That evening, the Natural Misfits, all befitted in fancy dinner attire except for Sooka and William, entered the Marigold Manor. As they walked into the entrance hall, Bash tugged at the hem of his new suit jacket and did his best to keep his eyes off Enna, who sported an elegant dress draping about her hips and just over her feet. His chin was itchy to be beneath his beard again, but at least it wasn't as itchy as Aribis looked in his aarakocran suit.
Without turning his head, Bash reached out and offered his arm to Enna, which she took after a moment of hesitation. Somehow, even with everything from last night, he felt like they needed each other.
Dozens of people milled about them, each finely dressed, many pointing and whispering upon the group's entrance. Their fame had spread, evident in the smiles and waves and brash introductions they received as they swept into the grand hall, where everyone mingled about waited for dinner: guildmembers of commerce, noblemen, guards, and citizens. Every few seconds, Bash glanced around the foyer for Rolen and Althea, but they were nowhere to be found.
For some time, the party waited awkwardly along with everyone else, waiting for any glimpse of anyone they knew. Several long minutes later, the Night's End arrived together, each of them adorned in ornate, decorative armor, no doubt a gift from Rolen to press the value of his own prestige and pocketbook. At the head of this group was the mysterious half-elf rogue, half of her face veiled but allowing her piercing eyes to dart about the room. Behind her was Adria, their wizard with the wide-brimmed hat, a halfling bard with a lute, and in the back, the half-orc barbarian Kjelle.
Upon seeing William, Kjelle turned immediately from her group and made a beeline for the monk, purpose laden in her steps. Bash stifled a laugh.
"So, we meet again," she said in her deep voice.
"Yes, we do," replied William, unfazed.
"It is good to see you."
"Likewise."
"I see you keep up on your body."
"Always. And you do the same."
"You'll be eating here tonight?" asked Kjelle.
"Of course."
A bewildered Bash darted his eyes between the two, perplexed and amazed at the level of sexual tension that shot between the two despite their completely impassive faces. Glancing at Enna and Aribis, he recognized their entranced amusement as they all beheld the flat and yet massively intriguing spectacle.
The bard approached practically bouncing on his toes and said to William, "Hey, Cyrus Dibbledoo is the name! Pleasure to meet you, sir. I see you've got the eye of little Kjelle here." He chuckled.
"I think you have the wrong sense of little…" muttered William as he looked up at Kjelle, who stood a full head higher than he did.
"You wouldn't believe it, but she always passes on me!" The bard's obnoxious grin raised Bash's right eyebrow.
Kjelle nodded seriously. "I break him," she said.
"I'm much sturdier than you give me credit for!" protested Cyrus.
As the awkward, unsavory small talk ensued, Bash's eyes wandered over to the rest of the Night's End, where the half-elf spoke in hushed tones to the others. Adria caught his eye and grinned sheepishly, and Bash sighed as Enna frowned next to him. But Bash remained focused on the half-elf. She really was something to behold in that tight leather armor.
As William and Kjelle continued talking about food and muscle mass, the Night's End's conversation grew anxious, and Aribis's keen eye attuned to their lips. Bash glanced back and forth, wishing desperately that he could read lips like Aribis, but he knew that there was nothing he could do to figure out what they were discussing, not with Kjelle and Cyrus so close.
Some time later, hors d'oeuvres, wine, and ales appeared on the arms of waitstaff, and Cyrus ran off to play a beautiful tune to match the festivities. Much to Bash's chagrin, various admirers began to appear and speak to him, Enna, and William, asking about their time in the Exhibition and other, more personal matters. For many of these intimate questions, Bash began to invent fabulous tales in response, his answers as laughably outrageous as the questions themselves. He drew entertainment from the people's reactions, but eventually, he tired of the discourse and decided to be more productive.
In the lull between conversations, Bash left the party and swept up the stairs with Enna close behind, making for Althea's room.
Upon reaching the room, Enna knocked, but there came no answer. Quietly, Bash twisted the doorknob, but a lock stopped his advances. He knelt and whipped out a lockpick which he promptly set in place and began to fidget back and forth. With a skilled hand and ear, he worked the lock until it clicked open, and with a satisfied smirk, he swung open the door. After entering the room, he closed the door behind Enna and looked around.
Althea's room was just as he had remembered it: lush and lavish. It lacked the dramatic flair of Rolen but held just a hint of a touch of nature common to elves. Books lined the wall to his left, and a comfortable-looking couch sat in the middle of the room. A bed sat to the right, a large dresser just past it. Enna strode over a nightstand and pocketed a wood comb while Bash began exploring the room, running his hands over and under surfaces, opening drawers, and even looking under the bed. Nothing seemed out of place, and he frowned.
