Bash ripped off the scraggly, gray-speckled beard and tossed it on the floor. Glancing around, he saw his companions start to settle into their respective positions, but he instead turned toward the balcony doors. He walked over to them and pushed them wide, breathing deeply of the night air, quite brisk at this time of year. Stepping out onto the balcony, he rested his elbows on the railing and gazed out at the city sprawled beneath him as it spread out in a vast array of buildings. The rings of the city stair-stepped down to meet the plains far below, each level dotted with a hundred starry were-lights. To anyone else, it would have been merely a beautiful sight. But to Bash, it was an intricate network of passages connected to safe houses, contacts, resources, and hidden caches. Within an instant of seeing the city the night before, a map had unfolded in his mind, reviving his cold, softened memories of the city that felt most like home.
As he ruminated, he felt a familiar presence approach on his left as Enna leaned against the balcony next to him. They were silent for a few moments, listening to the voices of their friends murmuring through the doorway.
"I've missed this," said Bash. And for a moment, he could pretend that the last few months tramping around swamps and killing murderous frogs was nothing more than a bad dream that had resisted his attempts to wake.
"In some ways, me too," Enna replied simply.
She was now in her druidic clothing again, but her hair was still pinned up. After a second, she reached up and began removing the pins, locks of raven hair falling down every minute or so. As she focused, she stuck her tongue through her teeth, and Bash's mouth turned into a slight smile.
Rolen's face flitted into the forefront of Bash's mind again, and he cringed. Glancing over to Enna, he asked, "Are you okay?" He let the weight of the question seep into his tone.
She grew still for a moment before resuming her work.
"I… don't know," she said. "I'm angry. I'm confused." She shrugged slightly. "Disgusted? His deception is sickening to me. To think that such a terrible person has convinced everyone else that he's good?" She shook her head. Suddenly, she dropped her hair altogether – half of it haphazardly splayed across her shoulders, the other half still pinned in place – and gestured wildly as she continued. "How could my mother be so foolish? How could she not trust me? She's known me so much longer than Rolen!"
"You are a lot older than him," smirked Bash. She huffed and turned away from him. Smiling, he stepped behind her and began hunting down the tiny pins and pulling them out himself, setting each down in the little pile by her hand. "But you don't look a day over two hundred fifty," he assured her.
She giggled. "Thank you, and you don't look a day over three hundred fifty."
"I was thinking two hundred, but it's okay."
The last pin was removed, and Bash began to play with her hair before dividing it in thirds and braiding it. It was surprisingly soft, probably thanks to the baths they'd finally gotten earlier that day. Her shoulders relaxed, and her head leaned back slightly. He grinned.
Her smile softened and then faded, replaced by a furrowed frown. As Bash reached the ends of her long hair, he tied it in a knot to hold it and meandered over to one of the chairs and sat down. With her gaze focused on something in a different plane, Enna lazily followed suit before sitting next to him. Her head leaned back as she turned her eyes to the stars.
"What do you think my mother thinks of me now?" she asked.
Bash sighed. "Who can tell? She's more foolish than I thought if she's taking Rolen's side in all this. Like you said, she should know you pretty well by now."
"I guess… I'm just worried that after seeing his scars and hearing his side of the story, especially his… edited version, she might think I'm some kind of monster."
"Then she would be wrong," said Bash matter-of-factly. "You're probably the least monstrous person I've ever met. Except maybe Sopheta."
His heart thudded for a moment and he looked down and sniffed, recalling the strange shaft of light. He'd done everything he could… But it didn't matter now. His responsibility was to Enna. And to not getting caught.
Enna sighed, and as she spoke, her voice wavered. "I miss her. I hope she's okay, wherever she is. I wish I could have been stronger. My spells were too weak."
Feeling a lump in his throat, Bash suddenly stood and walked to the other end of the balcony. "Well, hey," he said in a forced cheery tone. "At least we have the wonderful comforts of the Circle in our lives. Remember when we spent that three weeks in the Sour Apple? Pretty sure we had bed bugs toward the end. I still get itchy thinking about it."
Chuckling, Enna said, "Remember that time it rained, and we got caught outside because the lock wouldn't open?"
"The only time you can't properly pick a lock is when it matters, you know."
"Those were my favorite times." She stood and took her place next to him again. He felt a little better.
