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A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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<blockquote data-quote="Ilex" data-source="post: 4912023" data-attributes="member: 82687"><p><strong>5x01</strong></p><p></p><p><em>I believed I was ready for this</em>, Savina thought. As they had entered the derro caves, she had steeled herself for the trial to come. Innocent children needed rescue, and, as a Blessed Daughter of Alirria, it was Savina's duty to help: that got her into the tunnel. Corani was pregnant and recovering from injury, and, as a healer, it was Savina's duty to keep her patient safe: that got her onto the battlefield. Then Arden came under attack, and, as a member of the noble house of di Infusino, it was Savina's duty to care for her own: that got her to strike out at the derro. But she'd killed him. And she had <em>not</em> been ready for that.</p><p></p><p>Now she stood in the dim barracks-room, in the reeking aftermath of the second battle, feeling numb. Kormick and Tavi were investigating the pit, studying the frayed ropes that dangled above it and attempting to peer into its gloom. Mena was collecting Rose from her hiding-place in the hallway. Corani was at the far side of the room, her ax rising and falling methodically -- Savina tried not to look too closely. </p><p></p><p>Twiggy sat against the wall, looking as shaken as Savina felt. Nearby, Arden wiped her sword clean on a rag torn from a derro's cloak. Her movements lacked force and her face was drawn; some clinical part of Savina's mind diagnosed blood loss and exhaustion and prescribed a long rest. </p><p></p><p>Twiggy asked, as Savina had earlier, "Arden, are you all right?"</p><p></p><p>"I hate this place," Arden snapped. Twiggy blinked, and Savina was jolted out of her reverie for a moment, too, at the slave's uncharacteristic harshness. Arden caught herself immediately. "I'm sorry, Lady Chelesta," she muttered to Twiggy. "I'll be fine." </p><p></p><p>Mena and Rose returned. "Are there any derro left alive to question?" asked Mena.</p><p></p><p>Kormick laughed in response and pointed at Corani. Savina followed his finger just in time to see Corani whack some appendage off another corpse. Savina doubled over and was sick again.</p><p></p><p>When she straightened, Mena was beside her. "Think about the smell of mint," she advised. "Fresh from the garden, in summertime." </p><p></p><p>Savina thought about it. "I . . . I used to like mint," she whispered doubtfully.</p><p></p><p>"I really, really hate to say this," said Kormick, "but I think we should make ourselves aware of what's in that pit."</p><p></p><p>"Mena, grab that rope and give me a hand," called Tavi. "We're going to lower Kormick down to take a look."</p><p></p><p>"Why me, exactly?" Kormick demanded.</p><p></p><p>"We'll tie a rope around you," answered Tavi.</p><p></p><p>"I see what you did there," said Kormick. Tavi smirked. "The lake, this morning, har har. . ."</p><p></p><p>Mena handed a rope to Kormick.</p><p></p><p>"How can I refuse," sighed the Justicar, taking the rope. </p><p></p><p>Mena helped Tavi lower Kormick down into the pit. Watching them, Savina suppressed a wild urge to laugh at the Justicar dangling like bait on a hook. <em>What's wrong with me? That's not funny!</em></p><p></p><p>She heard Kormick's voice from the darkness below. "Lower . . . lower . . . okay. Stop. Hmmm. Interesting . . . disgusting . . . intriguing . . . and yes! Time to leave! Up we go!" Mena and Tavi heaved, and soon Kormick was grabbing the rim of the pit and pulling himself up. </p><p></p><p>"It was a vast chamber containing a number of troublingly large mushrooms," he reported. "And then I heard something scuffling toward me, and I decided not to wait to see what it was. I suggest that we <em>not</em> enter that lower level unless we have no choice."</p><p></p><p>"Yes, because the Ketkath has a long and proud history of plants that will mess you up," said Twiggy, with a flash of her usual spirit. "Let's not test the fungi."</p><p></p><p>"That would argue against following the passage that led downward from the entrance chamber," mused Mena.</p><p></p><p>"This corridor keeps going a good way beyond this pit," said Tavi. "Let's move ahead."</p><p></p><p>Mena looked dubiously at the wide gap and the questionable ropes dangling above it, the only means of swinging across. Then she looked back at Rose and Savina.</p><p></p><p>"I'm not sure we can all cross the pit safely," she said.</p><p></p><p>"We could send a scout," said Tavi.</p><p></p><p>"No – that person would be cut off and vulnerable."</p><p></p><p>"Come," said Kormick, "what are slaves for? Arden!" He tugged a rope to see if it was sturdy. It gave way in his hand. </p><p></p><p>Savina was vaguely aware that Arden had cast a cursory glance at her for permission, but she still felt so numb. Seeing no objection from her mistress, Arden silently turned and walked toward the Justicar.