Chapter 18- Slayer Scrolls
Chapter 15- Chrissy Lydia
Day 14 Not the Yellow brick road
On the Road to Mark Hall Keep
The weather was finally nice as it was bright and warmer than it had been. They had been traveling in blissful silence when suddenly Jarlam spoke waking Chrissy who had been slightly dozing as she didn't have to track through mud or walk for herself.
"So why are you ladies heading for MarkHall Keep?" Jarlam asks.
"Don't know if we are going all the way." Chrissy remarks as she wraps tighter up in her cloak.
"Well, you two look like you can take care of yourselves." Jarlam remarks as he glances over their weapons.
"Is there trouble we should be aware of?" Lydia asks while she gives him the stink eye as though she doesn't trust him.
"Sometimes there are bandits, wolves, saber cats, and bears. I have even seen giants but there are dragons now." Jarlam says as he turns back to the road to avoid Lydia's gaze.
"Yeah, we know about the dragons." Chrissy mutters.
"How long will it take to get to MarkHall?" Lydia asks.
"Depending on the weather about five to six days. If it stays nice and if I push it, I could make it four and a half."
"Are you driving all night?" Lydia asks.
"I never do that as it's too dark and dangerous."
"No need to push it just yet. Where might we be staying at night?" Chrissy inquires with closed eyes as she knows her housecarl was on high alert.
"Well, this first night we'll have to camp as we will still be a day from Ronick Stead. If you have the coin, you can stay at the Inn in Ronick Stead. If you don't have the coin, you have to camp again." Jarlam answers as he leans back in his seat.
"What about after Ronick Stead?" Lydia asks.
"Depends on how far we get. More than likely night or two of camping until we reach Holdend Farm. If you have some coin Martta Holdend will feed, you but you have to sleep in the stable."
"Stable sounds better than nothing."
"The road seems empty almost." Lydia remarks as she notices that there were just a few travelers that they had seen in the past 8 hours.
"Actually, it's busier than it has been in a while. The war has kept most people off the roads except refugees." Jarlam inputs. "In fact, you two are my first passengers in a month.
"What do you do if you don't have passengers?" Chrissy asks.
"I have to wait till I have a full cart of packages that are being shipped to other keeps." Jarlam remarks
"So, this war is still going on?" Chrissy asks.
"Which one? The one between the High Elves and the Empire is at a standstill or truce of sorts. That cause the Storm Cloaks to start their little rebellion." Jarlam answers.
"Yeah, I heard how the Storm Cloaks don't' like being told they can't worship their god."
"I take it you are not from around here." Jarlam remarks.
"Yeah, I am from a long way away." Chrissy replies as she opens her eyes as she hears swords clashing. She looks at Lydia than out in front of the wagon.
"How?... Jarlam starts to ask but notices a two people killing a man. One of the people sees him and runs to the wagon to attack. "Bandit!"
Chrissy doesn't think twice as she grabs up her sword and runs up to Jarlam. Leaping over the front of the wagon with sword high and shield in block Chrissy slams shield first into the red headed bandit before it can slash the horse.
"Save some for me!" Lydia calls out as she follows Chrissy's lead and leaps up, over the front of the wagon landing on the other side of the horse as another bandit came running at them.
"You snooze you lose." Chrissy calls back.
"Hey, I had a long night." Lydia jeers back as she bashes the bandit with her shield.
"That was your choice you could have slept." Chrissy says as bashes back a mace blow from the female bandit.
"Trust me… IF you knew how good he was you would have stayed up too." Lydia teases back as she ducks the large battle axe that was swung at her head.
"No thanks. He's all yours." Chrissy remarks as she blocks a mace attack with her shield.
An arrow flies in at them hitting Jarlam in the shoulder causing him to cry out in pain while trying to control the frightened horses.
"Take the archer out!" Lydia calls out as she exchanges blows with the male bandit she was facing off with.
Chrissy keeps the bandit mace off her with her shield while she thrusts her sword into the other female's throat. The blow cuts off the bandit's ability to breathe. The Bandit drops her mace and grasps her throat as blood floods out of it. Even as the bandit was collapsing down Chrissy had side steps and threw her shield towards where she saw the archer. The black shield of death held true as the male bandit was the second being to be beheaded by it. The force that Chrissy sent the shield with that even after taking the bandit's head off the hit the boulder behind him and bounces it back towards Chrissy. Chrissy was barely able to catch the shield just right so that it didn't hurt her hand or kill the driver behind her.
