Blind Devotion

by dnd4evr

While on the run from a haunting past, a half-orc warlock finds himself the chance companion of a blind elf doctor. Despite her quirks, he finds great comfort in her company, and the two make fast friends...even if their enemies are never far behind. All original characters that are HIGHLY INSPIRED by the cast of Critical Role.

4. The New Road

Al shot up in his bed to the sound of someone pounding on his room door. Sunlight was pouring into the room from the uncovered window, illuminating the petals of the flowers in the window box. It would be pretty, but Al was more pissed that he was startled out of a nice dream that was already floating away.

He dejectedly rubbed his face as whatever assailant was outside continued to lay siege to his door.

"I'm up!" he yelled at the door, although he mumbled, "I'm fucking up already…" to himself as he swung his legs off the bed, stood up, and stretched. Without his armor, Al's tunic was almost uncomfortably big, in a way to give others the impression that the half-elf who wore it was actually anemic. Thankfully, he was not; it was just the right size to hide his armor, which made his enemies frequently underestimate his durability.

"Who's there?" he spat at the door.

"Your roommate!" a familiar voice yelled back.

Al's mind was still beset with the fog of a groggy awakening, but upon looking at the second, untouched bed and the sunlight pouring into the room, even he could put the clues together.

After sneaking out to listen in on Jayce and Dahlia last night, he had returned to his room and then, out of habit, locked the door...and, likely unable to rouse Al, Jayce had spent the night in the hallway.

The man who had paid for the room…had spent the night in the hallway.

"Oh shit oh shit oh shit!" Al was in a complete panic as his normally dexterous fingers fumbled with the lock on the door. After an uncomfortably awkward few seconds of his hands just refusing to work right, he ripped open the door to face off with the slightly shorter, but no less intimidating, half-orc he had agreed to travel with.

Jayce was standing there with his arms folded, looking far less than pleased.

"Uh, so, you...look surprisingly well rested!" Al smiled nervously, hoping a compliment would ease whatever Jayce had in store for him.

"Mhm," Jayce grunted, continuing to glare right into Al's eyes.

"Um...so, uh, funny thing," Al chuckled, trying unsuccessfully to meet the man's gaze. "Every night I've got this habit of checking the windows and such and I think I locked the door after I did my rounds…"

Al tried to smile in a trustworthy way, but came off looking pained. Jayce raised a single eyebrow with a look of disbelief that could have made a lesser man falter.

Seconds dragged on, and Al began to fidget. When it was clear he was becoming extremely uncomfortable, Jayce suddenly adopted a soft smile and patted his arm.

"Ain't a problem. Dahlia found me an extra pillow. Now let me in so I can get dressed."

Al immediately shifted to the side to make room for Jayce to enter.

"Just don't do it again," Jayce hissed as he passed.

Al made a mental note to not talk to the obviously upset half-orc until he had time to cool off.

With packs collected, armor refastened, and coats and cloaks re-donned, the two of them made their way to the lobby where Dahlia, and, surprisingly, Gauth, were already waiting for them. Despite being inside and the indication of it being another sunny, albeit brisk, day, Dahlia had her hood up and seemed completely content with it staying there.

"Seems like we're all here!" Jayce smiled, nodding to Gauth, who waved in return. "I guess breakfast is in order, and then we're hittin' the road."

"Actually," Dahlia said quietly, as if she could barely dare herself to interrupt, "I'd like to visit a temple of Pelor, or at the very least a shrine, before we head off."

"Really?" Al asked, sighing in annoyance. It was going to be two weeks on the road and any delay just added to that. "Do all clerics have to make these side trips before travelling?"

"One, I never said I was a cleric, two, this is between me and Pelor, and three, it's important to me," Dahlia spat, actually stepping up Al and getting in his face. "If you think your health and wellness is not that big of a deal, then sure, let's neglect my faith, from which my power stems. Great idea."

Jayce hid a laugh behind his fist and glanced at Gauth, who slowly nodded to agree that he was also impressed.

"Well fuck me! Didn't realize you'd get all hormonal about it-"

"Whoa whoa whoa!" Jayce jumped between them and lightly pushed Al back. "Look, we've all had a rough mornin'."

Gauth grunted his disagreement. He slept perfectly well.

Jayce rolled his eyes and continued. "Thankfully, we ain't gotta go that far. I'll take Dahlia to the shrine they got in the garden here, you two head out an' find a place t' have breakfast. We'll meet in front of the doors in about twenty minutes. Sound good?"

"That should be long enough…" Dahlia mumbled.

"Sounds fine," Al huffed, crossing his arms.

"Then we'll head our way, and we'll see ya in a bit," Jayce smiled, taking Dahlia's arm above the elbow as he usually did. He began walking her toward the desk, where the young red-haired woman from the day before was waiting.

Dahlia did not object and allowed herself to be led along without resistance.

"Good morning!" Jayce called out to the woman at the desk. She looked up and actually offered a smile, so he continued, "We'd like to visit the garden before we go. Can ya point us in the right direction?"

"Absolutely," she said with that generic smile. She stood and motioned to their left. "Through that door, first door on your right. Please remember it is a private garden for guests and as such we depend on you to help keep it clean and comfortable."

"Thank ya kindly," Jayce smiled warmly, miming a tip of the hat. Dahlia also mumbled her thanks as they headed toward the left hand door.

"So what's in this garden?" Dahlia asked as they walked.

"Shrines t' all the major deities," Jayce smiled. "Lady mentioned it yesterday when I bought the rooms. I figured it'd be the fastest way t' get ya what ya need, and on top of that, I ain't sure Malcolm an' his crew have abandoned lookin' for ya at the local temple. If there even is one."

"Good point…" Dahlia mumbled. "That almost feels like a lifetime ago."

Jayce laughed. "Am I really that awful? Night before last you said it felt like you'd been with me a week!"

"No! No, I meant…" Dahlia shrunk into herself. "I meant...I'm sorry. I just meant that the way things are now are so different. It's hard to believe it's only been a few days."

"Dahlia, it's okay. I thought it was funny," Jayce smiled as he pushed open the first door on his right. "Ya ain't the first t' tell me I'm a bit rough on the nerves."

Dahlia had to pause a step as the scent of flowers and damp earth washed over her. It was so calming and smelled so clear.

"You okay?"

She shook her head a bit to clear it. "I'm fine. Just enjoying the scent. It smells like a nice garden."

Jayce looked around, and he had to agree. Even for being surrounded on all sides by walls and windows, small trees, flowering bushes, and planters of hardy flowers seemed to grow happily in that confined space. The garden was set around a pathway shaped like a ring, with small stone shrines every five or so feet and benches directly across. Several shrines, especially the one to the Wildmother, already sported lit candles and small offerings of fresh fruits and grains.

"Yeah, kinda beautiful after all the glitz n' glam of Kymal," Jayce said quietly, momentarily distracted but still on the lookout for Pelor's shrine.

"So who was the first?"

Jayce looked at her as they started to walk the ring. "What?"

"Who was the first to say you were 'rough on the nerves'?" Dahlia smiled. She already had an inkling of what kind of incident may have prompted that comment, and she listened with great anticipation.

Jayce snickered to himself at the memory. "First carrack I sailed, captain was a right piece of work. Two tons of mail to deliver, the man made a damn big deal of how we weren't supposed to open any of 'em and his reputation was on the line. Thing is, he said that to me. Not to the crew, to me. Like I was the one who was gonna sink the whole fuckin' ship. So I dug through every box 'n barrel 'n bag I could find until I found empty envelopes, packed for sale, scribbled addresses on every single one, and scattered 'em through the crew quarters."

"Wow. You were a vengeful little jerk weren't you?" Dahlia smiled. "How old were you?"

"Yes, and eight. Captain had a fuckin' tantrum, yellin' at the crew for nearly an hour straight. Woulda got away with it too if one of the hands hadn't noticed I was the only one not found with incriminatin' evidence." Jayce pulled her to a stop in front of the small shrine of the Dawnfather. "Nearly got thrown overboard."

"I can see why he said you were rough on the nerves!" Dahlia chuckled. "The only way I can compare is one time as a child, my-..."

Her face fell. "...The tutor, who taught me alchemy… I switched some of his labels because he was annoying me. He ended up growing purple warts on his hands that spit sparks."

Jayce gave her a curious look. That probably was funny at the time, but something about that memory hurt her.

"Uh, anyway...here's the shrine. There's a bench about four feet behind you. I'll wait there."

Dahlia nodded as Jayce let her go. "Thank you, Jayce. This shouldn't take long."

She waved her hands out for the shrine and sighed with relief when her fingertips brushed the edge of the basin. She often wondered if touching a shrine was sacrilegious, even though it was the only way she could really "see" the shrine and know for sure what she was praying to. She always hoped that, if it was taboo, Pelor would forgive her, due to her limitations.

Dahlia sank to her knees and folded her hands, breathing deeply to calm herself. She did not trust herself to speak, and just filled her heart with questions. Was she still safe? Did she break her vow? Was Jayce someone she could trust? Would her god give her guidance?

Despite the early morning hour, despite the low angle of the rising sun in the east, Jayce watched in pure awe as the sunlight seemed to twist and bend of its own will, falling across Dahlia's kneeling form. Whatever her prayer was, she seemed to have liked the answer and nearly collapsed from the conclusion of the mental strain.

"Okay," Dahlia wheezed, shakily standing. "We can go now."

"You sure you're okay?" Jayce immediately stepped over to her and grabbed her arm. "Ya seem a bit unsteady there."

"It's just a big relief, that's all," she smiled. "It seems even my god likes you."

"That's...nice?" Jayce smiled awkwardly, and Dahlia giggled in response. It looked like she was in a good mood… Maybe Jayce could capitalize on that.

"Hey, Dahlia, come over here," Jayce said, pulling her over to a waist-high planter with a small potted tree by the bench he had been using. "I saw somethin' funny over here."

Dahlia managed to catch her footing and followed, confused. "And how am I supposed to help? I can't see a thing."

Jayce worked so hard to keep from snickering and ruining the joke. "Stick your hand in here. What do you feel?"

"Terrified," Dahlia said curtly, teasing. "Although...it's soft, and damp and cool. I'm going to guess, as we're in a garden, that this is dirt."

"You'd be right!" Jayce smiled. "Thing is, this is fresh dirt. Somebody's been addin' soil to this planter."

"Oh...kay?" She knew this was a set up and braced for impact.

"Dahlia, we have a mysterious gardener skulkin' around here."

