Chapter 20 - Proving Ground (Part 1)
Litiraan woke quickly once Telkya began to use her healing prayer upon him and then she and Lavren used their fey ability to teleport to reach first the platform of the second statue and then the platforms on which rested the hilt and the blade of the knife they sought. When they returned to the centre platform, Lavren took the blade solemnly to Telkya and held it out towards her flat across his hands.
“My gift to you, my Lady,” he said with a half smile. “They had not spoken properly since the imp had visited them the night before.
“I am honoured, Lord,” she said and smiled back at him.
Taking the blade carefully, she inserted it into the hilt and found that it locked in place easily, forming and ornate and finely wrought dagger with runes that circled blade and hilt alike.
“We should rest here,” she said, her eyes fixed on Lavren. “We all need rest and time to recover from what has happened here.”
“Are we safe here?” Lavren responded. “And would it not be best if we took the items to the Proving Grounds now that we have them.”
Lavren’s heart, that had been singing as Telkya had smiled, suddenly grew cold as the elf maid’s gaze turned frosty and she turned away from him.
“Lavren is right,” said Erlmoor in his deep voice. “We have the four items now and can open the Inner Sanctum. Every moment of delay could take the slaves away from there or worse.”
Dulvarna nodded slowly and looked around at each of the companions in turn. Her eyes were sorrowful as she weighed up the courses before the company. When she finally spoke, all eyes were fixed upon her and the companions heeded every word.
“There is danger in each course,” she said grimly. “But we have known danger with every step that we have taken since first passing the Minotaur Gate. We must think of Telkya and Lavren’s kin who we came here seeking and put all thought of our own safety from our minds. We go on and return to the Proving Grounds to save the elves that remain to be saved. May the gods go with us.”
The others nodded at the last sentiment and set about gathering their belongings. The elves could pass over the blood pool unharmed using their fey powers but Erlmoor and Dulvarna knew the pain that they would have to face to escape the chamber. Grimly, Dulvarna and the dragonborn started down the steps.
Litiraan woke quickly once Telkya began to use her healing prayer upon him and then she and Lavren used their fey ability to teleport to reach first the platform of the second statue and then the platforms on which rested the hilt and the blade of the knife they sought. When they returned to the centre platform, Lavren took the blade solemnly to Telkya and held it out towards her flat across his hands.
“My gift to you, my Lady,” he said with a half smile. “They had not spoken properly since the imp had visited them the night before.
“I am honoured, Lord,” she said and smiled back at him.
Taking the blade carefully, she inserted it into the hilt and found that it locked in place easily, forming and ornate and finely wrought dagger with runes that circled blade and hilt alike.
“We should rest here,” she said, her eyes fixed on Lavren. “We all need rest and time to recover from what has happened here.”
“Are we safe here?” Lavren responded. “And would it not be best if we took the items to the Proving Grounds now that we have them.”
Lavren’s heart, that had been singing as Telkya had smiled, suddenly grew cold as the elf maid’s gaze turned frosty and she turned away from him.
“Lavren is right,” said Erlmoor in his deep voice. “We have the four items now and can open the Inner Sanctum. Every moment of delay could take the slaves away from there or worse.”
Dulvarna nodded slowly and looked around at each of the companions in turn. Her eyes were sorrowful as she weighed up the courses before the company. When she finally spoke, all eyes were fixed upon her and the companions heeded every word.
“There is danger in each course,” she said grimly. “But we have known danger with every step that we have taken since first passing the Minotaur Gate. We must think of Telkya and Lavren’s kin who we came here seeking and put all thought of our own safety from our minds. We go on and return to the Proving Grounds to save the elves that remain to be saved. May the gods go with us.”
The others nodded at the last sentiment and set about gathering their belongings. The elves could pass over the blood pool unharmed using their fey powers but Erlmoor and Dulvarna knew the pain that they would have to face to escape the chamber. Grimly, Dulvarna and the dragonborn started down the steps.