"I just want you to know…" started Bash before he could stop himself. He turned toward her and immediately regretted it; her eyes had grown wide with curiosity, like they always did when she was intrigued. The dark green searched him for intentions, and he debated for a moment as to whether he wanted to finish the statement. He remembered the dinner party, and Enna's tenseness as Rolen had embraced her. Finally, he finished, "Whatever happens, we'll do it together." And his hand, with a mind of its own, reached out and took hers.
She smiled. Lifting their hands slightly, she said, "Thank you for this. You have no idea how much this comforted me, and kept me grounded. I was so concerned that he would threaten us, attack me, attack you… or anyone else. I don't think I could have made it through without you."
"Well," said Bash quickly, turning back toward the city. He let go of her hand. "I can be pretty dashing. When I want. Even with a beard." He paused. "But I should probably get to bed. It's… been a long day." He backed toward the door and pointed to her awkwardly. "Wake me in four hours."
"Sleep well, Bash," she laughed.
"Actually, it's 'trance well,' as you should well know." And with a wink, he turned and strode into the room before quickly making his spot on the floor.
He spent the next four hours vaguely aware of the room around him. While he listened to the snores of William and the quick, uneven, terrified breaths of Sooka, he used most of his limited mental focus to listen to Enna as she added several pages to her journal. Her writing was quick, but with frequent pauses and sighs. Her tension was clear to him, its reflection resting deep within his own mind. Coming home had been a shock in more than one way.
His restless mind eased toward being fully conscious, and he furrowed his brow to fight it. Releasing Enna, he led his mind through its own inward exercises, working through his mental map of Agneward, winding his way through long-forgotten tunnels and the inner workings of the Well.
Eventually, the time came for his watch, and he heard Enna whisper his name. Almost instantly, he was fully aware and rising to his feet. Enna was still sitting on her bed, peering softly at him, her journal closed in her hand.
"My turn, huh?" he whispered.
Instead of answering, she smiled and mouthed, "Good night."
"Trance well," he muttered as she set her journal down and rested her head. Again, he turned toward the balcony and opened the doors, despite the cool air that flooded the room. Sitting in the doorway, he peered at his city through the railing.
Much time passed, the night sneaking by uneventfully as the three bright moons watched over the city. Bash's eyes followed the many Skywatch soldiers fluttering around overhead, recalling many slippery escapes from these very men.
And then something caught his eye. Something was moving across the lawn.
His senses sharpened as he stood immediately, skipping to the edge of the balcony and leaning over the edge. His heart pounded loudly as the moons illuminated a dark figure dashing across the manor, straight toward the gate.
"Hey!" he shouted instinctively. But instead of slowing or stopping, the figure started moving faster, and Bash pursed his lips. Perhaps the "Ghost" had hit a mark tonight in Marigold Manor.
He glanced behind him as his companions were roused into action, Enna being the first to join him on the balcony. William and Sooka forced themselves awake, one already alert and ready to face any danger and the other terrified. Aribis's keen eye had already spotted the figure, and the flapping of wings could be heard from the roof above.
"Should we go?" asked Enna breathlessly.
A thousand thoughts ran through Bash's mind in response. His peculiar hatred of this Ghost gave him a mind to leap off the balcony and give chase, but a quick glance down told him that falling over forty feet would not work to his favor. While Enna and Aribis could certainly chase the fiend down, they would have to do so without the others. And Enna was already wanted.
But then again, could this Ghost really be that dangerous? Bash had met his kind before. One killing spree in the Dandelions didn't mean it had divine power. Enna and Aribis were more than capable of handling one assassin.
"Sure," he shrugged.
Without hesitation, Enna leapt over the railing and into the air, transforming as she fell. Her arms turned to wings, her feet to talons, her face to a sharp beak and piercing eyes. As she took the form of a giant eagle, Aribis joined her, and the two shot away to the south at top speeds.
"What's going on?" came William's gruff voice from behind Bash.
"The Ghost is on the run," replied Bash curtly, eyes focused intently on Enna even as she moved nearly beyond his vision. Luckily, the were-lights combined with the bright moons overhead illuminated the city to near daylight to his eyes, and he managed to keep sight of them.
At that moment, two of the Skywatch caught sight of Aribis and Enna and began their quick descent toward them. Bash's stomach caught and he held his breath, fingers tightening on the railing.
