Well here we go, a pretty lengthy, dramatic and kind of dark, chapter for all to enjoy. Just to warn you all, I do believe that the Caldeum story arch is going to be darker than Tristrams so their may be a lot more sensitive material in these chapters. Just to let you all know. So I will leave you all to it and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Four more days they spent on that road until they reached the Kehjistani port city of Lut Gholein and to Lyndon's dismay, they had to take a ship past the Twin Seas to get to get to Caldeum. Lyndon hated the sea, or more like he hated the smell of it. The low tide, salty smell reminded of too much of home; in Kingsport. That same stink polluted the air there every day and it was not one he missed. They needed voyage passed the Twin Seas to get to Caldeum; he understood that, but Lyndon didn't which was worse, having to hear Li-Ming complain none stop about how bored she was or having to bare the rickety, smelly, rat infested ship they were on. Scratch that, he knew it was worse; he would much rather deal with an irritable Li-Ming than the cargo holds of a sea vessel any day. It wasn't fair that Leah and Li-Ming got to have their own quarters on the ship while he had to share a small, cramped room with three other men on tiny one man beds that were chained two to each wall. Lyndon had lost track of how long they had been at sea by now. After the six first days he had stopped counting. If the ship were to sink all of a sudden, he'd be the only one laughing about it.
Tyrael was the most out of place with his golden armor and green robes and glowing sword. The crew stared at him often and Tyrael just shrugged it off, as he did often. Malachi took his time as a physician on the ship and he was the only one who was regularly busy. Who knew that sailors were so sick all of the time. Sea sickness, scurvy, hangover's and fist fights were all to normal and so Malachi wasn't without anything to do for too long, but personally; Lyndon wouldn't go near any of those unhygienic sailors. He had taken time to observe the ship closely and the motley crew that called it home, and Lyndon was none too pleased with what he saw.
What made the whole voyage worse as they neared the mainland, was the increasing heat. The Kehjistan empire was landlocked between an expansive, humid rain forest, where the once capital city of Kurast stood in the south and a sweltering desert in the north, with Caldeum almost smack in the middle of it all. It was so nice of Li-Ming, Leah and Haedrig to inform him of this after they boarded the ship although, it would have been nicer had they informed him before so he knew to expect it sooner. He didn't know if they forgot or if it was some kind of a sick joke that they were playing. He wasn't the only one who wasn't taking it too well either. Kormac hadn't worn his armor at all since they boarded the ship and the man's shirt was damp with sweat, much like his own.
Lyndon had rolled up his sleeves and unbuttoned his shirt so that his chest could catch some of the breeze. He had not worn his trench coat for most of voyage and leaned against the railing of the ship with a bottle of rum in his hand that he had stolen from one of the sailors of the ship; along with a few rings, a necklace and a dagger that he thought looked nice and a bracelet. Did he care? Not in the slightest. By the time they found out what was missing, he would be long gone. These dimwits made so easy to steal from. Why, they were practically begging him to take their belongings. The best part of it was that if anyone did catch on sooner than he thought, he could just toss the stolen items over board and none would be the wiser. Except him, but he would never tell.
It was almost for the same reason why Headrig stayed on the cargo hold with his wagon for most of the entire time; because the man wasn't very trusting of the sailors and he didn't want to risk leaving his stuff alone long enough for any of the shady sods to steal anything of his. That, and to occasionally check up on the Constantine, who was currently locked inside a thick wooden box that had been nailed shut, much to Leah's protest. It was surely the only way that they could keep the sailors from knowing about him. He was a demon, so he should be fine it a small, cramped, humid, wooden prison with no food or water for who knows how long. Oh yeah, he'll be fine.
The same couldn't be said for the captain of the ship. He was loud, annoying and rude; even to his own crew. What kind of man shoves a young man to the floor while he was doing nothing but cleaning the deck? Lyndon was also sure that they paid too much for what the trip across the sea was actually worth. Lyndon knew a scam when he saw one. He had shared his opinion with everyone, but they thought it best just to pay the man what he asked so he wouldn't make things as difficult for them later. Whether or not it paid off was, questionable. The captain was still an ass and Lyndon had caught him on several instances stealing glances of Li-Ming and Leah. Hell, even Kormac and Tyrael noticed. Lyndon kind of wished he would try something on them because Li-Ming would certainly put the smelly, little man in his place.
He wasn't much to talk, but the difference was that he had actually come to respect Li-Ming and Leah and if he allowed himself to believe it, even Kormac. So, he would be damned if anyone tried to lay a hand on either of them; not that he needed to worry of course. Li-Ming and Leah were two of some the feistiest women he had ever met and their bites were just as big if not bigger than their barks.
