Well, I wanted to get this done before the end of the weekend and by time this is posted it will be past 3:30 A.M. Monday. I must confess that while I had been with out internet the first few weeks after my move into my new apartment, I still could have been writing but I didn't feel the urge too at the time. But, I am back with a brand new chapter that I hope you'll all enjoy as always but I feel it was a bit sloppy in most places so I hope none of you mind. Please enjoy this chapter. :)
Li-Ming sat in the floor with her back against the wall reading a book by candle light. The windows were shut and the curtains were closed so almost no light was shining through the house. It was so quiet that the silence was deafening except for when Li-Ming turned a page in her book and that was the only noise to be heard. Li-Ming didn't know how long she had been sitting on the floor but she got up and relocated to a chair when her butt started getting swore. Every once and again she would get up to check on Leah who was sleeping on Deckard Cain's old bed. The guards took the body that morning and Brother Malachi was beginning preparations for the funeral. Leah didn't say anything or protest. After they left Leah went straight to her uncle's bed and lied down until she eventually fell asleep and that was when Li-Ming closed all the windows and curtains.
None of them did anything much since she and Lyndon came back from the Old Tristram ruins the morning before – aside from last night. She and Lyndon were up all night sorting through maps of the Highlands that Leah spoke of while Kormac stayed with Leah. The Highlands were a big area and there were many places where Maghda could take refuge in, but the one that stood out the most was Leoric's castle. It was big enough for Maghda and her cult to hide in and who knows how many dungeons and tunnels lay within the Mad King's very own home that the witch has found new uses for.
There were a few concerns of course. Lyndon said he thought the castle was too obvious. There were plenty of other places shown on the map were Maghda could be hiding. He even said that if it was he would want others to think it was the castle so they could be lead astray and ambushed. This was only one of his concerns among others but Li-Ming stood by what she said. The castle was where they were going to go first and whatever locations he thought looked the most promising, they would check out afterwards and they left it that. Lyndon was just learning that it was not easy arguing with Li-Ming and that anything he said he may as well be talking to a wall.
They would both be up until early in the morning sorting through the maps until they decided they knew enough. Li-Ming's eyes were very heavy and her eyesight blurred sometimes when her eyes tried to force themselves shut but she did not want to sleep. Haedrig told her earlier that her armor would be finished and she was waiting patiently for him to come knocking with her newly repaired equipment-plus some other essential pieces of equipment that she had asked for yesterday. They needed to be prepared. She wasn't going to tolerate another colossal failure like what happened in Wortham or Lut Bahadur and she wasn't going to be humiliated again.
But, there was also something else she wanted to be prepared against. That thing in the woods, the one that she came to know as Nemesis. There was something about it that she could not shake from her mind. That entity – whatever it was – guided the loathsome magic that filled the place. It was like it was toying with them. She knew that the magic was too weak to do any real harm but she couldn't shake the feeling that the mind behind it all wasn't even interested in killing them. Worst of all, when they were in the Drowned Temple, she felt like the evil presence was right next to her. She couldn't place exactly where but it was there, in that temple with them and even now the word still appeared in the back of her mind. Whatever this Nemesis was trying to communicate with her and should it succeed, Li-Ming was going to be ready to face whatever made the mistake of threatening her.
The front door suddenly opened and Li-Ming gasped and held her book in front her face and closed her eyes tightly before her retinas were burnt out of her skull. Kormac walked in and closed the door. He turned and saw Li-Ming sitting with a book in her lap and blankly staring up at the ceiling as if it was the most interesting thing in the world – she was waiting for the spots in her vision to go away.
"Sorry, Li-Ming. I didn't mean to blind you." Li-Ming held her finger in front of her face to keep him quiet so he didn't wake Leah but it was too late and she was already getting up. "Sorry to both of you. I wasn't aware that you had fallen asleep Leah. I guess that explains why it's so dark in here."