"We should follow them," he muttered. His mind began routing the quickest path to the street as Enna gave a screech and paused mid-air. She'd lost the Ghost.
A moment later, Aribis cawed in response and rushed past her as he spotted their prey once more, and the two were in pursuit again, but not before two more Skywatch turned toward them.
"We have to get down there!" cried Bash, turning frantically to the other two.
William stood stoic, arms crossed as he peered into the distance, and Sooka stood in the doorway, bewildered at Bash's sudden outburst.
"You!" he called to her. She recoiled. "Can't you do something to get us down there?"
"Bash," stated William. Bash turned to him. "You need to stay calm."
Just as Bash was forming a retort, a flash of light caught his eye, and he sought out Aribis and Enna, only to see nothing but more Skywatch descending.
"Argh!" he cried, and at that instant, a feathery hand closed around his, and a foreign sensation overtook him. Much against his will, he felt his fingers warp and his toenails grow long. His chin pulled into his face as his mouth and teeth extended. Closing his eyes, he wished the feeling away, but an instant later it was over. Looking around, he saw that his arms had turned to wings and his feet to those of a bird. He was amazed at the marked improvement in eyesight, and he turned to William and saw Sooka now holding onto his arm.
She spoke a word, and there was a slight popping sound, and then the two were gone.
"Of course!" he tried to say, but he heard a bird squawk instead. Focusing on the Skywatch, he hopped up onto the balcony railing, surprised at how well he could keep his balance, and jumped off.
In a way that only magic could manage, the instincts of the eagle took over his body as he flapped his wings to propel himself forward. Every ounce of his will was poured into moving as quickly as possible toward Enna and whatever danger was threatening her. Four Skywatch could now be seen hurling their javelins at a target between the buildings, and at that moment, a bright shaft of moonlight descended into an alleyway. That magic he'd seen before. Bash's heart pounded ever faster.
Just as he crested the edge of the interlocked buildings, he felt the magic within him fade away, and his body returned to normal. And he began to plummet.
He crashed onto a roof, doing his best to roll with his momentum, but the impact was only slightly lessened. Leg, shoulder, and arm slammed down, and he was forced to take a moment to recover. But sounds of nearby combat propelled him forward, and he began sprinting along the rooftops.
Just as he thought he might be getting close, the moonbeam suddenly dissipated, and Bash stopped in his tracks, reeling at the thought of what could have happened to break Enna's concentration. Tears began to push their way into his eyes, and he shook his head and pushed himself back into a run, leaping from building to building as he barreled along.
The sounds became clearer as he crested the edge of an alley. But what he saw was worse than what he'd imagined. He came to a dead stop at the roof's edge and gazed down on the scene before him. The Ghost was there, in the midst of Bash's companions: Aribis and Enna clearly marked with bloody claw marks, William with his fists raised and ready to strike or parry at any moment, and a black panther easily dismissed to Enna's magic. The Ghost's red eyes glowed in his cat-like face as he swung around a rapier with a disgusting level of artistry – right through Aribis's small form.
Enna cried out to him as he crumpled to the ground before her, and Bash gasped. Enna whispered and gestured, and healing light radiated from her fingers to envelop Aribis… but nothing happened. Enraged, William swung himself up onto the alley wall, marched over the Ghost and fell behind him just as the panther reared back to pounce. The Ghost, taken aback by the action, hesitated for just a moment. But that was all William needed. He landed blow after blow squarely on the Ghost's arms, chest, and face, and the Ghost recoiled in pain at the strange, magical force of the monk's ki.
Leaping to the ground, Bash rolled and lunged forward to join the fray just as the Ghost glanced at Aribis, muttered something, and disappeared.
Bash jolted to a stop, breathing heavy, eyes wide. Curses in three different languages flooded his mind but were silenced in an instant as Enna cried out.
"Aribis!" she shouted, collapsing to the ground and cradling the lifeless frame.
Vaguely aware of at least a dozen Skywatch surrounding them, Bash took several slow, hesitant steps forward. Shouts came from every direction, but no one paid them any mind. Aribis lay before them, bleeding, unmoving – dead.
As he realized the finality, Bash fell to his knees next to Enna, placing his arm around her shoulder as they both wept together over their fallen friend. Sniffles could be heard behind them from William, and Sooka stood nearby, curious and mournful.