</p><p></p><p>"You don't have to go," Mena told the slave, glaring at Kormick. Mena's armor backed up her words, hissing and growling. Kormick had continued testing ropes, and now he handed one to Arden. "Do your sneaky thing," he told her. "And remember that cloak you're wearing." </p><p></p><p>"Yes, Justicar." Arden swung smoothly across the pit, landing lightly on the other side. She set off down the corridor and soon vanished into the shadows.</p><p></p><p>Mena was still glaring at Kormick. </p><p></p><p>"What?" he demanded. "Owning a sneaky murder-slave is like owning an attack dog. You must give her regular exercise if you don't want her to turn on you."</p><p></p><p>"I'm growing tired of these jokes," said Mena. "Arden is not a pet, and you know it."</p><p></p><p>"Put away your wrath, illustrious Dame Mena. Of course I know it."</p><p></p><p><em>What a strange conversation</em>, Savina thought. <em>But I'm glad Arden is able to be useful.</em> She was still trying her best to think about mint, but then Twiggy asked a question that forced her to think about all the worst things after all.</p><p></p><p>"Mena? Kormick? Does killing ever <em>not</em> feel horrible?"</p><p></p><p>Kormick eyed Mena like a student trying to guess the correct answer. "I'm going to say . . . no?" </p><p></p><p>"No," agreed Mena. </p><p></p><p>Behind her, Kormick caught Tavi's eye and rolled his eyes. Tavi stifled a laugh.</p><p></p><p>"Killing never gets easier," Mena was continuing. "And that is a good thing. It must never become an act that you perform lightly. I see that face you're making, Kormick."</p><p></p><p>"Well, well," said Kormick, unperturbed. "Dame Mena is right, kids. Killing should never be fun. Let's merely say that sometimes, when the cause is – you know – <em>just</em> and so forth – killing can be deeply, deeply . . . satisfying."</p><p></p><p>For some reason, although naturally she found his words troubling, Kormick's cheerful demeanor reassured Savina. Tavi was smiling, too, and that also helped. Not everyone felt like the world was ending, so maybe it wasn't. Maybe things would be all right. Maybe, right now, Arden was opening a door and freeing all the dwarven prisoners – maybe they'd all be back outside in only a few more minutes –</p><p></p><p>From far away down the corridor came a sound. A bestial snarl.</p><p> </p><p>### </p><p></p><p>Arden crept down the corridor reluctantly, straining to hear the conversation she was leaving behind. <em>Did Alleged just call me a dog . . .?!</em> </p><p></p><p>An occasional sputtering torch dimly lit her way. She passed a smaller entrance on her right, the narrow tunnel beyond it sloping upwards. She saw no light up there, and a little light up ahead, so she kept going forward toward the light and, as she got closer, the sound of voices. </p><p></p><p>Her gaze focused up ahead, she nearly fell into a second pit. She glimpsed it just in time, found the ropes above it and swung easily across, landing near the corner where the hallway turned.</p><p></p><p><em>First the barracks, now the dining hall</em>, she realized in discouragement, as she peered around the corner and into a large room full of rowdy derro sitting at long tables, eating and drinking and speaking their guttural, incomprehensible language. There was no sign of the dwarven prisoners. On the left-hand side of the room, a spiral staircase led up to a landing and another tunnel. On the right-hand side, a heavy barred door was set into the wall. Arden locked her gaze onto it: <em>That looks promising.</em></p><p></p><p>She scanned the derro again, noticing that they were all armed. Suddenly, a face poked out from under one of the tables, between the legs of the derro. It belonged to a lizard the size of a dog, with its tongue lolling out over its fangs – and it was looking straight at her. </p><p></p><p>Arden pulled back around the corner, flattening herself against the wall, breathing hard. She held still for a long time, praying that the creature would lose interest. Finally, she dared to peek around the corner.</p><p></p><p>The lizard was right in front of her. And it sprang.