She paused, waiting for the punchline. "...And?"

"The plot thickens."

There was a minor breath of hesitation as Jayce watched the realization dawn on her.

"Jayce! You-! You-!" Dahlia weakly punched his arm and chest, bolstered by his raucous laughter, but laughing herself. "Your jokes are horrible! Where do you even get them?!"

"I'm just special like that," Jayce wheezed, barely blocking her attempts to swing at him. "It's a dangerous mix of an active imagination, lovin' t' read, and too much fuckin' time on my hands."

Dahlia just smacked his arm again, light enough to do no harm, as she laughed to herself. "Fine! Let's go meet the others. I think I'm ready for breakfast."

"Me too. Let's go."

xXxXx

"Considering your absolute excess of funds right now, I think you should buy breakfast, Jayce."

The breakfast in question was a large loaf of potato bread, stuffed with soft cheese, and still steaming from being pulled from the oven just minutes before. It smelled heavenly, but Jayce and Al were having a tiff over who should purchase the food as Jayce had already bought food for himself and Dahlia, and Al didn't want to give up his own coin due to a "severe limitation" on his budget, being the fact that he had less than twenty gold on him. Gauth sighed. Al could be a real pain some days.

"Pay for yer own damn food! I didn't even get a fuckin' bed last night, and I paid for that bed! You didn't!"

Gauth nodded as he listened, silently agreeing with Jayce as he sat outside with Dahlia. She delicately nibbled on a warm scone, topped with herbed butter, and occasionally paired it off with a small jar of carrot jam with cloves that Jayce had purchased as a treat.

"Another scone?"

Gauth nodded. "Yeah, please."

He watched as she used the knife from her mess kit to spread an extra thick layer of the jam across the top of the warm scone, which immediately began to soften and melt across the top. He couldn't help but smile. Somehow, someone had figured out how to make carrots taste good.

Gauth wondered what went into making jam, so he decided to ask.

"Dahlia," Gauth asked, being careful not to pinch her hand as he took the scone from her, "how do you make jam?"

She thought it over for a minute before replying. "I'm not entirely sure, but the consistency of the jam is very soft. I believe it has to include cooking the carrots until they're soft enough to mash, and then adding another ingredient to keep it soft and spreadable as it cools. At the academy, we would often use pig gelatin to suspend delicate samples for study, as it was very soft and easy to cut. I would imagine adding a carrot mash to pig gelatin would make something soft and spreadable, like jam."

That sounded delicious, especially if pig gelatin tasted anything like ham or bacon.

"As this is sweeter than I'd expect a carrot to be, I also imagine sugar is involved."

Even more delicious. Gauth made sure to chew the scone extra carefully. If the jam had bacon in it, he didn't want to waste a drop.

Jayce stormed out of the bakery, rubbing his face in frustration. Gauth looked over, half amused, but also concerned.

"Will he buy his own food?" Gauth asked.

"Like pullin' fuckin' teeth…!" Jayce hissed under his breath. "How can you stand that asshole?!"

Gauth shrugged. "Al is loyal, but stubborn and greedy. I thought that was obvious."

Jayce sighed, crossing his arms and rolling his head back. "...I know four copper ain't much, but damn it all, I'm still pissed he locked me outta our room! I paid for a damn expensive bed an I didn't get a fuckin' chance to use it!"

"They were quite soft," Gauth shrugged. "I liked mine."

"Great. Thanks. I feel a helluva lot better," Jayce growled, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"You're welcome," Gauth said simply. He knew better than to pander to a tantrum.

Jayce threw a hand up in defeat and walked away a few feet to cool off, and Al finally came out with that loaf of bread.

"Just so you know, because I had to buy it myself, I'm not going to share!" Al called out to him. Jayce replied by presenting a middle finger over his shoulder.

Gauth chuckled.

"What is going on?" Dahlia asked, unable to follow the non-verbal parts of the conversation.

"Al and Jayce are acting like brothers," Gauth shrugged. "I would fight with my brothers and sisters in a similar way, but the two of them seem badly prepared to fight like…"

There was a word for brothers and sisters, but Gauth couldn't recall it. Yosxim had used it before. What was it?

"Siblings?" Dahlia added helpfully.

That was the one!

"Yes! Siblings! And they are siblings now, but they will take some time to learn that." Gauth nodded sagely, although the gesture was only seen by himself. "I am used to siblings, but it took time for Al to learn to be brothers with me."

"So, is everyone family to you?" Dahlia asked, holding out another scone with an extra thick layer of carrot jam.

Gauth nodded, but this time remembered she couldn't see him. "Only those I care about are family to me. You saved a life, you offered to teach me. You are like an elder to me. Jayce is…" He didn't want to say scary. The man was tiny and definitely not strong, but he had a way of making Gauth feel uneasy. "...an uneasy person. He can make people feel scared, but he is not strong. He is like a little brother who shouts. Al is not strong, but he is quick and clever. He is like a little brother who cheats. Little brothers may be brothers, but they never get along."

"Gauth, that was surprisingly apt."

Gauth tilted his head curiously. "What is apt?"

To his absolute joy, Dahlia immediately responded. "It means accurate. It's a way of saying you described something very well."

Gauth smiled to himself. He liked this new teacher very much.

"Are you two done yet?! Let's get going!" Al called out, hugging the bread to his chest like it was a precious treasure. "It's a long-ass walk and I don't want to make it any longer!"

Gauth picked himself up and reshouldered his travel bag, which, while appropriately sized for him, could easily fit any one of his friends inside. Speaking of his friends, he just remembered he carried something that wasn't actually his.

As he stood, he pulled forward his bag and dug through it, easily pulling out the bedroll that was on top. He held it out to Dahlia...who didn't notice.

He felt awkward and cleared his throat.

"Yes, Gauth?"

"We found a bedroll for you," Gauth said, poking her side with it. She wrapped her arms around it in surprise. "It's green, and made of wool. It will be warm."

"Oh!" Dahlia seemed very surprised. "Th-thank you. I...wasn't expecting this. Thank you."

"Jayce made it clear you needed one. Al found it, I carried it, Jayce paid for it. Our gift to you."

Gauth wasn't good at sentimental gifts, and this was starting to feel like one. He fidgeted and threw his pack back over his shoulder. But when he looked at Dahlia, even with her face half covered, she looked so happy and grateful. Then she tried to shove it into her medicine bag, and it obviously was too big to fit.

"...I can continue to carry it."

"Thank you, Gauth. I think it might be time to retire this old bag and get a better one."

Gauth smiled as he took the bedroll back and easily slipped it into his own bag. "There will be better shops in Westruun, right?"

He clapped a hand on her shoulder and she nearly screamed, flinching away and clawing at his fingers. Gauth ripped his hand back in shock.

"What in the fuckin' hell just happened?!" Jayce shouted, racing over.

"It's fine! It's fine. I'm sorry. I…" Dahlia shivered and rubbed her shoulder almost obsessively.

"I touched her," Gauth said, completely confused as to what happened.

"I'm sorry, Gauth. You startled me. I can't see you move toward me, and it's hard to remember how big your hands are." Dahlia's face fell. "I'm sorry."

"Apology-"

"Can we go?!" Al called out.

"Hey, Gauth," Jayce said, stepping between him and Dahlia, "for the future, if ya gotta touch Dahlia t' get her attention, an' I mean if there's no other option, here's a good spot." He patted his own arm, just above the elbow. "This's where I usually grab t' lead her around."

"I'd still prefer verbal warning," Dahlia mumbled dejectedly, as Jayce grabbed her arm to demonstrate and began walking down the street.

"And now I know," Gauth said, following.

Dahlia was a strange one. These next weeks will be interesting.

xXxXx

After looking at his map, Jayce realized the Wildwood Byway, the road that bisected Kymal from north to south, traveled north, and then northwest, before reaching the Silvercut Roadway at the Silvercut Crossroads. The Silvercut Roadway then headed southeast, then east, and southeast again before crossing the Byhills River. By his estimation, Jayce determined the group could cut off two hundred miles by simply travelling east-northeast to the Byhills River Bridge from Kymal's northern gate. Of course, that was through the rough, untamed terrain of the Dividing Plains, which gave Dahlia reason for pause...but Al and Jayce were both impatient to reach Westruun, and Gauth assured them all he would prevent Jayce from getting them all lost, so she relented, even while listening to Jayce protest against the goliath's comment.

They had stamped town a patch of tall, fluffy-tipped prairie grass to make a comfortable space to camp for the night, and Gauth had briefly wandered off to find something to burn while Al picked out the best spot for his bedroll. Taking advantage of the quickly waning light of the setting sun, Jayce cross referenced the peaks of the Ironseat Ridge and the various hills of the Dividing Plains to confirm their place on the map...which he hoped was halfway to the bridge. The truth was, he had only a rough guess as to where they are, as he was far more used to travelling by stars, and the sky was quite different so far from the Lucidian Coast.

Dahlia sat down on her bedroll, lightly stroking her hands across it. It had been a long time since she had a bedroll of her own, and Gauth told her it was green. She almost didn't dare believe them. Even so, it would make sleeping far more comfortable, and she appreciated that.

"Jayce, you've been staring at that map for an hour-"

"Five minutes, Al. We ain't even been stopped an hour."

Al snickered but continued anyway. "Still, you've been staring at it quite intensely for a while. Are we, on this grand plan of yours, lost?"

Jayce rolled his eyes and forcefully rolled up the map. "We are not lost, asshole. I was just checkin' our progress. Far as I figure, one more day and we'll be at the bridge, or at the very least the roadway if we angled too far north. We'll be fine."

"I can't imagine how hard it is to read a map!" Al laughed. "It's so hard to recognize landmarks and unique roads! It's definitely not like the absolutely flat and completely dull ocean!"

"Al, fuck, you. The ocean's damn terrifyin' and the fact that it's flat a fuckin' cause t' worry!" Jayce hissed, which seemed to make Al laugh harder. "If there ain't waves, there's gonna be reefs, sandbars, or other shit and ya'll either run aground or scuttle yer ship so fast you'll sink before you even realized it happened!"

Al sat with a thud on his bedroll as he continued to laugh, although he did manage to quiet himself somewhat and gripped his stomach from the pain caused by mirth. Jayce grumbled several unique curses to himself and set out his own bedroll before busying himself with digging a fire pit.

"Jayce, I believe you," Dahlia said quietly, as if she didn't expect to be heard.