"Oh no, that's quite alright Kormac." Leah yawned. "I slept enough." Li-Ming and Kormac looked at each other and didn't say anything. "Besides, you guys didn't get much sleep either last night." Leah walked towards one of the windows and threw open the curtains and Li-Ming's eyes were once again bombarded by light. Leah poured herself a cup of tea and said, "Uncle's funeral is tomorrow. You all are welcome to attend if you wish."
"It would be an honor, Leah." Kormac said. "But you have things you need to take care of first." He pointed to Li-Ming.
"Explain?" She asked.
"Haedrig told me that your equipment is finished and ready to go. All that needs done is for you to pick it up."
"Very well. I'll be right back."
Li-Ming got up from her chair and walked out of the house. The outside was busier than she was used to. There were so many people coming and going that it reminded her of when she first arrived here in Tristram – when they were being attacked by the undead and before everything became complicated. Before she knew that fate decided that with every step forward that she took, something would happen that would force her to take two steps back. But, now she was close – she was so damned close. All that needed to happen now was return the sword to The Stranger before it was too late and finally, she will have the answers she originally came here for.
Haedrig was dealing with an elderly customer when she finally arrived. Haedrig took one look at her and smiled. "Excuse me." He said to the customer before turning to give Li-Ming a hug. "How are you doing? Haven't seen you all day."
"I'm well, Haedrig. I appreciate you asking. I've been with Leah all day. Making sure that she is well while she mourns for her uncle."
"Ah! It is a damned shame that she lost him, but I believe that she 'll pull through." Haedrig reached into a chest and pulled out Li-Ming's newly repaired outfit and Li-Ming could once again hardly believe her eyes. The purple and white colors looked crisp and unfaded like they were brand new and the smell of burnt wood and ash was gone as well. Her gloves and boots were repaired as well. "And here are the other items you asked for." Held out in front of her were two leather satchels for her and Kormac to replace the ones they lost because of the Khazra.
One of them was made from black leather that was embroidered with runic symbols surrounded by vines. The other was a more tan leather and the cross of the Templars was laying in the center of it. Li-Ming ran her fingers over the intricate designs and admired them. She was an admirer of the arts and she didn't believe there were many smiths with the skills and talents that Haedrig displayed in his work. It was beautiful as well as effective.
"You shouldn't be here." The customer who Haedrig was talking too looked at Li-Ming with a look akin to distrust.
"Excuse me?" Li-Ming replied.
"You. You shouldn't be here. You magic users bring nothing but trouble wherever you go. I knew it from the first time I laid eyes on you when you first arrived that something bad would happen. If you ask me, Rumford was a fool for letting you in here in the first place."
Li-Ming lost it. "You keep your mouth shut about Rumford, you old hag! You obviously have no idea what kind of man he was! So why don't you do us all a favor and quit inflicting your opinions upon the world so that we don't risk any more idiocrasy!" The nerve this old lady had! Rumford was a brave man who gave his life trying to protect Leah's. He didn't choose to become captain of the guards but he took the job as well as he could and he didn't back down. This old woman should be more grateful to have had a captain like him.
The old lady looked shocked and said, "Why I never. You should be more respectful of elders' young lady!"
"And you should learn to check your privilege!"
The old lady looked at Haedrig and said, "Well mister it's clear the kind of company you keep and I don't think anyone should be doing business with you. Not when you chose to have friends like her." The old lady left and Haedrig was a little upset that he lost a customer, but she had it coming. Li-Ming respected Rumford, he was a good man who died too soon. Like everyone else who died that night.
"Sorry, Haedrig. I lost my temper." Li-Ming said. "If it's compensation you want – I will repay you when I have a chance to earn some money."
