore the lands there. From time to time the people that want her dead would get word of her and they would send people to capture her so that the leader could killer her."
"Who is it that hunts her?" Cachanne asked.
"That is not for me to say," Tyon said. "She is now aware of whom her enemies are and, I think, she is making plans of her own to confront them."
"Then why won't you tell us? We could help," Stella said.
"That is something she must do child," Tyon answered. "She will probably need the help of many but until she can learn to trust again she'll never ask."
"Why does she trust you?" Cachanne asked.
"She doesn't," he replied.
"Why not?" She asked.
Tyon grimaced at the expected question but decided it would be unfair to spill the beans on Kimeara's life and not talk about how he came to know her. Quickly and briefly he told the two of her rescue of the Prince and the events that led up to her being with the relief force. Many emotions flashed across the faces of the two women as he told his story; everything from anger to outrage to loathing at Kimeara's capture and treatment and then finally understanding of someone who'd led a life more difficult than anything they had experienced.
"So now you know," Tyon said as he finished.
"I now understand her anger towards you," Stella said.
"Is she only driven by revenge?" Cachanne asked worried.
"I don't know," Tyon replied. "I feel that this revenge is something new to her. In a way she was reborn that day in the throne room. She still has all her memories and experiences, but it's like she was still the scared little girl until that point and now she a formidable, pissed off, woman."
"Is she a danger?" Cachanne asked. She'd seen all consuming rage in others before and it never bode well for those around them.
"I don't think so, at least not to us and any innocents," Tyon said. "To those she deems her enemies and possibly herself, yes."
"What can we do?" Stella asked of both Tyon and Cachanne.
"Help teach her to trust and what it means to fully trust others. In the information I was able to uncover on her, rumors and half-truths for the most part, she is always spoken of being kind to those who are kind and absolutely ruthless with those who are evil or that do bad things," he replied. "She seems to react to the world in absolutes with little consideration of those actions that fall in-between."
"This is going to make our mission to stamp out the undead even harder if we cannot predict how she will behave," Cachanne.
"Only a little, as I said she'll most likely mimic those around her so she'll probably act as a soldier would act in the field," Tyon said.
"But you're not sure, are you. She is used to acting on her own, not as part of a unit, and that could turn into a really bad situation out in the field," Cachanne said.
"One of the things that we must show her is how to act as part of a greater whole, how a team working together can be stronger and more productive than separate individuals working by themselves," Tyon said.
"You said in your story that her full powers were just starting to emerge," Cachanne said.
"Yes," he said waiting for her to ask the question he knew was coming.
"Just how powerful will she become?" Cachanne asked.
"Only time will tell for sure, but I predict that she will quite probably become the most powerful Warlock in the kingdom, if not beyond," Tyon replied.
"All that power in someone who views her fellow man so coldly?" Cachanne said with a little trepidation in her voice.
"She is not evil Lieutenant," Tyon said sharply. "She's just not trusting and probably fears what we might do to her more than we should fear what she might do to us. I've never once heard of her using her magic to murder or against the innocent and her current magic is more than plenty to cause much destruction and strife. If she was truly that cold she would have never risked exposure saving or any of a dozen other rumored instances where she helped some."
"My apologies Mage Tyon," Cachanne said bowing her head to the mage. "That was an unkind statement but I would be lying if I didn't say I was worried."
The three of them were silent for a little bit as the all processed the situation. They were all worried about Kimeara and what they future would hold for them and for her. This wasn't something that could be beat down with physical strength, nor was it something they could run from. It would be a struggle to break through the barriers she had around herself to teach her what is meant to have friends and allies.
Footsteps came from outside the tent and a voice called out, "Can we put up the tent now? The Captain said we're leaving in just a few minutes.
Nodding to each other the three left the tent to the couple of soldiers assigned to pack it up. Slowly they walked to the horse line where their mounts waited. Looking around they saw that almost the whole camp was already packed up and ready to go. Apparently they were all waiting for them so the trio quickened their pace but stayed just shy of running.