Ch. 21

To The Rescue

The following takes place between 5 a.m. and 12 p.m.,
on the day of the Execution of Spearmarshal Kormir:

The sun had not yet risen when a band of legendary brigands stole through the quiet market of Yohlon Haven. The sky had only just begun to pale with the coming of dawn, and a few industrious merchants were already up and about, organizing their merchandise for the day's work. Still, no eyes were laid upon the stealthy group that made its way across the outpost and towards the inns on the far side of town. The red stone pueblo buildings began to reflect the morning hues, as a sliver of sunlight peaked over the horizon to touch the roofs of the sandstone structures. The party reached the door of the Dejar Inn, and quickly pushed their way inside, away from any prying eyes.

The tavern was empty, save for a single drunk at the bar who was lamenting his hangover even as he ordered another tankard of ale. The woman tending the bar denied him, and instead handed him a vile looking mixture of juices and demanded that he drink. As the man inspected the glass, the bar-tender looked up and a broad smile crossed her face.

"Well, well," she smiled happily as she wiped her hands on her apron, "If it isn't my heroes. Welcome, welcome! Anything you want is on the house!"

"Good to see you too Ailonseh," Rakiv chuckled as she stepped down to the tavern floor, "It looks like you're doing well."

"Oh much better, yes," the younger woman responded, "Captivity really isn't that hard to get over, once you've taken a month or so to recover."

"So I can see," the ranger said, taking a stool at the bar, "I also see your father left the inn in your hands."

"Daddy said it was time I took up a respectable profession," Ailonseh claimed as she crossed her arms and imitated her father's ever gruff expression, "And that perhaps if I wasn't always off doing good, I wouldn't be in the position to be kidnapped by ungrateful ruffians."

At this Koss burst out laughing as he too took a seat at the bar. The rest of the party gathered around and grabbed their own stools, content to wait for their contact.

"Sounds just like dad," Koss shook his head, "He said something similar when I ran off to join the Sunspears."

"Oh I know," Ailonseh smiled at him, "That's why I blamed you for setting a bad example for me."

"Ah, great," Koss sighed, "One more thing for him to be mad at me about. Thanks Ai."

"You're welcome big brother," she snickered in response.

"Well at any rate," Rakiv chuckled at the siblings' exchange, "We're here to meet somebody. What'd you say his name was Marg?"

"Simon," Margrid spoke up, "They call him Unlucky. Never once won a bet or a gamble, poor sod."

"Aye, but I dun survived a hell of a lot more than most saltdogs," the drunk at the end of the bar drawled, "So mah luck cain't be all bad."

"Melandru's mercy… that you Simon?" Margrid blinked at the drunken man, "Yew look worse n' a seasick crocodile on Wintersday."

From the floor, Butter gave a short series of croaks, which caused Rakiv to laugh in response. When she took notice of her companions' puzzled looks, the ranger merely waved them off.

"Oh it's nothin', just an old story is all," Rakiv chuckled, "Butter and I had to do some sailing, around Wintersday last year. Long story short, you never want to see a crocodile vomit… or smell it for that matter."

As collective groans of disgust rose from the group Butter gave an indignant thump of his tail, but said nothing else.

"Yeah well 'tis me alright," Simon snorted, "An' I still be waitin' on me ale!" he snapped.

"You'll get no more from me you lush!" Ailonseh retorted, flinging a soggy dishrag at him, "Drink that and sober up! I'll not have you puking all over my bar!"

"I'll puke wherever I damn well please…" he slurred, reeling on his stool, "An' there's not a damn thing you cin do 'bout it."

"Simon, I need what we talked 'bout," Margrid snapped at him, "Have you got it or not?"

"Got wha…?" the drunk pirate asked.

"The maps, yew swamp brained cutthroat!" Margrid cried, "Have you got the blinkin' maps!"

"Oh… oh those maps?" Simon asked, blinking curiously at Margrid, "I ain' givin' 'em ta yew sweet cheeks. Them maps only goes ta my good ole cap'n… Marigold the Fly!"

"It's Margrid!" the corsair ranger shouted, "And that's me! Simon I ain' got time fer yer shenanigans!"

"Well… well I ain' got time fer yer shenanigans!" he snapped at her, and then grinned lecherously, "All though… I might 'ave time fer a tumble pretty lady… if'n yer h'interested."

"Oh good grief," Rakiv sighed as she pushed out her stool and stood up, "Look Simon, we need that map and we need it now. What's it going to take for you to give it to us?"

"W-whoooa… whoa now… slow down red," he chuckled as he licked his lips, looking her up and down, "Yew can join in too. There's plenny o' Simon ta go 'round."

"Ugh…" Rakiv sighed, pinching her nosebridge in frustration.

"Balthazar's blade… sis, how much did you give him to drink?" Koss asked.

"He kept paying," Ailonseh shrugged, "So I kept serving. I didn't realize how many he'd had until the last group left for the night. I tried to cut him off and make him drink that concoction there, but he won't have any of it."

"Will it sober him up enough to tell us where the map is?" Rakiv asked.

"It should," Ailonseh nodded, "It's daddy's special mix. It'll singe the hair off your chest, but it'll bring him back pretty quickly."

"Alright then. Koss, Dunkoro," Rakiv ordered, "Hold him."

Both men rose from the bar and moved to the pirate who teetered precariously on his seat. Upon seeing them approach, Simon wrinkled his nose with distaste and waved them away.

"Whadda yew two want huh?" he demanded, "I don' get down like that. Blokes ain't my taste… 'specially not old ones," he snorted at Dunkoro.

"Trust me rapscallion," Dunkoro responded icily, "If I were so inclined, I could do a lot better than you."