Jayce sighed. "It's fine, Dahlia. Ain't a secret I got lost on the way here."

"As long as you don't get us lost again, I'll be fine," Al snickered, watching Jayce cut through the ground roots of the prairie grass with a utility knife. "Gauth's lived out in the wilds like this all his life before I met him, so one way or another, we'll get to Westruun. Actually, if it wasn't for the fact that he can't read, I'd say hand him the map! At least until we find a puddle."

Jayce shot him a look that could have struck fear in a statue, and while Al decided not to antagonize the half-orc anymore, he did continue to giggle under his breath.

Dahlia listened to Jayce taking his anger out on the ground, cutting and ripping through the thin but tangled roots of the prairie grass. Considering how Al seemed intimidated by Jayce, the half-elf did seem fond of antagonizing him. She couldn't figure it out, although honestly her observations of interactions between the two were extremely limited. Gauth's comment about the two of them acting like brothers seemed accurate, as her own sibling dynamic was vastly different from what she had come to learn was the norm in Tal'Dorei. Hopefully, Gauth would return soon, as well as some sort of peace.

There was also the threat of attack looming over her. Although the roads themselves were far from safe, they were at least patrolled by guards or the mercenaries hired by caravans. Out here, in the middle of the plains, away from civilisation and the roads, they made ideal targets.

So far, all she could hear were the rustle of small animals through the grasses, and the large feet of Gauth as he made his way back to the small camp in the nearly four foot tall grass.

"Welcome back, Gauth," she said, before he was technically in the camp. Jayce and Al both looked confused, and then surprised when Gauth entered the camp a mere second later.

"Thank you," Gauth smiled, noting the hole Jayce had made and dropping his collection of strange fibrous disks right next to it. "I have found enough to sustain a fire for tonight."

"How…?" Al began, looking at Dahlia in confusion, but he decided against finishing his sentence. Instead he turned to his friend. "So, what are we burning this time, Gauth?"

"Bison shit."

Jayce nearly gagged.

"A herd passed near here several days ago," Gauth said, motioning out nearly south with his arm. "There were plenty, and thankfully the grasses were thin enough that they were dry, even after the recent rain."

"That's lucky," Al smiled, nodding. "And Jayce, they don't smell that bad when you light them on fire."

Gauth nodded. "They are mostly grass. Fermented grass, but grass."

Jayce resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "One day, I'll find a damn enchanter and make 'im build a fire that fits in a pocket. Just yank it out, toss it down, and boom. Fire."

"I believe they call those 'bombs'," Al snickered.

"The kind of fire ya cook food over, ya sonuva bitch," Jayce spat. His nerves were obviously getting quite thin.

"We should figure out shifts," Dahlia cut in. "With the four of us, we can each take two hours, and I can take four. That way, we should all manage to get a full night's sleep."

"Why do you get the lion share?" Jayce asked.

"Because I can," she replied. "Today was rather uneventful, so I won't need to sleep as much. Consider it a thank you for the bedroll, and the patience and tolerance you all have exhibited toward me."

Gauth wanted very badly to ask about the bigger words, but he was unsure if now would be a bad time. Instead, he just grunted in frustration.

Al noticed. "She meant 'thanks for being nice to me'," Al whispered helpfully to him.

"Ya ain't gotta stress yourself on our account," Jayce said to her. "If we all take a two hour shift, it'll get us until mornin'. That should be enough."

"Then please let me have the last shift. I...would like to feel the sunrise," she said, although that was not the true reason. If she had the last shift, it would be easier to let the others sleep long enough to get a full night's rest.

"Right… You're a follower of Pelor," Al mumbled. "But not a cleric, as you've mentioned!"

Dahlia sighed. "No. While I carry his faith, I haven't found a church that would induct me. That hasn't stopped me from learning the magic granted by faith, but it has...offered obstacles in learning new magicks."

"That ain't right," Jayce said, a little surprised that was the reason. "What church wouldn't be glad t' have you?"

"Jayce, it's complicated and far more of a story than I want to share with any of you. We still need to figure out the shifts."

Jayce nodded. "That's fair. Since me an' Al can see in the dark, I figure we should have the middle shifts, and Gauth, you should go first. You'll have the firelight t' help, and the settin' sun."

Gauth nodded his approval.

"Then that just leaves who goes first in the middle," Al mumbled, stroking his short beard. If he went second, he could have a chance to speak with Dahlia one on one-

"I'll go second. I'm less likely to spook Dahlia when I wake her," Jayce chimed in.

Al grunted under his breath. He had so many questions about that...thing that made her change into a literal imbecile back in the mine. That couldn't have been natural.

"You sure? That means I'll get to wake you up, and Gauth can tell you I'm not nice about it," Al smiled, hoping the subtle hint would be enough to make the half-orc change his mind. "I used a knife under his fingernails once. He hasn't slept in since."

Jayce sighed and gave him a thoroughly annoyed look. "I'll take my chances. Besides, I got a pretty clear feelin' ya ain't that cruel to your 'only friend'."

It seemed Jayce remembered Al's sarcastic comment from the night before, and Gauth looked confused enough to give him away anyway.

"Fine!" Al threw up his hands in defeat. "Suit yourself. It'll be a rude awakening though!"

"Like I said, I'll take my chances." Jayce sat back on his bedroll and pulled out his remaining rations for the day. He had been rather strategic with it, and had saved the cheese, cured meat, and a dry, crumbly flat bread for the sit down meal of the day.

Gauth struck his flint and steel to some tinder, and after a few tense moments, the fire began to light. The smell was initially sickly sweet and almost rancid sour, but soon there was enough charcoal to dampen the less pleasant aspects of the scent.

Taking their cue from Jayce, the others pulled out their food and began to nibble through it. The sky above was beginning to turn deep shades of orange and red, signalling the end of the day.

"Still amazes me how short the days get in autumn," Al mused, mostly to himself.

"That's nothin'. I've heard of stretches of sea so far north or south that whole days go by before the sun sets," Jayce smiled, trying to imagine a place like that. "A whole month without night, then half a year later, a whole month without day. Fuckin' insane."

"You're right it's insane. I don't believe you," Al said, disbelief written across his face. "The sun rises, and the sun sets. That's how a day works."

"Ain't the way it works ev-"

"SHHH!"

Dahlia had her hand out, her head cocked to the side. Even with her hood still up, it was obvious she was listening for something.

Everyone went quiet, hoping to hear as well. Was it a threat in the tall grasses?

No one dared to breathe. Gauth's hand went slowly for the great axe on his back, and Al and Jayce quietly palmed their own blades.

A rustle.

Wordlessly, Dahlia pointed northwest, and the men jumped up, weapons drawn and ready to attack. Gauth, rage boiling through his veins at the thought of anything daring to threaten his friends, charged that edge of the camp and swung his great axe through the grasses. He didn't need to wait for a signal. If it was friendly, he knew it would have made itself known by now.

He grinned with satisfaction as his blade bit something soft and fleshy, reveling in the scream his weapon produced in the offending creature. The grass, cleanly cleaved in twain, fell aside to reveal the bloody lower half of goblin that had been hidden in the brush.

The second Gauth reacted, Dahlia pulled the special blade from inside her medicine bag. The blade was slightly thicker in the center to accommodate an exaggerated blood vein, which, unlike most blades, ran the full length from the tip to the cross hilt. Her ears were open. She knew that wasn't the only creature in the grasses around them.

A thick, putrid hand shot out of the grass behind her, but she heard it coming. She backhanded the blade in a vicious arch, grimacing as it bit deep into the creature attempting to grab her. With a flick of her thumb, a small vial popped out of the handle and softly rustled into the beaten grass by her feet, and the creature screamed in pain and rage.

It sounded a lot bigger than the one Gauth had attacked.

Jayce immediately noticed the threat on Dahlia and threw out his hand, oily blue flame erupting over his fingertips and racing up his arm. His eyes flashed with unnatural light as he yelled, "Leave her alone!" and a blast of blue energy shot toward the obscured creature in the grasses. Unfortunately, all he had to go on was a shadow, and his shot flew harmlessly through the grass. Of course, it was then that the creature decided to stand up and attempt to remove the blade in its side. Jayce cursed under his breath.

Al immediately recognised the creatures they were facing. The yellowed, greenish skin, the squat, small bodies, the wide, flat noses, the long, ratty ears, and of course, the absolute disregard for personal hygiene meant only one thing.

"Goblins!" Al cried, scanning the tall grass for more threats. A shape charged toward the camp, between himself and Gauth, and Al jumped forward to intercept, slashing forward with both daggers. The blade in his dominant hand caught the creature right in the temple, stabbing deep enough to instantly kill the creature. Unfortunately, this caused his second swing, a backhand stab with his off hand, to completely miss the goblin, as the creature had gone limp. Al cursed to himself. That would have looked so cool if he had hit it.

A third goblin screeched as it leapt out of the tall grass, swinging an old, rusty sword that likely belonged to some other being at one point. Jayce was caught completely off guard, the blade slashing through his coat and biting deep into his arm. He cried in pain and surprise, and the blue flame flared across his shoulders. The goblin shrieked and nearly stumbled, but held its ground.

Gauth whirled on the goblin that had attacked one of his newest friends. He could see the blood beginning to drip from Jayce's arm. The goliath could barely breathe with the intensity of the rage pulsing through his body. Roaring like the wrath of the gods, Gauth charged the small creature, slamming down his blade with fury. The great axe buried itself several inches into the soft earth as the goblin just barely managed to slip to the side of the attack.

Dahlia knew there was a creature behind her, and she could tell her companions were busy. Pivoting on her foot to face it, she struck out with the heel of her hand, praying for contact. She was rewarded with a slight huff of surprise as her hand contacted something flesh-like and briefly knocked some wind out of her target.

She hissed the word for "illness" in her home language, a cold and crawling feeling snaking up her arm and releasing through her palm. The spell released directly into the creature, and she listened as it collapsed to the ground, screaming and writhing and choking. In mere seconds, its skin began to turn black and seize, and it lay still.

Jayce couldn't think. He refused to. His feral blood was screaming for revenge, and he was all too willing to give it. That damn goblin may have dodged Gauth's attack, but it was now directly in range of Jayce's own sword, a sword that was wreathed in blue flame and hungry for blood.

It was lucky the creature had struck his left arm, and not his right. Jayce twisted and swung at the goblin, but his movements were easily telegraphed by the arcane flame that cloaked his upper body. It, again, jumped out of the way, and this time taunted Jayce by sticking out its tongue before it landed.