"What if we tried Rolen's room?" asked Enna, the first utterance since their arrival breaking the silence with a shudder.
"That's too risky," countered Bash. "We should just get back to the party."
She sighed sadly but nodded, and they returned downstairs.
A few minutes later, Archie announced that dinner was to be served momentarily in the dining hall, and people began shuffling that way, sitting wherever they wanted in the massive ballroom. The Natural Misfits stayed together and sat at a table, Enna and William on Bash's left and right, but it appeared that the group was to be sitting alone for the evening. Just as well, considered Bash, as they would be able to discuss any number of details that they desired. Servers came promptly, offering steak, vegetables, fruits, wine, and ales, and Bash's mouth watered to receive such delicacies. The group ate voraciously, though Bash, Enna, and William maintained proper manners as best they could.
Just as they were slowing down on their intake, the host himself appeared in the door, his cronies on either side. Bash watched as Rolen, Heath, and Kragg approached them, soon revealing the doppelganger to Bash's eye. Fake Rolen nodded to several guests as he walked through the room, stopping when he came to their table. Even after all their encounters, Bash didn't think he'd ever get used to seeing those ugly bug-like faces. He had to fight to keep from glaring at one of the monsters that had caused so much pain to his city.
Reaching beneath the table, Bash tapped Enna's and William's hands three times without making eye contact, and he noticed that Enna had stiffened at the Rolen's approach.
"I saw your performance at the Exhibition," said Fake Rolen. "Very well done. You, especially."
He nodded to William, who muttered his thanks in return. Then he turned to Enna.
"And sister, it's good to see you. I haven't seen you around in a while. Is there a reason why you've chosen to sleep elsewhere? If the beds are not to your liking, I can have them changed."
"You know me," dismissed Enna. She waved her left hand, but Bash saw her right still tightly balled in her lap. Dare he take it to let her know that he was there? "I'm in and out. I've been spending time helping out in the slums."
"Understood, but you know that my doors are always open to you."
"I do. Thank you, Rolen," said Enna with an impressive smile.
"I hope you all enjoy the meal," continued the doppelganger, glancing around at them all. "You are all welcome to stay here tonight, if you wish."
"Thank you for the hospitality," grinned Enna. "And it's good to have a party again. Have you seen Mother, by chance?"
"Oh, she said that she had something to do. I haven't seen her all day. But she should come. She doesn't like to miss parties like this."
Enna nodded in thanks, and Fake Rolen moseyed over to the table where sat the Night's End before engaging them in what Bash assumed was a similar discussion.
Several minutes later, Fake Rolen took his place at the head table, and as the noise of conversation replaced that of tinkling dishes, Drasloc stood and clinked his spoon on a particularly lavish goblet.
"I'd like to make an announcement!" he called, effectively silencing the grumble of discussions. "Thank you so much for attending the dinner tonight. Your services as members of the Colosso Exhibition are all greatly appreciated. Our two finalist teams for the Monster Slayer category are over there!" He pointed in their direction. "The Natural Misfits!"
The audience began to applaud as the entire group stood somewhat awkwardly, Bash finding it especially difficult to keep his eyes off Fake Rolen. Enna muttered something beside him and waved her hand over her head, and dozens of leaves appeared only to vanish before muddying the marble floor with their presence, earning many approving gasps from the crowd.
"And the Night's End!"
The other team stood, Kjelle growling in her excitement as she flexed her massive arms, earning even the applause of William. Bash rolled his eyes.
"Please enjoy the festivities," continued Drasloc as the two groups sat. "Tomorrow at six o'clock, we will see the final round of the Monster Slayer trials. I hope you lot are prepared! I've heard that it's going to be quite a challenge." He chuckled. "Thank you all, and enjoy the rest of your evening!"
Applause rang out as Drasloc reclaimed his seat, and conversation began to bubble about the room once again.
As dinner eased toward a close, guests began to mill about and mingle, clinging to the edges of the room where there was more standing space. Bash's eye followed William's gaze to the table of the Night's End, and he was surprised to see the entire group hunched over the table and whispering furiously to each other.
Subtle, he thought.
"Should we interrupt their brainstorming session?" asked Bash.
"They are definitely planning something," nodded Aribis. "I think they're planning on stealing something from here tonight."
"Interesting," said Bash, turning an eye as if that would help him hear their conversation. He watched the rogue carefully, wondering what she was planning to steal and whether he could help her. Whatever her plans, stealing from Rolen was always in his.
"And that rogue seems to really hate Rolen, more than the rest of them," added Aribis.
A gleam caught Bash's eye, and he fought a smirk.
Birds of a feather, he thought. I should make friends.
