Taris slashed again through the blackness pressing around him, another wolf dissolving into nothing. Laughing rang around him, coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. The assassin growled and sent a burst of power around him, shoving the swirling shadows back some. The laughing increased in intensity.
“Enough games, Wolf, come out!” he shouted.
The laughing subsided, “Ah Taris. It pains me still that you were the one to contain me and live. You’re too soft, especially for an assassin. You fight me over a woman? If you would just accept me, not only would we be more powerful than any being in millennia, you’d be personal consort to the Lady herself… What woman could be more worthy of your devotion than her?”
Taris growled again and his blades shimmered in his hands. The Wolf’s laugh rang again. “Fine then,” the voice said, “have it your way mortal.” The shadows swirled and crushed over Taris, sucking away his breath and throwing him against solid chucks of the Void.
He screamed.
The assassin bolted straight upright in the bed, nearly falling out of it a moment later as he noticed Envy next to him. “Why do you do that? Fucking creepy…” he muttered. Another movement and he noticed the pull of medicine on his skin, “You know, this stuff works best with water.”
Envy shrugged, “You were passed out pretty hard, a bath would have drowned you. That and none of us wanted to get you nude.” The Kartaian took a draw on his cigarette and looked directly at Taris, “You were thrashing pretty bad there, just before you woke. Bad dreams?”
The assassin shook his head, “If only they were dreams. The Wolf is loose now, and I’m struggling to maintain control of myself.”
“You mentioned this ‘Wolf’ before. What is he?”
“A spirit. Power. Great power, in fact, and the worst part is I like it. It feels amazing to have complete control of the shadows.” He shuddered, “But to accept him fully would mean to lose myself. I can still hear him howling in the darkness…” Taris stopped a moment, “But I’m holding him back for now. How is she, Envy?”
The taller elf blew out some smoke, “She’s stable. At least physically. That last burst of magic you gave her probably saved her life, and your healing potions and powders are working well.”
“There’s a ‘but’ coming isn’t there?”
Envy nodded, “Mentally, I don’t know. The tortures… I don’t know what they did to break her, but her power has been unlocked, for lack of a better word. She doesn’t need to touch directly for her power to work now, and the way she looked at me was disturbing. It was like she didn’t even recognize me, like she was a different person.”
Taris was worried at the look on Envy’s face. If anything, the Kartaian was even more worried than before they rescued Aera. “I should go be with her, keep watch.” He got up and pulled on a robe, heading for the master bedroom.
Envy was unsurprised, and followed him out, “You sure about this? I don’t know that she’ll make a distinction between friend and foe anymore.”
Taris only shrugged and opened the bedroom door, “We’ll see I guess, but she recognized me before. I can only hope I can get through to her.” He went and sat on the bed next to her, sending Hadhen to get some sleep. “You go too, Envy, maybe it’s best that she doesn’t see another Kartaian for a while. Get some rest, and I’ll see about sending Russel or Hadhen to hire a carriage to take us back to the tunnels, or at least one of my closer safe houses.”
- Last Seen: 5 yrs ago
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- NightlordKrusnik 11 yrs ago
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Hello Darkness, my old friend...
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I'll tell you where they're not..... Safe....
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Bio
Basically I'm like nobody you've ever met before.
Unless you've met Carantathraiel, whom I am essentially a carbon copy of, excepting of course that whilst she has girly parts, my parts are decidedly male
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Taris pulled Aera’s limp form against him, slowly lowering to the ground. He could feel how weak her heart was, and gently held her against him. The shadow elf took the manacles around her wrists into his hand and concentrated. The metal glowed and cracked before crumbling into powder. By the Lady, she was in bad shape. The assassin reached deep, calling as much magic as he could muster. There was a pulse, and he sent a wave of healing magic through her.
Hadhen approached cautiously, watching her broken wrist set and the blood stop flowing from her wounds. “Will she be better, now?” he asked the elf. Taris shook his head, “Not entirely, I only had enough power to stop the bleeding, I can’t help her any more.” He coughed and hacked spitting ash on the ground beside him, continuing weakly, “That tapped out the last of my magic. If I use anything else, my soul will ignite, and burn my body with it.”
He lifted her form in his arms, and Envy stepped up to steady him. Taris gave a thankful nod, and looked pointedly towards the exit, “Let’s get going, Envy, I killed a couple dozen, maybe a little more, but they’ll be coming soon.” Hadhen wrapped the blanket around him and Aera, and the small group began moving.
