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The Doomed Bastards: Reckoning (story complete)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3910311" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 303</p><p></p><p>NIGHT WATCH</p><p></p><p></p><p>The night descended upon the hills surrounding Rappan Athuk like a blanket. The sky above was an inky blackness save for a faintly luminescent knot that hovered over the site of the Dungeon of Graves. The cold wind that had blown all day intensified as the day faded, whistling as it rushed around the squat and artificial obstacle that had been summoned by magic into the midst of the hills. </p><p></p><p>Nelan slid out the door of the <em>secure shelter</em>, careful to close it behind him before the omnipresent winds could blast it wide open. A hulking, dark form loomed over him in the darkness near the entry, and he started before he realized that it was Alderis’s shield guardian, keeping silent vigil over them. </p><p></p><p>Peering into the near-darkness, the cleric started forward, stumbling once or twice on the loose stones. </p><p></p><p>“You should be resting, Nelan,” came a voice from nearby. Nelan turned toward the sound, only then noting the dark shadow that sat against a jutting boulder a few paces distant. </p><p></p><p>“I have already prayed for my spells from the Father, and he has granted them,” Nelan said, shivering slightly in the cold night air. “And in any case, I find that I cannot sleep easily right after a meal. Age wreaks havoc with the digestive process.”</p><p></p><p>“Time has the last laugh on all of us,” Dar said. </p><p></p><p>Nelan glanced up, searching the dark sky above. </p><p></p><p>“He’s still there,” Dar said. “Said he’d remain up there until morning, when we were ready to go.”</p><p></p><p>“The celestial spoke to you?”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, but we didn’t exactly have a conversation.” There was a slight sound of metal on stone as the fighter shifted on his perch, and Nelan could almost feel the man’s gaze shifting away from him. The cleric didn’t say anything for a moment, letting the calm of the night—a false calm, to his senses—play about him. The wind whipped at his cloak, forcing him to hold it against him with his hand. </p><p></p><p>“Something on your mind, Nelan?”</p><p></p><p>“After what’s happened... I just wanted to ask you, about our mission.”</p><p></p><p>For a moment, the fighter did not speak, and Nelan wondered if the other man had heard him over the wind. He finally opened his mouth to say something else, when Dar started talking. </p><p></p><p>“It wasn’t that long ago, when we were here last. You remember, cleric? ‘The last camp’, we called it. It might have been within this very dell—these hills all look the freaking same to me. We buried that dead hero here, and moved into Rappan Athuk the next day.”</p><p></p><p>“I remember,” Nelan said. </p><p></p><p>“Talen was in charge... he was born to lead, that one. He was responsible for taking down the Duke, did you know that? I was just a freaking sword-for-sale, he took over after Tiros’s death—the man had some balls, no doubting it. Led a team into Rappan Athuk to recover the marshall.”</p><p></p><p>“It’s not your fault, what happened to him.”</p><p></p><p>“I didn’t say it was, priest. He knew the risks, we all did. We were all on freaking borrowed time, still are. Rappan Athuk doesn’t play by the rules and it doesn’t give a damn for odds. Though I am going to cut that wizard’s head off if we run into him again. Freaking Zafir Navev.”</p><p></p><p>Nelan didn’t respond, and the silence stretched out again for almost a minute. </p><p></p><p>“Gods, I didn’t ask for this crap.” There was a loud scrape as he rose. “Come on, sitting outside in the dark isn’t going to solve anything. Assuming the demons don’t come for us in the night, we’re going to have a full day tomorrow.”</p><p></p><p>“And the mission?”</p><p></p><p>“The mission is the same as it was before. Being short-handed doesn’t change that.”</p><p></p><p>There was a conclusion in Dar’s voice, and he started to walk past the cleric, but something prodded Nelan to push again. “And if we find the portal to Orcus’s demiplane? What do we do then?”</p><p></p><p>Dar stopped, and while he could not see the other man’s face, Nelan could feel the weight of his stare. “One way or another, this is going to freaking end here, Nelan. One way or another.”