Quagmire 11 Never Give up
In my life, I've also felt similarly at some point and just need this phrase to back me up! Some friends are just too fleeting, and don't treasure me. I want to be as valued as Fel is, and the elves. Long chapter, humor- action
Ilkar smiled. "Yeah what shall we celebrate with? A toast?" Winking at Drizzt he poured a cup of the brew he had just taken and gestured. She blinked and shrugged, accepting the cup. Drizzt chuckled.
"What's up guys?" Felicia asked, sniffing at it.
"Nothing. A toast!" the elves had water in theirs, and she drank deeply, only to sputter out. Ilkar laughed.
Felicia
"What the- hell! That tastes like shit!" I cursed, spitting out the liquid. Serif barked wagging his tail. I glared at them. The drow was having a lot of fun out of this. Sigh. How could I stay mad at them? "Ok whose idea? Huh?"
"Aw we wanted to make you happy." Ilkar said. I noticed how tired he seemed, despite his light tone, and sweat sheening his skin though it was warm. "It's medicine. I had to take it." I smiled, hanging out my tongue.
"Oh then does it help much?" I asked. The drow nodded. I suggested that they should go sleep. Drizzt said 'we're not old' and if he was the sullen type he would roll his eyes. The ranger just was not the kind to do that. "Now guys, get some sleep." I tugged Ilkar's sleeve. He lay down on his bed.
I prepared to wear my boots and opened the window. Serif pawed me. The mage had sat up and he frowned. "Where're you going, Fel?"
"Ah… to check something. It's ok lie down." He coughed again and leaned back on the pillows.
Ilkar had a piercing worry in his expression. It was both touching and annoying. I couldn't enjoy freedom—this would be a prevailing issue as we got to know each other over a longer period of time. Aranos might be a horrible place but it honed our strengths and our friendship. At that time, I had worried about losing them. I sat down until he got sleepy.
I asked Drizzt if Ilkar would get better. He didn't give me an entire answer. "He is much better now. The coughing makes him exhausted."
Ilkar later remarked snidely, "Since you have white hair, I look the more charming elf wouldn't you agree?" Drizzt said he did not give a damn and I laughed so hard that we all were affected. "Natural medicine." I rubbed my eyes and begged please do not continue. Then as I was taking off my band,I brushed against my pocket. The flower I had picked was crushed.
I showed it to them. The hazel and purple eyes of the elves were full of unspoken emotion. Ilkar smiled and thanked me.
A month later…
The elf had casually asked, "Found a new activity outside of these walls?" It was nice to have dinner together, some semblance of a normal life. Fel had been late and covered with some mud. She dipped her hands into the basin of water for washing up. Drizzt did not speak, he was eating intently. The fair elf stood at his chair, looking at an apple.
"Er no I was just snooping around, Serif became a ferret! Ilkar, what animal form do you like him most?" She deflected. The furry guy scooted across like lightning and tickled the mage as he nosed his face. It disturbed Ilkar, any Julatsan felt uncomfortable with Familiars and spiritual guardians. "A cat. I like cats, mentioned before." he said, long fingers shifting Serif along until his fur didn't itch so much.
"Ah yea I 's cool!" Fel clapped her hands, beaming.
"Er but he doesn't need to, now. He looks good too, in the same form," Ilkar chose to add tactfully.
"Nope too boring. Don't worry, I've told him about good and bad people, he's super clear. I found we can communicate in a matter of ways but not speech. He shows me pictures of where he goes."
Drizzt nodded. She smiled, seated beside the dark elf. "That's good news, Fel."
"Yea he's smart and once he bit this man but we didn't get caught!"
Ilkar looked funny with the ferret wrapped around his neck. He set down the apple and asked him softly if he wanted to eat. Serif made a wuffing sound and obediently ate the small pieces of bread. "I never dreamt of this moment, with him on me. Won't you accompany me today? I've missed our long conversations." The mage was hopeful. He wanted to study how her talents would blossom and guide her.