Furious, Jayce snapped out his leg, slamming his heel in the goblin's chest just before it hit the ground. It stumbled, landing flat on its back right next to the cheerily crackling fire.

Al took the opportunity to attempt to stab both of his own blades into the creature's eyes, more for effect than anything else. Al grinned with satisfaction as both blades sank to the hilt in the goblin's eye sockets, its scream cut unnaturally short.

There was a tense moment as everyone stood still, wondering if there were any other threats in the tall prairie grass. Gauth fought to regain control of his temper, slowly bringing himself down from a battle high.

"...I think we're okay," Dahlia said, kneeling and patting around in the grass for both the large goblin's body and the vial that had popped out of her dagger. She quickly found them both, emptied the vial and reassembled the dagger. "I don't hear any more."

"Dahlia, if you hadn't had heard them, we'd be in a lot worse shape by now!" Al beamed. "That was honestly amazing."

"Thank you. Is anyone hurt?" Dahlia slipped the blade back into her bag, making a mental note to use her cleaning spell on it later.

"I am," Jayce winced, gripping his arm to staunch the bleeding. "Gonna have t' repair my coat, too."

She carefully made her way over to him, one hand out. "How bad is the wound? Are you bleeding?"

"Yeah, pretty fuckin' bad. Piece of shit got me good," Jayce grumbled. There was something embarrassing about being the only person bleeding in the group, especially if the blind one got out unscathed.

That's when Al noticed the larger goblin body by where Dahlia had been standing.

Per Dahlia's instruction, Jayce removed his coat so she could have better access to the wound. She would have asked for the removal of his armor and shirt as well, but the threat of more of those creatures nearby was quite real, and she didn't want to risk him being exposed if they were attacked again. The wound was deep, but it did not strike his bone, and so if she simply held the detached muscles in proximity and used one of her spells, it should be enough to heal him.

Gauth and Jayce watched in awe as sparks of sunlight began to fall from her fingertips as she moved to pinch the wound closed with both hands. Jayce could have sworn he heard her whisper, "Good health to you," but it was so quiet he may have been mistaken.

Regardless, his skin began to knit back together, and the wound vanished, leaving behind a scar of light that quickly faded away.

"That's still fuckin' amazing," Jayce mumbled, flexing his arm. It didn't even feel sore. "Thank you, ma'am."

"Anytime," Dahlia smiled.

"Dahlia?"

Everyone turned toward Al, who was standing over the larger goblinoid body, although by now it looked more like a withered, human-esque husk.

Even though she couldn't see, Al pointed down at the creature out of habit. "Did you kill this thing?"

"...As you're standing roughly where I was just a minute ago, I'm going to assume yes," Dahlia sighed.

"Right. The, uh, rotting corpse. Was that you?"

"Yes, that was me," Dahlia mumbled. She didn't sound proud.

"This is a hobgoblin. Goblins are one thing, but you killed a hobgoblin all on your own," Al said with awe. "And you're blind."

"Yes! Thank you! I killed something and I didn't even have to see it!" Dahlia hugged herself and stepped toward the fire, her back to her companions. "Just a few minutes ago, it was alive. It probably had plans for tomorrow. Maybe even something to hope for. And that's gone now."

Al reared back, completely confused. Did he offend her? "No, I meant I was amazed. I didn't think you could hold your own, but you obviously can. I'm sorry I underestimated you."

"It was his fault, okay?! He tried to grab me!"

Al and Gauth shared a confused look. Their blind healer had taken down a hobgoblin, a goblinoid creature that was at least twice as big and strong as a typical goblin. She did it without help, and without alerting the two of them. Why was she acting this way?

"Jayce, your woman is acting strange again," Al said, looking over his shoulder at his companion. For some reason, Dahlia's behavior was making him nervous.

"She ain't my woman. She's her own woman," Jayce grunted as he dug through his bag. His needle and thread had to be in there somewhere. He couldn't believe he let some goblin put a hole in his coat.

"I'm serious, Jayce!"

"I'm right here!" Dahlia screeched, whirling toward them. "Don't talk about me like I'm some sort of...broken toy!"

"Th-that isn't what I meant!" Al yelped, scrambling to back up with his hands up. "I'm just worried you'll, uh, do that thing, you did, in the mine-!"

"What did she do?" Gauth asked. His rage was gone. He was so confused and he wanted very badly to help, but he had no idea as to how.

Al opened his mouth to speak, but Dahlia screamed in rage and raced into the prairie grasses, her path only visible due to the fact that the grass came up to the edge of her shoulder as she ran. Jayce swore and immediately ran after her, his coat left behind.

She felt as if she was tearing through waves of sand as the grasses relented to her path with little resistance. She knew they were right. She was broken. Every accomplishment that would be trivial to them was automatically life changing for her. She had no choice in the matter. She would forever be a bumbling child.

There would be no autonomy in her life. Her blindness saw to that. She was nothing but a burden to anyone she relied on. How could she do that to them?

Fingers gripped the back of her coat. Another attack? She couldn't pull her dagger in time. She didn't want to. Her mind screamed at her instincts, begging her flailing limbs to be still. Just wait for death. It will come. And then rest-

She couldn't move.

Whatever had grabbed her had pinned her arms to her sides, and pressed her face into its collarbone. It was speaking. Begging. She caught a word. Breathe.

In through the nose.

Salt. Sweat. Iron.

Out through the mouth.

The stink of demon magic.

In through the nose.

Salt. Sweat. Iron… Chestnut.

Chestnut? Roasted chestnut. It was a soft smell. She held on to that. Her body calmed, and she breathed deep. A memory of laughter and awkward pauses slowly began to surface in her mind, and she came with it.

Jayce was holding her.

"Just breathe…" he whispered, refusing to let her go. "Just breathe…"

All tension left her. It had been so long since she had been held like that. Her body was simply exhausted from the strain, and she leaned into him, her knees threatening to give.

"I'm sorry…" she shuddered, fighting back tears. "I...I lost it again."

Jayce pressed her face a little tighter into his neck, trying to keep his own tears at bay. She had asked him to kill her. She wanted to die. Was that really her? Or that demon in her?

Dahlia had mentioned once that she couldn't always remember what happened when that thing was in control. If she couldn't remember, then it wasn't her. He was afraid to ask if she remembered what she had asked of him.

"Dahlia?" Did he dare ask? The setting sun made the softly waving grasses around them look like a living creature as it bucked and weaved in a gentle breeze. His teeth were on edge. "Do you...feel okay?"

"I'm…" she sighed. "Tired. Very tired. I'm so sorry. I didn't...even realize it was happening."

Jayce nodded, trying to find the courage to ask.

"It's fine," he whispered. "Dealing with each other's demons and all that. I...should've seen it comin'. I just got so pissed one of those fuckers got a good hit on my coat, I didn't even notice."

Dahlia felt full of shame. "It's not your fault, Jayce. I'm the one who can't control it."

"There has to be a way," Jayce mumbled, more to the air than to Dahlia specifically. "Some way you can fight back."

Dahlia took a moment to breathe deeply. Jayce smelled of typical things she would expect, such as the salt from his coat, the sweat from walking all day, the iron from the blood of his recent wound, but there was that smell of chestnuts, and his own, distinct blend of scents that was as unique as a fingerprint. Even as she committed the smell to memory, her skin began to shiver and crawl. She was quickly hitting her limit of how much touch she would allow, and gently pushed him away.

"Dahlia?" Jayce asked, concerned.

"Sorry…" she mumbled, gripping her arms. "I'm just...not ready for that much contact yet. But...to fight back, the last few times you helped me...it was because I smelled something. The first time it was cinnamon. This time it was the chestnut soap. Maybe...maybe- I mean, it's well documented scents can recall vivid memories, maybe that's-"

Dahlia buried her face in her hands, being careful to only touch the blindfold. She must sound insane right now. Scents? Really? If it was that easy, she could just buy special perfume to keep that thing at bay. Of course it wouldn't work. Smelling salts worked for people who were unconscious, not for people who were mentally unstable.

"It's somethin' t' try," Jayce said gently, touching her arm just above her elbow. "Next chance I get, I'll pick up some cinnamon, just keep it on me. Those candied fruits ain't a guarantee to last long, but I ain't likely t' eat straight cinnamon."

Dahlia hugged herself and shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Jayce. I probably sound like I'm insane. You don't have to do that."

Jayce gave her arm a small squeeze. "It's okay. First thing ya said that one time was actually 'cinnamon'. I feel like it's worth the try."

The breeze wafted by, and the sound of the grasses waving past them was soft and soothing. The sunset tinted the world in gold, glinting off the prairie grass like the cresting of waves on the shore.

Without realizing it, Jayce started talking. He had read thousands of words, authors and poets alike, describing hundreds of sunsets, so he used them. Dahlia listened, enchanted, as the world around her not only took shape, but, for the first time in decades, color.

"I can't...do what ya asked, Dahlia, because this is the kind of thing you'd miss." Jayce fought back the lump in his throat. Why would she want to die? "Every sunset, every sunrise, every fuckin' day is different, even if the sun takes the same path and the moons have the same faces. Please, don't ever ask me to do that again."

Dahlia's head tilted in confusion. "Ask you what?"

Jayce sighed in relief. It wasn't her that was talking at the time. "Never you mind. Let's head back t' camp. I know for a fact you gave those two a damn frightful scare and they're probably worried."

Dahlia rubbed her fingertips into the blindfold. "Pelor, have mercy. I'll have to explain this...thing now. I just hope they'll deal with it better than...previous companions."

Jayce couldn't help his curiosity. "How did they...usually deal with it?"

"Mostly by telling me to keep my...issues to myself when possible, and an incredible lack of patience when it happened. Definitely not like you, Jayce. It's...really nice to have a friend like you."

Jayce snickered to himself. "Just a friend?"

He immediately regretted asking and slapped a hand to his face.

Dahlia managed a weak laugh in response. "Well, I haven't really known you long enough for anything else. Why do you ask?"

"I'm gonna pretend I had a point and wasn't just puttin' my foot in my mouth," Jayce chuckled. He thought quickly to move the subject away from the topic he had been considering. "Kinda fancied myself your protector, if ya don't mind havin' one."

Dahlia finally smiled. "As long as it's you, I think I'm okay with it."

"Then as your official protector, I'll lead ya back t' camp. They may be a bit weird, but I think Al and Gauth genuinely care about ya."