Lyndon heard heavy footsteps approaching him from behind. Kormac came up to him, his head shiny with sweat and his brows furrowed enough to keep the sun out of his eyes and his hair was soaked as well. Kormac had a habit of brushing his hand upwards from his head across his hair to wipe away the sweat and it was all over his hair, but the Templar hardly seemed to care. He also smelt like he was sweating as well. His shirt was stained with sweat beneath his arms and down his chest. Lyndon was positive that if there were any women on board – other than Li-Ming and Leah – that they would be signaling him with so many come hither glares that Lyndon would have to admit some kind of jealousy at Kormac's build. The man was a mountain and his shirt stuck to his body whereas Lyndon was lean and in shape, but not muscular. Fortunately, there weren't any other women on board, so Lyndon had nothing to be jealous of. He was still the best looking man on the ship, bar none.
Kormac undid a flask he had acquired from one of the nicer crew members of the ship and poured water over the back of his head and let it trickle down his back. He took a drink and held it out to Lyndon next. "Here, drink some of this. Has to be better than that crap you're already drinking."
"Oh, Kormac! You're hurting my feelings." Lyndon took the flask and drank more than what Kormac probably meant and handed it back to him. Kormac shook the flask to test how much water was still in it and frowned; there wasn't that much left. "Thanks." Lyndon said.
"Don't mention it." Kormac leaned against the railing similarly to how Lyndon was and said, "I cannot wait to get off of this ship."
"You're preaching to the quire. I've been telling myself that since before we got on it."
"Yeah, but hey! The bright side is we will be in a few more hours."
"Yeah, but those hours feel like days because of this absurd heat. It makes me wonder how Li-Ming, Leah and Haedrig have been able to put up with it." They have been inside the ship for almost the whole trip. Each of them only coming outside on a handful of occasions. "I know that each of them have lived here before, but my god its unbearable." He wiped his brow with his wrist and it felt like he was only wiping sweat with more sweat. He held his arm out in front of him and his skin shined and his arm hairs adhered to his skin. He scoffed, twisted the bottle cap to his bottle opened and took a drink.
"You're going to dehydrate yourself quicker if you keep drinking that."
"Hey, let me drink my crappy rum in peace would you." He only wanted to drink a little of it for now anyways. He was likely not going to have many chances once they hit shore. The last thing he wanted was to get drunk and wonder out into the desert, blissfully unaware that he had died by scorching sun that had burned his body and blistered his skin while the desert sand slowly covered his body where no one would ever be able to find him. Save for the birds though. Nope, once he hit the shore it was nothing but water for a while and no fun for him. Damn it!
Kormac held his hand in front of his eyes and stared at the sun for a moment before looking away again. He breathed a very audible sigh and said, "Someone should tell Li-Ming and the others that we're getting near and that they should get ready soon." He didn't know how if they had been alerted of the approaching shore and he wasn't going to bother asking the captain of he had done it already. Kormac actively avoided him as much as possible. Their last encounter ended up with Kormac wondering how well the captain could swim.
"I'm sure they know, but please; feel free to knock yourself out." Lyndon didn't want to go inside. It was more humid inside than it was outside and he would rather deal with the lesser of two evils while he could.
A gull made a noise from atop the sail and Kormac walked to the door that lead inside of the ship. He walked down the steps and braced himself against the wall when the ship suddenly rocked to hard, causing him to almost lose his footing and fall down the stairs. He made sure he was good before moving again and went passed the mess hall, and it really was a mess. Food scraps and dirty plates still sat on the table and the tables were sticky with who knows what kind of stains. Rats happily ate what was left and they scurried away when Kormac walked by. He went to the corridor where Li-Ming's and Leah's quarters were and knocked on Li-Ming's door. There was no answer. He knocked again and slowly opened the door. There was no one inside.
The bed was made and a few books that Li-Ming had read during the voyage had fallen on the floor. Kormac stepped inside and politely picked the books back up and placed them on Li-Ming's bed. He gathered that he had spent enough time in here. If someone were to walk by and see him in a woman's room, it may start some rumors and make things incredibly awkward so Kormac walked out and quietly closed the door. If Li-Ming wasn't in her room, there were only a few places that Kormac could think of where Li-Ming would possibly be. Her avoidant behavior didn't allow her to go to many places on this dirty ship. Maybe Leah would now.
Her room was next door and as he held his hand up, about to knock on the door he noticed an alien chill. It was weird. The whole ship was humid and it was hot outside. Kormac knocked on the door and the door was cold to touch, and like Li-Ming's room, no one answered. He tried to open the door but it wouldn't open. He knocked louder this time and the door mysteriously opened by itself and Kormac felt a cold chill splash over his torso. He stepped into Leah's room and the room was crusted over with a thin layer of ice and Kormac could see his breath.