"Okay. How're you these days, elfie? I notice your coughs are less."
He did not miss the guardedness in her tone and felt rejected. Ilkar recognized her green exotic eyes flicking warily. "I'm fine, thank you. I want to exercise myself, leave this room for a bit. Where do they plant the spies?"
"Um why would I know that, I wander around. Everyone here has collars. Guards don't stop us, and kind of have this sleepy look. Maybe I look like a circus person or servant." Fel whistled casually, Serif left him and joined her, curled on her lap, the epitome of a baby.
"I don't know how to say this, but… I think I'm a different sort of- wizard. Not like you, but an Animal Speaker. If that is the right word." She hesitantly spoke.
Ilkar beamed. "Wow! Why didn't you tell me sooner? Congratulations." He approached and leaned forward intently. Her cheeks reddened from his attention. Truly, Ilkar did not mind this revelation. He opened his hands.
"A few days ago. Whenever I sing, or just think about life, the birds and even the small ones like mice will come. I'm not powerful. I cannot blast." She waved it off.
He frowned. "Why would blasting people be important? I didn't set out to be a mage for attack purposes, but the joy of knowledge, how to shape concepts and think, debate with fellow mages. You don't destroy things for entertainment."
She sighed. "But, we can't be soft now." His heart sunk at that. No mages should be abusing their powers to hurt others, such a hard reality. Then Ilkar remembered that he found a book on youths, a short length and read to the child. She looked at his index finger following the words. His heart was a prisoner. He wanted every single moment with his new friends, reliant on them although he did not want to admit it. Drizzt pricked his ears and steepled his hands. Ilkar's voice suspended the story, at least for now it would be an eternity…
One day Ilkar noticed the growth spurt of her abilities. She had natural adept senses of creeping and climbing, but that was not all. The experienced mage sensed the sharp Spike in mana when he walked in the castle tower. Since he had time to spare and recovered, Ilkar decided to follow Felicia. She often disappeared for a very long time.
Felicia presently stopped running and knelt at a locked door of a deserted hallway on the next floor. A box had been stacked in front of it and her mouth moved. The mage spoke the incantation for Cloakwalk and the invisible elf remained on the steps at an angle to watch. She seemed to be talking to someone.
"I'll be here everyday. I have a friend, he's strong enough. Umhm, I don't know how to open this. Sorry." Felicia hummed, a deep resounding rhythm that thrilled Ilkar to goosepimples and brought a well of love inside. His mind flashed on the moments he had been with all his loved ones. She quietened and headed in his direction. Ilkar tensed, not wanting them to detect him. He froze. The Familiar reared up looking directly at him.
Ilkar could hold the spell for a few more seconds and shook his head slightly 'no' on his lips.
Serif pawed at Ilkar's leg. Then he ran to join Felicia who was running up. Now the Julatsan had no choice but to admit Serif was linked to him! No animal shared Bond with another person unless the master had willed It to be. Denser had not told him about this, and also he had been closed to the whole idea of Xeteskian stuff. 'Now I will open my mind.' The elf thought. Now it seemed she had a friend behind those doors.
The person she wanted to ask was him! He smiled.
Ilkar lost the spell and observed the door. Because of a shield spell blocking, several layers. He probed it. Ilkar decided to prompt her to ask him afterwards.
After this, Felicia scaled a ladder to pluck fruits from an orchard. She had appeared in the forbidden section of this castle area. He watched from a window opposite, poised with concern. His heart pounded, causing his tattoo to hurt and itch. He prayed she would be fine. Some guards filed past, below the child. How clever. Serif was also eating, birds of all colors surrounded the tree. Her mana surged again as she hummed. Some flew away to poop on the guards. "Fuck them!" he roared. The birds took off in a flurry, gunshots rang out hitting nothing.
Ilkar estimated if his defence spell could extend that far. Sweat sheened as he struggled to summon some magic to help. Shit! Felicia moved among the trees. The guards were pointing up. Drizzt showed up, hearing the commotion. Ilkar blew out his breath in relief. The drow slugged the man then said something stern to all of them. Felicia used a branch to swing at someone aiming a crossbow behind Drizzt! The man crumpled.