"Nice catch." Jarlam dryly remarks as the shield was just a millimeter from his face.
Chrissy just nods her head while she puts the shield back on her arm and asks. "Do you see any more?"
"No."
"Lydia are you good?"
"I am good." Lydia says as she thrusts her sword into the bandit's heart killing him.
"How are you Jarlam?" Chrissy asks while she looks about for more bandits.
"It's just a scratch." Jarlam says as he shows how the arrow had pierced his thick clothes.
"Lydia how is your healing skill?" Chrissy asks as she sees that there was some blood oozing out.
"I spent a few months learning in the house of healing." Lydia answers as she grabs the reins from the closest bandit horse and ties it to the wagon.
"You tend to him while I check about for more and loot what we can use. Jarlam while she is tending you watch her back." Chrissy orders as she first checks the bandit she killed.
On the first bandit she finds a coin pouch that contains 15 gold and two red gems. While the backpack held much more. A change of clothes, a small sewing kit, some cheese, mead, and dried meat. A chestnut mare walks over to her and easily takes the reins. Chrissy takes the horse and places all the items that were on the bandit into the horses' saddles bags then ties the horse to the back of the wagon. She then checks the bandit Lydia had killed. On him she finds a good soft brown saber, cat cloak and a backpack with a dagger, some gold and a small bag that held a few pieces of dried meat. Chrissy takes the items and places them in the back of the wagon but tosses the cloak to Lydia as she didn't have a warm heavy one. She moved onto the poor victim they had killed. Chrissy slowly walks up to the horse standing over the victim.
"Easy there. I am not going to hurt you." Chrissy quietly says to the grey horse that just watched her carefully. She easily took the reins, and the horse didn't move. "Hey there. Sorry about not saving your rider."
"I don't think you need to worry about that." Lydia says as she comes up next to her.
"Why do you say that?"
"Look at that painted bird mark on the armor. They call themselves the Black Ravens. They are a large bandit group. Those three seemed to be chasing him. He more than likely stole something from them thus making him a traitor and deserter." Lydia explains.
"In other words, dead man walking." Chrissy says as she walks over to the body. "How is Jarlam?"
"He'll be okay, but we should look for a place to set up camp soon. He needs to use a healing potion and get some good rest for it to work." Lydia says as she takes all the stuff off the dead man.
"Well at least we got a couple of horses out of it. Law of Bounty does apply to the horses, right?" Chrissy remarks.
"Yes, law of Bounty." Lydia answers.
Chrissy strips the dead bandit of his items. "Hey, you want an upgrade?" Chrissy asks Lydia as she holds up a very wicked-looking black bow.
"Are you sure?" Lydia says as her eyes light up at it.
"Yeah, I got that cool bow that turns me invisible when I pull it out." Chrissy remarks as she places the armor and pack the bandit was wearing onto the horse. "What does Jarlam say about a place to camp?"
"He said there is an place just around that bend where we can camp."
"Why don't you help Jarlam with the wagon and I'll take this…" Chrissy says but stops and checks the gender of the horse. "Guy to get the stuff from the archer."
"He is a prideful male." Lydia remarks
"The horse?" Chrissy say's with a straight face as she tries to hold back a laugh.
"No Jarlam." Lydia replies and laughs as Chrissy laughs too.
"So, use your womanly wiles on him but no sex." Chrissy teases back.
"I heard he prefers males. So, you are in luck." Lydia flatly says even through it a partial smile crosses her lips as Chrissy blushes a shade of red.
"Just go." Chrissy says as she mounts the horse and heads to the last dead body.
"Where is your friend going?" Jarlam asks as Lydia approaches.
"She's going to get the stuff off the archer and follow us to the camp you mentioned." Lydia answers as she gets up and takes the reins and urges the horses forward.
"I can do that." Jarlam remarks.
"No, my Thane says you are to rest, and I am sworn to her. If you want to argue about it with her." Lydia flatly says as they both see Chrissy tossing the body off the road with one hand.
"Fine but I am driving in the morning….I hope that passes us by." Jarlam remarks as he looks at some very dark clouds moving across the evening sky.
"Is there any place that might let us stay that is close?" Lydia asks him.
"There is a farm but the old couple that lives there are nuts. I feel for their boy." He remarks. To which Lydia gives him a warning glare as she was thinking he liked them young. At seeing her look Jarlam realizes what he said and corrects himself by saying. "I meant I feel sorry for the boy not what you are thinking. "
"Better not be. Well, we might have to try for it."