"Now what makes ya say that? Ole Simon's a good catch ya know," the pirate said, his brow furrowing with mild offense, "And besides… h-hey, whaddaya think yer doin'? Getcher 'ands offa me!"

The warrior and monk gripped the drunk pirate by either arm and twisted his limbs behind his back. Koss caught a handful of the man's hair and yanked his head back, keeping a firm grip on the struggling pirate.

"Lemme go! Lemme go yew land lubbin' clod-kickers!" Simon cried in protest, "I ain' that kind o' pirate!"

"Hold him still," Rakiv said as she snatched the glass from the bar, "Margird get his nose."

The corsair ranger reached over the pirate and clamped his nostrils shut between two fingers, and held his proboscis fast despite Simon's attempts to shake free of her grasp.

"Alright Simon," Rakiv said as she raised the glass to his lips, "Chug."

The ranger tilted the glass and began to pour the thick, reddish, murky liquid into Simon's mouth. The pirate spluttered and spat in an attempt to keep the foul tasting combination out of his mouth, but soon failed at this and was forced to drink quickly in order to breath. After each gasp, Rakiv poured yet more of the concoction out of the tall glass down Simon's throat, and the pirate coughed and gasped several swears between each mouthful. Finally the glass was empty and Rakiv handed it back Ailonseh. Koss and Dunkoro released Simon, who pulled away from them and flailed about as he spluttered and spat.

"Ack! Flgaah!" he exclaimed, "Aagh you foul, poisioning wench! You've killed me you have! I'll be in me grave afore sundown, 'at's fer true!"

"Oh quit yer whinin' yew mealy-mouthed sealpup!" Margrid demanded as she slapped him across the face, "Sober up already! C'mon!"

The corsair set to swatting Simon back and forth across the face, even as the man flailed and reeled in an attempt to escape her. Finally he gained enough composure to fend off her blows and cry out in protest.

"Enough! Enough!" he shouted, "Ye'll swat me bloomin' cheeks off ye will!"

"Recognize me yet Simon?" Margrid demanded.

"Ain' nobody as could ferget a backhand like yers Cap'n," he grumbled, rubbing at his bruised face, "Any body ever tell yew ya ain't the least bit ladylike?"

"Me da' said it all the time, claimed I got it from me mum," Margrid snapped, "Now where's me maps?"

"Maps?" Simon blinked, before Margrid's withering glare cleared his memory, "Oh! The maps! Yew was wantin' layouts o' the Gandara fortress fer yer heist thingy."

"Yes Simon, those maps," the corsair ranger sighed, "Have ya got 'em or not?"

"Yes!" he nodded earnestly, and then shook his head despairingly, "An' no."

"Well which is it!" she exclaimed.

"'Tis both!" he replied, "Cause I only gots one of 'em."

The pirate dug into his dirty coat and withdrew a weathered roll of parchment, which he handed to Margrid. The corsair ranger unrolled it and frowned as she looked up at him.

"Well where's the other one then?" she demanded.

"Well, ya see… I kinda got mugged," Simon said, "Guess is to be expected, given my luck n' all."

"How did you get mugged Simon?" Margrid sighed, pushing back her braids with barely contained frustration, "Yer a pirate. Most o' these dirt walkers are scared at the very sight o' yew!"

"And the smell," Alendra put in, wrinkling her nose with disgust.

"Cause it weren't by a land lubber!" he cried, "It were Lem! He bullied me he did! Said he'd do all manner o' unseemly thing to me if'n I didn't give 'im the map!"

"So you just handed it over!" Margrid asked, "Where was your sword? Surely you had a knife or something! Ya coulda fought, yew yella-bellied sea cow! Not just given over my map!"

"Well I'd gotten mugged the day before, see," he grinned sheepishly, "And them ruffians took me sword, cause it were purty n' worth a shiny penny."

"Yeesh," Nerashi chuckled from the bar, "I see why they call you Unlucky."

"Sad but true missy," Simon nodded sorrowfully, "Sad but true."

"Uuugh!" Margrid shouted, throwing up her hands and turning away from him.

"What do we even need two maps for?" Rakiv asked curiously, "A map of Gandara is a map of Gandara."

"Cept this here ain't a map of Gandara," Margrid sighed as she unrolled it and showed it to Rakiv, "This is the map of Bokoss Prison. We wouldn't be able ta find yer Spearmarshal's or me mate's cells with out it. The map Lem took were the Gandara map, which showed the way ta the vault we'll be thievin' from. Without that map, this whole heist is a bust!"

Rakiv nodded slowly with understanding, and scratched her chin curiously. Margrid gave a defeated sigh as she slowly rolled the map and shook her head. Rakiv continued to contemplate their position, and then gave a small shrug and reached forward.

"Well, it's been great doing business with you Margrid," she said with a nod, "Now if you don't mind, I'll just take that and be on my way. Best of luck with your shiny crown thingy."

Rakiv swiped at the map, but Margrid just managed to pull it out of reach in time. The red-headed ranger lunged for it again, and Margrid nimbly sprang away. With a sudden cry Rakiv tackled the other woman, and both crashed to the ground amidst chairs and tables. The party quickly made room as Margrid and Rakiv struggled for the map, squealing and shouting at each other as they fought. Uncomfortable looks passed through the party, as they tried to decide whether or not to break them up.

"Give me… the map!" Rakiv shrieked, as she strained for the parchment that Margrid held just out of reach.

"Never!" the other ranger shouted back, pushing against Rakiv's face to hold her at bay.

"Alright!" Simon shouted joyfully as he applauded, "Cat fight! My money's on Cap'n the Sly!"

