They worked their way back outside.
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"Casy bring us back!" Parcival said.
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Who's Casy? Within moments they were all whisked away standing in front of a small home.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAczKnx75G00
"Casy, we have her!"
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"I'm glad everyone made it out alright," said Casy. He closed the door.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA9wohST80pi
Parcival put her down while eyeing her. "Can you talk yet?"
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"No guess not." He turned to Casy. "Do you have any rope?"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAu3ha1U7ly4
"What is going on here? What do you need with a rope?"
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"Just bring it." He avoided looking her way.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAqUpAszqK7t
Casey's brow deepened.
984Please respect copyright.PENANACFkC8YJuEl
"I don't like this, isn't right." He went outside.
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A frightful rattling. He entered with a thick long rope coiled on his arm. He shoved it into Parcival's hands.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAApv05Iyudb
"The more she moves the tighter it gets."
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Parcival wrapped it around her wrists tying it. His face was so stern. Guiding her to another room, he sat her on the bed, walked out locking the door.
984Please respect copyright.PENANArcSLEJ12XS
She sat there all night, unable to sleep.
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"Kill them." The last command from Kar repeated over riding out all other thoughts. The rope tightened biting into her wrists. She gasped. Any tighter and the bones will break. She moved to the door.
984Please respect copyright.PENANATJn6PWO4Dv
It was a struggle to pull free a small dagger in her boot with her fingertips, it took forever but it finally clanked on the floor.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAQowmJ2J7w2
Sitting by the door in a crouched tented position. She picked up and dropped the dagger most of the night. It was exasperating.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA9Fn7eCYClv
Unnamed chuckled. As you are "resting" I will take of some energy.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAz6lTnRNf1o
What? No not now, I need to get free!
984Please respect copyright.PENANA7oKfi6jGmj
And then what? Slaughter them all? Have an entire city out for your head? Fool! Like you said before using the darkheart is foolish. You've see that emblem on his shirt. It is best you do not die, it is more beneficial for me.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAQfQwVD6fs1
You don't decide what I do spirit. What am I saying? Make it stop! Break this spell, you're a god, right?
Waste of my energy, you have plenty to spare. If you didn't I would have drained you dry weeks ago. Do as I tell you otherwise I'll use less kind methods then before.
Its vines went further under down deep below the skin this time. She fell to her side shaking as he took a great amount. The times before were gentle compared to this.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAktzdbp2Qhk
Arguing along the other side of the door, then the light that seeped from under darkened.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAVYNRe669C2
The morning light streamed in through the window. Come on get it. The sunlight warmed her back, as it did the command ceased.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAIG4JOS3J4v
Dust motes danced in the air. It was so quiet. She sat up panting.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA0ihL6jXpwc
Han opened the door a crack. She scooted back. Coming in he carried a large mug of water.
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"How do you feel?" His lip twitched.
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She sat upright on the floor. His lip twitched again. Just what was so funny?
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"You mean do I want to kill you both? No." She smiled a little. Ten minutes ago, however ...
984Please respect copyright.PENANAg93eJU9rrG
He glimpsed at the dagger. Then at her red-rimmed wrists, frowning as he undid them.
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"Here." He handed her the mug.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA1jtSSZhKiJ
That water tasted better than any. So cold. It washed over her parched mouth. She gulped the mug down in short order.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAoUd8UDoQoI
Bending over she scooped up the dagger tucking it back in a boot.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAbrUVJ67G4n
Merryn followed Han into the kitchen.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAAyAUrFlL5F
Parcival took a sip of his tea and wrapped his hands around the cup.
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Her ears twitched.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAFU0Q06bk49
His eyes peered over the brim. Now, what was he thinking?
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"Thank you." he got up shaking Casy's hand.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAOk8GYf1woj
"Follow me. The caves they start here."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAeO6hwWz7bZ
Parcival stood stretching his hands, his fingertips brushed the thatched straw ceiling.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAjzdPcbXHXV
Walking down the short hallway Casy pressed his hands into imprints in the wall. Red glowing runes appeared framing the entrance. The wall rumbled and slid to the left.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAtbqg222qDs
Water dripped inside. Shaking now, with clasped sweaty hands, she scooted over toward the threshold. What if there's a cave in? We'll suffocate.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAnyEXiLRL3P
Parcival leaned into the entrance whistling sharply.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAYfuRU9GwTo
A creepy whistle. Pieces of it came back to her. A shadow two eyes just like the other day, and like the first time all those years ago.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAUwddu84b2p
"Time to g—" Parcival's lips thinned and his brow deepened for a moment. He let go of the edge of the cave entrance.