Chrissy easily strips the archer of his weapons and pack. He didn't have much so she quickly ties his pack, armor and weapons to the saddle of the horse then gets on. Chrissy hears a snap of trigs and she turns to fight but is greeted by a Sorrow horse eating some grass. Chrissy takes it's reins and mounts the horse she had road up on. A sudden gust of hard wind draws Chrissy's attention toward dark clouds coming over the mountain range at them. "Crap not again." Chrissy mutters as she urges the horses to catch up with the wagon.
"That doesn't look good." Chrissy says when she rides up next to the wagon.
"There is a nice camp area just up there." Jarlam inputs with a huff.
"He told me that there is a farm not far ahead, but the owners are a bit off." Lydia tells her.
"I don't want to push it let's just set up camp. How far?" Chrissy remarks.
"Those trees and boulders up there." Jarlam says as he points to some old dry looking trees not too far off the road. "There is also an old well there we can get some water for the horses."
The wagon and horse head for the area even as the wind picks up stronger. Just as they approach the area a few wolves come running out at them. Chrissy draws her sword and jumps off the horse. While Lydia tossing the reins back to Jarlam. Drawing and notching her new bow Lydia it then takes aim at the farthest wolf. Lydia's aim is true. The power from the new bow sends the arrow with such force it nails to the tree behind it. Chrissy on the other hand kicks up the wolf in the jaws and sends it up and back. The wolf wasn't dead but just had the wind knocked out of it. Before it can get its breath back Chrissy plunges her sword into its heart.
"Is that all of them?" Lydia calls out over the wind.
"Looks like." Chrissy calls back but stops as she hears an odd sound. She looks around for the source of the sound but couldn't find it. She was about to write it off as her imagination when she heard it again.
"Chrissy what is it?" Lydia asks as she approaches with the horse in tow.
"I hear something."
"What?"
Chrissy just raises a single finger and cocks her head to one side then says "It almost sounds like someone is crying, but it is very faint. Hello! Is there someone out there?"
There was no responds at first but then there was a faint childlike voice says. "Please help me."
"Where are you?" Chrissy yells over the wind.
"Down here!" The voice cries out this time loud enough that even Lydia can hear it.
"By the Nines that is a child." Lydia remarks in shock.
"Where are you?" Chrissy demands as she starts to search for the child.
"What are you two going on about? Jarlam asks from the wagon.
"There is a child somewhere out here." Lydia answers as she too is looking around.
"Where?" Jarlam demands.
"The child said they were down." Chrissy remarks.
"The well!" Jarlam says as he points to an old stone well that looked like it was halfway caved in."
"Shit!" Chrissy screams as she runs over to it. "Are you down here!"
"Is there someone actually there?" The weak voice of the child calls out.
"Yes, and my name is Chrissy."
"Oh, thank the Nines. The ground gave way, and I didn't think anyone would find me."
"Easy. We will do our best to get you out. Jarlam do you have a rope?"
"Yeah, in the back."
"Lydia go get it."
"My friend Lydia is going to get some rope. Are you from around here?" Chrissy calls down.
"Yeah, my family owns the farm over the hill."
"Jarlam do the people who own the farm have a kid?"
"Yeah, his name is Michael."
"Are you Michael?"
"Yes! How did you know are my parents up there?" Michael demands.
"No. Jarlam the wagon driver is up here with me." Chrissy calls down to him.
"Oh, he is nice. He brings me honey nutters." Michael remarks with a big smile.
"I have some in the wagon and you can have, when we get you out." Jarlam yells to the child.
"That's not good. Lydia, hurry up the well could fill!" Chrissy cries out as the rain starts to pour down on them so hard it seems as though someone had turned on a firehose on.
"Here." Lydia says as she comes up with the rope.
"Tie it to the horse and while I climb down."
"Fear of Heights?" Lydia questions.
"Overrun by fear of watching a kid drowned." Chrissy retorts as she ties the rope around her, so it works as a harness to lower her down and won't pull too much on her stomach or back. She then hands the other end to Lydia who loops it around the front of the horse then ties it to the saddle and holds the horse. Chrissy then lights her travel lantern and slowly starts to repel down the hole on the side that hadn't caved in. "Hey Michael, I am coming down the well right now. Talk to me. Tell me where you are so I don't land on you."
"I am in the middle of the well. I see your light." Michael calls out.