"I wouldn't rule Rakiv out," Koss chuckled, "She's way beyond feisty."

"Oh yeah?" Simon snorted, "I gots five hun'red gees what says otherwise!"

"With your luck, I'll take that bet," Rojis said immediately as he reached over to shake Simon's hand.

"You got a…" Simon began, before his face contorted.

A loud, audible growl came from the pirate's midsection, and his cheeks bulged slightly as his eyes began to water. Rojis' eyes widened and he quickly hopped away in surprise.

"Watch out, he's about to…" the elementalist warned.

Ailonseh was between them in a trice, wielding a large wooden bucket in her right hand. The petite bartender caught Simon by his hair and kicked his foot to knock him off balance. As the pirate went down, Ailonseh forced his head into the bucket, and held him fast as Simon gave a disgusting heave and fairly roared into the container.

"Rrrlllguuuuuuh!"

Rakiv and Margrid's fight ended as they quickly backed as far away from the pirate as they could. Sighs and groans of displeasure filled the room as the pirate regurgitated most of the alcohol he'd consumed over the last two hours. Ailsonseh scrunched her nose, but did not release him as he gave repeated heaves and his stomach continued to pump out its contents. Rakiv sighed, deciding to ignore the disgusting spectacle and turned back to Margrid.

"I need that map Margrid!" she demanded.

"An' I need it too!" she snapped, "But I also need the other one. This here's whatcha call a joint h'operation! We get the diadem and we get the prisoners, or we dun get nothin'. In short, No me, no Kormir!"

"You really sure you want to put yourself in that position?" Rakiv growled.

"I'm not bein' unreasonable!" Margrid protested, "We'll still get yer Spearmarshal and all'll be well! We just gotta track down Lem, get the other map and head fer the fortress! It'll take an hour… two hours tops!"

"We don't even know where this 'Lem' is!" Rakiv cried.

"Well he cain't have gotten far," Margrid explained, "Lem's got a club foot, kinda shambles when he walks n' tends ta jostle back n' forth when he's standin' about. 'Tis why we took ta callin' him Shifty Lem, cause he be shiftin' about."

"Fine, which way did he go then?" Rakiv sighed.

"That way…" Simon said from the bucket that Ailonseh still held his head in, "He went that way…"

Rakiv looked in the direction he pointed and arched a brow.

"He went towards the fortress?" she asked skeptically.

"He's plannin' ta make use o' the map fer hisself," Simon's muffled voice explained, "Gonna get ta the treasure afore you can cap'n."

"Of all the backstabbin'…" Margrid grumbled, "Ya know, used to be an honorable life, this piratin' business."

"Uh huh," Rakiv sighed and shook her head, "Fine, then let's move out. Sooner we catch this bastard, the sooner we can get into Bokoss."

"Thanks for everything Ailonseh," Alendra said to the bartender.

"Anytime," the girl smiled as she looked up at them, "DV is always welcome at the Dejar Inn!"

With that the party made for the door, leaving the tavern and its two occupants behind. After spluttering into the bucket again, Simon tapped the floor to signal his defeat.

"Alright… you can let me up now," he said from inside the bucket.

"Not a chance, you lout!" Ailonseh responded, "I'll not have a drop of your bile on my floors! Now keep your face in that bucket and get out! And don't let me catch you in here again!"

Effectively cowed by the angry innkeeper, Simon did as he was commanded, and quickly followed the guild as they made their way out of the Dejar Inn.

The last time the guildsmen had seen the southern coast near Gandara, it had been in the middle of a storm, in the dead of night while explosive shells fell down about them. In the early morning light, the beach was actually quite beautiful. Red sand gave way to pristine white as foam crested waves lapped at the shore. Whatever craters had been made from the bombardment that all of them remembered, had been washed away by time and wind and rain. Though the memory remained terribly vivid, the land itself had erased all evidence of that dark night of defeat.

As they headed out across the ruddy dunes, Margrid led the way, following a trail of bootprints left by a man who was obviously favoring his right foot. The trail led them north and east, taking them straight towards the Elon River Delta. The Delta was a lush area that was well populated by a number of Heket tribes and indigenous skale. These creatures tended to stick to the shallows, in order to avoid the human patrols that frequently marched across the island beaches. Margrid led them into one of the rocky passes that led to the bridges between the delta islands, and abruptly raised one fist to call them to a halt.

"Target sighted," she reported quietly, her eyes narrowing as she stared into the distance.

Rakiv too peered out across river's stream and caught sight of a rather peculiar situation. A pair of corsairs had been arrested on their knees and were surrounded by a group of very unpleasant looking Kournan soldiers. The soldiers appeared to be questioning them, though at their distance the words could not be heard over the river's flow. Margrid peered carefully at the group, and then gave a nod of satisfaction.

"They've got Shifty Lem," she reported, "And I think the other be another one of me old crewmates… Jack o' Truths."

"You Red-wings are all over the place, huh?" Rakiv remarked.

"Yeah well…" Margrid nodded, "That's what happens when ya refuse the Warmarshal's bribe. C'mon, we best get down there afore they decide to kill 'em."

"Better idea," Rakiv said, as she popped the cover off of her hip quiver, "Koss, Alendra, get down to those rocks and sneak up on them. Be ready to move in on my mark. Dunkoro, Rojis, Lonai, move into the water and give them support. Margrid, Nerashi pick targets and wait for my signal. Move."

The party split and moved to do as bidden, quickly taking up positions in the river and amongst the rocks. Koss and Alendra carefully tip-toed their way across the island shore, moving behind the jagged boulders until they were close enough to listen to the soldiers' conversation. Alendra quickly flipped on her guild emblem and held it up to broadcast the conversation.