"I don't want compensation, Li-Ming. To be perfectly honest I think you had every right to be upset. Rumford was a friend of mine. She should have chosen her words a little more carefully." This whole thing was becoming tiresome. It was amazing how quickly people turned against one another when it was too easy to blame someone, and in this instance it was Li-Ming. An outsider who not many quite understood who happened to be magically inclined. It was sickening. He didn't know how much longer he was going to able to tolerate being in Tristram anymore. One thing was clear that his time here was limited.
"Besides, if I wanted money from you I wouldn't have made everything you ask for free of charge." He managed to lighten Li-Ming's mood and she now wore a subtle smile on her face. "Now, go see if everything is fine," He was referring to Li-Ming's gear. "And, come back and let me now if there is anything that needs to be adjusted." Li-Ming nodded and left back for Leah's home. Haedrig watched as she left with a small smile of his own. He thought it was important to smile now because he knew that things always got worse before they got better and things should get better now.
Xxxxx
Li-Ming put her gear on the second she walked into Leah's home and she was pleased with how well it fit. Haedrig really out did himself on this one and he appeared to have taken some creative liberties with it as well. Her robes were now divided into two parts. The top fit like a jacket that had been cut at the middle and the bottom had been made like a belt with an elaborate copper plate in the middle. Her gloves had been fitting with metal plating with the tips shaped like claws. Her boots too were made into two parts. The first were cobber plated bands that went on first that protected her thighs and her boots went on after.
Li-Ming had lost her braid during her fight in Wortham so Leah gave her a hair band and Li-Ming put her hair back up just the way she liked it. She looked in the mirror and she felt almost like a new woman. She was going to really have to think Haedrig for this. She was in love with her new suit and she couldn't get over how well it fit. Everything was perfect.
"I love it!" Li-Ming stated.
"Haedrig, certainly looks to have put a lot of effort into it." Kormac said.
"I guess now that you have all of your equipment – you're going to go on the hunt for Maghda." Leah said.
Li-Ming closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I have to Leah. I didn't come this far just to give up now. The Stranger is the key to all of this. He alone has the answers that I traveled here for. His life and the lives of others are at stake here. What happened in Wortham, and what happened to you is unforgivable and Maghda must be made to pay for what she has done." She grabbed Leah's hand if only to help comfort her and said, "I know you're concerned about us leaving. Lyndon has a few himself, believe it or not, but I promise you we will come back alive and well. Maghda will not get away this time."
Leah wrapped her arms around Li-Ming in a tight embrace. She didn't know if she could take what Li-Ming said to heart, not after knowing what Maghda was capable of doing without a second's hesitation but she was allowing herself to hope that Li-Ming was right.
"Right." Li-Ming said then coughed. "We should uh – we should get going Kormac." Li-Ming was acting a little weird now, Kormac noticed. She seemed somewhat anxious now. Like she wanted to avoid something. "Any idea where Lyndon might be?"
"I have an idea." Kormac said.
Xxxxx
Would anyone look down on him for this? Most likely. Most did. He woke up naked in his dark room that he was currently renting from the Slaughtered Calf Inn and to his delight he remembered there was a young lady laying next him as naked as he was. He smiled and praised himself for a job well done. When he woke up that morning after studying those maps he was feeling a little pent up. So naturally he took it upon himself to find a way to release that tension. He couldn't remember her name, but it wasn't like that mattered to him anyways. What mattered was how great he was feeling. He laid back with his hands behind his head and looked up at the ceiling with a very proud smile.
Next to him on the night stand was a bottle of rum. He took the bottle, opened it and took a big gulp out of it. He was about to lay back down until someone started knocking on his door. "Lyndon!" Li-Ming yelled from behind the door. What a lucky surprise that Li-Ming would be knocking on his door. He wondered what she could want right now. She knocked again – louder this time and the girl he was sleeping with woke up.
"What's going on?" She asked.
Lyndon smiled casually and said. "Oh, nothing really. Just another woman who wants my attention." He got up from the bed and threw jacket on and buttoned it up so he was somewhat decent enough to open the door.