"Good. How far are you down?" Chrissy questioned.
"About the height of a house." Michael answers.
As Chrissy makes her way slowly down the muddy slippery dirty and stone walls of the well, she thinks to herself. "At least no one around here will say anything about me being like Lassie because I found a kid down a well. And don't you start smart ass." Chrissy mentally warned Sexy as she could clearly hear him chuckling in her head.
"Okay. So, what games do you like to play?"
"I am going to be a soldier I don't play games." He retorts.
"Ahh.. What is your favorite weapon?" Chrissy asks as she slowly makes her way down.
"I am not too bad with a wood sword."
"Cool I not too bad with a sword either."
"You're a girl."
"Really I didn't know." Chrissy retorts with a laugh and smile.
"You're teasing me."
"Just a little."
"Why?"
"Because I have a little brother your age and I miss him. And teasing you is like teasing him." Chrissy says then mutters. "Fuck.", when her feet slipped on the wall, and she smacked against it.
"What was that?" Lydia called out.
"Me losing my footing but we are good." Chrissy replies as she gets her feet back up against the wall and starts moving down again. It took a few minutes after that when she finally manages to reach the bottom and sees the young brunette boy pinned under a large log and the water was already up to his neck.
"Hey Michael." Chrissy says as she wipes the water from her face. "You ready to get out of here?"
Yes, but the bean is really stuck you won't be able to free me." Michael points out as tears fall down his eyes in fear.
"Let's just see." Chrissy says as she at first tries to move it one way but Michael screams in pain.
"Straight up it is." Chrissy says as she wraps her arms around the beam and lifts it straight up and over to one side and leans it against the wall.
"HOW!?" Michael says in shock as Chrissy easily lifts it and places it off to the side.
"Still think girls can't fight?"
"You are strong."
"Just a little." Chrissy says as she starts to look over him. "Can you stand now?"
Michael tries to stand but he falls in pain when he tries to put weight on his left leg. "No, it hurts too much."
"Alright I want you to hold on to me so Lydia can have the horse pull us up." Chrissy says as she lifts the boy into her arms, and he wraps his arms around her while burying his face into her neck. "We are good Lydia pull us up." Chrissy yells and the rope starts to slowly pull them up.
At the top of the well Lydia has the horse slowly start walking forward to pull the two up. Jarlam helps Lydia with the horse.
"I got this go get a blanket for the kid." Lydia orders as Jarlam does. It took a few tense minutes for them to reach the top of the well. Once there Lydia takes the child from Chrissy so she can get out of the well.
"The boy will get sick if we try to set up camp here. We should take him home." Jarlam says takes the boy from Lydia so she can help Chrissy out.
"I'll take the horse and head for his house. While you two take the wagon and him. How far is the farm?" Chrissy says and asks after she is safely out.
"The farm is about a mile away." Jarlam says as he places Michael in the back of the wagon and then puts the canvas cover over the top to shield the boy. He then hands him a small box that contained some doughnut size round cakes that was covered in crystallized honey and nuts. Michael takes the largest one and hungerly eats it. Jarlam then offers him some water out of a ceramic flask.
"I can do it." Lydia offers.
"No, I want you to stay with them just in case plus I don't know how to steer a wagon." Chrissy says as she is getting up on the horse.
Lydia nods her head in agreement as she then turns to get into the wagon next to Jarlam while Chrissy takes off in the direction Jarlam had pointed toward. Not wanting the horse to get hurt but Chrissy urges the horse to fast trot all the while watching for trouble. The rain slowed just as Chrissy was cresting a hill. Instead of smiling when she saw the farmhouse below Chrissy snarled as anger rose inside because the poor farmer was being attacked by vampires.
Chrissy feels like a blonde version of Xena as she gives out the loudest battle scream. The scream grabs the vampire's attention as they watch Chrissy pull her sword while charging down the hill at a full run.
"I just love it when dinner delivers itself." One of the vampires laughs as he watches a crazy blond child charging down at them.
"Foolish mortal!" A younger male hiss at her as he runs to meet the attack. Chrissy stands in the staddle and leaps at the vampires just as the horse does a fast-sliding stop. The sudden stop sends Chrissy flying shield first into the vampire. When she hits the closest vampire knocking him to the ground, she continues with a roll over the top of him which allows her to come up into a standing position.
"Surprise!" Chrissy says as she takes the shock blonde female vampire's head that was suddenly in front of her.