Out of the caves the late morning sun glared fierce, and Taris gave a grunt of discomfort. He set into a smooth jog, conserving as much energy as he could despite wanting to move quickly. His wounds were still bleeding, and he was sure Drugan’s kick had cracked a rib. Still he set the pace, Envy keeping up with his long legs, the human thieves working not to fall behind. Envy jogged up next to Taris, “I could get us at least part of the way back home, through the Shadow Realm. But with her mind like it is… I think it would be safer for the children if we took her one of my safe-houses or yours.”
The assassin nodded, “I agree, it would be better to keep her somewhere else.” He coughed, “And we need to talk later about what she did to your sister. But I can’t enter the shadows right now. Where is the nearest town?”
“I can open the portal Tar…”
“NO!” Taris nearly shouted, if he’d had the strength to spare. He breathed in, and began in a gentler tone, “It’s nothing to do with opening the portal, Envy. The Shadow Realm is the Wolf’s domain, he’s strongest there. And right now, that means he’d be stronger than me. I wouldn’t survive it. My body would, but only the Wolf would occupy it. Where is the nearest town?”
Envy continued in silence for a moment before answering, “About 5 hours at this pace, about a third of the way back home. Town called Morliss, why?”
“I have a house there that we can use until we get a carriage or I can use the shadows again,” the smaller elf said weakly. He was wheezing only slightly, but the larger elf cast a sidelong glance at him anyway. But somehow he managed to keep on for most of the way to the town. They were passing through a stand of trees when he finally slowed and sagged against a tree. Envy called a halt and the group found a patch of shade to get out of the sun. Aera’s breathing was still shallow, but steady, and she slept against Taris’ chest. Envy left to find a nearby stream and came back with a full waterskin. He passed to Taris first, “We’ll rest here for an hour, before moving on.”
The rest nodded, grateful, and the assassin stroked Aera’s hair and leaned his head against a tree trunk. It seemed too short before he stood again, shaking his head when Envy and the others offered to carry the Moon Elf for a while. They made their way to the town a bit slower, the thieves managing to distract the guards at the gate long enough for the assassin to slip in unseen with Aera. Taris led them to a large house just inside the outer edge of town. “Where’s the key?” asked Russel.
“No key,” Taris replied. Instead he reached an arm into the shadows and pulled out a stone. As he did a phantasmal wolf’s head appeared and snapped its jaws on his arm, making him wince. The assassin leaned against the wall and handed the stone to Envy. “This will get you past the traps,” he said weakly, “shadow walk inside, unlock the doors.”
The Kartaian nodded and vanished into the shadow. A moment later the door opened and Taris hurried inside, barely placing Aera on a couch before collapsing unconscious.
Hadhen approached cautiously, watching her broken wrist set and the blood stop flowing from her wounds. “Will she be better, now?” he asked the elf. Taris shook his head, “Not entirely, I only had enough power to stop the bleeding, I can’t help her any more.” He coughed and hacked spitting ash on the ground beside him, continuing weakly, “That tapped out the last of my magic. If I use anything else, my soul will ignite, and burn my body with it.”
He lifted her form in his arms, and Envy stepped up to steady him. Taris gave a thankful nod, and looked pointedly towards the exit, “Let’s get going, Envy, I killed a couple dozen, maybe a little more, but they’ll be coming soon.” Hadhen wrapped the blanket around him and Aera, and the small group began moving.
Out of the caves the late morning sun glared fierce, and Taris gave a grunt of discomfort. He set into a smooth jog, conserving as much energy as he could despite wanting to move quickly. His wounds were still bleeding, and he was sure Drugan’s kick had cracked a rib. Still he set the pace, Envy keeping up with his long legs, the human thieves working not to fall behind. Envy jogged up next to Taris, “I could get us at least part of the way back home, through the Shadow Realm. But with her mind like it is… I think it would be safer for the children if we took her one of my safe-houses or yours.”
The assassin nodded, “I agree, it would be better to keep her somewhere else.” He coughed, “And we need to talk later about what she did to your sister. But I can’t enter the shadows right now. Where is the nearest town?”
“I can open the portal Tar…”
“NO!” Taris nearly shouted, if he’d had the strength to spare. He breathed in, and began in a gentler tone, “It’s nothing to do with opening the portal, Envy. The Shadow Realm is the Wolf’s domain, he’s strongest there. And right now, that means he’d be stronger than me. I wouldn’t survive it. My body would, but only the Wolf would occupy it. Where is the nearest town?”
Envy continued in silence for a moment before answering, “About 5 hours at this pace, about a third of the way back home. Town called Morliss, why?”