"I wonder if they aren't as loyal as they seem," offered William.
"Maybe the rogue can help us," agreed Enna.
"Maybe it's just the money for them, and nothing else. They would make good allies."
"I'm not exactly the most people-friendly person," observed Aribis. "Perhaps someone else should go talk to them?"
They all exchanged glances; none of them were quite proficient with external conversations. In the end, Enna stood.
"I need a distraction anyway," she said.
Aribis cocked his head. "A distraction for what? I can cause a distraction."
"No, no, I just… need to distract myself."
She avoided making eye contact with Bash, and he frowned and turned back to stare at the other rogue.
"I'll go with you," said William as he stood.
"Me, too," said Bash, following suit.
Aribis turned to Sooka and shrugged, and the two joined the rest of the Misfits as they meandered over to the table of the Night's End, where there was room for them all to sit. As soon as their approach was noticed, the Night's End ceased their whispering and turned to watch the newcomers.
"Ah, you've finally decided to join us!" exclaimed Cyrus in true bard fashion.
"You've been waiting for us to join you?" asked William flatly.
"Absolutely! There's no reason we can't all be friends!"
The monk sat next to the beefy Kjelle, and they were soon engaged in conversation as the others found seats. Bash found it difficult not to stare at the rogue, who kept her eyes downcast as much as possible, seemingly annoyed at their presence.
"How did you all come to be sponsored by Rolen?" asked Enna without preamble. Bash quirked an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Now that's a funny story!" laughed Cyrus. "Last year he sponsored a group of gladiators and ended up hiring them. They're actually right over there." He gestured vaguely toward Rolen. "But apparently, this year he wanted to branch out into the Monster Slayer trials. We had gotten a bit of a reputation for ourselves down south along the coastline, and when we came to Agneward, he found us and asked if he could sponsor us!" He ended the story with such flair that Bash had to fight back a snicker. "Funny story" wasn't how he would have described it, though Cyrus seemed to believe otherwise.
Enna, however, laughed appropriately. Ever the people-pleaser.
Bash's ears tuned in to William's conversation as he asked Kjelle about Kragg. Bash couldn't tell if William was fishing for information or really saw some kind of romantic competition in Kragg, but either way, their discourse was just as off-putting as before, and Kjelle offered no useful information other than assuring William that Kragg was not her type.
"So," began Enna, wrenching Bash's attention back to her and Cyrus, "if Rolen were to make an offer to hire you all now, would you take it?"
Cyrus waved his hand. "I doubt it," he said casually. "We have other things we want to do, am I right, dears?"
Adria, sitting on Cyrus's right, laughed while staring at Bash. "Oh, yeah! We'd like to get back home. We have other things to do down there." She giggled and put her chin in her hand as Bash smiled awkwardly back at her.
The woman whose attention he really wanted sat huffed and with her arms crossed, glaring at them and glancing around as if waiting for something. Bash had seen that look before in himself; she was on a job and eager to get moving. Desperately, he wanted to know what she wanted to take.
"So you're not loyal to Rolen, then?" asked William.
"I mean, we're loyal as far as he's paying us," laughed Cyrus. "He bought our way into the Colosso Exhibition, and we kind of needed the coin. You know how it is."
"Yeah," agreed Bash.
"Especially for groups like us!"
"The amount of money that spells cost is ridiculous," piped up the wizard, his voice annoyingly important.
"Ridiculous," repeated Sooka.
The wizard started, watched Sooka for just a moment, then said, "I like the way this one talks."
"I bet you do," muttered Aribis.
"That's Sooka," interrupted William.
"Sooka?" said the wizard. "Excellent. Ah, do we all know each other?"
Bash crossed his arms. "I don't think we do," he said, eyes on the rogue.
"My name is Cordon Maywell," he continued with a dramatic flourish of his hand. "They call me the Iron Mage. This over here is Kjelle the Bonebreaker. I see you've met. This little one—" he patted Cyrus on the head "—is Cyrus Dibbledoo, and this is Adria Rivermire." He pointed to the blonde who grinned at Bash again. "And this lovely leader of our party is Jewel Erim'Rae."
Bash's heart skipped a beat. Had he heard him correctly?
His eyes snapped to the rogue, who still glared at them all, face veiled now in mystery as well as cloth. What did she look like under that mask? Her eyes moved too quickly for him to see their color or shape, but she was unmistakably half-elven. And a rogue at that. What were the odds? How long had it been since his last encounter with someone from House Erim'Rae?
Was it… possible?
"It's a pleasure to meet all of you," announced William. "And it's a pleasure to compete with you."
"Indeed," nodded Kjelle. "Winning would not be same if it were not hard task."