Dahlia shrugged with dejection and allowed herself to be led along. "I'm a healer. I'm useful. That's probably the long and short of it."

"It ain't that simple. Yer also Gauth's teacher, and one of the few people who can put Al in his place," Jayce smiled.

Dahlia huffed, sounding somewhat amused. "He was being an idiot. I tend to have a low tolerance for stupidity."

"Yeah, well, it goes around. He locked me outta my room last night too."

"So that's who you were bunking with. I was curious but I wasn't sure I should ask."

Jayce shrugged. "Truth of it is, he seemed kinda squirrely about bunkin' with me. I don't trust him."

"I'll keep an ear out, but for now, we're almost in earshot. And...thank you again, Jayce. I'll try to keep a better handle on...everything."

Jayce assured her it was fine as they walked up to the campsite. Gauth had been watching them return, and called out when they were close.

"Jayce! Dahlia! Why did you run?" Gauth asked, sounding concerned.

"I...have a lot to explain to you all…" Dahlia sighed. She could barely bring her voice to a comfortable volume. "I guess… I mean…" She winced and turned her face away.

Jayce gave her elbow a squeeze and began to speak. "She's cursed. Saved a man who hated her for some past mistake, and his thanks was to bind her soul with a crazed desire to die."

Dahlia felt herself nearly choke. Parts of that were true, but...was she lying by proxy? She didn't ask him to speak.

Al nearly recoiled in shock. "Who the fuck would do that? That's…! Gods above!"

Gauth looked at Dahlia, sadness evident in his eyes. "Is that true?"

Dahlia fought back tears and the urge to cover her face. Jayce had said the best lie was buried in a mountain of truths… Perhaps there was a way to keep her vow.

"I...am burdened...with moments of insanity...where I wish to die."

Gauth watched his teacher fight back tears, and his heart nearly broke. This teacher had reached out to him, expecting nothing in return, answered all his questions when he asked them, healed even those who irritated her, who hurt her, and she was cursed with the desire to die.

His blood began to boil. He nearly seemed to grow in size until he was a mountain of tensed muscle and sinew, coiled with rage.

"I will find this man, and I will tear him limb from limb!" Gauth roared to the growing darkness. It was a special kind of evil to curse someone, who was dedicated to the preservation of life, with a desire for death.

"Whoa! Gauth, calm down!" Al yelled, jumping in front of the goliath and trying to catch his friend's attention. "There is no evil man here! Breathe, big guy. Bring it back in."

Gauth's nostrils flared as he fought the rage building in his veins. He sat hard next to the fire, holding his head and shaking from the tension he fought to leave his body.

"Melora's mercy…" Jayced breathed in awe. He had never seen anyone so angry before in his life. He didn't expect his little bend of the truth to go that far. He just didn't believe they would understand Dahlia's description of "soul sickness", or even accept it. There was also the fact that Dahlia had asked him not to tell anyone else about it, and he felt by calling it a curse, he had kept that promise.

Al hesitated several times before patting Gauth's shoulder, but upon a trepidatious attempt that did not cause the goliath to lash out at the nearest breathing thing, Al determined Gauth would be okay and turned to Jayce and Dahlia.

"I'm with Gauth on that one. Who in the world would curse a healer, of all people? Granted, she's a little…"

Jayce's look made it extremely clear Al needed to choose his next words very carefully.

Al nervously cleared his throat. "-tense, and that can make some conversations, uh, difficult, but she brought Yosxim back from the brink of death, even after you two were clued in that he was planning to kill you! At least one of you." All shook his head to get back on point. "Anyway, that's one hell of a curse. Do you know any way to break it?"

Dahlia shook her head. "No. I've been trying to find a medicinal solution, something to help...curb the episodic attacks, but my inability to read nearly all written language has prevented me from conducting extensive research."

Gauth, who was finally surfacing from nearly flying into a full blown rage, and Al looked at Jayce with confusion. Unfortunately, Jayce was just as confused as they were.

Sensing the pause, Dahlia quickly added, "I can't read so I can't figure out if anyone has dealt with similar situations and found a solution."

"Oooh. That makes sense," Al nodded.

"The whole reason we're headin' to Westruun is t' talk to a scholar, and where there's scholars, there's a library. We'll find somethin'," Jayce said, patting her arm before letting her go. "Now, if ya don't mind, I've got a coat t' fix. I won't sleep unless I mend it."

"Must be important to you," Al said as Jayce grabbed the coat and his bag.

"Eh, it's from another life." Jayce sat on his bedroll and again dug around for his needle and thread. Just as he produced the objects in question, someone poked his shoulder and he was briefly circled by sparkling light that lifted over his head. Everything he held was suddenly completely clean of dirt and stains.

"The fuck…?" Jayce looked over himself and his things.

"You're welcome," Dahlia said with a tired smile.

Al and Gauth shared a snicker as Jayce suppressed a laugh. "Thanks. I ain't sure how I was gonna get rid of the bloodstain."

"And now you don't have to." Dahlia sat on her own bedroll and pushed her bag nearly a foot away from herself, and did the same spell on that. The bag looked refreshed, but no less old and worn.

"What, were your spices dirty?" Al smirked.

"No. My bloody knife was in there. I assumed you would prefer I not bind your wounds with goblin-tainted bandages."

Al gulped back a snarky comment and they returned to their food and tasks for the night.

xXxXx

Gauth's two hours were peaceful, and he watched the stars with awe as they began to fill and dominate the night sky. The large moon was nearly full, matching the waxing face of the small brown sister moon, although the latter had been that way for months now.

He woke Al, who grumbled and complained as he usually did, and seemed surprised Gauth managed to get through his own shift without nodding off. The goliath was embarrassed, but said nothing and settled down to sleep.

Al was groggy, but doggedly went about keeping an eye on the camp. Dahlia was perfectly still, Jayce was tossing and huffing in his sleep, and Gauth was, of course, dead to the world. Unfortunately, Al forgot to mark the position of the larger moon when he woke up, and so had to guess when his shift was over. Thankfully, it was pretty close to two hours when he attempted to shake Jayce awake, having forgotten his threat of a rude awakening.

Jayce nearly lashed out the second he came to consciousness, but managed to keep his limbs still and gave Al a disarming smile as he sat up. Al passed out the second he was back on his bedroll, but Jayce was as far from sleep as one could be. Jayce had woken from a nightmare of meeting his former captain, who dragged him back to sea, and to his death. He was glad to be awake.

Jayce diligently kept watch, nudging a few more of those fibrous disks into the fire pit with his foot as needed, as he refused to touch them. The night had taken a definite chill, and he threw up his hood to help fend it off. His coat was quite warm, which was a blessing, but he wasn't sure if it would be enough when winter inevitably came.

He watched Dahlia sleep, stretched across her own bedroll on her back. She was completely still, and almost looked like she had been prepped for a coffin with her arms folded across her stomach. Did all elves sleep so still, or was it just her? Was it a side effect of that thing she had to deal with?

Stars blinked in and out of view as dark wisps of cloud began to drift across the sky, briefly obscuring Catha, the larger, silver moon, high above them. Ruidus, the smaller moon, dark maroon and ever present, was now wholly separate from its larger sibling, as it continued to hover over the western horizon rather than cross the sky. Jayce shuddered. Many a sailor's tale of warning and ill omen began with seeing that dark moon in the heavens.

The two hours crawled by, but even so, Jayce doubted he could get back to sleep. He gave Dahlia a little extra time to continue sleeping, then kneeled by her bedroll to debate to himself how to wake her.

Just as he was about to try snapping his fingers, she spoke.

"Jayce, I'm awake."

Jayce nearly fell backwards and fought valiantly to keep from making any sudden noises, although he did choke out some sort of squeaking sound that made Dahlia giggle as she sat up.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, smiling despite herself. "I've actually been awake for awhile."

"Gods damn it is hard to tell if you're awake with that fuckin' blindfold…!" Jayce hissed to himself. "Anyway, it's your shift now. I'll, uh, see ya in a few hours."

Jayce began to move to his own bedroll but paused. He still wasn't sure he'd be able to fall back to sleep. It would be a long, long walk if he didn't, but he was completely riled up and still nervous from his nightmare.

"Jayce?"

He turned back toward her. Dahlia was sitting back on her heels, fidgeting with the hems of her gloves.

"I...wanted to apologize again, for my behavior today. I was weak, and...I'm sorry."

Her face fell. He wanted to hold her again, to give her comfort, but he knew how she felt about that.

"It's okay," he said softly, sitting across from her. "I know it ain't totally yer fault. Probably not yer fault at all. And you're stronger than ya give yerself credit. It's been two days, an' I know that firsthand."

They sat in heavy silence, the fire softly murmuring as its fuel began to run low.

"Jayce?"

He tried to match her eyes through the blindfold, and he found himself wondering what color they were. Were they visibly scarred? Did she even have eyes at this point? Or were they unblemished? Functional, but useless because of some unseen damage?

Were they deep enough to get lost in? Would he see her soul, even though she was blind?

Jayce shook his head to clear it and finally spoke. "Yeah?"

Dahlia continued to fidget with her glove. "If...you're going to be up for a while… Can you…? Can I be selfish?"

He was caught off guard. "Fuck me, Dahlia, if anyone here's got a right to be selfish, ya got it hands down."

Dahlia shrunk into herself and began wringing her hands. "Could you…? You- I mean, you- Agh! Why is this so hard?!" She dropped her face into her hands. "You...you started describing the sunset, and...and I- I saw it. I-"

Dahlia started to choke on her words, and Jayce's heart broke. How long had it been since she could imagine the world around her?

"I just...wanted…"

Her voice cracked, and he could hear her try to breathe around tears.

"No, this is so stupid. I'm sorry. Just go to sleep. It's...not important. You need your sleep for the road. I'll be fine. I-"

"Imagine a darkness so deep, it's anything but black."

Dahlia immediately faced Jayce, hardly daring to breathe.

"It would be an all-consuming void, filled with blues and purples so vast they seemed to be one and the same, a pure, shifting shadow, cloaking the world...but throughout its weave, lie glittering gemstones, stars that can be seen on the darkest of nights…"

Thousands of words, hundreds of stories, countless authors and poets both remembered and forgotten… Every letter was worth the ability to give a blind woman, who so loved the world, the chance to see it again.

Within the hour, Jayce was sleeping peacefully, and Dahlia had her face turned toward the sky. She quoted his words, over and over, painting the heavens in her mind, holding on to the colors that so desperately tried to slip away.