"… honest we are!" one of the pirates was saying, "Jus' makin' our way up ta the Passage ta ply our wares!"

"And I'm asking you what sort of merchant just strolls about without his goods?" the field commander demanded, "These are prime hawking hours, and you're burning daylight. No merchant worth his coin isn't ready to open shop at daybreak."

"Well see, we ain't rightly yer average merchants!" the pirate cried, "We're uh… uhm… well, tell 'im what we are Jack."

"We're escorts," the other corsair responded dryly, obviously peeved with his companion.

"Yeah we're… escorts?" the first pirate blinked, and scowled at his partner before giving a quick nod to the guard captain, "That's right, escorts. We're real good to the ladies and stuff. Take them out, show them a night on the delta… real romantic sorts we are."

At this the guard captain burst out laughing, and his men followed suit. Several jibes passed through the group as they mocked the kneeling pirates, only one of whom laughed along in hopes of earning the soldiers' good graces.

"Ah hah… hahah… ahh," the captian chuckled as he wiped a watering eye, "Ya see… it's suspicious things like that that make me think you're lying to me. I don't like liars."

"But…!" the pirate began.

"Kill 'em," the commander ordered casually, "Both of 'em."

"We need them alive…" Margrid hissed to Rakiv.

"Draw strings," the other ranger ordered, "On my mark… 3… 2… 1… mark."

With simultaneous twangs a volley of arrows shot to the sky and vanished into the bright blue above. A moment later the warning whistle approached the Kournan patrol, and several eyes widened in alarm… but it was far too late. Five guards were immediately knocked off their feet, borne to the ground by the unseen attack. Alendra dove from her hiding place, and her arm blurred as she sent a javelin whizzing between the two pirates to strike a sixth guard in the chest.

"Flash out!" Rojis called.

Before either the commander or his remaining soldier could react, a blinding flash erupted between them. Koss vaulted over the rock and was upon the blinded soldier in an instant, cutting him down with a heavy stroke from his sword. The commander was quicker to recover and turned to face the burly warrior with an enraged snarl. The ring of steel from its sheath alerted Koss, and the warrior turned just in time to see the sword raised over head. A deadly whistle zipped past his ear as a javelin sailed just over his shoulder and pierced the commander through his clavicle. As the commander died with a gurgle, Koss relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thanks Alendra," he chuckled.

"Don't worry," she said cheerfully as she moved to retrieve her javelins, "I got your back."

"We're all clear here Guildmi… er, Rakiv," Koss reported, "Targets secured."

"Copy that," she responded, "Moving to you."

Koss turned to the pirates, who were forced to remain on their knees as Alendra held them at spear point. The party converged around the corsairs, who gave sighs at their new predicament.

"Oh thank gods you came when you did!" the first pirate exclaimed, attempting to salvage the situation, "Those soldiers were crazy!"

"No, those soldiers were right," Margrid said, pushing her way to the front of the group, "I jus' didn't want 'em killin' ye afore I got the chance."

"Margrid!" the first pirate exclaimed, "Wh-what are you doin' here?"

"Hello cap'n," the second said, "Good ta see ya."

"Likewise Jack," Margrid responded, keeping her gaze fixed on the first corsair, "Never could trust ya Lem. Most connivin', crafty, back-stabbin' snake-below-decks I ever had on me ship."

"Maybe that's why you call him 'shifty'," Rojis chuckled.

The pirates blinked at the elementalist curiously and Margrid shook her head.

"Nnnoo… cause then he'd be Untrustworthy Lem," she explained, frowning in confusion at Rojis, "There's a difference. He's shifty cause he shifts a lot. Look at him now."

"It's true," Lem nodded, as he shifted his weight to his right knee, "Speakin' o which, ya mind if I stand?"

"I sure do," Margrid snorted, "Now gimme the map!"

"Map?" Lem asked with feigned confusion.

The question earned him a boot to the face that sent him rolling across the sand. Margrid stormed after him as Lem scrambled to his feet and prepared to make a run for it. The pirate's hobble slowed him down and Margrid leisurely followed as she raised her bow and notched an arrow to the string. She soon found that she needn't have bothered, for someone else was already waiting for the fleeing pirate. Just as Lem made it to the river there was a sudden splash and a loud hiss that caused him to shriek in fright. A moment later the shifty pirate reappeared, as Butter dragged him by his boot back up the beach.

"Good catch boy," Rakiv chuckled.

Butter gave a muffled croak as he kept his jaws shut tight around the pirate's foot.

"Give it up Lem," Margrid snapped, "Or the croc here'll eat ya alive."

"A'right!" the pirate shrieked, "Jus' get 'im off me!"

"The map Lem!" Margrid shouted, "Give me the map!"

"I don't have it!" he cried out.

"Butter, would ya kindly take 'is leg?" Margrid requested.

As the crocodile began to bite down, Lem squealed in terror and pointed with a frantic finger.

"Jack has it! Jack has it!" he screamed, "I swear ta Grenth he does!"

"Jack do you…?" Margrid sighed as she turned to the pirate, and then paused to find the corsair already extending a sheaf of parchment to her.

"Sorry cap'n," Jack said monotonously, "Jus' love seein' the bugger squirm."

"Yer a cruel man Jack o' Truths," Margrid chuckled, "I be takin' it he brought that to ya fer decodin'?"

"He did," Jack responded, "I finished."

"Good man," she said as she accepted the map from him, "Oh, n' you can let that sorry sod go Butter."