On Leah's bed, he saw Li-Ming laying down with her legs crossed, leaning against the bed post with a book in one hand and strange glowing balls of light in the other. Leah was sitting on a chair, reading a book of her own with a blanket comfortably draped over shoulders. How typical. While everyone else was sweating in the heat, these two have been secretly keeping themselves cool and cozy. Kormac stepped inside and said, "Must be nice to have magic, Li-Ming."
Li-Ming stared at him for a moment and then back to her book without so much as a word. Leah looked up at Kormac then to Li-Ming and said, "I told you it would be a matter of time before someone noticed." This was the very reason why the girls had made very few appearances outside of their rooms when the temperature started rising. Li-Ming had been spending her whole time in Leah's room and she had barely made attempts to move. The nice cool chill that her magic provided made her too lazy do anything and she and Leah had been sharing the room. Leah couldn't even find room to complain about it either. She was just as willing to sit in here and relax than have to deal with the heat like everyone else. It wasn't fair to them sure, but it was so nice to just stop.
"Not surprising that no one noticed sooner." Li-Ming said and both girls chuckled under their breath. Kormac was feeling ignored.
"Haha!" Kormac mocked. "Very funny ladies. I came here to inform you two that we're approaching land and that you should be getting ready to depart shortly."
"How long do we have?" Leah asked.
"A few hours."
"You came to inform us that far ahead?" Li-Ming commented.
"Well, I thought it would be appropriate and seeing as how you two seem to be enjoying yourselves, I'd day it was worth it."
"Very well." Li-Ming said. "We will prepare ourselves shortly. God knows that we're all looking forward to getting off of this ship."
The hours came and went and they docked at the port city of Gea Kul. The city was a welcome change, all except the humidity. The city stood near the border of the Torjun Jungles, the greatest rain forest in all of Sanctuary and one that the Kejistan Empire profited from with delight. Many traders, miners and loggers came to and from the jungle with carts full of materials and wears that made Gea Kul exceptionally wealthy. Lyndon wouldn't have minded spending some extended time here to see what all he could possibly get from this place, but the heat and the fact it was a port city killed the mood for him.
Haedirg and Tyrael came with camels being dragged along by the reins.
"Umm…What the hell are those?" Lyndon asked. Like he needed to ask. He knew what camels were and he didn't know how dense one would need to be to not know. But they were ugly things and they smelt as bad as they looked not to mention that one, vile, disgusting, distasteful, spiteful thing that they liked to do. Spit. They spit for crying out loud. He swore to god that if one spit on him it would be the last thing that camel ever did in its life, so help him god.
"Well, when you guys start traversing through the desert, you're going to need these guys to do it." Haedrig said.
"Uh, why?"
"Because camels can survive in the desert a lot better than a horse can." Li-Ming said. "We can keep the ones Haedrig needs for his wagon, but once we're out on the hunt for Maghda, these camels our what is going to get us there." Lyndon was put off at how Li-Ming was so agreeable with this. He figured out of all them she would have the most reservations. Until he reminded himself yet again that she used to live here. She has most likely ridden plenty of camels in her time here and was probably used to them and their disgusting habits. "Now if you're done complaining; we should get moving before Maghda has a chance to do any more harm than she has already caused."
It was a shame for Lyndon that they had to move on so quickly. He wanted to see what he could get for the items he "acquired" from the crew of the ship. He supposed he could wait until they got to Caldeum. He would probably get a better price their anyway than he would here. And, there was the unlikely event that the sailors would wise up before they got a chance to move on and call him out and he would miss out on some money to be made. So, Caldeum it was.
After three and a half more days of travel, their journey brought them to a narrow trench of solid, jagged rocks, through which, the group saw many people with their families walking. They looked poor and hopeless. Dirt and sand caked their bodies and their lips were cracked and their skin was marked with dark sun spots. A little boy, who wore no shoes to protect his feet from the scorching heat of the desert sand beneath him looked at Li-Ming with desperate eyes. A look that made Li-Ming feel great guilt. Leah felt her heart sink and an anxious feeling churned in her stomach as she passed each family.
Something told her that this was Belial's doing. Last she was here; they city was prospering under Hakan I, but something terrible was happening and these poor, innocent people were being made to suffer. Lyndon gazed at a young girl who was skinny with starvation. She was weak and her ribs were visible and Lyndon deepened his breathing and he tightened his grip on his reins. No child should have to hungry like that, it was sick! Kormac felt much the same way and wished that there was something they could do, but there was only very little that they could do at this point.
Tyrael said nothing, and only gazed at the people with an unchanging expression of lethargic sorrow. He was the arch angel of justice and it was his nature to bring justice to the world, but as a mortal what could he do now? He was surely going to make who or whatever was responsible for this pay for their crimes against these people. Maybe he would be able to have Malachi open his services to them, it was the very least they would be able to do at the moment until they could figure out a way to fix what was happening.