“I have a house there that we can use until we get a carriage or I can use the shadows again,” the smaller elf said weakly. He was wheezing only slightly, but the larger elf cast a sidelong glance at him anyway. But somehow he managed to keep on for most of the way to the town. They were passing through a stand of trees when he finally slowed and sagged against a tree. Envy called a halt and the group found a patch of shade to get out of the sun. Aera’s breathing was still shallow, but steady, and she slept against Taris’ chest. Envy left to find a nearby stream and came back with a full waterskin. He passed to Taris first, “We’ll rest here for an hour, before moving on.”
The rest nodded, grateful, and the assassin stroked Aera’s hair and leaned his head against a tree trunk. It seemed too short before he stood again, shaking his head when Envy and the others offered to carry the Moon Elf for a while. They made their way to the town a bit slower, the thieves managing to distract the guards at the gate long enough for the assassin to slip in unseen with Aera. Taris led them to a large house just inside the outer edge of town. “Where’s the key?” asked Russel.
“No key,” Taris replied. Instead he reached an arm into the shadows and pulled out a stone. As he did a phantasmal wolf’s head appeared and snapped its jaws on his arm, making him wince. The assassin leaned against the wall and handed the stone to Envy. “This will get you past the traps,” he said weakly, “shadow walk inside, unlock the doors.”
The Kartaian nodded and vanished into the shadow. A moment later the door opened and Taris hurried inside, barely placing Aera on a couch before collapsing unconscious.
Taris glared behind the wolf shadow mask. His opponent even looked momentarily shaken, but recovered quickly. “A true Wolf of the Void. I thought that was a myth, but I suppose I also thought Shadow Elves a myth too.” Taris only continued to glare, and held the now silver blades to his sides.
Drugan lunged forward, his sword aimed at the shadow elf’s heart. The tip of the blade sunk into the armor and pierced the skin beneath. Shadow burst from the wound immediately, stopping the blade instantly and flinging the blade away and out of his hand. “Pick it up,” the smaller elf said. The Kartaian retreated and retrieved it, and Taris began his attack.
Drugan still had the reach, but now the power had shifted. Worse, the shadow elf fought with no regard for defense, taking every slash and cut in favor of his own attacks. The assassin was bleeding from several small wounds in a few minutes, but showed no sign of them affecting him. Indeed he was only getting faster, and the Sun’s Dew on his blade was burning the Kartaian in several places.
Drugan landed a kick in Taris’ stomach, knocking them both back from each other. The giant’s red eyes were narrowed and he was breathing heavily. “What are you?” he asked. The wolf’s head grinned to match the assassin’s. “I am the Lady’s Blade,” he responded simply. The shadows swirled around the two of them, and stepped back into it.
He flashed out past the giant, slashing his leg and vanishing into the shadow again. Another pass made another slash, and again and again. He kept at it till the Kartaian sagged to the floor and his blades fell from fingers unable to grip any longer. Taris stepped over him, pulling a flask from a pouch at his waist. He opened the stopper and gentle light came from the opening. He sneered down at the quivering, smoking hulk on the floor, “Burn you bastard.” He poured the contents over Drugan, who screamed in earsplitting agony writhing on the floor. In his pain he threw his head back and Taris poured some into his mouth. The scream became a gurgle and the room filled with the smell of cooking meat.
Taris grimaced, but the wolf snapped hungrily, and he turned to look around the room. There was no sign of the others. Wolf-Taris slipped into the shadows with a howl, the sound filling every cave once again. It was time to hunt….
Drugan lunged forward, his sword aimed at the shadow elf’s heart. The tip of the blade sunk into the armor and pierced the skin beneath. Shadow burst from the wound immediately, stopping the blade instantly and flinging the blade away and out of his hand. “Pick it up,” the smaller elf said. The Kartaian retreated and retrieved it, and Taris began his attack.
Drugan still had the reach, but now the power had shifted. Worse, the shadow elf fought with no regard for defense, taking every slash and cut in favor of his own attacks. The assassin was bleeding from several small wounds in a few minutes, but showed no sign of them affecting him. Indeed he was only getting faster, and the Sun’s Dew on his blade was burning the Kartaian in several places.
Drugan landed a kick in Taris’ stomach, knocking them both back from each other. The giant’s red eyes were narrowed and he was breathing heavily. “What are you?” he asked. The wolf’s head grinned to match the assassin’s. “I am the Lady’s Blade,” he responded simply. The shadows swirled around the two of them, and stepped back into it.