The crocodile gave a disappointed hiss as he expressed his hunger, and the fact that there'd been no time for him to hunt his breakfast that morning. Rakiv chuckled and waved to her animal companion to convince him to release the pirate.

"C'mon Butter, you don't want that unwashed meatsack anyway," she said, "We'll find you a nice jailor to snack on or something."

Butter slowly let go of the pirate's leg with a croaked grumble and slowly backed away. Lem scrambled to his feet and quickly put several feet between himself and the pouting crocodile, who continued to eye him hungrily.

"Well uh, seein' as there's no reason fer me ta be stayin' about…" Lem chuckled, "I think I ought…"

"Oh there's reason," Margrid said, "Yer ta be our h'excuse."

"E-excuse for what?" the pirate blinked as he shifted uncertainly from foot to foot.

"Excuse for why a patrol squad is returnin' to the fort early," Margrid said and turned to smile at the pirate, "Gotta thank ya Lem. Yer little blunder saved me the trouble o' huntin' down proper disguises."

"You… want us to wear Kournan uniforms?" Nerashi questioned, eyeing the dead bodies, "Bloody, Kournan uniforms?"

"Give 'em a wash in the river n' they'll be right as rain," Margrid shrugged.

"Rakiv…" Nerashi began, turning to the red-head.

"Uh Marg… I think there are some… misgivings, about wearing a Kournan uniform," the ranger chuckled, "Some sense of becoming what we've been fighting I think."

"It's not so bad Nery," Rojis spoke up, already in the process of stripping one of the corpses of its belongings, "Don't look at it as wearing the uniform… look at it as spiting the uniform. We're using their colors to undermine their efforts. That's how I look at it and it's always made me feel better," the spy chuckled.

"Now there's a bloke who's makin' sense," Margrid nodded as she yanked the clothes from a dead guard, "Oi Butter, yew can 'ave one o' these here. They're still warm n' everything."

The crocodile gave a somewhat indignant hiss, indicating that he was not of the habit of consuming anything he hadn't killed himself.

"I cin respect that," Margrid nodded in agreement.

"Uugh! That drives me crazy!" Alendra finally cried.

"What does?" Rakiv asked as she picked up a Kournan helmet.

"How do you guys always know what he's saying!" she exclaimed, "He's a crocodile! All I hear is 'hssssss!' and 'crruuuuk!' He doesn't use words!"

Rakiv blinked at Alendra curiously and then looked down at Butter. The crocodile retuned his mistresses stare, as both human and animal realized that they had never really stopped to consider their communication. As Rakiv glanced at the other rangers of their group, she could see the same curious revelation dawn upon each of their faces, and finally she could only give a small shrug in answer.

"I guess it's just a ranger thing," she replied, as she hopped into a pair of standard issue breeches.

"Dun worry yer pretty liddle head 'bout it," Margrid chuckled as she tossed a helmet to Alendra, "If'n yer confused, we'll be there ta translate for ya."

The paragon seemed far from satisfied with this answer, but decided to let it go. Soon enough the party had completely reoutfitted themselves, taking special care to ensure that the Kournan clothes covered their own armor and uniforms. Once done Margrid and Rojis performed inspections and adjusted their comrades armor until they were satisfied that the disguises would be sufficient.

"Right, so," Margrid nodded as she surveyed the group, "I know most o' yew ain' used to this unner-cover work, so jus' let me and the ele spy here do all the talkin'. If'n we asks ya somethin', jus' give us a hearty 'Yessir'. Aye?"

"Yessir!" all responded quickly.

"Perfect," Margrid chuckled, her impish grin growing even wider than usual, "Now let's steal us some loot."

The bell in the guardhouse rang rapidly, an annoying sound that disturbed Sergeant Behnwa from his scroll. The Sergeant decided to ignore it, deciding that the women in this month's issue of Gypsy were far more entertaining than whatever duty he was about to be called to. Yet the bell insisted, and eventually the ringing began to drive him towards madness. With great frustration he rolled up the scroll and stomped to the bell station, where he snapped open the cover of a broad copper pipe.

"What!" he snapped, "I'm trying to get to know the contestants for Miss Scion here!"

"Sorry to disturb you from your… uh, periodical, Sergeant," the voice of a distinctly unamused female wallguard responded, "But we here on the wall were wondering when you last sent squad six out on patrol."

"Uh… about an hour ago," the Sergeant replied, "Why?"

"Cause they're already coming back up the bridge," the woman's voice echoed out of the pipe, "Dunno what they're doing back after only an hour, but seeing as we're on high alert today, thought you should know."

"What the…?" Behnwa frowned as he turned to the guardhouse window and peered out.

True to the report, squad six was already on their way back to the fort, and were quickly approaching the bridge's first gate. Behnwa gave a grumble as he snatched up his bow and returned to the copper pipe.

"Alright pick some targets and keep me covered," he sighed, "They're probably just delivering a report, but we'll do it by the book anyway."

"Yes sir," the reply came back.

Benwah kicked open the guard house door and trotted down the short flight of steps to the cobble stones below. The northeastern bridge had only recently been rebuilt, after the Sunspears had managed to destroy it when they made their escape from the fortress. It had taken quite some time, and a lot of tax increases, to gather the money and materials to have it remade. The new bridge featured two portcullises on either end of the bridge, which created two new checkpoints that could stop invaders or escapees. Squad six now stood before the first portcullis at the far end of the bridge, waiting patiently to be let in. Benwah made his way to the portcullis directly in front of Gandara's gate, and pulled down a large, fluted copper mouth piece as he cleared his throat.

"Ahem… Colonel Korrah," he spoke into the mouth piece, "You're not scheduled to end your patrol for another three hours. What's going on?"