"I have things to do," said Jewel, her voice smooth and calm, remarkable in its defiance of her body language. "If you all would excuse me." And with that, she stood and walked away, Bash's eyes following her for several seconds.
He tried to fight his instincts. He tried to calm his breathing. Could Enna tell? Did she notice his erratic heartbeat, his shallow breaths? He wiped his now sweaty palms on his pants and tried to bring himself back to a place of composure.
Glancing down to steady himself, he took a deep breath and then refocused on the rogue, except… she was nowhere to be found. He turned to Aribis, who was also clearly straining to see her, but even the little feathered ranger gave Bash a helpless shrug. Jewel was lost in the crowd.
Part of Bash wanted to leap to his feet and chase her down, but he knew that he had to have a clearer head than that. Just because she was a half-elf didn't mean there was any relation. There were hundreds or even thousands of elves in the city, plenty more than just him. He grasped for rationality but found it more difficult to find than normal.
Just like Jewel. What a rogue! She had to have gotten those skills from somewhere.
He had to know the answer. But how could he leave without drawing suspicion?
"Yeah, she does that sometimes," said Cyrus, noticing Aribis and Bash's strained necks.
Although Bash kept an eye out, he remained at the table, trying to focus on the conversation. Still, his mind wandered, swimming in the darkness of a time that he had hoped he'd forgotten.
The small talk nearly killed him, but eventually Aribis got up and sidled over to Cordon the wizard, at last giving Bash something interesting to focus on.
"Was she on a time limit?" muttered Aribis, just loud enough for Bash to hear.
"What?" replied Cordon blankly.
"Was she on a time limit?" he repeated.
"Who?"
"Your rogue friend. You're getting antsy, and I know your plan is failing, so was she on a time limit?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," insisted Cordon.
"You're a very bad liar."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, good sir."
Aribis dropped his voice just beyond Bash's hearing, but Cordon responded indignantly before turning a worried eye toward Adria. They whispered to each other for a moment, and then Adria stood.
"I, uh… I'm going to go check on something," she said before easing away from the table and rushing into the crowd.
Turning to Enna, Bash gave a knowing look, and she nodded imperceptibly. Without excusing himself, Bash stood and wandered into the crowd, confident that Enna was not far behind.
Adria's yellow hair flitted this way and that, dozens of people milling about between them, but Bash kept her in his sights. She was somewhat clever, headed for the lavatories, but instead met with Cordon in a hallway just beyond before turning up the far staircase.
Enna brushed Bash's arm and whispered, "The study."
He nodded, and they both turned and skirted past the Night's End, headed toward the nearer stairs that would take them toward Rolen's study. As they passed through the main hall, Bash noticed Kjelle now standing guard by the door, trying to look casual, and William mirroring her on the opposite wall. Aribis and Sooka joined Bash and Enna, and the group ascended the stairs.
Just as they were about to escape the hum of the crowd, the strum of a lute rang out from the dining hall, followed by an announcement from Cyrus. He began to perform for the people, drawing them all to his music.
A distraction, thought Bash. And the barbarian guarding the exit. Something is going down.
Only a few steps down the hallway, they peeked around a corner and saw Adria and Cordon whispering to each other before they threw caution to the wind and began sprinting away from them.
"Go!" whispered Bash, and he and the others began rushing after them, following them at a respectable distance until they came to a bend in the hallway. Peeking around, Bash saw the pair stopped before the doors of Rolen's study. Muffled voices of Heath and Kragg came floating down the hall, and Adria and Cordon stopped moving altogether.
A painful moment later, the two disappeared into his office.
Bash swore under his breath. He heard no signs of conflict, but there was some discussion to be had.
Enna muttered and spun her hand in the air, her green magic flowing into each of them, and Bash took a step, now silent as the grave. With a grin, he sneaked forward, and the group stealthily followed until they could press their ears up against the door and listen.
Kragg spoke first.
"… trying to sneak in here! Bad luck, missy."
"I am so… disappointed in you all," sneered Rolen's voice. "Couldn't leave well enough alone, could you? Heath, Kragg! You know what to do. It looks like someone will win for the Colosso Exhibition by default this year."
"We have to help them," whispered Enna.
Bash pursed his lips. She was right. But could they take Heath and Kragg together?
The sound of shuffling came through the door, and a grinding noise rang out. Footsteps left the room, and the grinding noise repeated. A secret door of some kind, waiting for Bash to find it.
With a deep breath, Bash slowly pushed open the unlocked door to reveal the empty office. The group spilled in after him.