"Li-Ming, what's going on?" Leah asked, desperate for an answer. Between Li-Ming, Haedrig and herself; Li-Ming was the last of them to leave Caldeum and so maybe she had some insight into what was happening.
"I'm unsure, Leah." Li-Ming responded. "There were many things happening last I was here." There was something dark in Caldeum that Li-Ming had felt years ago, back when she was still in the Yshari Sanctum; back when Isendra was still alive. She did try to warn Valthiek, but he never listened to her. His fear of the magic he practiced made sure of that. Li-Ming wondered that if he did listen if this was preventable. If they sought out the darkness; her, Isendra and he, then maybe all of this would have never happened. Li-Ming felt her blood boil and her anger towards the cowardly old fool grew more intense. If she ever ran into him again, she was going to make sure that she was heard and that he listened to her and listened well. "But, this…I have never seen this before."
The rocky trench lead them to a high canyon that overlooked the pride and joy of the Kejistan empire. The Jewel of the East; the city of Caldeum. The giant, domed topped, basilica that was the imperial palace stood proudly in the center of the city. Behind the city wall they saw the Caldeum Bazaar, so open and vulnerable to the sandy winds of the desert and the people who looked little more than tiny black dots from where they group was standing, flooded the streets, crowding near the city gates. The mass of people only looked to be getting denser and denser as more people neared the Bazaar. Somewhere down there, there was someone who would be able to give them some answers.
The poor hastily constructed shanty shacks across the canyon and down the pathway leading up to the city. It was going to be difficult for them to get anything done with all of these people around and they found a small secluded area free of people on the canyon on which they could set up camp. It was far enough away for them to contain their privacy but not so far away that they wouldn't be able to get into the city as they needed to.
Haedrig dug into his wagon and carried the crate that Constantine was being held in and from the sounds of it; he was very upset. Haedrig set the crate down and Constantine budged the crate from the inside and it tilted, almost making it tip over and it shifted in the dirt. "Alright, alright. Give me a second to find my hammer." Haedrig told Constantine and Constantine cursed at great length. With his hammer, Haedrig removed each nail individually and when enough were off; Constantine kicked the top off. He grabbed the edges of the crate and pulled himself up with a big inhale like someone would if they were laughing too hard and he crawled his way out of the box and fell on his back.
"Go find, Li-Ming. I'm sure she's going to have a thing or two to say to you." Haedrig said.
"Caldeum?" Constantine asked.
"Aye! Now go."
Li-Ming was inside of her tent setting her furs down and setting some books on top of them so that she will be ready to read them during the night. She looked at the simple space and thought she could use some pillows and décor when she could get them. Something purple or dark red, and maybe some ornaments or charms. Something to give her plain looking tent some aesthetic appeal. Like how her room in the Yshari Sanctum looked. It was one of the few things she missed about it. It was clean and everything was in order exactly how she liked. She had stacks of books on her desk and nightstand with beautiful potted plants hanging from the ceiling that she took great care in and she made little orbs of arcane energy to provide light for them and it gave off a very mystical look to things. It was all very fitting for a wizard like her, she thought.
And, there was that one project she was working on when she was there. It was a sword of a unique design that she had been working on enchanting with several magical properties. The Twisted Sword she called it. It was one of the few things that her old teacher took interest in as far as her magic was concerned. When she would be working on a new enchantment for it, he would casually glance over her shoulder to look at it but he still had his complaints. Such as a weapon should not be as powerful as she was making it, but his opinion mattered very little to her. She wondered what became of that sword now. They either tossed it away when she left or they were hiding it away to never be used. Either one of those options were very characteristic of the Yshari Sanctum and she couldn't tell which one was more likely.
Constantine barged in and sat down beside her and Li-Ming said, "Do you not know that it is customary to announce your presence before entering a lady's tent?" Constantine shrugged his shoulders, having given no thought. "That's what I thought. Look we're going to let you wonder around here, but there are a few conditions." Constantine rolled his eyes. "You are not to leave this camp under any circumstance, and you are to keep away from any travelers that may pass by us. If you see one, you are to make yourself scarce so as not to be seen. Do you understand all of that?"
"Yes, master." Constantine replied.
"Don't sound so enthused now." Li-Ming joked. "And, please do not make any trouble for anyone." Constantine just saluted in response and Li-Ming got up. "Alright, I'm going to go talk to the others and see if there is anything we can gleam down there in the market."
"See you."
Li-Ming turned around just before leaving her tent and said, "Be good." And, then left.
On the edge of the canyon was a dry wooden deck that looked like it was ready to fall down any day now and Leah, when she was finished setting up her tent, had taken to leaning on the railing with Tyrael, gazing over the city.