"Not bad human but you still have me to deal with!" An old balding male vampires' sneers as he draws his own weapon and charges her.
Chrissy just turns and gives him an evil smile that for some unknown reason causes him to stumble just as she screams the word of power sending him back into an old dying tree. He is impaled by a tree branch.
"Dealt with." Chrissy remarks as she runs over and quickly beheads him.
"BEHIND YOU!" Jarlam screams while he urges the horses faster as the vampire, she hand landed on first was about to kill her, but it gets an arrow in the back from Lydia's bow.
Chrissy uses her shield as a flat area to roll out of his reach. The vampire screams in anger and pain as Lydia sends another arrow into his back. Out of his reach Chrissy comes up and quickly turns around shield first. The Vampire lunges forward only to be greeted by Chrissy bashing the creature in the face with her shield hard enough to knock it on his ass. Before he can get up, she swipes with her sword and takes his head off.
"Lydia gather their stuff fast as they turn to dust, and it may go with them!" Chrissy orders as she runs over to the couple on the ground. She finds that the woman is dead, and the man is barely hanging on.
"Thank you.. My son they have him." He coughs out.
"No, we found him down a well not far from here." Chrissy tells him as she kneels next to him.
"Then they lied. You saved my son, and I am going to die. He cannot inherit this place as he is not old enough, so I wish to leave it to you to hold on to until he is old enough." The man coughs out.
"Papa! Momma!" Michael cries out as he tries to get out of the wagon but ends up falling off. Jarlam hops down from the wagon and picks up the boy.
"Jarlam bring him here." Chrissy orders and he does.
"Oh, my son I am so sorry we made you run away with our fighting." The man cries as blood starts to seep out of his mouth.
"Papa I am sorry for running away."
"We should have listened. Jarlam my wife has a brother in Halls Mark could you take him there?"
"Yes." Jarlam solemnly says.
"Uncle Ramsere doesn't like me." Michael states.
"If he doesn't want to take care of you I will." Jarlam says.
"I am leaving the farm to this woman so she can hold on to it until you are old enough to inherit it. You three are my witnesses." He coughs.
"Okay."
"Thank you." The man says before he dies.
They all just stood there in the rain for a few moments as each one's eyes were wet but not from the rain.
"Michael where do you think your parents might want to be buried?" Chrissy asks.
It took him a few minutes to answer but he finally manages to point and say. "Over by that tree."
"Jarlam take him inside and get him warmed up. Lydia and I'll deal with the parents." Chrissy says as she sees Lydia nod her head in agreement. "Lydia check that small partial built barn and see if there is something we can wrap them up in." Lydia heads over to the barn lean too.
Jarlam takes the boy inside while Chrissy goes over to the front of the house to where there was a small cart like she had seen Nelly pull. Chrissy pulls the cart over to the bodies just as Lydia arrives with some old burlap rolls and some shovels. They work together too and place both bodies into the cart. Chrissy pulls the cart to the tree that Michael had indicated. Chrissy works on one hole while Lydia digs the other. The rain made the ground so muddy and harder to dig that the women soon looked like moving mud monsters.
It took them a few hours to get the holes deep enough but once they did each place the bodies in and then quickly cover them up. When they had finished, they silently headed inside. Both felt a little bit of relief at the warmth of the blazing fire. Each woman kicked off their drenched and mud-covered boots next to the door while they hung their similarly covered cloaks on the hooks on the fireplace. The smell of cooking stew causes their stomachs to growl.
"If you two have something dry to change into, go upstairs and change." Jarlam says as he walks out of the small room off to the side.
"How is Michael?"
"He cried himself to sleep about an hour ago."
"We should go take care of the horses." Chrissy remarks as she goes to get her cloak again.
"I'll ready took care of the wagon and horses." Jarlam tells them as they head up the stairs. "There is a wood tub with some soap sitting next to the fire upstairs. Just outside the porch up there is some buckets of rainwater to use to clean up with."
"Thanks."
Lydia insists that Chrissy go first, and this time Chrissy doesn't argue. Chrissy sits in the tub while Lydia pours cold rainwater over her. Chrissy soaps up quickly and Lydia empties the bucket over her head. Lydia was the next to take the crude bath while Chrissy dumped water on her. After Lydia gets out and the two women toss the dirty water out the door off the porch without leaving the room. They stand next to the fire that is blazing in the upstairs fireplace as they take turns using Chrissy's towel to dry off before getting dressed. Lydia's uses clothes that they had gotten from their bandit raid while Chrissy takes out the blue tunic that Samuel had given her.