It was beautiful.

xXxXx

The next morning, wispy clouds continued to dot the sky and speckle the blue above them with wisps of white and grey. The group was surprised to wake up after sunrise, and after a short interrogation, Dahlia admitted she wanted them to have a full night's sleep, and took the opportunity to pray to Pelor during the dawn while she stalled for time. Al was mildly upset and claimed he would consider forgiving her at some point, but no one really believed he would stay mad for long.

Jayce, having gotten a handle of the map, led them along the prairie, long after the Ironseat Ridge behind them had become purple and small with the distance. Their walking was nearly constant, save for the typical stops required of a journey, and one moment when Gauth peeled away from the group to attempt to hunt a prairie beast he had spotted. Unfortunately, it was the cub of a bobcat, who had fierce opinions about Gauth's attempt to catch and skin its child. As a result, when the bridge was just coming into sight in the far distance, Dahlia was doing her best to clean and heal the multiple wounds Gauth had sustained while they walked.

As they crested a short hill near the river, Jayce held out his arm to indicate the road below them, and the bridge it led to.

"And there it is," he smiled. "The Byhills Bridge, a whole five days early."

"I have to admit, that was a pretty good shortcut," Al smiled, although he did note the setting sun. "And, as you said, we'll have to camp by the bridge. Looks like we aren't the only ones with that plan tonight."

Gauth and Jayce scanned the area directly next to the bridge and also noticed a small caravan setting up a bonfire in the middle of three carriages, set into a semi-circle just off to the side of the road. It was difficult to see from their vantage, but the group seemed to be mostly human, with the exception of a small group of gnomes, huddled over some box by the edge of the camp. They seemed friendly enough, and Gauth quickly mentioned he could smell roasting meats.

"Perhaps we should join them!" Gauth beamed. The food smelled very good.

Dahlia immediately twitched and shifted to step behind Jayce.

Jayce glanced at her over his shoulder. "I get strength in numbers, but we ain't familiar with them. I ain't exactly the most...welcoming of faces, if you get my drift, and yer no country bumpkin either, Gauth."

Gauth nodded gravely and Al glanced at the object in his palm. That hobgoblin Dahlia had killed last night was wearing a crest of some sort on its armor. It was a rather crude thing, mostly made of scraps of metal, but it was an obvious decoration with no function beyond identification. Al knew it meant something, but he didn't want to worry the group if he didn't have to. It could be just some pretty thing the hobgoblin had used to assert authority over the goblins it traveled with.

"We could offer our services," Al cut in, trying to be helpful. "Perhaps we could take some of the watch tonight, and give their own guards a rest. Dahlia could keep an ear out; we already know she's more alert than all of us combined."

"Just...more focused," Dahlia mumbled.

"And they have food," Gauth added.

Jayce sighed, thinking it over. He couldn't see any of his own kind among them, which was a mixed blessing. On one hand, it meant he wouldn't have to deal with another greenskin calling him "shorty" or "runt" as he was on the small side for his race, but on the other, he would likely have to mitigate anxious people who weren't used to dealing with half-orcs.

And then there was Dahlia, who was already obviously uncomfortable with the idea of new people potentially sleeping nearby.

"If we join 'em for the night," Jayce began, turning to face the group, "we're gonna have t' establish ourselves as safe, and useful. Al, we pretty much pegged ya for a thief the minute we saw you, and that ain't gonna fly here."

Al grunted in annoyance, but said nothing, even though he preferred the term "rogue".

"Swap out yer cloak for your bedroll. It ain't ideal, I know, but a brown cloak ain't as suspicious as a black one. And Gauth… probably ain't a bad idea to stash some of yer weapons. The great axe is one thing, but you've got…" Jayce took a second to count the twisted stick thing and several different sized blades around Gauth's hips. "...five of the damn things on yer belt alone."

"Okay, back up," Al said, stepping forward. "Who put you in charge? We've all got a say in this."

"Al, look at my fuckin' face," Jayce huffed, working hard to swallow the first pulse of his temper. "I've spent my entire goddamn life readin' the room and learnin' how to avoid gettin' punched for sayin' 'hello'. You wanna lead? Have at it."

Al threw up his hands and stepped back. He knew when he was beat, but he was not happy about it.

Gauth was already packing away his extra weapons, including his favorite boomerang, as Jayce turned to Dahlia. Jayce rubbed his chin in thought, looking her over from head to toe. She looked a little disheveled and scruffy, but a couple of small changes should be able to fix that.

"And...Dahlia, if you pull down yer hood-"

"No!"

Dahlia gripped the hem of her hood and tried to pull it down farther, as if she could stretch it over her face. Jayce nearly recoiled in shock.

"Uh, you okay?" he asked, genuinely concerned. Was this another attack of that thing?

Al and Gauth also looked on curiously, pausing in their own adjustments.

"No. I...can't remove my hood right now. My hair's a mess, and...it's embarrassing."

Al rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "Sure. Now you care. It's been a mess since I've met you."

Dahlia fought to keep her panic under control as she thought furiously for a truthful excuse. "The bath I took the other night, the soap changed my hair, and I haven't had a chance to fix it. Once we get to Westruun, I can fix it, but I need privacy to do so and I'm not afforded that kind of luxury out here."

The three men all mulled it over to themselves. It sounded legitimate.

Al nodded. "They do use lye to make soap, after all, and I know from experience what that can do to...people. It wouldn't surprise me if you need a trim or something."

Dahlia fidgeted with her hood and turned her face away from them. It wasn't technically a lie, but it still felt wrong.

Jayce sighed. "Well, we can still make this work. I'll go first; better t' get the worst of it out of the way, and Gauth, bring up the rear. If they decide we ain't worth their spit, I'd like ya coverin' our backs."

Gauth nodded. "I'd rather have their food than their spit."

"It's a figure of speech…" Jayce mumbled as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He turned to face the caravan and took a deep breath to steady himself. One friendly smile plastered on his face, shoulders back, and he felt mostly ready to face them. All that remained was appropriately dealing with whatever disposition this caravan happened to be in tonight.

With Jayce in the lead, they headed toward the caravan, Dahlia's hand flat on the back of Jayce's shoulder. Knowing a surprise would not work in his favor, Jayce called out to the human group around the main fire.

"Evenin', fellow travelers!" he said brightly with a friendly wave. To their credit, Al and Gauth did attempt to appear friendly with smiles of their own, and the travelers around the fire seemed to relax as a man in a thick, animal fur cloak stood up.

"Good evening," the man said with a stately nod. "Identify yourselves."

"Well that's straight to the point…" Dahlia whispered under her breath.

Jayce ignored the comment and continued to smile, making sure his hands were visible and open in front of him. "The name's Jayce, and my companions are Dahlia the Blind Surgeon, Alqinor Jami-"

Al nudged Jayce hard in the side, startling him to a momentary silence.

"The name's Al," Al called out.

Jayce cleared his throat in an attempt to hide his discomfort. "Right, an' the giant back there is Gauthak… Damn it all, I can't remember yer last name."

Gauth snickered, shrugged, and faced the group. "Just call me Gauth. Everyone does."

The man gave a slow nod this time, sizing them all with a discerning eye. "You're an...interesting group, to say the least. I am Malakin the Mountain, and I'm in charge of this caravan you see here."

"Pleasure's mine," Jayce said, continuing to smile as he held out a hand to shake. "If it's alright with you an' yer crew, we'd be mighty pleased to share the fire, perhaps lend a hand at keepin' a watch tonight."

Malakin stepped forward, taking Jayce's hand in a grip that gave the impression every bone in Jayce's fingers were in imminent danger of shattering under the force. Thankfully, his bet that Malakin was simply testing him was a good one, and he managed not to flinch.

"I appreciate the gesture. Ravagers have been seen about, and a spare eye or two would not be wasted...although I assume your…" Malakin glanced past Jayce to Dahlia, her head down and her blindfold obvious. "...doctor won't be joining the watch."

Dahlia flinched, and Gauth immediately tensed, ready to spring if his teacher made it clear she felt threatened.

"She won't be lendin' an eye, Sir Malakin the Mountain," Jayce said reassuringly, "but a focused ear that will astound you. The night before, she caught a group of goblins attemptin' to ambush our camp, givin' us the forewarnin' we needed to walk away nearly unscathed. And if I read your tone right, yer doubt's misplaced; I have literally seen this woman perform field surgery on a man who was within minutes of dyin', and he lives to this day."

Providing Yosxim hasn't pissed anyone else off, Jayce thought to himself.

"Gauth and I were also there," Al chimed in. "She's mended more than a few wounds between the two of us."

Gauth nodded, but he wondered why Dahlia wasn't speaking for herself.

"Pardon my lack of faith, but I'll believe it when I see it," Malakin hissed. "Now, will you be partaking of our food or simply our company?"

"Just your company. We've got our own supplies," Jayce smiled. "We-"

"Who's coughing?" Dahlia cut in.

Malakin was caught off guard. He couldn't hear anything. "What?"

Dahlia stepped out from behind Jayce, but left her hand in contact with his shoulder. "Who's coughing? It's a dry but heaving cough; they sound like they're in danger of choking."

The whole group went quiet, listening. Amazed, a young man in leather armor stood up.

"That'll be my uncle, miss. He wasn't feeling well this morning, and he's still by the wagon at the back."

Malakin turned to the man with a concerned look. "Darbin's ill?"

The young man shrugged. "You know him. Unless it's bloody, he keeps it to himself."

Dahlia finally spoke up. "Depending on what he has, he could be contagious. Are you keeping him separated from the group?"

Malakin shook his head. "I wasn't even aware he was sick until you apparently heard him cough from clear across the camp."

"Like I said, a focused ear," Jayce beamed. "Knowin' my friend here, we'll likely tend to this Darbin of yours, if it ain't a problem."

Malakin thought over the pros and cons of the arrangement, and decided free treatment was better than nothing so far from town. "I'll join you," he huffed. "Your companions can stay by the fire, but the two of you will be too close to our wares for my comfort."

Jayce shrugged. "Fair's fair. Lead the way."

Malakin took them around the fire, where the various mercenaries, made obvious by their leather and iron armor, were easily distinguishable from the merchants, who were simply garbed in warm but comfortable traveling clothes. The gnomes made a less than subtle attempt to block their precious box from view as Jayce and Dahlia passed.

As they approached the last of the three wagons, a serious cough was quite obvious by the back wheel. Nearly bent in half by the grazing horses, an older, black-haired man in worn leather armor hacked and rasped, gasping for air between bouts of his respiratory attacks.