The sergent peered across the bridge as he waited patiently for the answer. The copper tubes were hardly an efficient means of communication. Much of the time the voices were garbled or faint, and the problem grew worse the farther away the speakers were from each other. But the tubing was less expensive to implement, and for a lowly sergent like Benwah, enchanted guild emblems were simply above his pay grade.

"Korrah here," the answer finally came back, "We caught some scrub trying to push off with a boat full of contraband. We're bringing him and some evidence in."

"What kind of contraband are we talking about?" Benwah demanded, and then paused to listen.

"E-dust sir," Korrah replied, "Crates of the stuff."

"Huh, alright bring him in," Benwah sighed.

The sergeant quickly flipped two toggles and then stepped away as the portcullises on either end of the bridge began to rise. Benwah made his way back up into the guard house, grumbling under his breath about drug dealers and their ilk as he caught hold of a large lever and pulled. With a snap and a groan the counterweights were released, and the gates of Gandara creaked open slowly. As the series of safeguards opened up to let the patrol enter, Benwah stepped outside the guard house to peer at the prisoner being brought in.

"How much did he have?" the sergeant called out.

"Ten or twenty crates!" a patrol man called out, "We scattered most of it in the surf. We uh… confiscated the rest."

The patrolman gave a flick of his wrist and sent a small leather pouch sailing up to Benwah. The sergeant caught it and peeked inside, to find it contained a rather healthy deposit of premium elemental dust. Benwah grinned happily and gave the patrolman a casual salute.

"Much obliged soldier!" he called out, "Best get that miscreant into Bokoss quick like. No tellin' when the Warmarshal will arrive!"

"Thanks, will do!" the patrolman called back amiably, "Don't use that all up at once now!" he added with a laugh.

Benwah only chuckled as he stepped back inside and closed the guardhouse door. Soldiers helping soldiers was a beautiful thing, especially when it came to things that took the edge off. Besides, today was a day of victory. The terrorists had been largely suppressed, the response fleet continued to push back the Istani navy, and in mere hours the traitorous Spearmarshal would be executed. Swelling with patriotic pride, Benwah decided to start his own private celebration as he opened the pouch. With way things were going, there was hardly anything that could ruin this day.

"Did… did he say what I think he said?" Alendra hissed to Rojis.

"Yeah… he said the Warmarshal is on her way," the elementalist whispered back, "But… what's she doing here today?"

"Routine inspection?" Koss suggested.

"No… no Varesh would not come here herself unless it was a very important matter," Dunkoro responded, "She's already launched her fleets, and most of the rest of her forces are still in Jahai, are they not?"

"How would we know?" Nerashi grumbled, "We have almost no idea what she's been up to lately."

"Stay cool everyone," Rakiv instructed, "It doesn't matter, we've got time before Varesh and her bodyguard get here. Play it cool, and we'll be in and out before she ever knows we were here."

"Aye, right sensible that is," Margrid agreed under her breath, but aloud gave a quick bark, "Move it, fool!"

Shifty Lem stumbled forward and then gave a muffled cry as the corsair's boot found his rear. The pirate had been bound and gagged, as Margrid had feared he might attempt to give them away if he was allowed to speak. Lem shot a dirty look over his shoulder at the pirate woman, and promptly received a hard backhand for his insolence.

"Walk!" she barked, "Or I'll walk you off the fort wall!"

The threat seemed to curb his disposition, and the corsair stumbled onward, grumbling darkly behind his gag. Upon leaving the gatehouse the party found themselves in the fort's outer keep, a broad corridor that ran the length of the fort's outer wall, and offered access to the many stairs that led to the walltop. Margrid directed the party out of the keep and down into the interior passages of the fortress. As they walked Rakiv fell into revire once more, as old memories danced before her eyes. Girlish laughter echoed off the walls, as the pitter-patter of bare feet rose from the cobble stones. She and Kormir had played games here, and she even spotted the rafter beam she had once used as an escape after she had successfully tagged Yurukaro.

As they passed out of the corridors and into the inner keep, the call of gulls drew her attention upwards. A small smile crossed her features as she watched ghostly memories of herself and her sisters hopping across the parapets that boardered the rooftops. A twelve-year-old Varesh Ossa lept from a roof's edge, and squealed as she managed to land squarely upon a smoking chimney. Rakiv's memory self laughed as she helped haul her sister to steadier footing, and then beckoned to the older two to follow. Yurukaro's stern commands for them to return to the ground went unheeded, as Kormir gave a wild whoop and sprang across the gap. So enthralled in her reminiscence was she that she fairly jumped when Alendra placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You said you used to live here?" the paragon asked.

"Yeah, pretty much grew up here," Rakiv nodded slowly.

"Has it… changed much?" Alendra questioned.

"Yeah," Rakiv chuckled, "It was a temple when I lived here… a home. Now it's a fortress. Used to be you could still smell the bread from the ovens around this time, and the bells were ringing to call us to the morning prayers…"

"… I'm sorry," Alendra said slowly.

"For what?" Rakiv laughed lightly, "You had nothing to do with this."

"I know," Alendra nodded, and then gave a small chuckle, "But no one should have to sneak into their own home cause their enemies took it over. And no one should have to do it twice."

"Eh, well," Rakiv shrugged, feigning indifference, "You know what they say. Home is where the heart is."

"And where is that, exactly?" Alendra chuckled

Rakiv blinked in confusion, and was about to ask the paragon to clarify, when a crash and a shout drew their attention. The sound had come from the other side of the keep and behind one of the barracks. An unearthly roar followed the crash, and then a scream as a man came hurtling out from behind the guard quarters. The soldier had been flung so hard that he smashed straight through an empty weapons cart, and finally rolled to a stop several yards away.