Seeing that the women went upstairs Jarlam cleans off their boots as best as possible then places them next to the fire to dry out. He hears them coming down the stairs just as he finishes washing his hands in a bowl. When they come downstairs Jarlam hands them a warm bowl of rabbit stew each.
"Thanks again."
"You two did most of the work. It's the least I can do."
"I wish we could have gotten here sooner." Chrissy mutters as she takes a seat at the table with Lydia sitting next to her.
"Don't dwell on the past we saved young Michael." Lydia tells her.
"She is right." Jarlam says as he puffs on his pipe from his chair next to the fire.
"I know it's." Chrissy says.
"Don't dwell on it we did what we could." Lydia tells her.
"Bossy."
"I am your house carl it's my job." Lydia smiles.
"What are your plans?" Chrissy asks Jarlam.
"Well, we are lucky Michael's leg isn't broken. He just has a bad sprained ankle. We can restart our trip in a few days if you ladies don't mind."
"Actually, that would be good. I can feel my friend not far from here." Chrissy says as she looks off to the distance.
"What do you mean feel?" Jarlam asks.
"Him and I are connected." Chrissy answers.
"Lydia you can stay here if you want. I'll take the horse tomorrow and head in…" Chrissy says as she takes a moment to feel for Sexy than points. "That direction he doesn't feel far."
"I'll go with you. Jarlam you stay here and wait for us."
"I will. Why don't you two take the bed up there and I stay in the extra bed in Micheal's room."
"Thanks, and good night." Chrissy says as she heads up to bed.
"She's going to dwell." Jarlam softly remarks to Lydia.
"Not if I can help it." Lydia quietly says as she follows her Thane up the stairs.
"Night."
"I'll sleep on this side." Chrissy says as she drops her pack on the side of the bed close to the stairs. She was thankful that the fireplace was at the end of the bed, and she wouldn't put Lydia out of the heat from it no matter the side she took.
"I was thinking you can have the whole bed." Lydia says as she undoes her bed roll and lays it in front of the fire.
"Don't trust him?" Chrissy quietly asks.
"That and I don't want to get knife by you." Lydia remarks as she sees Chrissy placing the knife close to her.
"If, you are sure." Chrissy says as she lays her own bed roll down on the bed and gets in.
"I am sure." Lydia says as she pulls out her own knife and keeps it handy.
Day 14 Evening
Farmhouse Road to MarkHall Keep
"You have had quite the day my friend." The husky voice of Sexy speaks in Chrissy's mind as her body rests.
"I hear you so clearly."
"You aren't far away."
"I know but I only know a direction."
"Let me show you..." Sexy says as visions of the way she must travel flash through her mind. Images of the dangers of cannibals eating a poor victim while watching three strange females that look half bird like performing a spell which adds some life to being that looked like that of Frankstein's monster pulse through her mind.
"Damn you never make things easy. Hey Sexy I am seem to be stronger and faster than even Buffy. I wonder why?"
"I believe it is because you are on another world."
"Oh, so like that book John Carter of Mars. The gravity isn't as bad here as it is on earth."
"Yes, but also I feel another presence in your body…"
"I was wondering how long it would take you to sense me." Another voice remarks.
"Crap who's that?"
"It is I Mirmulnir."
"Who?" Chrissy asks.
"The dragon you fought." Sexy remarks.
"You know?"
"I do but I couldn't sense you until now."
"Huh?" Chrissy asks the two.
"The other voice is of the dragon you killed, and his soul is resting inside of you."
"Oh.. I am sorry for killing you, but you were killing people."
"It's alright child as I was being controlled by an evil dragon. In fact, when you killed my undead body, you freed my soul from it. With both our blood being spilled and you not of this world you my soul was able to enter you."
"You aren't going to control me, are you?"
"No, I cannot. Though some of my strength and power is leaking into you."
"So, I am stronger."
"Yes, and you heal faster. You are also becoming more resistant to poisons and diseases."
"It's not just me being a slayer and from earth."
"That is correct, but I don't know what a slayer is?"
"Back on Earth I was a vampire slayer."
"That explains why you can hear me better than other dragon kin."
"Huh?"
"In the past there were other dragon kin or as the human call Dragon Born. Most could not hear the dragon after the soul entered them because they were not of magic to begin with, but you are."