984Please respect copyright.PENANABlig2ukyEx
"What is it, do you see something?"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAjPSANZzjGu
"No," she attempted to swallow, but her throat struck.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAYOwvIaQ3gL
Parcival walked over and pulled on her wrist.
984Please respect copyright.PENANATRzrIIa6Mj
"You don't have to if you don't want to. Though if you could it would be twice as fast."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAKlsNoeD3I8
Her cheeks cooled as did the rest of her body.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAHpSR9W1XMz
"No we need to hurry." She nibbled on some loose skin on her lip. "If there's a way around?"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAbmwlTlu3AM
How to do this? It wasn't proper to be so upset over this. She straightened her shoulders and attempted to look normal, whatever that is. Her ears twitched.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA3lFODCyOdM
"Well, we'll need to see."
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She wiggled her fingers in a series of strange gestures. A small glowing globe emerged, at first just a mote. It gathered energy growing in size to that of a small globe.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAM9tYoO5UMn
Parcival coughed.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAlVjMnXZrDG
"How did you do that?"
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She tilted her head. "A magi taught me."
984Please respect copyright.PENANA1Zr9l2ZVpC
Raising her hand the globe raised with it. Part of her still wanted to run out of the room screaming. She breathed in and focused on making it brighter. Parcival's face glow caught her breath just for a second. She stole a quick glance. He didn't appear to notice, or wasn't showing if he did.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAeIpW71zeoY
He started talking, but it was hard to concentrate her thoughts like water in a bowl spinning.
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His voice cut though again.
984Please respect copyright.PENANATURlMDCrMo
Parcival turned and went inside. "Coming?" he held out a hand.
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She froze in the chair.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAwTAK3MeYmh
She got up and made her feet go to him. The fingers on his hand wrapped around hers. He squeezed them before moving on.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA8tqUDYr15I
She smiled a little. A person like this was rare, have been too hard on him. She straightened her shoulders. All the more reason to ditch them soon.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAsbxguQy1ss
"Just move, it'll become easier if you keep going," Han said.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAnQ9QCH6Ac7
A passageway further down opened into a great cavern. The light ball streaked off ahead, illuminating the area.
984Please respect copyright.PENANACIeGXtHI1x
Every corner and edge glowed, the shadows pulled back as the globe circled the area above them. Before them on the left far-off to the other side, there were several bridges. The encroaching shadows pulled away from the light.
984Please respect copyright.PENANALG8Qhoq3ex
Ladders reached up from the bottoms of pillars leading to even more bridges, these connected to more ledges, and linked to several flat-topped stone pillars. Some rocks looked like wasp wings. She jumped back a step.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAZQxDhxTd3a
"Keep looking straight ahead."
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"Right. Ahead."
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A large tunnel with glittering rocks, was at the end of the bridge. She let go of his hand and gripped the rope. Exactly like that day, when it all started. Mom should have listened to you.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAyVb4XqKJmr
The scars had faded some, but were still fairly visible, she drew a sleeve down covering them again. That crystal bear could've, but it didn't. Why? She rubbed her arms.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA4L9uVTmctB
"Merryn?" Parcival snapped his fingers in front of her. "Come on let's go."
984Please respect copyright.PENANA266V2g2Oon
Cold sweat drenched the back of her undershirt. She clamped her jaw as a whine tried to squeak out. Not today. Come on stop it. There's no way. I can't. I won't. What if another is in there? She pulled in rappid breaths through her nose.
984Please respect copyright.PENANATJQtnzlqqN
Parcival placed his hands on hers.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAHOXmMgbDXW
"It will be fine. Look I'll go ahead and show you."
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He stepped away.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAR0Iu3bcCTM
"Stay!"
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He half turned his face winking before heading to the tunnel entrance.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAdjXf7TzVQd
Han patted her thy. "See it's fine?"