He flashed out past the giant, slashing his leg and vanishing into the shadow again. Another pass made another slash, and again and again. He kept at it till the Kartaian sagged to the floor and his blades fell from fingers unable to grip any longer. Taris stepped over him, pulling a flask from a pouch at his waist. He opened the stopper and gentle light came from the opening. He sneered down at the quivering, smoking hulk on the floor, “Burn you bastard.” He poured the contents over Drugan, who screamed in earsplitting agony writhing on the floor. In his pain he threw his head back and Taris poured some into his mouth. The scream became a gurgle and the room filled with the smell of cooking meat.
Taris grimaced, but the wolf snapped hungrily, and he turned to look around the room. There was no sign of the others. Wolf-Taris slipped into the shadows with a howl, the sound filling every cave once again. It was time to hunt….
Taris stepped forward at Envy’s urging, angry but calm. Nobody noticed the muscles bunching through his body, and he launched into a portal of darkness. He came out behind Drugan less than a heartbeat later, kicking him into a corner. The three thieves wasted no time rushing over to Taris. The assassin was shaking in rage, his eyes glowing in the darkness, “Get her out of here Envy, I’ll make sure nobody can follow.” He tossed a pendant to the rogue Kartaian and cut open a portal for them, “Take this and I’ll find you. Just get as far out of the caves as you can and find a carriage or horses. Head straight back home and do not stop until I find you.”
Drugan pulled himself upright in the corner and Taris turned to face him. “Go,” he told them over his shoulder. “You,” he said to Drugan, “arm and armor yourself. I’ll not get any pleasure killing an undefended elf.”
The giant laughed, “They’re not getting her out that easy. And if you wish it that way, so be it.”
He held his arms out and the shadows swirled around him, fading away into jagged bone armor. A long, wicked looking blade appeared in his hand. Taris’ eyes widened slightly at this show of control of the shadows. Drugan noticed and laughed harder, “Come assassin, if you entertain me I may let you live to watch me violate her delicious body every night. And I know Vier’na has been looking for a new toy as well.”
The shadow elf burst at him, daggers flashing into his hands. He pushed the giant back with the speed and ferocity of his strikes. He scored a small cut on his opponent’s leg and Drugan roared, kicking him in the stomach. The tall elf reached down and brought his finger up, covered in blood and charred skin, “What is that?”
Taris struggled to his feet, his armor taking half the blow. “Sun’s Dew, my Uncle was an alchemist. Taught me a few things before I crossed the Great Barrier. I thought it might come in handy today,” he explained between gasps. The taller elf grimaced and set lower in his stance, a sword appearing in his main hand. “I’m officially impressed,” he said, the grimace turning to a smile, “I will enjoy breaking you like your dear lover there.”
They dashed at each other, their blades turned to blurs. The assassin had the speed, but the Kartaian had both strength and reach, and Taris soon found himself overmatched. He barely deflected most of the strikes sent at him, and suffered several cuts to only a few of his own. There was a flurry of blows from the giant and the shadow elf flew past the thieves across the floor, bleeding from a dozen wounds. Russel moved to help him and Taris just shoved him back with a growl, “Help her.”
Drugan smiled a predator’s smile, a sadist’s smile. “She held out for so long you know. She surprised all of us, kept crying that ‘Taris will save me’ and drivel like that. It was so very sweet to finally see the fire die from her eyes. It made me so hard, I think I nearly ripped her.”
Envy shouted a warning to Taris, but it was too late. The shadow elf let out a scream of rage that became a wolf’s howl. His skin shimmered, and the black burst from him and his blades into a cloud of shadow, leaving his skin momentarily it’s true dark red-ash color. The shadows swirled around him, and reattached to him, forming incorporeal wings behind him for a moment. A shadow of a wolf’s head settled over his, and there was another howl that echoed through the entire cave system, jarring the nerves of everyone in them. His eyes flashed, and became pools of obsidian.
When he spoke, it was the voice of a true demon, “You and your kin will die in this place, Drugan.”
Drugan pulled himself upright in the corner and Taris turned to face him. “Go,” he told them over his shoulder. “You,” he said to Drugan, “arm and armor yourself. I’ll not get any pleasure killing an undefended elf.”
The giant laughed, “They’re not getting her out that easy. And if you wish it that way, so be it.”