"So, the dragon Born didn't steal the dragon's power?"
"No, it was more than likely leaked, or some may have given it freely without the Dragon kin knowing."
"Can you tell me how to get back home?"
"I cannot. But you are on the right track in looking into the scriptoriums."
"What is that?"
"The Nords call them Word walls. They not only can help you learn a word of power but reveal the past."
"Crap all I got from that first one was the word of power."
"The first one spoke of when Dragon's first arrived in this world."
"Where did they come from?" Chrissy hopefully asks.
"Your world as they were being killed off by your kind."
"Did it say how they got here?" Chrissy eagerly asks.
"A magic gate."
"Can we find the spell to open this magic gate?"
"I don't know."
"Then there is hope of finding a way home." Chrissy says.
"Yes, but you must stop that black dragon who shall not be named before you do."
"What why?"
"He will destroy this world than move on to yours. It is best to stop him here while is he is not as strong." The dragon informs her.
"We got nukes." Chrissy rebuffs.
"I have seen your weapons in your mind eyes. When he destroys this world, they won't hurt him at all in fact they will empower him more."
"Crap."
"Keep searching out the scriptoriums they can make you as strong or stronger than him. You must also save the dragon's soul's that he brings back as they too will add their strength in stopping him."
"Looks like I don't have much of a choice."
"Don't worry little one. Once you find me, I'll have your back." Sexy says.
"Thanks."
"As will I. You must rest now you have much to do.
Day 15 Morning
Farmhouse on Road to Mark Hall Keep
Morning comes quickly and Chrissy is up and getting ready when she smells some cooking meat and her stomach growls. Chrissy steps over the sleeping Lydia and heads down the stairs.
"Morning Lass." Jarlam remarks as Chrissy comes down the stairs.
"Morning. That smells good."
"Well, I figured sense you ladies did all that you would enjoy some food."
"I do thank you." Chrissy says as she takes the plate of fried meat and eggs, he offered her.
"You are welcome. When do you think your housecarl will be up."
"Not sure." Chrissy says between bites. "How is Michael doing?"
"He is still sleeping. I am going to let him rest as much as possible as the road is a hard place."
"That is a good idea." Lydia says as she walks down the stairs.
"Here you go." Jarlam says as he hands Lydia a plate of food.
"Hey, is there anything here we can brew this with." Chrissy asks as she shows him some beans.
"Why do want to brew those?" Jarlam asks.
"Trust me they are good."
"There is this pot here you can use."
"Where can I get some water?"
"Here." Jarlam says as he pours a pitcher of water in the bowl and Chrissy adds some of the beans.
"Thanks."
They eat mostly in silence until Lydia comes down the stairs dressed and ready to go. When the beans give off the smell of warm chocolate Chrissy jumps up and fills a metal mug with it. First inhaling the smell then taking a deep drink.
"Smells good are you going to share?" Lydia laughs at Chrissy.
"No." Chrissy snaps as she hides her mug from Lydia.
"Oh, I so got to know what they taste like now." Lydia laughs as she pours a mug for herself.
Lydia copies what Chrissy had done causing Jarlam and Chrissy to laugh.
"Oh! Wow by the Nines…" Lydia says in pleasure.
"Told you." Chrissy says.
"Now I have to know." Jarlam remarks as he too pours a mug for himself and tries it. "This is some of the best hot juice I have ever had."
"I know." Lydia agrees.
"Same some for Michael." Jarlam remarks.
"He will probably sleep most of the day. Just make sure he eats, drinks and gets cleaned up. By chance have you noticed a privy?" Chrissy remarks.
"Looks like the only one they have is the one out back."
"Hey, Jarlam I make you a deal."
"What?"
"Why you are here check thinks out for me and see what's needed to upgrade this place and I will see about having a barn set up and you and your horses can stay when you travel through." Chrissy says. "I noticed a journal upstairs. It might contain the ledger sheet of this place and how much land comes with it.
"What are you thinking?" Lydia asks as she finishes her plate of food.
"Well, that depends on how much land is here."
"He got this land pretty cheap and when I talk to him he said he had over fifty acres." Jarlam informs her.
"That will be a good start." Chrissy says with a smile. "But we need to go and get Sexy now."
"How long do you think you'll be?"
"About a day or two. I am hoping."
"I am worried about Michael as he had a fever." Jarlam informs her.
"Crap! We have health potions will that help?" Chrissy says as she starts digging through her pack for them.