</p><p></p><p>Arden jumped backwards into the corridor. The creature landed inches from her, its claws scrabbling on the stone. It snarled, a loud sound that rolled down the corridor behind her. It leapt at her again and, this time, sank its teeth into her thigh. Arden felt her flesh tear, and she clenched her jaw shut against the pain, not making a sound, hoping that the derro hadn't noticed what their pet was up to. For the first time, she felt perversely grateful to Unssa, that fiend, who'd insisted that slaves under the lash be seen and not heard. </p><p></p><p>Then she felt emptiness behind her heels and realized that if she backed up any more, she'd plummet into the pit. Her hands caught her cloak and pulled it around her protectively. In the split second before its magic activated, she had a flash of doubt – <em>They've lied to me, it's not magic, I'm dead</em> – and then –</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ilex, post: 4912023, member: 82687"] [b]5x01[/b] [i]I believed I was ready for this[/i], Savina thought. As they had entered the derro caves, she had steeled herself for the trial to come. Innocent children needed rescue, and, as a Blessed Daughter of Alirria, it was Savina's duty to help: that got her into the tunnel. Corani was pregnant and recovering from injury, and, as a healer, it was Savina's duty to keep her patient safe: that got her onto the battlefield. Then Arden came under attack, and, as a member of the noble house of di Infusino, it was Savina's duty to care for her own: that got her to strike out at the derro. But she'd killed him. And she had [i]not[/i] been ready for that. Now she stood in the dim barracks-room, in the reeking aftermath of the second battle, feeling numb. Kormick and Tavi were investigating the pit, studying the frayed ropes that dangled above it and attempting to peer into its gloom. Mena was collecting Rose from her hiding-place in the hallway. Corani was at the far side of the room, her ax rising and falling methodically -- Savina tried not to look too closely. Twiggy sat against the wall, looking as shaken as Savina felt. Nearby, Arden wiped her sword clean on a rag torn from a derro's cloak. Her movements lacked force and her face was drawn; some clinical part of Savina's mind diagnosed blood loss and exhaustion and prescribed a long rest. Twiggy asked, as Savina had earlier, "Arden, are you all right?" "I hate this place," Arden snapped. Twiggy blinked, and Savina was jolted out of her reverie for a moment, too, at the slave's uncharacteristic harshness. Arden caught herself immediately. "I'm sorry, Lady Chelesta," she muttered to Twiggy. "I'll be fine." Mena and Rose returned. "Are there any derro left alive to question?" asked Mena. Kormick laughed in response and pointed at Corani. Savina followed his finger just in time to see Corani whack some appendage off another corpse. Savina doubled over and was sick again. When she straightened, Mena was beside her. "Think about the smell of mint," she advised. "Fresh from the garden, in summertime." Savina thought about it. "I . . . I used to like mint," she whispered doubtfully. "I really, really hate to say this," said Kormick, "but I think we should make ourselves aware of what's in that pit." "Mena, grab that rope and give me a hand," called Tavi. "We're going to lower Kormick down to take a look." "Why me, exactly?" Kormick demanded. "We'll tie a rope around you," answered Tavi. "I see what you did there," said Kormick. Tavi smirked. "The lake, this morning, har har. . ." Mena handed a rope to Kormick. "How can I refuse," sighed the Justicar, taking the rope. Mena helped Tavi lower Kormick down into the pit. Watching them, Savina suppressed a wild urge to laugh at the Justicar dangling like bait on a hook. [i]What's wrong with me? That's not funny![/i] She heard Kormick's voice from the darkness below. "Lower . . . lower . . . okay. Stop. Hmmm. Interesting . . . disgusting . . . intriguing . . . and yes! Time to leave! Up we go!" Mena and Tavi heaved, and soon Kormick was grabbing the rim of the pit and pulling himself up. "It was a vast chamber containing a number of troublingly large mushrooms," he reported. "And then I heard something scuffling toward me, and I decided not to wait to see what it was. I suggest that we [i]not[/i] enter that lower level unless we have no choice." "Yes, because the Ketkath has a long and proud history of plants that will mess you up," said Twiggy, with a flash of her usual spirit. "Let's not test the fungi." "That would argue against following the passage that led downward from the entrance chamber," mused Mena. "This corridor keeps going a good way beyond this pit," said Tavi. "Let's move ahead." Mena looked dubiously at the wide gap and the questionable ropes dangling above it, the only means of swinging across. Then she looked back at Rose and Savina. "I'm not sure we can all cross the pit safely," she said. "We could send a scout," said Tavi. "No – that person would be cut off and vulnerable." "Come," said Kormick, "what are slaves for? Arden!" He tugged a rope to see if it was sturdy. It gave way in his hand. Savina was vaguely aware that Arden had cast a cursory glance at her for permission, but she still felt so numb. Seeing no objection from her mistress, Arden silently turned and walked toward the Justicar. "You don't