"Darbin?" Malakin called out to him. "How long has this been going on?"

"Chief…!" Darbin wheezed weakly, leaning on one of the horses. "It's just a damned cold. I'll be fine."

Dahlia stepped forward. "I doubt that. Has it been painful to breathe? Or difficult to catch your breath?"

Darbin glanced between his boss and the two strangers in front of him. "Who the hell are these two?"

Jayce cut in before Malakin could answer. "I'm Jayce, and this is Dahlia the Blind Surgeon. She heard your cough and figured she could lend a hand."

"Please answer my questions," Dahlia said softly, stepping next to Jayce. "Colds don't usually come with a cough, let alone one like that."

Darbin suppressed a cough into his arm and gasped before he could talk again. "Only reason it's hard to breathe is because I've been coughing the whole damn time." He paused, thinking back. "But yeah, my chest's been hurting a lot recently. Kind of tight, like I've got needles in my ribs."

"Fevers or chills?" she added, doing some mental calculations.

"Maybe?" Darbin shrugged, a new coughing fit nearly taking him by surprise. "Thought it was the damned wind cutting through my cloak. Why?"

"Jayce, is the light good enough to see if his lips are blue?"

Jayce tried to look the man over, but the waning light of sunset bathed everything in a hue of orange.

"Sorry, Dahlia," he sighed. "Light's pretty shit right now."

Dahlia ducked a hand into her bag and felt around for a small jar of phosphorus moss, rolling it between her fingers. She spoke the word for illumination in her home tongue and her glove was glowing with white sunlight when she removed her hand and held it up in front of her.

"How about now?" she asked.

"Didn't know that worked on yer hand," Jayce smirked, taking another look. The man's lips were a strange shade of purple.

"Technically, it's my glove that's enchanted with the spell. Now, are his lips blue?"

Jayce shrugged. "Kinda purple. Why? What ya figure he has?"

"Not a cold," Dahlia grumbled, taking a step back. "Both of you, step back from him. I'm sure he has pneumonia, and it is contagious."

Jayce covered his mouth with his arm as he stepped back. He knew he had heard of that illness before, but he couldn't remember where.

"What in the world?" Malakin said, obviously confused, as he also stepped back. "What is that?"

"It's also known as the 'dry drowning disease'. Your lungs fill up with fluid, bile or pus, and you suffocate unless it's treated." Dahlia immediately kneeled to the ground and started pulling strange herbs out of her bag. "As it's a dry cough, I'm assuming you fell into a river recently, or suffered a particularly muddy soaking."

"The rains three days ago…" Malakin murmured softly.

"I was on-" Darbin wheezed, falling into another coughing fit.

"Last watch. Middle of the night," Malakin finished for him. "We were still in the Bramblewood outside Westruun. We ended up camped in a particularly muddy bramble, as the name implied."

Dahlia nodded, her hands working both from memory and calculated thought. Herbs and powders were crushed together in a mortar and thickened with some sort of alcoholic liquid. The smell of turmeric began to waft past their noses as the mixture took on a decidedly orange hue, and she stamped down the paste into a strange palm sized press. What emerged was a small tablet, the size of a thumbnail.

"Give him this, and I'll make more over the course of the night. It will help with the pain, and boost his own body's defenses. I will warn you, it will also loosen the phlegm in your lungs, and your coughs will be incredibly unpleasant, but they will help you rid yourself of the infection quickly." Dahlia passed over the tablet. "You will improve in two days, but you will need rest, plenty of fluids, and isolation, if possible."

"You can't even see him. How are you so sure?" Malakin huffed, crossing his arms.

"Pneumonia is common in the wetter seasons, and is exasperated by the colder weather of autumn specifically. The inability to breathe, in combination with the coughing, fever, chills, and specifically the blue skin, are rather unique symptoms of the disease. The lips are some of thinnest skin on the body, which is why it appears pink due to the blood under the surface...but if that blood is lacking the breath you breathe, it turns blue."

Jayce couldn't help but look smug as he crossed his arms, facing Malakin. "I did mention she was a fuckin' good doctor, didn't I?"

Malakin looked between Jayce and Dahlia, but then looked at Darbin. He had heard of "dry drowning disease" before, and such a thing could be fatal to his men, especially if it spread...but he knew nothing about these strangers, beyond one of them postulated she was a doctor based on a series of seemingly logical comments.

"That you did, sir. However, there is still the issue that your doctor is blind, and I can't know if you're actually trying to help or part of some plot to steal from us until Darbin takes this…'medicine'." Malakin watched Jayce give a world weary sigh and continued. "What guarantee do I have that Darbin will improve?"

"Nothing beyond my word," Dahlia spoke for herself as she stood and faced Malakin. "That medicine will cause him to cough more, yes, but it will also numb his pain. I have a tea that will help him sleep as well, and if it helps you trust us, I will offer no medicinal aid to anyone else at the camp. How can I poison you all if I only target a single, ill guard?"

Malakin relented. "Fine. I trust him to your care for the evening. If, however, I find he has passed away in the night, the beasts will eat well to break their fast."

"I hope they don't mind skippin' a meal," Jayce smiled. He was completely confident in Dahlia's skills, and clearly showed it in his demeanor. "And speakin' of, I do, so I'll be takin' Dahlia back to the fire to have dinner."

Jayce waited until Dahlia packed up her supplies and shouldered her bag before he took her arm as he had before, but paused and turned to Malakin. "And for the record, sir, she ain't mine. I just happen t' be lucky enough t' be her traveling companion."

Malakin the Mountain grunted something in disapproval as the two made their way back to the fire, where Gauth was having a bright conversation with several of the merchants about wares even his people would be interested in, should they travel far enough north. Al, on the other hand, was speaking softly with one of the mercenaries, and was indicating something hidden in his palm.

The proximity to the fire was a warm and welcome change from the quickly dropping temperature of the autumn winds, and Jayce was able to find them a spot somewhat separated from the rest of the mercenaries and travellers. Dahlia immediately checked for a flat spot around her, and set out her medicinal kit to begin working on Darbin's medicine.

She looked like she had something to say, but was cut off before she could begin.

"What's she up to?" a man in somewhat rusty armor asked, nudging Jayce lightly in the arm.

Jayce glanced over to Dahlia's work and noted the orange root she had used before. "Makin' medicine for one of your comrades. As a tip, don't get near 'im; sounds like he's got some miasma in 'is lungs that'll make ya sick."

The rough face of the older man screwed up in a subdued horror and concern. "Gods damn… Darbin, right?"

Jayce shrugged. "Beyond yer boss, that's the only name I've heard bandied about."

"Think he'll live?"

Jayce looked over to Dahlia again, watching her mix the medicine with surprising precision, despite working without sight. He turned back to the man and smiled. "Ain't got a doubt. Coupla days, he'll be right as rain, or close to it."

"That's a relief…" The man sighed, looking into the fire and nudging his soiled mess kit with his foot. "He's kind of the grumpy uncle for the younger recruits. They'd probably start smacking each other without ol' Darbin to tease."

Jayce snickered at the thought. "Sounds like a story. Care to share?"

The older man suppressed a laugh of his own. "Oh, you know the pranks. Mice in his helmet in the morning, painting an old rope to look like a snake and hiding it in his bag, adding too much salt to his share before he grabs it, that sort of thing."

Jayce shook his head with a quiet laugh. "I'm surprised ya got any young recruits left, the way they've been teasin' that old sod."

The man smiled at the memory. "Oh, he'd always blow up and yell at them all, but he's all bark, and the boys know it. He's also the one that teaches them how to track game in the fields, picks them up when they fall, so it's all in good fun."

"Sounds like a good bloke…" Jayce sighed, watching the fire. He turned to the man. "What'cher name?"

"Call me Henry," the man replied. "I gotta say, your accent is...different. Where're you from?"

"Lucidian coast," Jayce said, going back to watching the fire. "Been around."

Henry nodded as if that explained everything, but his look made it clear he wasn't convinced. "Been around Exandria, or Tal'Dorei specifically?"

Jayce shrugged. "Been around."

Malakin returned to the fire and immediately commanded attention from his presence alone. "Men, the rotation hasn't changed. First watch, head out now. Second watch in two hours. Our guests will be lending a hand when they see fit, so those of you watching from camp, keep an eye on the interlopers."

On command, several of the armored men, including Henry, got up and left the fire, taking positions by the covered wagons and the edge of the firelight. Noticing the gap in the seats, Al made his way over and sat softly next to Jayce and Dahlia.

"Made any new friends with that impeccable charm?" Jayce teased as Al sat down.

"Ha ha," Al huffed sarcastically. "We may be in trouble."

Jayce could hardly be surprised. "What happened this time?"

Al finally held out the strange metal crest for Jayce to see. "That goblin party that ambushed us last night… I'm convinced they were a scouting party of the Ravagers."

"That...a merc group?" Jayce asked, genuinely confused. He took the brooch and began twisting it in his fingers, looking over all the facets for something familiar.

"They used to be a nuisance," Dahlia cut in, still grinding herbs in her mortar, "a tribe of orcs that harassed the travelers on the Silvercut Roadway, the Wildwood Byway, and pretty much the whole of the Dividing Plains in between. One of the groups I traveled with, years ago, was tasked with eradicating a few of their raiding parties. Upon discovering them, we came to the shocking realization that, not only were they recruiting other goblinoid creatures, they were getting smarter, and utilizing strategies that seemed to be taken directly from the Tal'Doreian military handbooks."

Dahlia turned to face the two of them, her face grave and dark in the strange shadows cast by the firelight flickering past her hood and blindfold. "And worse, they have discovered alchemy. The most brutal among them command entire legions of the hordes, and they have become twisted monsters, their bodies bulging in unnatural ways and their veins glowing with strange green fire. Whatever bloodlust was inherent with the orcs, that strange mutation seems to have increased it ten-fold...and they even give their goblin slaves a taste of it, turning them into voracious swarms, hungry for blood and gore...and nothing else."

Jayce shuddered as a chill crept up his spine, and when he turned to Al, the half-elf confirmed her statements with a serious nod.

"Sounds like it's straight outta nightmares…" Jayce said in horrified awe. It was beginning to dawn on him just how lucky he had been to cross the Dividing Plains with only a bruise to show for it.

"It's worse. It's real," Al said, his own fear evident in his voice. "Knowing we likely came across a scouting party makes me wonder if a larger raiding party is nearby."