"What the…?" Rakiv began.

Her question was answered when the source of the roar came barreling around the corner. It appeared almost birdlike, with large curved spines from its back that resembled odd wings. A whip-like tail lashed behind it and the barbs on the end rattled menacingly as it thundered across the square. The creature had no hands, and instead cruel bony hooks gleamed at the end of its arms. As it closed on the fallen soldier its beak snapped open and it released another hellacious shriek.

"Bring it down!" someone screamed, "Bring it down!"

A troop of soldiers followed the beast, chasing it and hurling spears at its back. The creature paid little heed to the blows, until on soldier managed to stop it by pinning its tail to the ground. The monster howled angrily and turned on the offending guard, its hooks singing through the air as it shredded him in an instant. The guard troop continued to frantically chuck spears at the monster, and in response the creature howled and charged their formation.

"Dwayna defend us…" Dunkoro breathed, "It's a demon!"

"They have no chance against that thing!" Koss exclaimed.

"N' neither do we," Margrid surmised, "And while it be distracted, we'll be runnin' away afore it figures out we're on the menu too."

"No," Rakiv countered, "I won't have that thing roaming the fort while we're trying to make our escape. We bring it down."

"And uh… you've got a plan for that… right?" Alendra chuckled nervously.

"Just one," Rakiv claimed.

Without another word, the ranger abruptly broke into an all out sprint, her boots pounding the cobblestones as she dashed straight for the demon. The party gave exclamations of alarm and warning, but soon gave chase as well, hoping to save their comrade from her foolish endeavor. Rakiv however, was completely unafraid. As she ran she muttered quickly under her breath and drew a red fletched arrow to her string.

"Spirits of the skies," she muttered rapidly, "Speed me with a Harrier's Haste!"

A burst of wind swelled behind her as she loosed her shaft. The demon turned from its slaughter to face her, and the arrow struck its bony chestplate hard. It roared angrily and charged head long into a second volley of three arrows, all of which now pierced its flesh. In pain the beast closed on the ranger and raised its hooks high, intending to rend her as easily as it had the other offending humans. Rakiv was, by far, the swifter. A light hop sent her sailing high over the demon's head and well out of its reach and as she dropped behind it, she released a heavy barrage of iron tipped arrows into its back. The demon cried out in pain, but soon found that the infuriatingly fast archeress was not its only concern.

A javelin struck its the face, a sword blade glanced off of its knee, and an electrical charge suddenly bolted through its body. All these the demon shrugged off, though the attacks did little to decrease its ire. It swept a hook at the warrior between its feet, and swatted at him with the rattling barbs of its tail. Koss rolled aside just in time to avoid the hooks and barely raised his shield quickly enough to stop the tail. The blow, however, was inhumanly strong and threw him bodily through the air. Koss gave a cry of alarm as he found himself thrown aside, and Alendra rushed to take his place on the front line.

"C'mon!" she challenged, shaking her spear at the demon, "Come and get me!"

The demon charged, but was quickly distracted as a malignant and deathly swarm suddenly assaulted it. Lonai held her mouth wide open as she breathed out the swarm of occultic insects that now attacked the demonic creature. The demon stumbled backwards, swatting at the evil insects that surrounded it. All too late it sensed its doom, and turned just as Rakiv sailed through the air to land on its chest. With an enraged shriek the demon lifted its hooks, certain that this time the red-headed human would die. Neither blow ever landed. Instead, Rakiv calmly aimed a single arrow at the demon's head, and released a point blank shot into its skull. The demon froze, as the destruction of its cranium sent a paralyzing shock through its nervous system. With a graceful backflip, Rakiv sprang off the creature as it toppled backwards and crashed lifeless to the stones.

Relieved silence settled over the keep, and the only sound to be heard was the panting of the soldiers as they eyed the corpse warily. The demon did not move, and though it was quite obviously dead, no one felt safe near the body. Rakiv approached the cadaver and scornfully ripped her arrow free of its skull. The ranger grimaced at the gory mess that issued out of the wound and quickly hopped back to avoid the brackish black blood that spilled to the cobble stones.

"Oogh… good thing you arrived when you did soldier," one of the guards grunted as he pushed himself up from the ground, "That thing got loose from the handlers and just started tearing up everything in sight."

"Where did this come from?" Rakiv asked, not taking her eyes from the demon.

"Hell if I know," he grunted as he clutched at his broken ribs, "Probably from the Plaza. All manner of unearthly things go on in there. That's why we keep it corded off."

"I see…" Rakiv nodded slowly.

"Ah… look, I know you guys are probably about to go on patrol," he grunted, "But could you do us a favor? I need to get these wounded to the infirmiry, but somebody's gotta watch after these convicts."

"Convicts?" Rojis spoke up, taking over the conversation from Rakiv.

"Yeah," the guard said as he jerked a thumb over his shoulder, "We were escorting some prisoners back out to Bokoss after their trials this morning. But my unit's in no shape to take them back to the pen now."

"Actually we're headed that way already," Margrid put in, "Caught a drug dealer out on the coast. Where'd you leave those lowlifes?"

"Chained them to a post back… rrgh… back there," the guard grunted, wincing against the pain in his side, "Much obliged for the help soldier."

"You need a hand with these wounded?" Rojis offered.

"No, no," the guard quickly shook his head, "Getting these prisoners back behind bars is more important. The pen is supposed to be on full lockdown by the time the Warmarshal arrives. It'll be my head if everyone's not back in their cells."