"Lyndon I swear if you don't answer this door I'm going to barge in there and I don't care what it is you're doing either!" Li-Ming shouted before banging on the door again.
"Okay, okay I'm coming!" Lyndon opened the door and was about to bust a move on Li-Ming until he noticed Kormac was with her as well. He also saw that Li-Ming now had her outfit with her and it looked like it had been modified somewhat. It was definitely a lot shinier than what it used to be. Hey, the arrow hole was gone too and the blood stain was no longer there too. Why, Li-Ming looked as if she was never in Wortham to begin with. Man, that smith was talented.
"What do you two want? I am busy right now."
"Get dressed. We're leaving." Li-Ming said.
"Ah, is that what this all about? Can't it wait? You see I have a…"
Li-Ming pushed Lyndon out of the way and said to the girl therein, "Sorry to bother you miss, but you should know that this man is betrothed. You see, he has a bad habit of getting involved with other women when he has already promised his heart to someone else."
Why he even bothered sometimes he would never know. Lyndon loved women but they could be so damned complicated at times. The woman who he bedded with was now getting dressed and she was very upset. She marched over to the door, smacked Lyndon real hard across the face and left a pretty good mark on his face to show for it. Kormac laughed and Lyndon rubbed his cheek and glared at Li-Ming who looked all too proud of herself.
"Well, it seems your schedule has cleared up, I'd say." Li-Ming said.
"Oh boy! I'm so thrilled you noticed." Lyndon remarked back sarcastically.
"Come now. You didn't spend all of last night going over maps for nothing, Lyndon. Now get dressed. We'll be waiting for you outside when you're ready."
Lyndon sighed. "Give me a few minutes."
In the back of his mind, Lyndon wondered about how much Li-Ming really knew and how much she ignored. Her so called plan of doing just as the enemy wants was very poorly conceived and incredibly uninspired. And, the whole metaphor Li-Ming used about them being sharks was completely wasted on him because little did Li-Ming seem to know that there were actually people who fished for sharks. Being from Kingsport – a city known for its fishing exploits – Lyndon knew a small thing or two about the trade. Lyndon shook his head, walked towards his nightstand where his bottle of rum was and took another drink before he got dressed.
Xxxxx
The people of Wortham were working very hard trying to get their homes back together. The adults hauled wood, stone, tools and other equipment back and forth to rebuild their village. Bodies were moved away when they were found and there were a few. Many people threw up when they would lay their eyes on the mutilated remains of Maghda's victims. There were many heartbreaks and many funerals to prepare. None were happy to touch the bodies but it had to be done. Brother Malachi was in the village with medicine should the bodies give anyone some sort of sickness and he was so tired. When he wasn't in Wortham, he was in Tristram making more medicines just so he could be prepared should a plague strike.
Everyone was so busy that most of them failed to notice a strange woman walking through the town. Brother Malachi was sitting on a chair in front of someone's burnt down business. He placed his head in hands and took a big breath. He was too old for this.
"Excuse me? Are you the apothecary here?" A deep feminine voice asked.
Malachi lifted his head and before him was a mysterious woman. He couldn't see her face for it was covered by her black cloak.
"Yes I am. What is you need my child?"
"Three potions." She replied. Malachi reached into his bag and handed the woman three potions and she threw him a small bag of coin. "So much damage and so many dead. If you don't mind my asking, what happened here?"
"Wortham and Tristram were attacked by a witch and her minions."
There was no discernible expression that Malachi could read. Her hood covered her face and he could only see her lips. Her assumed body language did not shift in the slightest and Malachi didn't know if he should leave or not. There was too much going on right now and Malachi hoped that this woman who came out of nowhere was not going to be a part of it or already was.
Ever since the star first fell onto Tristram, the amount of bizarre happenings got only more numerous. The undead rose and attacked and then an energetic and powerful young wizard came six days after. Then there was the Skeleton King and it just kept piling up.