"That ain't ideal…" Jayce mumbled, running a hand through his hair. "You come across these things before, Al?"

Al shivered and rubbed his arms. "Once. I was heading to Emon, and came across a battlefield where Ravagers had attacked a merchant caravan. Even a few days old, you could tell it was a slaughter. Horses, humans, halflings, even a few elves were gutted and splayed out like the floor of a butcher's shop. I did find some goblin bodies, but...they died with this look of manic glee frozen on their face, covered in blood and muddy wounds. It was horrifying."

"Well I ain't sleepin' tonight…" Jayce grumbled, hugging himself as he watched the fire. Even with his coat on, the air took on a sudden, sinister chill as the sun fully set behind the world.

"Hence why I think we should be joining the watch. I won't be sleeping either," Al said, standing. "I'll take first; Do you want me to grab you or Gauth when I'm done?"

Jayce sighed and rubbed his face. "Is Gauth filled in on what's out there?"

Al shook his head. "Not yet. I can fill him in as I head out for watch."

"Good idea. Give 'im the option; I gotta deliver the medicine Dahlia's workin' on as soon as she's done."

Al titled his head curiously. "Was that the whole coughing thing she pulled out of the blue?"

"Yes," Dahlia cut in, still working diligently. Her tone made it clear she was annoyed at being ignored. "I'm sure you could have heard it as well, providing you were paying attention."

Jayce smirked and turned away from Al to hopefully avoid any ire for finding the comment amusing. Al just huffed with irritation and walked away, straight to Gauth on the other side of the fire.

"If...if it helps," Dahlia whispered, leaning toward Jayce just enough to make it obvious she was talking to him, "I'll pray the night goes peacefully."

Jayce smiled, as that did actually calm him somewhat. "Thanks, Dahlia. Ya know, that one time you prayed in Kymal, I actually saw the sunlight bend toward you. Fuckin' amazing, knowin' your god actually listens."

Dahlia gave a wry smile. "Honestly, the fact that I'm not dead yet makes me believe he's got plans for me."

"Gotta be grand ones," Jayce smiled, although his was more genuine. "Wouldn't surprise me if yer someone t' go down in history for some amazin' discovery or pious deed."

Dahlia let out a soft sigh, her hands pausing their work. "Just...surviving is hard enough. I don't want to go down in history."

Jayce had to catch himself from touching her, his hand hovering just inches above her arm. He was amazed how using touch for comfort was such a habit; yet another facet of life he had been blind to, without the foil of Dahlia.

Dahlia returned to her mixing, a heavy weight on her shoulders. One step at a time; first, mix the medicine for Darbin, and make enough for a few days. One tablet should last him about four hours, so if he happens to sleep through the overnight dose, there should be extras in case the coughing continues-

Her ears perked, and she found her hands again paused. Jayce had mumbled to himself. A wish. He wished he could help her rest.

Why was he being so nice to her? What did he want? Would it be something she could even give?

Then, like the others, would he take it too far?

xXxXx

Al was far too paranoid to sit still. Too many times, his eyes wandered to the edge of the Bramblewood, and it's dark, looming shadows that stretched into the sky as the twilight darkened in nightfall. If an army was going to hide anywhere in the nearby area, it would be in those thick and twisted trees. Of course, the forest edge was miles away, and the Bramblewood was known for being nearly impassable with its twisted, knotted trees with jagged bark and the swampy earth that sustained them, but the prairie grasses that resided on this side of the Byhills River were barely a foot tall. Nothing would be able to easily hide in that while approaching the camp. The forest was the only option.

He turned to the mercenary next to him. "Which one were you again?"

The mercenary yawned, not even covering her mouth as would be polite. "Flis. Again. That's the third time you asked me."

Al rolled his eyes and returned to watching the forest. He could have sworn he saw something move. "Right. Well, Flis, I'm headed to scout out the forest. I've got a bell with me, so if I see anything threatening, like, for instance, Ravagers, I'll sound it off. If you hear it, pack everything up and run."

Flis raised an eyebrow in mock interest. "Oh. You were the one flashing that little trinket earlier, weren't you?"

Al grunted in frustration and resisted the urge to raise his voice. "It wasn't some 'trinket' I was bandying about, it was a brooch I literally peeled off a dead hobgoblin. One of your companions literally called it a 'Ravager's mark'."

Flis sighed heavily, trying to keep her concentration out on the fields but failing because this idiot was still talking to her. "Ravagers don't wear marks, dumbass. They don't wear badges or rainments or anything that denotes rank. It's all about how much blood they've got on them, or how intimidating they look."

"Then why did your friend call it a Ravager's mark?" Al hissed.

Flis shrugged. "Because he was trying to scare the shit out of you. Now shut the fuck up and let me work."

"Just listen for the damn bell," Al spat, heading away from the camp, and toward that dark and foreboding Bramblewood. Another shadow shifted, just outside of his view. Maybe he was being paranoid, and it was just the local fauna...or maybe he was justified, and it really was Ravagers.

Al ducked low, spreading out his cloak behind him as he softly padded through the grass. He would have preferred his actual, lighter cloak, but he didn't think switching it out while in camp would have gone over well. His bedroll would have to do. As he shifted through the tall blades of prairie grass, he palmed the bell and kept it at the ready in his off hand, slipping a blade into his right. There had to be something out there.

He reached the edge of the Bramblewood, the tangled trees looking even more sinister in the darkness and up close. Al paused, listening. He wasn't sure how to focus his hearing like Dahlia, but he definitely tried.

Something rustled through the low brush of the forest, and Al immediately turned toward it, trying to see what made the noise. Several large masses, huddled up against trees, were still, like strange growths on the trunks. However, with his heightened sight, Al could tell they were bodies under dark cloaks, like his, and a shiver went up his spine. He knew better than to ignore his gut. He had been noticed.

Al bolted back toward the camp, ringing his bell like a madman as the brush behind him exploded into movement. Harsh, orcish voices barked unintelligible orders as goblins began screeching in glee, like monstrous hounds released for a hunt.

Thankfully, Flis had decided to take him seriously, and Al was relieved to see the camp immediately packing up, rushing to put out the fire and hitch the horses. Terror at what followed him kept his feet pounding the ground with a blistering pace, and after panting through a good mile, finally made it close enough to shout.

"Ravagers!" he screamed, with the cackling goblins practically nipping at his heels. "Get the hell out of here!"

A roar brought another moment of relief as Gauth tore his way through the reeds, his axe high above his head and ready for a swing. Al passed his friend and a whistle screeched past his head, nearly slicing through his loose hair. From the sound of metal striking damp earth, it was quite clear Gauth had missed, but it gave Al the time to make it back to camp in safety.

"Jayce! Dahlia!" Al called out, scanning the darkened camp as people scrambled onto wagons. "We have to go!"

A piercing whistle grabbed his attention, forcing him to turn toward the eastern side of the camp. Dahlia had somehow produced the remarkably loud sound with her lips alone, and Jayce was waving to draw his focus. Al raced toward them, dodging people as he made his way over, and he hoped and prayed Gauth would have enough forethought to remain lucid enough for a retreat.

"Where's Gauth?!" Jayce called as Al arrived. The half-orc already had a grip on his healer's arm, as they normally did, and their bags were already over their shoulders.

"Out in the field," Al panted, as the exertion was finally getting to him. "He took on the goblins to buy me some time."

"The horde'll follow the caravan; we can make some distance by headin' to Westruun," Jayce said, looking over his shoulder at the road behind him. So far, it looked clear. "We need to get Gauth and go!"

Al felt a pang in his heart. He knew he should head back for his friend, but that meant facing off with whatever was chasing him in the field. Dahlia's earlier description of the altered goblins did not help matters.

Jayce suddenly grabbed Al's hand, yanking him hard enough to close the distance between them. Al almost blushed in the moment, but he was suddenly diverted from heading straight toward Jayce to standing next to Dahlia. Jayce put Al's hand on her arm, and she visibly flinched.

"Get her out of here!" Jayce hissed, and then raced off into the field, toward the center of the fight. Al was nearly too stunned to move, just watching this man he barely knew run straight into danger for a friend that wasn't his.

"Al! Al!" Dahlia called, shaking him out of his stupor. "Please, get me out of here! We can't face them!"

Al nodded dumbly and yanked her down the road as the caravan shuddered to life and raced across the Byhills Bridge. If Jayce was going to keep his friend safe, Al would protect Dahlia in return.

Jayce dove into the fight, slapping a hand to his chest and taking on the guise of a tall, full-blooded orc in battle-scarred leather and bloody furs. He had one trick up his sleeve, and his mind raced, trying to remember how the words were pronounced.

"Stop!" Jayce spat in the orc's language, forcing the command forward with a gruffer voice. "Bad food!" He pointed in the direction of the caravan, where bloody battles were erupting between the mercenaries and the Ravager raiding party. "There! Good food! Go!"

The goblins swarming Gauth paused, looking up at this orc they didn't recognize, but it didn't matter. They were given a new command, and follow it they would. The swarm of screeching goblins raced into the darkness, squealing with the anticipation of warm blood to drink.

Gauth, bloody and nearly blind in the darkness, whirled on Jayce, almost tripping over his own feet from the force of swinging his axe. His breath was ragged, and even in the blackness of night, Jayce could see the rage in Gauth's eyes.

"Whoa there, friend! It's me!" Jayce pleaded with his normal voice, backing up enough to be out of reach of Gauth's great axe. He managed to touch a hand to his chest again to deactivate the spell, even though Gauth could not see him. "It's okay! Al's okay! I'm here t' get ya out!"

At the mention of Al's name, Gauth visibly calmed and nearly collapsed to the ground. Jayce tried to catch him, but was unable to get a good grip around the goliath's arm due to the blood that coated it. Gauth fell to his knees.

"Gauth, ya gotta get up!" Jayce whispered tensely, glancing around for more of the raiders. "We gotta get some distance before they realize we split off from the party!"

Gauth fought to regain his footing, but faltered. Desperate, Jayce dug through his pack for what he thought was his last health potion and practically shoved it down Gauth's throat. The magic of the potion immediately set in, closing some of the greater wounds, and Gauth felt his strength return. He rose to his feet, and proudly stated he was ready for Jayce to lead the way.

Al and Dahlia were waiting for them, several miles up the road. Once they joined up, Dahlia used the last of her magic for the day to close Gauth's wounds, and they continued walking for several hours. It was well past midnight when they finally camped for the night, and none of them slept well.