The lavish office represented everything Bash detested about Rolen. How long had he wished to enter this very room and be able to snoop as much as he wanted? Part of him wanted to look under each and every piece of paper, spend hours gathering information, maybe take some choice items from a hidden safe, but right now, he knew that there were more pressing matters at hand.
Looking around, Bash scanned the room for possibilities.
"Find it," said Enna, placing her hand on Bash's shoulder as green energy flowed into him.
Suddenly, he felt empowered in his quest, and he marched over to the bookcases, quickly scanning the shelves for anything out of place. Finding nothing, he moved to a detestable portrait of Rolen, Althea, and Rolen's father, investigating the frame, the seams in the canvas, feeling above, to the sides, underneath, but to no avail. He tugged at candelabras, ran his hand over paperweights, and then noticed a drawer that wasn't quite shut correctly.
Pulling the drawer open, he heard a click and that same grinding sound as a bookcase slid into the floor, revealing a dark, ornate door.
Bash felt several things at once. On one hand, he was immensely proud of himself and riveted to find even one of Rolen's secrets. This was his dream – to find some hidden passageway and discover where Rolen hid his skeletons. But then again, the pressing urgency of the situation wracked his mind, all amid a sadness that he couldn't take his time in Rolen's study.
"We have to get William," said Enna breathlessly.
"Go get him," nodded Bash. "I'll wait." And she ran down the hallway. After the events of last night, he didn't want anyone to be alone. A moment later, she returned, the monk in tow, and Bash found that he could breathe a little more easily.
Feeling his friends behind him, Bash stepped forward and knelt before the door. He wished that this were just another job so that he could take his time and work his magic, but he knew that he had to hurry as much as possible. Still, this lock was masterful work, intricate beyond anything Bash had seen before. The key in Rolen's staff came to his mind, and he was sure that it would work, but alas – the lock barred their way to it. Still, something about this challenge was invigorating to him, and he reached up and lightly brushed the metal with his finger. Putting his ear to the door, he poked and listened, trying to find any indication that would help him in his venture, and all he could glean was that this would be the feat of his life should he manage to pick it open.
It would be nearly impossible. But if anyone could open it, it was Sebastian Aerotath.
Retrieving his thieves' tools from his waist, he laid them out on the floor next to him and retrieved a pick and a file before taking a deep breath.
"This might help," mumbled Aribis as he flicked bright gold magic toward Bash.
Sooka stepped forward, her boots dragging on the floor, and gently took the file from Bash's hand before replacing it with another lockpick. She held fast to the file, ready to hand it over when necessary, and nodded her assurance. Bash smiled in response, realizing his error, before turning back to the task at hand.
Inserting the first lockpick, Bash felt carefully around inside the lock, familiarizing himself with the gears. As he touched each pin within the door, it was as if Aribis's magic created a glowing stamp in his memory, helping him see in his mind what his eyes could not. Once he had a feel for it, he inserted the second pick as Sooka placed her hand and ear on the door, listening for any helpful clicks. Finding the first pin, he shifted his lockpick until he felt a click, and Sooka repeated the sound so that he could hear it better. He moved to the second pin, fighting to keep the pressure from snapping one of his picks in half. With a gentle hand, he maneuvered the second pin into place, Sooka affirming with the sound.
The third pin proved more difficult, as it shifted to a different angle, and Sooka offered him the file. Gratefully accepting it, he carefully held the two picks in place with one hand as he maneuvered the file with the other. The file in place, he switched hands once more, ready to set the next pin, but then his finger slipped and he heard a snap. He swore as one of his picks fell in two pieces to the floor, but Sooka was quickly ready with another from her own pack. He inserted this one, and this time Sooka held the file in place, allowing Bash to work the two picks more carefully.
For several agonizing minutes, the two worked together, Aribis's magic somehow illuminating the lock to Bash's mind. Enna paced restlessly behind him, and he fancied that both William and Aribis had stopped breathing.
Bash removed one of the picks and set it aside while reclaiming the file in his left hand. Then carefully, he pushed against the inside of the lock with the remaining lockpick, filling the room with a resounding click as the lock opened.
"Ha!" exclaimed Bash with joy.
Hurriedly, he packed up his thieves' tools, returning Sooka's pick and stowing his own broken one for Enna to mend later. Then, he grabbed the edge of the door and pulled it open.
Enna's hand found his shoulder, and he turned to see her green eyes peering into his, tears welling in her eyelids.
"I love you," she said before quickly moving through the doorway.
A shadow of sadness passed over Bash's heart, but he had no time to think about such things. The group, footsteps still silent, ran as quickly as they dared down the passage and into the darkness. Deftly as he could, Bash pushed in front of Enna. He had to make sure that she wasn't the first to encounter the danger.
