We landed near the dical tent of the headquarters, but didnt go into that one. he yelled into the tent next to it.
There was so grumbling from within, and the flap was flung aside, a sleepy-looking soldier in partial armor stepping out. His breastplate was off, showing the t-shirt wet with perspiration below. His hair was dark, his eyes brown and steady, and there was an air about him of resolve and quiet determination.
He looked at the floating Helix, then over at sitting there on the Disk, and blinked at the sight of my eyes. he asked suspiciously, brow furrowing as he looked at .
I felt the div sweep over , and if the Aura that surrounded him hadnt bluntly told what he was, the use of the Eyes of Heaven would have.
I blithely popped up the Sanctified Darts, and watched him focus on them. He had a weird expression on his face as he looked back and forth from them to . He looked at Helix, who just shrugged.
He turned back to , sitting there with my finger back in my ear.
Its fine, I replied calmly, almost sighing. Ive got the residue of a death curse hanging over , and a Death Domain aura... and Darkness... and Healing... I scrunched up my face at his expression. Its been a very interesting three days since I woke up.
, Helix added quietly. I dropped my hand, pulled up my shirt, and let them look at the wicked white scar zigzagging from down below my belt up and across my belly. The paladins face flickered with a hard edge to it, eyes almost glowing with subdued wrath.
I nodded distinct agreent with that, and said nothing as he put his callused hands on my forehead and the side of my throat.
I felt like sothing was bubbling and hissing in revulsion on the surface of my skin, but naturally couldnt see anything.
Hmm. He took his hands back, frowning.
I obliged, and he placed his fingers on them gently, but firmly. He took them back, and I opened them to look at him.
He grunted, and looked at Helix, who could only purse his lips in surprise. He handed it over to the Paladin, who studied the picture with interest.
he asked perfunctorily, and handed it back to .
Traveler, now, I half-sighed, waving at Helix, who just grinned. Not that Elrii is my Truena.
Mmm, the Paladin nodded.
Im aware. I pointed with my chin at the d tent. Is there soone in there who can help with my side? This is quite painful. I kind of shook my shoulder, and grimaced.
the Paladin called out, gesturing after him. I kind of kicked the Disk along that way, and Helix let it drift after the holy warrior.
---
The inside of the d tent was as expected: low cots that were mostly empty except for a couple soldiers idling with minor injuries and getting fixed up, and a couple of stations with supplies, bandages, pills, and the like. I gathered the Wands and Potions were locked away sowhere so the opportunistic didnt make off with them.
answered a salt-and-peppered black man in his thirties, looking as stolid and grim as the god whose ivory scales and hamr were clearly shone on the black symbol on his chest. His dark eyes flicked past to focus on . he asked with interest, looking over.
Shadow-touched. Strength damage to my left side. If youve a Restorative, Id be obliged, I inford him, lifting the side of my shirt up this ti, displaying a thickening and unhealthy blue sheen all up and down my side.
Father Bower closed his eyes and chanted quietly, a firm white light glowing about his Symbol and his hands. His eyes flickered with a gleam of ivory as he opened them, and bent down to put his hands on my side.
The Lesser Restoration didnt so much heal the damage as drive the negative energies afflicting out in a boiling mist, which was promptly eaten by the white light. It basically undid the effect, leaving only a little put out, and banished the pain in my feet as a happy side effect.
His eyes didnt miss the scar on my belly as his eyes dropped. He definitely had the Heal Ranks to know what it ant, and his eyes flashed. he asked softly, the spell letting him know I still had ability damage it hadnt gotten rid of, and able to guess where it had co from.
Sinbound. Took the baby. I killed four of them, the fifth could Shadowjump, and I had no way to chase him. I flicked my finger, and a very accurate Holo of his face and body as Id seen in the distance ca up, complete with the swaddled child he was holding. Apologies, I have no mories of him other than this.
All three n stared at the Holo, obviously committing the sight to mory, possibly for replication. Father Bower asked in an iron voice.
He was vaguely amused when I held up a finger, put it in my ear, and asked him to repeat that. Hes down four friends. Here are the wallets of two of them. I flicked them out of my purse, and handed them over to him.
Harse, the Ivory King, was the Greater God of Justice, the Judge of the Living and the Dead. His Domains of interest were Law, Good, Justice, Death, and Protection. To be a Priest of Harse was to be a Good and Lawful man, a stern father figure who served and guided their community with an iron spine and harder will. They made superb bureaucrats, better judges, extrely daunting lawyers, and took their roles as protectors of the living and the dead very seriously, indeed.