"Well, here we are, Caldeum. The Jewel of the East. Uncle Deckard used to love this place." Leah knew it was irrelevant, but she hoped that some nostalgic remembrance would help rid herself of the anxiety she had felt, but it was hardly working. The city she remembered growing up in as a child was merely a shadow of what she remembered. This wasn't the same Caldeum, it was a darker, corrupted and twisted Caldeum. That by what they were observing, let its people suffer unjustly and Leah wondered if this is what Tristram was like under the rule of the Mad King, Leoric. Between Tristram and Caldeum, the only real difference was the size and Leah prayed that she was wrong. For if she wasn't, she didn't want to imagine how many people were going to die.
"He wouldn't now that it has fallen under the Lord of Lies. I can smell his stench in the air." Tyrael explained.
"It's his fault this is happening isn't it? Why all of these people are out here."
"Most likely."
Li-Ming came onto the deck and said, "Hey! Kormac, Lyndon and I are going to the city to investigate what's happening. Are you two coming." They had only just arrived and already Li-Ming was ready to set out to work. At least that hasn't changed.
"Yes! I am eager to rid this world of Belial's corruption." Tyrael said. "His influence here has not ended quick enough for my taste and I feel the roots of his corruption deepening and saturating the soil with every passing second."
"What about you, Leah?" If Leah chose not to join them, Li-Ming would understand. It had been a long trip here and she was likely very tired.
"Yes. I am coming. I'm not going to be a bystander anymore and watch you all put yourselves into harm's way. It's time I did more than just stand around."
"Then let us make haste."
They walked down the path of the canyon and the crowd became harder to pass through as they neared the bazaar. They walked under a walled entry way made of solid sandstone and into a thickening crowed inside of the market place. It was loud and it stunk. Li-Ming pinched her nostrils shut to protect her nose from the offensive odor. People and families were scattered. People set up against the bazaar wall, some even had blankets to sit on and held their hands out, hoping for someone to show them a single shred of mercy and give them at least a single gold piece. The rich regarded them with disgust and did not even give them a second glance or thought and those who did help could only do so much.
Kejistani soldiers were scattered, clad in red cloth that extended to their knees with chain mail underneath, they were not hard to miss. They provided blankets, bread and water when they could and Li-Ming was glad to see that some effort by the city was being made to help these people.
They struggled to make their way to the city gate and unless they wanted to start a fight, they couldn't push their way through anymore. These people were on the verge of frenzy and the city guards held their spears and sword out towards the crowed with their shields raised. They were anticipating a riot and none of them seemed to try to be doing anything about it. They were different form the other ones they saw running around. They were dressed in iron armor that the sun reflected brightly from with blue fabrics as a sign of position and their demeanor was different as well. Li-Ming had not seen a single one of these guards lend a hand to help these people and they appeared, uncaring of what was happening around them.
"Li-Ming, we should get out of here!" Lyndon said having to raise his voice to a yell so that he could be heard passed the screaming and rambling of the crowd. "These people look like they're ready to start a war and tare each other apart!"
She placed her hand underneath his arm and said, "Hold on! We need to know what's happening here! Maybe someone here can tell us something!"
"How about one of the guards!" Leah suggested pointing to a tall woman dressed in the same armor as the rest of the soldiers. "They should know what's happening!"
They carefully migrated their way over to the guard and Li-Ming tapped her shoulder to get the woman's attention and the woman said. "Yes. May I help you?"
"Guard, where did these refugees come from?" Li-Ming responded.
"May I ask who it is that is asking me? From the look of you I'd say you were from the Yshari Sanctum." Asheara knew a mage when she saw one. They made frequent trips to Caldeum for whatever resources they needed and as long as they kept their magic outside of the city, they usually brought no harm to anyone. There was one they were looking for though. A few months back, she had received a missive from the Yshari Sanctum saying that one of their own; a tall, young woman of nineteen with long black hair with a tan complexion had gone rouge and had murdered the head master before leaving. They had done an investigation but never found the one they were looking for and Asheara wondered if this girl was that one. Her description matched perfectly. All she needed now was a name.
"That is very perceptive of you." Li-Ming responded. "I was once part of the Yshari Sanctum, but I have since relinquished my status there."
"And, what is your name miss?"
"Li-Ming."
She held her hand out so that she could shake hands and introduce themselves properly and Asheara, smirked and took it. "Well, Li-Ming. I am Asheara, commander of the Iron Wolves, and you are under arrest." Asheara waved to some of her men and they hurriedly rushed to meet her. Li-Ming was confused and so was the rest of the group, but they stood their ground because there must have been some sort of mistake.
"Yes, commander?" One of Asheara's men said.