"You wouldn't happen to know when she's supposed to arrive do you?" Margrid asked, "We haven't heard much news since we took the early shift this morning."

"Well the execution's supposed to take place around sundown," he shrugged, "My guess is the Warmarshal will be here before dusk. But who knows really. Just hurry up and get them back to Bokoss."

"Understood," Margrid nodded.

The party moved out, heading for the archway that led out of the inner keep and into the upper market square. Just as their troop turned the corner, a call behind them caught Rojis' attention and he turned back to see the guard captain waving to them.

"Oh! I forgot," the man shouted, "You'll need the prison password! If the gate guard stops you, tell him that Captain Kahturin told you that one and twenty blackbirds ate seven pies!"

"Got it," Rojis called back, and then quickly whisked around the corner.

The elementalist spy trotted across the upper market square to catch up to his comrades, who were gathered around a lamp post. He slowed to a stop and peered over their shoulders as he listened in on the conversation.

"Oh boy are we glad ta see you," someone was saying, "They gave us the death sentence they did! I'm too young to swing from the gallows just yet! I ain' even gotten to pillage no place!"

"Suwash, 'ow many times we gots ta be tellin' ya?" someone with a much deeper voice sighed, "We ain' that sort o' pirate! Respectable theivin' an' honest pilferin' only!"

"Nevah shoulda let this one in the crew cap'n," another advised , "Oi told you, oi said it time an' ag'in. He's too young an' don' know no'fink 'bout piratin'."

"Well it weren't yer decision to make Fahij," Margrid said, "Huh… this is a pretty good lock. They really didn' want you boys h'escapin'."

"Oh, Rojis, you're back," Alendra noticed, "Can you help us with this? We're trying to get this chain off."

"I can try," Rojis said, and then frowned as he caught sight of the prisoners, "Who are these miscreants anyway?"

The persons who had been speaking were a trio of corsairs, all attached to a long chain by their manacles which had been secured around the tall light post. Rojis raised his fingers and muttered a small incantation, activating a lightning touch that sparked and fizzed at the end of his finger.

"Oh, 'spose I ought introduce 'em," Margrid said, "This here be Jerob No-Spine, Fahij the Smiles an' the newest member o' the Red-Wings, Suwash. They be part of me old crew, thems that escaped afore that nasty business on the Barbarous Shore that is."

"I told ya afore!" Suwash complained, "It's Suwash the Pirate!"

"An' we toldja afore," Jerob grumbled at him, "Ya cain't give yerself yer own name! Ya gots ta wait 'till yer crew come up wiv a proper name for ye!"

""Sides," Fahij laughed heartily, "Ain' no corsair worth 'is salt what calls hisself 'the Pirate'. 'Tis downright repetitionative it is!"

"I believe the word you're looking for," Dunkoro sighed, "Is repetitive."

"Roight, what the geezah said," Fahij chuckled.

"I am not that old!" Dunkoro cried.

"Alright, you guys may feel a little charge here, but try not to jerk too much," Rojis said as he prepared to weld through the iron chain.

As the group stood conversing, Rakiv stepped away from them and wandered across the square. This had been their training ground, and the wide open square had once been populated by sparring dummies, practice targets and various exercise apparatuses. Now there were stalls and tents and tarps and carpets laid out all over the place. What was once a house of discipline had become a house of trade… and now it was a house of war.

Amidst the stalls the ranger caught sight of a familiar spot, and quickly made her way past the expansive and unoccupied tents. She came to a stop and a small smile crossed her face. Three marble pillars stood about three feet high off the ground, each one well cleaned and polished. They did not seem so high now, but Rakiv vividly remembered when the pillar had seemed to taunt her with its height. A small sigh slipped through her lips, before she forced herself to turn away. There was something else she needed to see.

The ranger left the upper markets and made for lower ground, heading through the myriad of stairways and alleys that were the paths through the Moon Fortress. She emerged from beneath a stone archway to find herself in the ante-sanctum, a long circular corridor that surrounded the heart of the Moon Fortress. As she walked the circumference of the sanctum, new memories flashed through her minds eye, though these were far more thunder in the skies was matched only by the roar of bombards on the walls, as the Sunspear survivors dashed through the chamber. Somewhere above the din she heard Tahlkora's voice crying to them, urging them to follow her out and to safety. The sounds of battle behind them told her that the demons, the Margonites were not far behind. All this seemed dim in the haze of shock, wonder and terror that gripped them all. They had left so many behind, so many good men and women. They had lost friends, comrades, brothers… and sisters.

"Oi, soldier!" a voice called, "Can you help me out?"

Rakiv shook her head as she broke from her daydream and looked up at a gate guard who was rapidly shifting from foot to foot.

"What can I do for you lieutenant?" she asked, peering at him through the slots of her kettle helm.

"I've been on duty all morning," he explained, still hopping from foot to foot, "And nature has long since stopped just calling and has started shouting. My relief still isn't here so… would you mind? I really gotta go!"

"Oh, sure not a problem," Rakiv agreed, and waved him away, "Better make a run for it."

"Oh thank you so much!" he gasped and quickly rushed away, "I owe ya one soldier!" he called back.

Rakiv watched him go and then turned to take in her surroundings. She stood at one of the northern gates to the Plaza of the Five Gods. Whoever she had just relieved of duty, was apparently guarding the gate… and she had to wonder why. If that demon had come out of the Plaza… what had Varesh turned it into? For a moment the ranger hesitated, unsure of what she would see if she turned the corner. It was not a sense of religious reverence that caused her apprehension… instead it was the thought of the desecration of a place she remembered well, that gave her pause. Finally Rakiv released a slow sigh, swallowed hard, and stepped through the gate.