The guards brandished weapons. Drizzt made a blur of motion, a darkness seeped over them. In moments his friends were gone, and the cloud lifted to some confused assholes.
Oh, a dark fog? The Julatsan planned to ask him about that spell, for a ranger he did have some tricks.
He Had to talk to them! He had been sleeping while this action was going on. Damn.
Felicia
"Hello." Ilkar was pleasant to me when I climbed in by the back window. I was stunned and said a weak greeting back. His expression was full of curiosity, bright ambers and raised brows. I showed him a bunch of wild flowers for him. The elf chuckled.
"You need not have. I notice you talked to someone. Behind the storeroom? Can he be trusted?" Ilkar continued, pulling a chair.
What, how did he know? I intended to tell him,since only a mage could break through that spell. I had no experience with such layers upon layers of strong mana. I had not breathed a word of this yet. I had consoled the poor creature, some kind of goblin or pixie. Its voice had penetrated my dreams every night until I went to see. But I only stole into the day, didn't want Ilkar and Drizzt to worry.
"How? You followed me?" I had been so careful, and my tone was more puzzled than anger. "It's not nice to."
The mage looked hurt. "I wasn't intending to, but I noticed your mana, and sensed the spike. Felicia, I… can't just ignore that you have changed and don't talk to me much." I swallowed at this. Ilkar looked away, wounded. Silence dropped between us.
I said I planned to find someone to help the prisoner. If he could not, since he was unwell, another mage could help me. He scowled. "Another one? Come on! I'm the best there is. I'm fine and rested." Ilkar's ears pricked, becoming confident.
I weighed this. "I trust her. I want to free her to go home. That's all she wants."
He analyzed , "It could very well be a trap. We've seen some wild animals being locked up for the purpose of gladiator arenas. Are you sure?"
I shook my head. "Ilkar will you help me?"
He considered me steadily. Then he nodded. "Yes. Don't go finding strangers, it's risky and besides they are hopeless or selfish. Are we settled?" I was so touched and gladdened by his practicality that I threw my arms around him. He kissed my cheek.
"So when do we start?" he asked.
When we had eaten, on a full stomach we could cast much better, I took Ilkar to that room. His fingers tinkered on an invisible surface, with his eyes closed. "All right,now I need your concentration as well. Remember what I taught you, to feed me some of your mana. Put your hand on my back. Let's begin." Ilkar murmured a few words, hands spread and tracing some patterns. When he paused, he told me there were three layers of Wards. I saw the first outer one go down. Shifting his stance, the elf breathed in and hooked his fingers into claws and stiffened.
I focused on my side of it, to lend him mana. My head was light, I controlled the surge seeing it as a wave of ivory and merging with Ilkar's blue-green pulse. I smiled, yes it should be like that. He said, "Mirean ipso." Now the goblin creature howled in distress. Ilkar panted. The second ward was more tedious to remove. I had to assure that we were friends.
The mage stopped, kneeling and opening his eyes. Sweat coated his face. "Is it painful? I'm sorry," I told him.
Ilkar frowned. "It is. I have to think this through… the next lock has some complex codes. Don't be sorry. I enjoy challenges." The elf clasped my hand. He noticed the type of warding and locks and symbols. When he felt ready, I cast a net of support for my friend. We were not drained when the spell was broken. The door clicked open, prisoner was free!
A hunched over goblin tumbled out, she had warts and mottled grey skin. Ilkar backed away in alarm. I got between us, hand out. "No he's friend. I asked him to help you. Go free," I spoke confidently. She stuck out her tongue and cocked her head sniffling. Then she said in guttural language, "Yes Mistress I obey thee."
"That is good. Felicia that was amazing. We could merge our mana. And she obeyed you, like the others."