And then Enna gasped. Bash snapped to attention and looked down to see Aribis twitch, and he felt a flicker of hope. They waited one moment, and then suddenly Aribis gasped as his eyes fluttered open.
"Aribis!" cried Enna once more, joy painted across her face.
"Enna!" the birdman replied. "Well, flower, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?"
She laughed even as her tears continued to fall, and she pulled Aribis into a tight hug. He made a strange grunting sound, and Bash couldn't tell if he was pleased or uncomfortable.
Quickly wiping his eyes, Bash stood and smiled, grateful though suspicious of this odd sequence of events, before turning his attention to the horde of hippogriffs and soldiers surrounding them. And in that moment, he realized that his disguise was gone. He was no longer Peren. He was exposed.
"Stand down!" one shouted, probably a captain, Bash guessed. "You lot are under arrest!"
Enna released Aribis and rose to her full height, turning a stalwart and irritated face to the captain.
"You can hang on!" she yelled back. "Can't you see our friend is hurt?" She gestured to the matted, bloody feathers all over Aribis. "I'm going to heal him!"
The Skywatch captain looked suspicious but hesitantly agreed, and Enna cast a spell, restoring much of Aribis's vigor.
Another Skywatch soldier pushed his way to the front of the crowd, protesting their capture and saying that the group had fought off the Ghost of Agneward and were deserving of their freedom. But it seemed to faze the captain little. Only a few minutes later, the entire group was in chains, being dragged to a holding cell nearby.
As they walked, Bash recalled several times that he'd been arrested for petty thievery, and once when he'd been taken to this very holding cell. If they were taken to the Alabaster Fort the next day, perhaps there was a chance of escape; such was his pattern in this city. Luckily, his more heinous crimes had always remained concealed, sparing him from the less sloppily guarded cells. But should anyone recognize him tonight, things might not turn out in his favor.
But he had to remember that this time, he was not alone. He turned to look at Enna, and saw his own apprehension reflected in her face. They were both wanted in this city, and for much more than the abuse of one guildmaster. Their long string of theft and murder would speak for itself. His eyes turned to William, the innocent soul who was probably the least deserving of their impending incarceration. Sooka trembled next to her protective monk, and Bash wondered whether her earlier pursuit had been warranted.
And finally, he looked to Aribis. The realization that he'd almost lost this dear friend for a second time nearly overwhelmed him. At least this time, it hadn't been his fault. But if anything bad happened after this, it most assuredly was.
They arrived at their destination and were all ushered into the same cell, where each member of the party slumped down onto the uncomfortable stone floor. As their feet were being shackled, Enna scooted closer to Bash and laid her head on his shoulder. Though their hands were still bound, he reached over and linked his fingers with hers. He knew that she, too, was emotionally exhausted, and her wounds needed to be healed. But more than this, there was a dramatic tension hanging between them as they both understood the weight of their situation. Ironically, the one person who could bring about their salvation was also the one most likely to bring about their demise.
Only a few minutes later, the others began to drop off into sleep, each utterly depleted by the evening's events. It was not long before Enna's soft breathing evened, and he whispered, "We'll get through this together."
He expected a response, but none came.
"Enna?" he said a little louder.
She said nothing.
She was asleep.
Just as he thought that his anxiety could rise no more, he realized that Enna was not trancing as she should have been. His eyes were drawn to her still-seeping wounds, his thoughts drifted to the dreaded Ghost, and he realized that the foul beast must have done something to her.
Whatever hatred Bash had felt for the character before was merely embers compared to the blistering flame that leapt within him now. Nearly losing Aribis to it had been fuel enough, but now that he saw this effect on Enna, nothing could bridle his anger.
This beast – this fiend – had encroached on his own territory and stolen his own name, scorned his very reputation by being seen by more than one person, nearly killed one close friend, and now had hurt Enna. There was nowhere in Agneward that this "Ghost" could hide.
Author Note: Well after this session was completed, we all realized that the polymorph spell that Sooka placed on Bash would not have allowed him to retain his mental capacity. However, since this had already happened and been well established, we decided to allow it to play this way in retrospect. That will be corrected in future chapters should it ever come into play!
Also, this bit of writing was only a small section of a larger session, and it was during a small spout of inspiration that it was written. My idea to novelize our campaign came two or three sessions later, and as such, the time between will be summarized in the next chapter, like it was in the first. Thank you for your patronage!