"Would you be so kind as too take this young woman into custody for murder."
"Yes, mam." The soldier pulled a set of iron chains out and the other grabbed li-Ming's wrists and held them behind her back while the other slapped the irons on her.
"What is the meaning of this?" Li-Ming asked.
Leah stepped forward and said, "Mam! Whatever you think Li-Ming has done; I swear to you it wasn't her!"
"Oh it was her alright. You see a few months ago we received a letter saying that a girl named Li-Ming from the Yshari Sanctum had murdered the head master and fled the kingdom shortly after. And, unless there is another girl that matches your description and has the same name as you, you're going in and will face a trial."
"Wait…Valthek is dead?" Li-Ming had no idea. They had fought using their magic and she did wound him, but she didn't know that he died. It was never her intention to have him dead. Oh he was such a goddamned fool! If he hadn't tried to stop her from leaving the security of the Sanctum, then the fight would have never happened and she wouldn't have had to defend herself the way she did. He knew that he wouldn't last long in a fight against her and he knew she was more powerful. Damn It, it was all his fault! "Look, Asheara. I had no idea. My intention was never to kill him." Li-Ming looked at the group and none of them had no idea what to say or do. They knew nothing about what happened at the Yshari Sanctum and so none of them could really say anything in her defense about the situation.
Onlookers surrounded them and whispered to one another and Li-Ming shook her head. This was not something she was counting on to happen. If they carried her to jail, she would not remain there for long. She had a mission and not even the ones who enforce the law were going to stop her from accomplishing it. She would wait until dark and that's when she would use her magic to get herself out. Sure, being a wanted criminal would complicate matters further than what they needed, but there was no other way.
The crowd standing nearest the gate grew more restless and the guards became nervous. "The inner city is closed! By orders of his eminence, Emperor Hakan the second!" The guard standing in the center yelled. "For now you must all remain here! Please, remain calm!" The crowd roared in disapproval and the head guard nodded to the others, letting them know it was okay to take drastic actions should things get worse.
"You can't do this! You must let us inn! Can you not smell the stench of the death? We are dying from hunger and thirst!"
A young woman, carrying a new born baby did her best to sooth the wailing child but his thirst and the heat was making it impossible. "The emperor has forsaken us!" She yelled out and the mob tried to push forward but the guards shoved those who got to close back away with their weapons and the people screamed.
"Get back! All of you!" The guard ordered with malevolence in his voice and the other guards stepped closer to the mob to push them away further from the gates. "Every one, stay back!"
One of the refugees held onto one who was knocked down and said, "You, imperial guard would let us die here! At least the Iron Wolves try to aid us!"
"Mention them again, and I will leave your corpse for them to find!"
"When the emperor finds out that you left me out here with the rabble; you'll be lucky if the only thing he takes is your head!" One of the wealthier people in the mob exclaimed which started an uproar and the mob turn to arguing to themselves. Hands reached upward trying to push themselves closer to the offending group and people spat in each other's faces.
Asheara, Li-Ming and the others felt time was being wasted and that soon an all-out fight was about to break lose. The tension was so thick that it was suffocating and was leaving them breathless.
"Listen!" Leah spoke. "Whatever happened must have been some sort of mistake. Li-Ming would never kill a man for spite. I know."
"Oh, do you? And, how would you know that?"
"Because I have seen her save the lives of an entire town in one night from the undead and from a witch named Maghda." Asheara raised an eyebrow. "She has risked her life, selflessly to find Maghda and that is why we are here, to stop her from harming anymore people." Li-Ming was starting to second guess herself. If Leah was able to convince them then maybe she won't have to break out of jail. "Please, do not send her away." Leah begged. "She has done so much for all of us. She has saved my life and theirs as well." She pointed to Lyndon, Kormac and Tyrael.
"You hunt Maghda, the one responsible for all of this?"
"Yes." Tyrael spoke. "She is responsible for the deaths of dozens in town called Wortham. Li-Ming was close to her then but she had slipped away from us and fled here."
"She has been wreaking havoc throughout the Borderlands and my men and I have brought those who have survived here so that they may find shelter. But the imperial guards will not permit anyone to pass through into the inner city."
"Then is seems that fate has brought us together, Asheara." Li-Ming said. "Do yourself a favor and release me. We all know what Maghda is capable of and I promise you, you will find no one more experienced than we in finding her."
The mob of refugees raised their voices and their fists at one another. The rich who were forced to stay out here belittled the refugees at every turn and the refugees were growing tired of it. One of aristocrats jumped one of the refugees and a fight broke out and the people scattered through the Bazaar, causing chaos everywhere. The Imperial guards fled behind the gates of the inner city to protect themselves and laugh as they watched the fight wage on. Asheara grabbed Li-Ming and they fell to the ground and the rest of the group got lost in the flood of people. Lyndon was pushed to the ground and crawled his way passed the running feet of the refugees and Kormac leaned back against the wall of the Bazaar. Tyrael Grabbed Leah's hand and they turned to an alley way and Tyrael protectively held onto Leah as the angry mob ran passed them.