Bash's boots made no sound as they descended a stone staircase, everything about him mere shadows and yet illuminated like near daylight to his elven eyes. A minute later, sounds began to echo down the passage, sounds of pain, sounds of metal. A girl shrieked, and Bash's heart sank. Then he scolded himself.
Why did he care so much about Jewel? It had been hundreds of years.
Shaking his head slightly, he continued as the deep guffaws of Heath and Kragg joined the cries.
"Enna!" whispered Aribis furiously, and Bash whirled around to see the bird man grabbing at her arm, keeping her from taking another step. She stumbled backward, revealing an odd-looking tile, no doubt a pressure plate of some kind. Enna turned to Bash with a measure of terror in her face, and he nodded to reassure her. Continuing on their way, he slowed slightly, keeping his eyes peeled for anything else out of place.
Light appeared as the stairs came to an end, and soon they were upon a rounded door frame. A lightly huffing Enna came up beside Bash, and they beheld a ghastly scene.
The dungeon was lit by braziers along the walls, illuminating the backs of Heath, Kragg, and Fake Rolen, all towering over the tied and bloodied Adria, Cordon, and Jewel on the far side of the room. Heath kicked Adria, Kragg punched Cordon, and Fake Rolen cackled at the sight.
Rage boiled within Bash, and he felt Enna trembling next to him. Carefully, the group edged forward to the doorway.
A click sounded behind Bash, and he swore as he spun around to see William's foot sunken on another pressure plate. A grinding noise sounded, and a massive iron gate crashed shut behind them. With a heavy sigh, Bash turned back to the dungeon as the evil trio spun to see the intruders.
Enna tapped his arm and nodded toward the left wall of the dungeon, and Bash shuddered to see the disfigured and beaten body of Rolen chained to the wall.
We found him, he thought. Now to save him.
And yet, his eyes turned back to Jewel, now collapsed on the floor, unconscious. He had to get to her.
"Well, it's about time, sister," smirked Fake Rolen, eyes beating into Enna.
Glancing over, Bash saw her stunned, eyes flitting back and forth between the doppelganger and the real Rolen chained to the wall. Somebody had to do something.
Aribis and Bash rushed forward in unison, each drawing weapons as they went. Planting himself, Bash nocked an arrow, drew back, and fired at the doppelganger. The arrow sliced the bug-like face, splitting skin and chinking bone before clattering to the ground. A mere second later, Aribis fired two bolts at the same target, one landing in the doppelganger's shoulder and one in his belly. It gasped in pain and doubled over before watching Aribis in terror.
As he mounted another bolt with a quick and practiced hand, Aribis growled, "You know, this is more mercy than you deserve for all the people you've hurt." Then he aimed and fired, the bolt whistling through the air until it pierced the doppelganger through the eye, shot through the back of its skull, and lodged itself in the wall behind. With a satisfying thump, the doppelganger's body clattered to the floor, and Bash felt an impressive sense of satisfaction to see it, almost as if he had exacted revenge on Rolen himself for all the harm he had caused over the years.
"Finally, a challenge!" roared Kragg as Heath withdrew an odd piece of metal from his waist. Aribis threw up a hand, and a glowing golden light shimmered around Bash as Kragg barreled his way toward the little bird man.
The barbarian's rage filled the room as he swung recklessly at Aribis with a massive war hammer, the first blow glancing off a magical force field conjured by Aribis at the last second. But he wasn't able to move in time to block the second blow, and the hammer struck Aribis squarely on the shoulder.
The light around Bash flickered for a moment, but then recovered its brightness even as he turned his eyes to Heath. The dark elf sneered at him, whispered some dark language, and a blade made of pure darkness protruded from what Bash now identified as a sword hilt. William's impossibly fast movement barely registered in Bash's peripheral vision as complete darkness surrounded Heath a split second later. Bash nearly panicked, but then realized that he could see through the magical darkness… sort of.
While Heath was beyond his range of vision, Bash could see a darkened area around him, the doppelganger's body now wreathed in shadow but still visible to his eye. This darkness was no doubt something that might have swallowed him without the blessed dagger that hung at his waist. But he had no time to appreciate it as bolts of black energy shot out of the darkness right at him.
He just managed to step aside as the first bolt whizzed past his shoulder and struck the wall behind him, but a second followed an instant later, forcing him to shift again. This time, he wasn't quite fast enough, and the blow glanced off his left arm, leaving it smarting even as a third bolt came his way. Sooka's distant voice cast some sort of spell on the monstrous Kragg just as Heath's third blast struck Bash squarely in the chest, lifting him off the floor and flinging him back several feet, leaving the Night's End and the doppelganger's body covered in magical darkness. His back slammed against the wall, keeping him upright, and he strained to see anything in the back of the room.