"I'm very sorry to hear that." The unknown woman said.
"Is there anything I can do for you miss?" He wished there wasn't.
"Yes, actually. Can you tell me which way to Leoric's castle from here?" She dug into a pouch and brought out a map. Malachi couldn't get a good look but he saw what may have been weapons hiding under her cloak. "It's not marked on my map you see and I have some important business to attend too."
Malachi took the map and observed the geography it showed but he still didn't know if he should help or lie and say he didn't know where it was. In reality he knew much of the surrounding geography and its structures because he's lived in Tristram for a long time. He often went out in search of herbs and other plants for his practices but would this stranger tell if he was lying or not and to what kind of business she needed attending too was a mystery but there was no point in asking now was there? She most likely wouldn't tell him.
"Well?" The cloaked woman asked.
He looked up at the cloaked woman than back to the map and said, "Its right here." He pointed to a spot on the map to a place north east of Wortham. "This building here is the Mad King's castle. It sits in highlands but if you're going there be warned that the Khazra, erm – Goatmen as we sometimes call them, live in those lands."
"I'm aware of the Khazra that surround these areas. They'll be of no danger to me." She took her map back and put it away." This woman was only getting more mysterious by the moment. She could probably give Li-Ming a run for her money. "Well then, I thank you very much for your help and these health potions."
"You're very welcome miss."
"Good day." She said before she walked off and disappeared into the village. Malachi shook his head and sat back down. He thought after Diablo disappeared form Tristram that things like this would never happen again. Even now he though what he thought back then that Diablo's appearance in Tristram twenty years ago was a catalyst for something bigger that was going to happen. Something that was bigger than him or Cain or anyone in Tristram. After a while he believed he could have been wrong since things were relatively normal in Tristram, until the star fell and it was then he was reminded of his long standing theory, and so far he has yet to be proven wrong.
Xxxxx
Li-Ming and the others were on the boat crossing the lake to get to Wortham. The town was in view ad LI-Ming gazed upon. "Look at that you guys." Lyndon and Kormac scooted to the front of the ship and tried to find what she was talking about. Wortham was in view but that was it. "Wortham looks like nothing but a skeletal form of what it once was." The buildings were burnt all to hell and all looked like they needed to be torn down. If the people chose to leave Wortham, this would be all the remained. "You would you like to know what I find most disturbing about it." Both men nodded. "That it could have been prevented."
"Li-Ming, I think I speak for all of us when I say that is pretty obvious." Lyndon replied.
"Right, I know that it is obvious Lyndon. But, my point is that Maghda and her cult have given us every reason not to spare a single one of them. If they want to treat others as cattle then who are we to deny them that same privilege. You see, what I have come to learn from this is that people who are like the ones of Maghda and her gang do bad things because they enjoy it and that people like them do not deserve to live."
"Uh, Li-Ming my dear. I do not suppose it would strike you as odd that by the way you're speaking that you're concerning me." Lyndon stated and for the first time Kormac actually agreed with him. They all wanted to avenge Leah and Deckard Cain, but Kormac and Lyndon too it seemed – were worried that Li-Ming's blood lust was going too far. They had no reason to concern themselves too much for the moment because Li-Ming's dedication to protecting others was always her top priority, or was it her second priority? When the added her obsession with what she believed to be her destiny they couldn't tell what she cared about most – but the point was her ability to see things rationally would hopefully overcome her emotional desires.
"Oh tish-tosh. You need not be concerned about me. I'm quite alright."
"If you say so."
When they reached the shores, they were treated with warm greetings. Wortham had not been so quick to judge Li-Ming as half of Tristram has. People offered them gifts, which Li-Ming and Kormac refused most of because Wortham was a village in need and plus they didn't have room in their new bags for them. Lyndon accepted what he could easily carry on him. A few pieces of jewelry here and there and a bottle of wine that he happily accepted but he turned down any money that was offered to him for some reason.