have to go," Mena told the slave, glaring at Kormick. Mena's armor backed up her words, hissing and growling. Kormick had continued testing ropes, and now he handed one to Arden. "Do your sneaky thing," he told her. "And remember that cloak you're wearing." "Yes, Justicar." Arden swung smoothly across the pit, landing lightly on the other side. She set off down the corridor and soon vanished into the shadows. Mena was still glaring at Kormick. "What?" he demanded. "Owning a sneaky murder-slave is like owning an attack dog. You must give her regular exercise if you don't want her to turn on you." "I'm growing tired of these jokes," said Mena. "Arden is not a pet, and you know it." "Put away your wrath, illustrious Dame Mena. Of course I know it." [i]What a strange conversation[/i], Savina thought. [i]But I'm glad Arden is able to be useful.[/i] She was still trying her best to think about mint, but then Twiggy asked a question that forced her to think about all the worst things after all. "Mena? Kormick? Does killing ever [i]not[/i] feel horrible?" Kormick eyed Mena like a student trying to guess the correct answer. "I'm going to say . . . no?" "No," agreed Mena. Behind her, Kormick caught Tavi's eye and rolled his eyes. Tavi stifled a laugh. "Killing never gets easier," Mena was continuing. "And that is a good thing. It must never become an act that you perform lightly. I see that face you're making, Kormick." "Well, well," said Kormick, unperturbed. "Dame Mena is right, kids. Killing should never be fun. Let's merely say that sometimes, when the cause is – you know – [i]just[/i] and so forth – killing can be deeply, deeply . . . satisfying." For some reason, although naturally she found his words troubling, Kormick's cheerful demeanor reassured Savina. Tavi was smiling, too, and that also helped. Not everyone felt like the world was ending, so maybe it wasn't. Maybe things would be all right. Maybe, right now, Arden was opening a door and freeing all the dwarven prisoners – maybe they'd all be back outside in only a few more minutes – From far away down the corridor came a sound. A bestial snarl. ### Arden crept down the corridor reluctantly, straining to hear the conversation she was leaving behind. [i]Did Alleged just call me a dog . . .?![/i] An occasional sputtering torch dimly lit her way. She passed a smaller entrance on her right, the narrow tunnel beyond it sloping upwards. She saw no light up there, and a little light up ahead, so she kept going forward toward the light and, as she got closer, the sound of voices. Her gaze focused up ahead, she nearly fell into a second pit. She glimpsed it just in time, found the ropes above it and swung easily across, landing near the corner where the hallway turned. [i]First the barracks, now the dining hall[/i], she realized in discouragement, as she peered around the corner and into a large room full of rowdy derro sitting at long tables, eating and drinking and speaking their guttural, incomprehensible language. There was no sign of the dwarven prisoners. On the left-hand side of the room, a spiral staircase led up to a landing and another tunnel. On the right-hand side, a heavy barred door was set into the wall. Arden locked her gaze onto it: [i]That looks promising.[/i] She scanned the derro again, noticing that they were all armed. Suddenly, a face poked out from under one of the tables, between the legs of the derro. It belonged to a lizard the size of a dog, with its tongue lolling out over its fangs – and it was looking straight at her. Arden pulled back around the corner, flattening herself against the wall, breathing hard. She held still for a long time, praying that the creature would lose interest. Finally, she dared to peek around the corner. The lizard was right in front of her. And it sprang. Arden jumped backwards into the corridor. The creature landed inches from her, its claws scrabbling on the stone. It snarled, a loud sound that rolled down the corridor behind her. It leapt at her again and, this time, sank its teeth into her thigh. Arden felt her flesh tear, and she clenched her jaw shut against the pain, not making a sound, hoping that the derro hadn't noticed what their pet was up to. For the first time, she felt perversely grateful to Unssa, that fiend, who'd insisted that slaves under the lash be seen and not heard. Then she felt emptiness behind her heels and realized that if she backed up any more, she'd plummet into the pit. Her hands caught her cloak and pulled it around her protectively. In the split second before its magic activated, she had a flash of doubt – [i]They've lied to me, it's not magic, I'm dead[/i] – and then – [/QUOTE]
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A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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