Hunting down magical criminals like that asshole? Theyd be looking for him for years, until he was confird dead by one ans or another.
I noted the Mithran symbol on the silver chain around the Paladins throat, and sighed inside. I guess I was not going to be a Mithran Battlemage, after all...
I was not surprised the Cleric could feel all of them. He rose to his feet. I obviously didnt have a Symbol showing.
The Souls caught in the Shroud. He blinked in shock. I was drafted. Dont bla .
His expression was interesting, caught between disbelief and a smile. he had to press.
They are stealing the faith caught by the Shroud from those beneath it. He blinked again. Obvious, right?
He and Sir Pellier looked sowhere between outraged and remorseful. Helix just looked intrigued.
His dark eyes flashed white again.
agreed Sir Pellier, and even Helix had to nod.
If it is acceptable to you, Father, Id like to borrow one of those cots to ditate on, recover my Valences, and wait until my Dusk Renewal. My smile kind of dribbled away at all their expressions. Not my choice, either.
he allowed grandly, giving a shooing gesture. I hopped off the Disk, feeling much better. he asked .
I smiled sadly at the question. If I did, they would have co for , I answered softly, and all their faces fell together. Thank you all for your help.
They all answered that it was unnecessary, as I picked out a cot without anyone nearby, and sat down on it cross-legged.
Focus. Remove all the distractions. Expand awareness out to the environnt, touch the magic in the air, the ground... and the link to that dreadful darkness sticking and clawing at the Land.
---------
Uruth! Helix blurted out quietly as he was exiting the tent. The other two followed his gaze to where the young half-elfin was in a classic ditative poise... and the lights were already gathering to her.
That is a very impressive Draw, murmured Father Bower. Its at least as good as yours, Helix.
I can feel that, he murmured. For soone who had just her Bloodline Awakened, she cos across as soone much, much harder...
If what she said is true, shes a hard young woman. That is a lethal wound on her there, and make no mistake on it, Father Bower told them quietly. Soone has made a very dangerous enemy.
Ive got to go report to the Captain about her. Keep an eye on her and make sure shes not carrying around a ghost or demon or sothing for , will you? Helix smiled cheerfully, and both of the other n just shook their heads at him. He laughed and soared into the air exuberantly, heading back up the wall.
What did you sense on her, Marvin? Father Bower asked, as they watched the young Sorcerer fly away.
Shes a Good soul, but theres a Curse laying heavy on her. Its not active, but it doesnt want to leave her. That Shroudborn connection she has is whats painting her eyes black; my touch returned them to silver for a mont, before they filled back in. He hesitated, but forged ahead. Shes got a hard, strong soul, Amos. You know what kids are like at her age; havent settled into any beliefs yet, trying shit out. Unless Im half-blind, shes as solid a Gold as Ive ever seen, even if its not that bright.
Gold? The Harsite glanced back into his closed tent. Idve thought her Green at best, the way she talks. How do you stay Gold with that kind of emotional trauma at her age?
Like I said, hard Gold. I got the distinct impression that she could watch the slaughter and horrid deaths of everyone here and it wouldnt change her beliefs an iota.
The Cleric sucked in a breath. That is indeed very hard, Marvin.
The Paladin clapped him on the shoulder. Ive got to rest for the night shift. Ive a feeling that shell be wanting to go up there.
---
Father Bower watched the Paladin go into his tent to rest, not envying the knight of Mithar at all.
Fearless and immune to charm spells, the elite Paladins and their ability to sense Evil made the perfect night guards for the Walls, but alas, there just werent enough of them around who would put up with doing guard duty.
Lesser n who pulled night duty had to be rotated out frequently. Even if they couldnt understand what the spirits were saying, it could cause nightmares, and one of the things the Priests accompanying the units had to do every morning was gather the n and enact a Remove Fear Ritual, so that the n wouldnt have nightmares after their shift.
The girl was going to go up on the wall? After escaping from the Shroudzone? For what possible purpose?
He thought about that, and then flicked his hand.
A pale white, cone-shaped Dart appeared above his hand. It was a basic orison, a defense against the undead if no better weapon was available.
He had never seen ones that were black, limned in silver, and seething with Banefire, holy fire, and whatever that white fire had been. Those little Darts had looked formidable...
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