</p><p></p><p>The fighter turned and walked away, vanishing into the dark, his bootsteps fading as he moved back to the <em>secure shelter</em>. As the fighter’s presence retreated, Nelan felt the night surging in all around him, and imagined that there were dark things within that inky expanse, claws poised to rend his flesh. </p><p></p><p>Shuddering, the cleric hastened after the fighter, leaving the night to the darkness and the wind.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 3910311, member: 143"] Chapter 303 NIGHT WATCH The night descended upon the hills surrounding Rappan Athuk like a blanket. The sky above was an inky blackness save for a faintly luminescent knot that hovered over the site of the Dungeon of Graves. The cold wind that had blown all day intensified as the day faded, whistling as it rushed around the squat and artificial obstacle that had been summoned by magic into the midst of the hills. Nelan slid out the door of the [i]secure shelter[/i], careful to close it behind him before the omnipresent winds could blast it wide open. A hulking, dark form loomed over him in the darkness near the entry, and he started before he realized that it was Alderis’s shield guardian, keeping silent vigil over them. Peering into the near-darkness, the cleric started forward, stumbling once or twice on the loose stones. “You should be resting, Nelan,” came a voice from nearby. Nelan turned toward the sound, only then noting the dark shadow that sat against a jutting boulder a few paces distant. “I have already prayed for my spells from the Father, and he has granted them,” Nelan said, shivering slightly in the cold night air. “And in any case, I find that I cannot sleep easily right after a meal. Age wreaks havoc with the digestive process.” “Time has the last laugh on all of us,” Dar said. Nelan glanced up, searching the dark sky above. “He’s still there,” Dar said. “Said he’d remain up there until morning, when we were ready to go.” “The celestial spoke to you?” “Yeah, but we didn’t exactly have a conversation.” There was a slight sound of metal on stone as the fighter shifted on his perch, and Nelan could almost feel the man’s gaze shifting away from him. The cleric didn’t say anything for a moment, letting the calm of the night—a false calm, to his senses—play about him. The wind whipped at his cloak, forcing him to hold it against him with his hand. “Something on your mind, Nelan?” “After what’s happened... I just wanted to ask you, about our mission.” For a moment, the fighter did not speak, and Nelan wondered if the other man had heard him over the wind. He finally opened his mouth to say something else, when Dar started talking. “It wasn’t that long ago, when we were here last. You remember, cleric? ‘The last camp’, we called it. It might have been within this very dell—these hills all look the freaking same to me. We buried that dead hero here, and moved into Rappan Athuk the next day.” “I remember,” Nelan said. “Talen was in charge... he was born to lead, that one. He was responsible for taking down the Duke, did you know that? I was just a freaking sword-for-sale, he took over after Tiros’s death—the man had some balls, no doubting it. Led a team into Rappan Athuk to recover the marshall.” “It’s not your fault, what happened to him.” “I didn’t say it was, priest. He knew the risks, we all did. We were all on freaking borrowed time, still are. Rappan Athuk doesn’t play by the rules and it doesn’t give a damn for odds. Though I am going to cut that wizard’s head off if we run into him again. Freaking Zafir Navev.” Nelan didn’t respond, and the silence stretched out again for almost a minute. “Gods, I didn’t ask for this crap.” There was a loud scrape as he rose. “Come on, sitting outside in the dark isn’t going to solve anything. Assuming the demons don’t come for us in the night, we’re going to have a full day tomorrow.” “And the mission?” “The mission is the same as it was before. Being short-handed doesn’t change that.” There was a conclusion in Dar’s voice, and he started to walk past the cleric, but something prodded Nelan to push again. “And if we find the portal to Orcus’s demiplane? What do we do then?” Dar stopped, and while he could not see the other man’s face, Nelan could feel the weight of his stare. “One way or another, this is going to freaking end here, Nelan. One way or another.” The fighter turned and walked away, vanishing into the dark, his bootsteps fading as he moved back to the [i]secure shelter[/i]. As the fighter’s presence retreated, Nelan felt the night surging in all around him, and imagined that there were dark things within that inky expanse, claws poised to rend his flesh. Shuddering, the cleric hastened after the fighter, leaving the night to the darkness and the wind. [/QUOTE]
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