Haedrig and Malachi watched from the cliff edge as the chaos swarmed through the market place. The black dots scurried like flies to a light and they could see the devastation as it happened. Haedrig was concerned for his friend's safety. He hoped they were okay and found safe places to hide.
"What in the hell is going on down there?" Haedrig asked,
"I am not sure, Haedrig. But, we can be assured that Li-Ming and the others are okay. If Constantine is well, then I am sure the others must be as well." He refused to go on about how that only applied to Li-Ming and not the others, but they allowed themselves to hope that if Li-Ming was okay then the others were too. They were a smart bunch and had already faced many dangers together. This should not be anything new to them. He hoped.
"Speaking of which; where is the little bastard?" Haedrig asked.
Constantine was in Li-Ming's tent holding onto his forehead. Somehow Li-Ming had gotten hit in the head and he was feeling very dizzy. Asheara and the other guards guided Li-Ming to a wooden market stall to take cover. Li-Ming was seeing doubles. When she fell to the ground she landed on her temple and blood flowed down her face. Her sweat got into the wound and made it sting and she was disoriented. She focused her vision, making her head throb in the process and her eye sight cleared up but her head still hurt.
"Here, drink this!" One of the Iron Wolves held out an animal stomach full of water and Li-Ming opened her mouth and the guard poured it down Li-Ming's throat. He then spilled some in his hand and patted Li-Ming's wound and cheeks with it. He repeated this several times and Li-Ming finally came around.
"Are you alright?" Asheara asked, Li-Ming.
"Yes. I am fine."
"Good."
"You need to let me go. If you want to see Maghda stopped, you need to release me." Asheara was doubtful and she was silent as she tried to think of something and Li-Ming rolled her eyes. "You shouldn't need to think about this! Do you see what is happening here! Do you see the madness that Magda is causing! This is only going to get worse if she is not stopped and who's to say she won't put Caldeum on her list of targets! I am your best bet! I have seen her do worse things to people and I will stop her."
"How-How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't! All I can do is give you my word that I will kill Maghda. Give me a chance to prove to you that I can be trusted! Now for god's sake, release me!" Asheara hesitated at first but with a glance to her men, she nodded her head and the Iron Wolves took the chains from Li-Ming's wrists. Li-Ming rubbed her wrists and she stood up. "Hold on!" She yelled and Li-Ming clapped snapped her fingers and suddenly everything slowed down, like she had winded down the speed of a clock. The mob of people moved a lot slower now and all the noise and commotion had ceased.
Asheara and her men stood up and Asheara said, "What have you done?"
"I've slowed the flow of time. This way it will be easier for me to find my comrades. It will not last though. Its effects are temporary, so if there is somewhere you need to be, now is the time to move."
"We're not going anywhere. It is our duty as Iron Wolves to protect the people of Kejistan." One of Asheara's men said and Li-Ming placed her hands on her hips, closed her eyes and smirked. For the first time, Li-Ming had met people who lead by example and did not flee when things became dangerous. Despite their accusations towards her, Li-Ming had found a modicum of respect for these people. She understood now, why the empire chose them as the safe guards of the kingdom.
"Then help me find my comrades."
"Fine. Men, move." Asheara ordered.
They jumped out from behind the stall and Li-Ming shouted the names of her group. "LEAH! LYNDON! ANYONE! HELLO!"
Tyrael and Leah came out from the alleyway and Tyrael went, "Li-Ming, what happened? Why is time acting so strangely?"
Leah rushed to embrace Li-Ming but stopped when she noticed Li-Ming's injury. "Li-Ming, what happened." Leah went to touch the cut but Li-Ming flinched and Leah backed her hand away.
"Leah, I have had worse than this. I have been thrown into walls and shot in the stomach. This is nothing that I can't handle."
"You're so reckless!" Leah said as she hugged Li-Ming.
"Li-Ming what happened." Tyrael asked again.
"I have slowed time. We need to hurry and find the other two. This spell will not last."
"Actually, it's just one because I am right here." Kormac said walking up the group. "Where's Lyndon?"
"We don't know. We should split up, but not too far though. This spell will not last much longer."
They carefully navigated themselves through the slowed crowd and it was unlike anything most them have ever seen before. Everyone's faces were still, stuck with the expressions of fear, loathing and hatred towards one another. There were so many huddled on the ground, holding their hands up with their eyes wide and their mouths stretched open as far as they could be or covering themselves in a fetal position. They all wanted to help these people get out of the way but they did not have the time. Li-Ming wished she could keep this spell going long enough but with such spells as this one, it came at a great cost to her arcane power and she would be taking a big risk to herself and those around her if she tried to sustain it or use it again without waiting.