"That will help but I think we might either get a healer to come here or I take him to one."
"Where is the closest one?"
"Ronick Stead is still about a day maybe longer as the road is muddy. Then I also don't know if there are any bandits." Jarlam explains.
"Here are two potions. If he isn't better or gets worse by tomorrow, take him to White Run. Don't wait for us." Chrissy says.
"I was thinking the same thing."
"You should take him down to the basement where it is cooler and apply cool wet rags to his head arm pits and feet." Lydia instrucks him.
"Why?" Jarlam asks.
"The cool basement will help to regulate his temperature. The wet rags in those areas will also aid in that." Lydia explains.
"I'll get the blanket off the bed from upstairs for him to lie on." Chrissy says as she heads up the stairs.
"Do you know where some rags are?"
"No."
"You go get some more water while I find some rags." Lydia orders Jarlam who picks up two buckets that were by the door and heads outside to fill them at the well.
"Didn't you throw some linen cloth in my bag at the last bandit raid?" Chrissy says she comes down the stairs with a blanket and pillow in her arms then heads down to the cellar area.
"Yeah." Lydia says as she starts to dig through Chrissy's bag.
Chrissy drops the bedding on the floor while she uses her travel lantern to look for some candles to light when she comes across a button.
"What the? I didn't think they had electricity here." Chrissy says as she pushes the button which causes a part of one of the walls to swing open. "Okay that's weird." Chrissy says as slowly walks to the new area that she found.
Inside the new room she thinks it looks similar to the Black Cauldron work area with Alchemy Lab in one corner. There were several planters growing different herbs, from the ceiling hung herbs at different states of being dried. There were 3 different sets of selves one set contained different potions, another had herbs ready to be mix and the last was full of books on herbs and their different uses. Chrissy also noted another journal and took it just before she closed the door. Chrissy finally found a couple of candles and lit them just as Jarlam walks down carrying a very tired looking Michael.
"Hey kiddo. How are you feeling?" Chrissy asks him as she lays the bedding down.
"Hot." Michael answered.
"That is why you are down here it's cooler. Do want anything to eat?"
Michael just shook his head.
"Listen I know you must feel sucky but you need to drink cool water, and some soup. Did you drink the potion you were given?"
Michael nods his head.
"Jarlam is going to stay with you while me and Lydia go help my friend we will be back as soon as we can but if your fever doesn't go away by tomorrow Jarlam is going to take you to White Run. Okay." Chrissy tells him as Jarlam lays him down.
"Jarlam do you have a place you and him can stay in white run?"
"For me yeah but not for him."
"I'll give you a note to give to the blacksmith to get my keys to Breeze home you two can stay there until he feels better." Chrissy says as she covers Michael with a light blanket.
Lydia walks down with a tray that contains a pitcher of water, an empty bowl, rags and some food like bread and cheese.
"The bedrolls on the bandit horses are still wet maybe he should lay on them?" Jarlam suggests.
"Not unless his fever worsens." Lydia warns. "You should hang them out to dry and if they are nasty wash them. If he starts to sweat really bad change out the blanket with a clean bedroll."
"Okay."
"Is there any soup left from last night?" Chrissy asks Jarlam.
"Yeah."
"See if you can get him to drink the broth of it and if he is up to it a couple of bites of bread and some cheese."
"Okay."
"Lydia and I will be back as soon as possible." Chrissy tells them as she watches Jarlam bend down over the boy and apply a cool wet rag to his head. "There are more potions and herbs on the other side of this wall to open it just hit that button."
"I didn't know that was there." Michael says.
"Is Kemellee your mother?"
"Yes."
"This is her journal. Maybe Jarlam will read it to you." Chrissy says as she hands the book to Jarlam. "But you have to eat, drink and get some sleep. Deal."
"Okay." Michael says as Jarlam gives him a little sip of water then some bread.
"Let's go Lydia I don't want to waste any time." Chrissy gives Michael one last look before she heads up the stairs.
Chrissy grabs her gear and weapons with Lydia doing the same. The two head outside to the horses. They see that Jarlam had placed the extra horses in a makeshift pen while his was tied to a tree with a bale of hay in front of them. Chrissy was glad to see that the horses they had gotten had also been fed and water as there was a rain barrel full of water in the pen while wagon horses had a couple of buckets of water. Chrissy and Lydia found the saddles, saddle blankets and rains tucked under the lean-too. It didn't take them long to saddle and head off towards the direction of their next adventure.