He held his arms out and the shadows swirled around him, fading away into jagged bone armor. A long, wicked looking blade appeared in his hand. Taris’ eyes widened slightly at this show of control of the shadows. Drugan noticed and laughed harder, “Come assassin, if you entertain me I may let you live to watch me violate her delicious body every night. And I know Vier’na has been looking for a new toy as well.”
The shadow elf burst at him, daggers flashing into his hands. He pushed the giant back with the speed and ferocity of his strikes. He scored a small cut on his opponent’s leg and Drugan roared, kicking him in the stomach. The tall elf reached down and brought his finger up, covered in blood and charred skin, “What is that?”
Taris struggled to his feet, his armor taking half the blow. “Sun’s Dew, my Uncle was an alchemist. Taught me a few things before I crossed the Great Barrier. I thought it might come in handy today,” he explained between gasps. The taller elf grimaced and set lower in his stance, a sword appearing in his main hand. “I’m officially impressed,” he said, the grimace turning to a smile, “I will enjoy breaking you like your dear lover there.”
They dashed at each other, their blades turned to blurs. The assassin had the speed, but the Kartaian had both strength and reach, and Taris soon found himself overmatched. He barely deflected most of the strikes sent at him, and suffered several cuts to only a few of his own. There was a flurry of blows from the giant and the shadow elf flew past the thieves across the floor, bleeding from a dozen wounds. Russel moved to help him and Taris just shoved him back with a growl, “Help her.”
Drugan smiled a predator’s smile, a sadist’s smile. “She held out for so long you know. She surprised all of us, kept crying that ‘Taris will save me’ and drivel like that. It was so very sweet to finally see the fire die from her eyes. It made me so hard, I think I nearly ripped her.”
Envy shouted a warning to Taris, but it was too late. The shadow elf let out a scream of rage that became a wolf’s howl. His skin shimmered, and the black burst from him and his blades into a cloud of shadow, leaving his skin momentarily it’s true dark red-ash color. The shadows swirled around him, and reattached to him, forming incorporeal wings behind him for a moment. A shadow of a wolf’s head settled over his, and there was another howl that echoed through the entire cave system, jarring the nerves of everyone in them. His eyes flashed, and became pools of obsidian.
When he spoke, it was the voice of a true demon, “You and your kin will die in this place, Drugan.”
Taris pulled his mask down and drank, hardly grimacing at all and passed it to Russel. Once he’d drank his swallow Taris reached deep into the nearest shadow and pulled hard, his muscles bunching in his back and arms. He grunted with the effort before it gave way and he spread his arms wide, forming a large gateway to the Shadow Realm. He grabbed Russel and Hadhen by their armors and gestured Envy ahead “Move your ass thief.”
The Kartaian took the lead quickly with his long legs, but Taris kept up easily, nearly dragging the other two behind him. “This way,” Envy told him, and Taris could feel the potion almost pulling him along. It was a long way off, he could tell, from the several minuted they traveled through the Shadow Realm. Envy glanced back, “We’re almost to the barriers. Then we’ll be there. You got a plan, assassin?”
The shadow elf nodded, “Simple, you point me in the direction you think Aera’s in. I kill everything in the way, you three kill any that catch up behind us. We grab her, you four get out immediately.”
“What about you?” asked Hadhen.
“Boy, it’s better if you don’t know the details. Just say that I’m going to ensure you aren’t followed, before I leave too.” They felt a slight pressure as they passed through the barriers Envy had warned them of, the two Taris held shuddered slightly but were okay. At the speed they were moving Taris barely registered the slight shimmer as Envy passed another barrier ahead of them before he and the other two struck it.
Blue flames ignited where they touched it and the assassin flung the thieves back instantly to hang in the solid Void. The flame encompassed him, trying to devour him in its fury. Taris punched forward at the barrier and the blade in his bracer shot through into it. There was another flash, this time echoed by his armor and the fire dissolved into his body armor. The barrier was suddenly visible in darkness of the Shadow Realm, like a giant pane of glass with cracks running from his blade.
There was a cracking noise and the barrier burst with a roar for ten feet around his fist. Taris grimaced behind his mask and grabbed the other two thieves pulled them behind him once more. Envy had hesitated after passing through and Taris growled at him, “Move it.”
The thief just turned and ran on, until he found the shadow he was looking for. “Here,” he called and the four burst out into dark tunnels. Taris eyes scanned the one they were in, immediately spotting the tall figures moving towards them. A movement and two small knives flew out and the figures rag-dolled. “Which way Envy?”