He had to get closer or else nobody would stand a chance against this deadly warlock. He was the only one who could penetrate the night.
As he approached Heath once again, he marveled to see the pitch black shift to vague shadows as he moved through it. Enna ran up behind him, blurted out some magic, and Bash watched as the energy shot forward into the darkness and expanded, clinging to… something. As Bash inched forward, Daemonsbane revealed the limp and unconscious bodies of Adria, Cordon, and Jewel, but he was confused to see that the doppelganger's body had disappeared.
Still, this was no time for investigation. Plunging forward, Bash planted himself firmly between Heath and the unarmored Enna, bow in hand as the dark elf came into his view. Enna's magic had worked – Heath, along with the Night's End members, had all been illuminated by a greenish glow, though the light didn't cling to Heath as it did the others. His entire form fainted and shifted in the shadows, dragging the green fire along with it, making him a haze within a haze. Still, Bash would not yield. Even from twenty feet away, he raised his bow, aimed carefully, and fired, lodging his arrow firmly into Heath's shoulder.
Shouts and spells rang out behind Bash as Heath growled and rushed forward, bringing the shadows with him as he swung both his dagger and eerie rapier at Bash. Just before Heath swung, the light around Bash faltered and disappeared, and he quickly prayed that nothing had happened to Aribis.
Heath's dagger pierced Bash's arm, and Bash barely avoided receiving a detached calf as he jerked his leg back and received only a light sweep across his shin from the rapier. Still, both wounds began to sear with pain, a dark puslike substance oozing out of them.
At the corner of his vision, Bash saw unexpected movement, and he glanced over to see the doppelganger just enter his sight, rolling toward him until it splayed itself across the floor just as Enna placed a hand on his shoulder, pushing a life-giving essence into him. He felt the wounds on his arm and shin heal over even as Enna moved away from him, searching for something. What was she doing? She was too exposed.
Even with Heath so close, Bash eased his way back and out of his range before moving closer to Enna. With Heath on the very edge of Bash's vision, true darkness just beyond him, Bash spun, nocking and drawing an arrow as he did so, and closed one eye to aim at Heath's heart. He held his breath as he released the projectile, and it sailed true.
Thwump.
The arrow protruded out of Heath's chest, blood pushing out of his body even as his heart struggled to keep beating, and the dark elf slumped to the floor. At the same moment, the darkness vanished, revealing once more the three members of the Night's End on the far side of the room. And yet, the doppelganger was nowhere to be found. Or had he seen it where he now saw the unconscious and bleeding Adria?
But the battle was not over, and he didn't yet have time for confusion.
Spinning quickly, Bash focused on the other fight at hand and saw a somewhat bloody Aribis thrusting a hand toward Kragg. Aribis's golden magic wrapped around Kragg's mind, and the barbarian shrieked in rage, twisting and moving just beyond the reach of a magical bone dagger.
In response, the furious barbarian swung again at Aribis, striking him on the hip, glancing another blow off Aribis's conjured shield, and then hitting him on the shoulder. All the while, William was landing fist after fist on Kragg's back as Sooka thrust a bolt of blue magic at the beast of a man who would not yield the fight.
Movement caught Bash's eye, and he turned to see Enna approaching the body of Adria.
Something isn't right, he thought as he followed her, and just as Enna pushed healing magic through Adria's body, Bash came close enough to see that his intuition was right.
"That's a doppelganger!" he called to her, and she pulled back, somewhat bewildered as he charged forward, drawing Daemonsbane as he went, and plunged the dagger into the doppelganger's throat. Enna jumped slightly as the doppelganger finally died, revealing itself to her eyes.
At that moment, sounds of piercing blades rang out across the room, and Bash looked up to see Aribis swinging at Kragg with two short swords. One pierced Kragg's arm and the other his knee, a dark green energy seeping from Aribis's head, down his arm, and into the now seeping wound. Blackish ooze began to pool on the floor as Kragg fell to his knees, and that same energy began to emanate from Aribis's mouth as his eyes glowed a sickly green.
"Say hello to your master," he rasped before plunging a short sword into Kragg's throat.
The giant toppled over, and Aribis withdrew his swords as he did so.
For a moment, the room was silent except for their heavy panting. As the realization came over them that the battle was over, they each turned to what they deemed the most important.
The glow of Enna's magic dissipated as she rushed over to where Rolen stood chained against the wall, but Bash rushed over to Jewel and collapsed on the floor next to her. Lifting her gingerly, her limp body was nearly soaked with blood, and he pulled her into his lap before pressing his finger on her neck, breathing heavily in anxiety. He exhaled to find the slightest of heartbeats, but for a moment, he wasn't sure what to do.