984Please respect copyright.PENANARVqUYxKVdA
She glared at him.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAt8FxBAqNti
He drew his hand back, eyes wide. "Sorry!"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAyR1wIvCjAV
Blurrrg. She shook her arms out. Uck! Usually some touching was alright, but not here!
984Please respect copyright.PENANAn4Kdu71Ac4
He went and sat on the damned rock. Crazy both of them. She stood there until her legs burned. She let go, but kept watch of the tunnel.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAFP04aCYDYd
At the end of the bridge she crouched down, tying a boot lace. Her fingers bloched any attempts to knot it. Doesn't matter. The area still spun so she played with it for a few minutes.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAUxhNGDvucG
When she sat down Han raised a brow yet kept quiet.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAXKzgYzM5V8
"Let's make camp here, and proceed in the morning." Parcival pointed to a flat area off ahead, to the right of the sinister tunnel.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAo4IyflogsK
She slipped off her pack and sat cross-legged.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAp8Txa1dcwr
Taking some dry wood out of his pack, Parcival had a crackling fire minutes after.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA3xqX9N17nC
Han sat on the other side writing in small fat book, dipping a quill pen into a inkwell on the ground. How old fashioned most used ink well sticks now, they broke less then those glass inkwells did.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAOaQDStHxe7
"What are you writing?"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAYMzEXSz5iI
He looked over the top of his spectacles.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA0wqZI7zDtC
"The history of the word, mountains and such."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAzJnWesgw27
"How long have you been working on it?"
984Please respect copyright.PENANASBYAKZ3M0I
Opening a pouch she brought out a thin braided leather cord, then reached back for her hair and tied it.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAjcMS6Kud20
"For quite some time now."
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A sharp crack behind.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAcIlAxF9q6k
She jumped and spun around. A stone from the ceiling splashed into the waters below. She scanned the area before relaxing again.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAooi1D6eNIj
"Don't worry it's nothing. You should catch some sleep while you can." He stretched yawning.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAHKIylrRIXA
"I'm not sleepy."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAApVJvYuGM9
"Mumm-humm." He went to sleep, snoring soon after.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAsSrT4M8qfW
She scooted closer to the fire. It only happened to be closer to Parcival. He lifted an eyebrow and smirked. She toyed with a tie on her chest armor.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAUlkLvlclvF
Never had many friends, stayed in the temple until of late. Even after leaving it to train not many people were there, except for my magi.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAm22tDAAa8u
Wonder how he's doing? His mustached grin was infectious, can't help but smile back.
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She yawned. These men seem honest. Too much so. Maxwell is sure to hurt them at some point.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAXRQafXJLAO
She took her daggers out, then drew out a cloth from a pouch; cleaning them. The red Adapt had imprinted them with hidden runes. She reflected the light, the runes shimmered blue and red dancing from tip to end.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAsMTWd4LDWu
Red had showed how to use them to heal instead of harm. The only problem with that was it transferred the injuries to the holder. And only one time, after that they'd shatter. Have to be a complete loon to use that spell.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAAw9ezPsm0y
The fire died down to embers. That must've been all the wood s there wasn't any nearby. Another yawn.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAc6k425zkxl
####
Later that night a noise jolted her out of a half-doze. What was it? Fell asleep. Idiot! A moaning echoed in the tunnel. She swallowed a shriek. Stop that, your an adult now. Her daggers sang out of their sheaths.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA6OJwsP2Dyh
An humanoid outline came to focus. It struggled with something in the darknesses. It leaped out into the water with a splash.
984Please respect copyright.PENANATvKFjwCH0X
She shook Parcival's shoulder. He bat away her hands.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAO9Pvqk0XQD
It stepped closer. A furry arm with long fingers and yellow claws showed in the light. It screamed like a banshee before running away its footfalls fading.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAKOatZ0qYQm
Parcival bolted up. "Meeff wha—"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAm3HZSvg6NR
He coughed clearing his throat. He clutched his chest.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAshm0QfhvpY
"Why did you scream? You nearly gave me a heart attack"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAbA1wMwNtr3
"I thought I saw something." Was it really there? Hard to be sure. Better not say anything just yet.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAaSyNSatonW
"Come sit over here." He patted the ground next to him.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAA5Da8ylgGh
"I'm just fine right here." Lay with you? Ha!