I raised a brow. Others, ah he had seen me at other times too. But I couldn't summon the anger. Ilkar was happy and I cherished him. I didn't want him to feel wounded, so I nodded. "Yea you're a great teacher. I learn from the best." While we tended to his fever, when the other mage had died, Ilkar shivered so hard that we were concerned he might hurt himself. "I won't let them touch you. You will be protected!" I said vehemently.
Ilkar blinked. I had not revealed about my nightmare and how he was tortured. Never must it come true.
"Who? Me?"
"Yes Ilks, you're going to be in peril. I had visions. I will protect all of you and the animals." Ilkar swallowed, leaning again the nearest wall. Did he fear? Between us my locket warmed.
"Thank you. I can look after myself. thank you."
Knowing Ilkar's time with us was precious made me cherish our times more. I refused to think of his imminent death. We ate meals together. Drizzt had killed a man, returned with news of Guen. It was easy to get her back when we raided a small room, Serif pinning the guy down and Ilkar probing his mind for whereabouts. Guen was the only panther among the other summoned creatures used to hunt. Drizzt was so happy to get her back!
"One day I will tell you about my people and my exile from the Underdark." The drow promised. We waited eagerly, like kids and he began talking about it. He was astonished that we were interested in his adventures. Over the next few days, with the full moon night closing in we planned for more suitable exits. After all the searches, the best exit was the green door. It was distinctive, marked by burns. Ilkar and I could not push it open though it was unlocked. So I stole a dynamite blowing it up with a Mutespell. A few steps would bring us down to ground level.
Horses would be the next mode of transport. Drizzt took care of that. he had his ways. I felt more frantic, worrying how Ilkar would cope. Everytime I asked, the mage said, "Oh don't worry. I will faint how shitty. The Meleefire will be loud and bright. You have to go and I will join you later." He must be scared but he did not wish to burden me.
And I noticed the wistful gaze on our other friend's face. Serif whimpered.
Despite the problems, Ilkar had stopped being melancholic and changing my mind about leaving him. He was so comfortable, at home with Serif and Guen and talking to them casually. Just as his consideration and concern repaid us, I made every effort to be patient and listen to his advice, helping him with heavy things. We persuaded him to rest up, doing things by hand and not by magic.
All too soon, the day arrived. Dark night. Most of our supplies were strapped on the horses, ready to move. Ilkar packed the last of his scrolls and clothing and gave it to me.
We headed towards where Drizzt had herded some people for Ilkar to perform the Ritual.
"Promise me you'll go with the plan. Don't want my efforts to be in vain." I nodded. I was going with Ilkar while Drizzt and Guen took out the archers above us. We were walking to the bridge.
Guards looking dazed walked towards us. Ilkar stunned one of them with a lightning bolt. He had an ornate dagger like in my vision! Shocked I tucked it in my belt. The rest of the guards fainted, maybe from shock or drunk. The elf pointed me in the direction of the escape route. He looked up scanning for Drizzt.
"You should be going now. See you."
"I…" I had to stay, I couldn't… something was not right. But Ilkar had begun with a spell, orange hot wave pouring from his hands. The guard squirmed, struggling to run away. I saw his hand's tattoo burning in, how much pain he must be in. Serif and I were some distance away, him in the form of a wolf. The heat rained down, where both of them were, the spot was charred and flames torched that part of the structure! Fierce insatiable flames rose and more tongues hailed down. Serif barked.
"Ilkar!" I screamed. Too much smoke. How to see? Some men who had come too close were charred. Don't die. No no. People were running. Fuck!
Alarm was called. I drew my sword.
Where was he? Stupid Elf! Then I noticed Ilkar attempting to sit up, he had collapsed in a corner. Most of him was blackened but his chest moved. He couldn't defend himself!
"Surrender now!" more than twenty men pointed their swords and advanced slowly. I stood in front of Ilkar. Through our link, he panted- 'hey hey! what're you doing? I haven't completed it yet. Go!' My ring vibrated.
"I'm saving you, rest." Serif morphed into a huge tiger. I grinned, gave him the order to kill them all. He roared and leapt. Steel clashed.