One woman who once owned a local bakery walked up to them and offered some freshly baked cinnamon rolls that she had prepared to feed any hungry bellies during Worthams reconstruction. Lyndon and Kormac each took one but Li-Ming took two because deep down she had a bit of sweet tooth that she managed to keep secret. Not even Isendra new about it. Li-Ming had finished her first one but didn't eat the second when she noticed a Brother Malachi walking down the street.
"Quite the coincidence to see you here." Li-Ming said to Malachi.
"Yes, well I have been tending to the sick and injured. Not so many sick compared to the injured though." He laughed. "Let me guess. You're going after The Stranger aren't you?"
"We have too. He is the answer to all of this and we think we know where Maghda has taken him."
"Oh? Where would that be?"
"We have reason to believe that she may have taken him to Leoric's castle." Kormac replied.
Malachi's eyes widened. He pulled them all aside into an empty building so no one could hear them. "Listen you guys. Earlier today I met a woman – I don't know who she was and I didn't see her face. She was wearing a black cloak but I didn't much like the look of her. I saw weapons and she said she had business to attend to there, in Leoric's castle."
"Is she associated with Maghda?" Kormac asked.
"I don't know. I didn't ask. Either way, I find highly coincidental that you guys would be heading that way."
"We'll keep an eye out Malachi. And, if she is working with Maghda – we'll be sure to put an end to her." Li-Ming stated.
"Look, Li-Ming." He set his hands on her shoulders. "I know you're a good person, and I am aware that magic users come with a bad reputation. But, I've been thinking that with everything that has happened since your arrival here – things only seem to get worse."
"What are you trying to say?" Li-Ming said. She was prepared for an avalanche of ignorant comments and beliefs that she has heard before. Mages were never given the time of day and wizards had it worse. To call yourself a wizard meant that even other magic users had the potential of not trusting you. The word wizard itself was nothing more than a derogatory word for mages with too much power. Li-Ming didn't care though. Ever since she was seven years old, she wore the title proudly and, because she believed she could change people's minds. She thought Brother Malachi to be different. She saw him as someone who saw things her way and one who believed in her. Was she wrong?
"What I am trying to say is – do not get so cocky as to think that things may turn differently than you believe they will. I don't know you very well, Li-Ming. You're familiar, is all. But, I like to think I know you well enough that you already have a plan set in stone. Am I right or am I wrong?" Li-Ming looked down at her feet and smiled. It wasn't exactly what she was expecting but his fears of her power were there – she could tell. But he still held onto his conviction that she could fix all that Maghda has done. "I'm going to take that as I'm right." He let go of her shoulders. "Now then – I have things that need to be done and so do you guys. I'm sorry to have held you up but I thought it necessary for your sake."
"We understand, Malachi. Thank you." Li-Ming said.
Malachi nodded and they all left the building and went their separate ways.
Xxxxx
They reached the back gate of the village and left what remained of Wortham. Li-Ming was a little disappointed that she didn't see Athena anywhere while they were passing through. Her father must have moved them out of the area so that they may find somewhere safer to live.
A trail lead them to a stone stairwell that lead up to a bridge made of solid stone. It was nice to finally see a bridge that didn't look unsafe to cross. Lyndon looked down and he saw the entrance to the cave that would lead them to the highlands. He brought out one of the maps he and Li-Ming studied and kit was as they predicted. It took about thirty minutes for them to get there from Wortham and judging by the map it should take significantly less time getting through the caves, assuming they managed to take the simplest and direct route. The map showed that the caves had various tunnels that lead to many different directions and dead ends.
Inside of his pocket he had a pencil that he kept around for good measure. You never know how bad you may need the simplest things until you were without them. He made a habit to have one with him all of the time because this was usually the way he planned escaped routes when he robbed a building if some sort of map was available for it. He marked a line on the map from the entrance of the cave and planned out the quickest route he could manage to create.