Leah was horrified when she walked passed a young woman, no older than she was, lying dead on the ground with her baby laying a few feet ahead of her with someone's foot firmly planted upon it as they ran. There was an old saying that evil prevailed when good people failed to act. What they should have just said was, evil prevails. Leah covered her mouth with her hands and shut her eyes tightly as tears fell freely from her face.
Li-Ming went her and asked, "Leah, what's wrong?" Leah was unable to answer. She looked around saw the sad sight that Leah couldn't stand. She grabbed Leah tightly and patted her head. "Do not think about it. I know it's rough, but there is nothing that can be done now. It breaks my heart too but we need to keep going. Come on." Li-Ming grabbed Leah's hand and they urged themselves forward.
"GUYS! I FOUND HIM!" Kormac yelled, kneeling next to Lyndon who was laying on the ground in between two market stalls unconscious. His nose was bleeding and he had a purple swell above his eye and dirt marks across his face and cloths.
The others rushed to him and Li-Ming's eyes went wide. Her breath caught her in her lungs and her eyes dimmed shortly after. Her lips shaking for just a moment before he knelt down beside Lyndon and quickly removed her glove so that she may check his pulse underneath the scoundrel's jaw. "He's alive!" She exclaimed almost breathlessly. "We need to get him back to camp immediately!"
"Here." Kormac motioned for Li-Ming to move out of the way and he picked Lyndon up and tossed the poor man over his shoulder.
"You guys should get out of here before the imperial guard come out to get control over the situation." Asheara said. "And you, Li-Ming. I expect to see you here tomorrow to let me know when you're thinking of heading out there. I have men in the desert right now, looking for that witch. Should you see any of them you are to lend them a hand. I am sticking my neck out for you and the least you can do in return for me is keep me in the loop and assist us when you can. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal, commander."
"Then get going. I do not want you here when the imperial guard show up."
They left in a hurry and the spell soon wore off and the chaos went back to normal time and it continued until the imperial guard finally decided to make the effort to keep the peace and it ended in bloodshed, with dozens dying. Asheara pleaded with them as best she could but they would not listen to her and she watched as those who did not readily comply with their orders were stabbed in the stomach and left to bleed to death under the hot sun.
Xxxxx
Belial manifested himself before Maghda, under a green smoke like aura in the form of the vessel he was possessing. Maghda dropped to one knee and waited for her master to speak.
"Maghda."
"Yes, master."
"Would you care to explain to me why the wizard was here in the market place this afternoon?"
"She was here?" Maghda's heart was racing now and she feared what this might spell for her. But, I thougt – no! That's not possible. There is no way she could have traced me here." She made sure that the wizard wouldn't find her. She took every possible measure she could think of, so how she found her was a mystery to her.
"Tyrael told them and he lead them here. I felt her magic near the city and it is far greater than we had anticipated. Had you done as I had instructed and killed the wizard back in Tristram instead of relying on your pitiful henchmen and your illusions to keep yourself out of her way, this would have never happened!"
Maghda bowed her head and slammed her fist under her heart. "Master, have no worries. The remains of my men will take care of them. They are stronger and more efficient in combat and will…."
"NOOOOOOOO!" Belial shouted and his eyes burned a vibrant green and Maghda flinched. "You will deal with her directly! No more hiding, Maghda! You will use your attacks in the surrounding villages as a way to lure her to you and will deal with her in person! You have already failed me twice by not being able to kill her back in Tristram and not being able bring me the sword of Tyrael! Do not fail me one more time or you will find your time here very, very, finite. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, master." Belial nodded and vanished, leaving Maghda in a near state of panic and dread. All was well before Li-Ming got involved. She had never failed Belial before and she was proud of her service to him, but now his patience was thin and she could not afford any more mistakes.
I hope you all are still very interested in this story. Like, I hope you all are still excited for what's to come and everything that I am building up towards and I hope that I am not boring you guys and making you all lose interest. It's been a little concern of mine this past week and I couldn't shake it.
But here we are guys, in Caldeum and what an exciting way to start it off, even if what chaotic and full of so much tension. At least, I'm hoping it felt that way to you all. Lol. I was a little skeptical at first and after I wrote the first 1500 words of this chapter, I was afraid I would have to erase and do it all over again. It happens to me a lot when I write. I'll get a lot written and end up not liking it and end up getting rid of a lot of work. It's dreadful but we move on.
I'm signing off for now and I will be back with another chapter, hopefully soon. And, Happy Easter everyone. PEACE!