When my animal was hurt, I was too but I persisted. The forest, come to me! Those who will have vengeance hear my call! Take no prisoners! As I slashed and hacked below the belts, I sang this tune not understanding how but just going with the flow. Energy flowed, I seized upon it. Glancing at Ilkar, he had his eyes closed and some symbols were traced around him and the corpse.
More men advanced. Serif roared. I hummed loudly, raising my arms.
Nothing happened. With a whiz of arrows overhead, Guen the panther leapt into the fray. I smiled. The pale hair of the drow whipped as he danced on the level above us and streaked arrows. The first of my allies did back up, bats in huge flocks stirring the skies.
The men shouted, swatting them away. Owls dive bombed, rats surged from below to bite and inflict. For the few who got through, I stabbed them hard. The dagger pierced deep. Serif made sure nobody got within range to hurt the elf.
Drizzt leapt down beside me, scimitars flashing. "We must go!" I didn't want to leave Ilkar behind, I told him.
He nodded resolutely. I begged him not to die. "I promised him. It's dangerous to move him now." I had an idea, forming the Hardshield I pushed the crowd back. This bought us time. Then I extended it over all of us so the arrows deflected harmlessly.
After a while, Ilkar slumped down on his side. His face looked white. The Ritual was over?
Drizzt bent to see to him. "How is he?" I had to keep my eyes in front and my shield flickered. I took deep breaths.
"He's alive, weak though." Drizzt ran to me, and readied to fight anew. My Shield failed, crap. But most of the arrows missed. We defended ourselves. "Serif carry him!" was it a danger to lift my friend away in a coma? But I couldn't possibly abandon him.
My mana was still there, within reach, even if my physical stamina wore down. The last man charging had his throat cut.
Serif sniffed at Ilkar and then cradled him, standing on his hind legs. He loped off to the exit where our horses were. "Come on, Drizzt! Guen!" I yelled, my knife hitting someone on the shoulder. I was running low on knives.
He finished someone off and we ran together. The horses were there and I needed some help mounting. The air hit my face in a whoosh as we were riding out of the prison. Serif was in front of me with Ilkar. I could not really see, only the white of his skin. I must heal him when we got to a safe place. Please let him be all right!
Drizzt told me, "No one follows, others must be distracting them." I nodded, smiling.
It reminded me of Flo, had she got out too?
We covered a long distance, deep within the jungles. Dark elf took the lead, Serif walking easily with his precious bundle beside me.
"Go ahead. I will make a Dark Globe." Dismounting, Drizzt backtracked. The hunter weaved a circular structure and like I had seen him do so before, the mist blackened the path behind us. Guenhwyvar purred and stood still. There was a cave in front. I waved to Serif, worried about all that jolting.
"Serif lay him down now. Thank you." I unstrapped some things from the horses and tethered them. Serif acted as his pillow. He sighed. I laid a cloak over him. My friend did not move, some soot had got on his face and clothing. I wanted to weep. I shook him and called to him not to leave me. Ilkar did not answer.
Footsteps behind. I must have rubbed my throat raw sobbing over the stricken mage. A gentle hand on my shoulder. "Wait, Felicia. Ilkar told me, he has to sleep for a few days. His body has to be still for healing. Maybe you can give him some mana?" Drizzt spoke to me calmly.
I swallowed. "Ok. I hope he's not too hurt from the moving." The drow sat down, drinking from his waterskin. "Are you hurt? I have a lot of mana to spare." I remembered to ask him.
The purple eyes lit up. He smiled and lay down. "I just want to sleep. Guen will guard us. I see Serif knows his duty." I began the mana formation for Warmheal the only spell my friend had imparted to me.
He had said the other kinds of healing spells were too draining. I tried to have faith.
I sang a tune to relax and to send healing calm. It consisted of my love and my care, the times we had been together showing up clearly. Ilkar's breathing was less rapid and his lips parted. I whispered his name and then fell asleep.