Li-Ming walked up from behind him and said, "Are we set?"
"Yeap. All we need do is start walking."
They realized very soon after leaving the bridge that something was wrong. Large and elaborately chiseled pillars marked the path to the cave but each of them were covered in thick, slimy webs. The biggest ones they had ever seen before, and they only got bigger the more they got closer to the mouth of the cave. Webs covered the entrance but it wasn't anything a sword couldn't cut through.
Kormac held onto his ax and walked towards the web covered entrance. Lyndon followed behind him and said, "Be careful, Kormac. You never know what could have made these…" Four arachnid like legs sprung out from a trapdoor made from the ground, grabbed Lyndon's legs and pulled him into the hole where the creature hid. Li-Ming rushed and jumped just in time to grab Lyndon's hands before the creature pulled Lyndon completely. She was almost dragged with until Kormac grabbed Li-Ming's legs and started pulling. Inch by Inch they pulled Lyndon out of the hole but the large arachnid held on. The arachnid was strong and pulled them all back in a few meters and Lyndon said, "Li-Ming – Li-Ming, you kill me if this thing takes me!" The last way thing he wanted was to die at the clutches of a big spider. Being suffocatingly wrapped in a web and punctured by large fangs that would inject venom that would melt your insides and sucked out was seriously the "Last" way he would want to die.
"So be it!" Li-Ming said. She raised her hand and a purple light emanated from her palm.
"Well, don't kill me first!" Lyndon said before a razor thin light of purple energy shot forth and cut two of the arachnid's legs off. The arachnid let go of Lyndon and retreated back to its hole. Two more large spiders emerged from their own shelters and ran for them. Lyndon and Li-Ming scooted back away from them and Kormac prepared himself to fight them. Li-Ming raised her hand again and shot arcane missiles at them and they exploded into legs and other body parts. She then quickly got up, opened the lid to the hole where the first one got away and set fire to the hole and she heard a screech from inside just before she closed it again.
"I – I was almost…oh!" Lyndon grabbed onto his heart and laid back – relieved that he was saved from becoming spider food. Li-Ming held her hand out to him and helped Lyndon to his feet. "Thank you. I was almost a husk."
"Don't mention it." She replied.
"What are these things doing here in the first place?" Lyndon asked. "There is no annotation on any of the maps that said anything about spiders in these caves."
Li-Ming placed a hand on her hip and scratched the back of her head. "If I had to guess, I'd say they were either forced from their homes are something brought them here."
"Like what?" Kormac asked.
"Well, it could have been the falling star. Like the goatmen running mad – the star could have in some way attracted these creatures to this spot. It's only assumption obviously but it's all I've got."
"Then we can assume that there are more of these things in there." Kormac pointed to the cave.
"I would say so." Li-Ming replied.
"Great! That's just are luck isn't it. That the quickest way to the Highlands is through caves infested with giant bugs!" Lyndon was not happy about this. He knew this plan was absurd to begin with but they did not account large creepy crawlies.
"If you have a better solution then please share it with us. Otherwise we must go through there." Li-Ming said. None of the men said anything back because none of them had any better plans so they were forced to go with it. "Good. Now, let's get going before we waste any more time."
Going into the dark caves was a risky and Li-Ming wasn't happy about it either. She hated spiders and always found them absolutely disgusting but no spider no matter how big or small was going to keep her from finding The Stranger.
Okay, first things first I would like to thank Runty Grunty for following because as always it means so much to me that people like what I write.
We're getting close to closing the book on Tristram. I'm thinking at least another three more chapters until we move on to bigger and better things with this story. Wink - Wink. And, we're getting close to another player character making their cameo which has been something I've kind of been looking forward too for a while now. Last thing, we're also getting close to the introduction to another permanent member of the main gang. Not another player character but when I first thought about I liked the idea a lot and I hope you guys will too when it is revealed.
So, stay tuned and I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll be back with another one. PEACE!