984Please respect copyright.PENANA95dT2Ft0oh
She scooted away. Should smack him one for that. She chewed lightly on her leather collar. Gerr ....
984Please respect copyright.PENANAlaXWi40Hww
"I didn't intend it that way. If you want to get cold that's your problem."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAgGBIIqUaHv
"Noses held to high to see—grumble." He murmured something else, then laid back down facing away.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAB490ZiKkhx
Humans. Jez.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAS9nUOn1HTF
In the morning she followed him into the next cavern passageway. This became another tunnel that went on for twenty feet. It had no rocks thankfully. She raced past as soon as the light showed at the end.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA8oSeJ1Qnnn
She bounced on the pads of her feet. Sweet air. No more walls. She resisted an impulse to spin around. She grinned, then joined her hands in a soft clap. Alright.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAmfeIeb5TLG
"Wait here."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAE7qtyEP5NS
Walking up ahead the pathway it wound up like a kink along the mountainside. This way was shorter, but the path could crumble at any time. She bent and dug under the snow to the raw earth.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAL5Q9wc61s0
A handful of the dirt crumbled in her hand. Even in this cold it's treacherous. There should be an inn a few miles west. She nodded. Yea, even better can ditch them there.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAhlvx5bnaGT
She came back to where they were sitting. "It's not safe, it's too icy."
984Please respect copyright.PENANA1EWndnKUTL
Parcival took out a water pouch sipping from it.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAyAcY0nY3KG
Now, how to get them over there without raising suspicions? Got it. Human females tented to complain often, that should annoy them.
984Please respect copyright.PENANARD6nR9CCMt
"I want to sleep in an inn. It's been days since I smelled clean sheets, and had a cold ale. Time for a break."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAJOwSQSilWc
"That sounds good." Parcival sat up.
984Please respect copyright.PENANASKt3uE22KT
Can't believe he agreed so readily. The right side of her mouth twitched. Hea.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAtPueG3eDYy
"I think a village is near."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAUwv2rYu4N2
Taking out the map she checked it. Ah, I know I'll take them the long way they won't want to keep going after that. No reason why I can't rest for a few hours too. Besides so sick of eating dried meat. The growing stomach didn't improve her mood.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAwm4i02Gypr
"It's over to the west, just past that clump of trees."
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She rolled the map back up and placed it back into her pouch.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAIeh1MtGwCc
"Lead the way."
984Please respect copyright.PENANAOldvpgDVqQ
####
Several days later fine strands of dry webbing crisscrossed over the pathway. She cut through it with her daggers, the sticky threads stuck to her fingers as she pulled them off the blades edges. Not good, this is so not good!
984Please respect copyright.PENANAnmN33j6nhm
"Are you certain this is the right way?" Parcival said.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAJPUYZDJ6LI
"Yes." It's just longer, didn't count on spiders being here. She looked around. Damn it, this is bad.
984Please respect copyright.PENANABCpjFcSo7W
Parcival pulled strands of the webbing off of his sword while walking.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAF7uHFbe5zh
"The village isn't much further now." Still, this webbing wasn't here last time. There appeared to be an increase in the nocturnal creatures, she kept the thought quiet for now.
984Please respect copyright.PENANA77GN3T1IfY
A scratching behind almost made her jump out of her boots. She whirled around daggers in hand.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAA3GrKQMPHn
Parcival jumped back. "Quit it! Are you trying to impale me?"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAAFHf9HFe5c
"Sorry."
984Please respect copyright.PENANA103Ke9oeqy
It was getting darker. "Walk faster we need to make camp."
984Please respect copyright.PENANA7gTw54TtSr
A sliding sound above. The hairs on her arms stood up. Ordain it!
984Please respect copyright.PENANAp2CvXYJK9f
Poison dripped onto her forehead and started to burn. Always in the trees sneakier than a serpent.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAsmMhLwkppX
"Run!"
984Please respect copyright.PENANAWStxZndhbZ
Parcival and Han froze.
984Please respect copyright.PENANAboe1JAdq1L
"No, don't look for it you ninny's, just move!"
984Please respect copyright.PENANA2FeYiq5wPn
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