This woman had answers to so many of his questions. Something told him that if she wasn't healed right now, she would never have the opportunity to give them. But what was he to do? He placed a hand on her face and tilted her head up, willing so strongly that he could save her, if only to have one single conversation, and suddenly his hand began to glow. Some power had built up within him, so similar to the magic he had used before, but this felt… different. It came from somewhere else. Quickly, he released the energy, watching the glow shine over Jewel's skin, and the worst of her wounds began to knit together. Color rushed back into her face, and her breaths grew strong and deep.
Movement ruffled around Bash, but he paid it no mind, focused as he was on Jewel.
Clinking of chains echoed off the stone walls, and Bash finally turned away from the half-elf to see Enna struggling to free Rolen's body. For the first time, Bash was able to really look at it. Sunken and emaciated it was, dotted with countless bruises and cuts, and obviously dead. Enna's trembling hands twisted around the bonds, and Bash thought he saw the glimmer of tears on her cheek. He wished that he could care about Rolen's death. But in the end, he was just glad that he was gone. So many years he had spent moving against Rolen on every side, so many times to see others punished by his mere existence, and now… Enna wept for him.
He understood… sort of. Rolen was her brother. But he had also been a monster.
Carefully, Enna removed the chains, and Rolen's limp form collapsed into her arms. She slowly laid him on the ground, falling on her knees next to him, soft sobs escaping her as she beheld his corpse.
Knowing well that there was nothing he could do for her, Bash returned his attention to Jewel, whose eyes were just beginning to flit open. For a moment, her gaze met his, and he froze once again. Those eyes were familiar somehow.
And what did she look like underneath that mask? Would there be a resemblance?
Almost without thinking, Bash reached for the edge of the veil, but Jewel's hand snapped onto his wrist. Her grasp was feeble, but her intent was clear, her eyes pleading as she shook her head.
"Please," he whispered.
Her grip tightened, but he couldn't resist. He had to see her face.
Glancing around, he saw Enna still crying and the others going about the belongings of Heath, Kragg, and the doppelganger. Satisfied that they were sufficiently distracted, he muttered an apology and pulled the veil from her face.
Where Bash expected to see the beautiful face resembling one he used to love, there was instead horrible disfigurement. Jewel's face was covered in scars, as if a burning hand had been pressed against her mouth and across her cheeks, leaving nothing but a fiery hole of nothingness where her mouth was. Tears cascaded down the scars as Jewel pushed away with all her might, and Bash let her go. As quickly as she could, she replaced the veil and rolled away from him, standing shakily on her feet.
Bash sat helpless on the floor. Grief that he did not understand filled his heart, and he feared that he, too, might begin to weep.
"Why did you do that?" she demanded, her voice wavering even through her determination.
"I… needed to know… something." He stood. "It's… nothing…" He couldn't meet her eyes.
"… Cordon?" she whimpered, glancing at the body of the wizard. Bash followed her gaze and saw that the man's head had caved in under the pressure of Kragg's torture.
"Where's Adria?" asked Jewel, noticing the doppelganger and seeming bewildered.
"Right there," said Bash, gesturing toward the wall, where Adria lay unmoving, and he now realized that she was closer to the wall than before. Moving toward her, Bash knelt and felt for a pulse, but his fingers instead touched a soft fabric, invisible to his eye. "What?" he muttered, grasping at something he could not see and pulling it away from Adria.
Suddenly Jewel gasped, and Bash held an odd-looking cloak in his hand.
"An invisibility cloak," muttered Aribis as Jewel rushed to Adria's side. "So, the doppelganger thought he could pull a fast one on us."
Bash now pressed a finger on Adria's throat but felt nothing. Bowing his head slightly, he announced, "She's dead."
A cry rang out from Jewel as she fell to the floor in sorrow, grasping at Adria's body as she wept. Bash stood and took several steps back, watching the rogue cradle the bloodied, blonde head in her lap. Only two nights before, Adria had been so flirtatious with him at the Exhibition Dinner. He had been so annoyed with her and couldn't wait to escape. And now, she was dead, too.
Would there be an end to the chaos?
Head hanging low, Bash took several steps over to Enna, still softly crying by Rolen, sat next to her, and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry," whispered Enna, running a hand over Rolen's forehead. "I didn't get here in time. I'm sorry."
The death toll had grown uncomfortably high since Bash's return to Agneward. How many more people would have to die? Rubbing his forehead, he fought to understand everything that had happened. But there was too much to process. Never in his immensely long life had he ever experienced so much in such a short time. Four days used to pass by him in the blink of an eye, and now these last few had felt like a year. When would it be over?