The Kartaian took the lead quickly with his long legs, but Taris kept up easily, nearly dragging the other two behind him. “This way,” Envy told him, and Taris could feel the potion almost pulling him along. It was a long way off, he could tell, from the several minuted they traveled through the Shadow Realm. Envy glanced back, “We’re almost to the barriers. Then we’ll be there. You got a plan, assassin?”
The shadow elf nodded, “Simple, you point me in the direction you think Aera’s in. I kill everything in the way, you three kill any that catch up behind us. We grab her, you four get out immediately.”
“What about you?” asked Hadhen.
“Boy, it’s better if you don’t know the details. Just say that I’m going to ensure you aren’t followed, before I leave too.” They felt a slight pressure as they passed through the barriers Envy had warned them of, the two Taris held shuddered slightly but were okay. At the speed they were moving Taris barely registered the slight shimmer as Envy passed another barrier ahead of them before he and the other two struck it.
Blue flames ignited where they touched it and the assassin flung the thieves back instantly to hang in the solid Void. The flame encompassed him, trying to devour him in its fury. Taris punched forward at the barrier and the blade in his bracer shot through into it. There was another flash, this time echoed by his armor and the fire dissolved into his body armor. The barrier was suddenly visible in darkness of the Shadow Realm, like a giant pane of glass with cracks running from his blade.
There was a cracking noise and the barrier burst with a roar for ten feet around his fist. Taris grimaced behind his mask and grabbed the other two thieves pulled them behind him once more. Envy had hesitated after passing through and Taris growled at him, “Move it.”
The thief just turned and ran on, until he found the shadow he was looking for. “Here,” he called and the four burst out into dark tunnels. Taris eyes scanned the one they were in, immediately spotting the tall figures moving towards them. A movement and two small knives flew out and the figures rag-dolled. “Which way Envy?”
Taris shadow walked to his hidden safehouse before Envy finished turning away. It made so much sense, the feeling of unease he had. He’d gotten used to Envy’s night terrors over the past week, enough that their disappearance troubled his sleep. His eyes weren’t at their best, but they had healed enough. He was going to make them pay.
He cast off his soiled clothing and pulled open a drawer. He pulled out his armor from his home, armor he hadn’t worn since Layne was killed. The close fitting clothes brought back memories as he pulled them on, both good and bad. Despite that he smiled at the familiar feel and strapped on the armor plates over his legs, torso, and arms. He brought his arm up and flexed, watching the hidden foot long blade slide out over the back of his wrist and hand. His daggers slid into their sheathes at his back.
The assassin shadowed back to the tunnels, his matte armor seeming to absorb light around him. he found Envy and the other two waiting for him. But not the last one, Ruli. “Where’s the other one Envy? If he’s not here I’m not waiting anymore.”
He cast off his soiled clothing and pulled open a drawer. He pulled out his armor from his home, armor he hadn’t worn since Layne was killed. The close fitting clothes brought back memories as he pulled them on, both good and bad. Despite that he smiled at the familiar feel and strapped on the armor plates over his legs, torso, and arms. He brought his arm up and flexed, watching the hidden foot long blade slide out over the back of his wrist and hand. His daggers slid into their sheathes at his back.
The assassin shadowed back to the tunnels, his matte armor seeming to absorb light around him. he found Envy and the other two waiting for him. But not the last one, Ruli. “Where’s the other one Envy? If he’s not here I’m not waiting anymore.”
Taris just growled at Envy’s words and his eyes flashed with an intense luminescence briefly. His already strained self-control snapped and his dagger flashed out, carving a gouge in the stone more than a foot long. For just a moment his skin looked the color of reddish ash and the image of a wolf’s head appeared over the assassin’s face. Then it was gone and he collapsed to his knees, “Envy, if you are sure about that…. I can’t leave her with them any longer. I need to go now, Envy.” His voice trembled in pain.
Envy shook his head. “If you go now assassin, you will die, and she’ll never get out. It hurts me just as much to hold you back, but I’m no fool. I need you to get her out, because I’m not strong enough on my own, or with anyone else. I know you better than you think, Taris, you revel in the violence of killing. I can see it in your face when you hold your blades.”
Taris slammed a fist into the ground, but the Kartaian continued on, “No Taris, listen. She is strong, they will try to break her spirit but she is strong. It will take time. I… don’t like to think about what they might be doing, and just hearing her is more torturous than I think actually seeing it. But it is for that reason that I need you to be healed before we attempt this.”
The assassin’s body sagged in defeat, his face a mask of anguish, as Envy’s words took root and the taller elf felt a moment of pity for him. “Damn it all to the Void, Envy, I know you are right. And I hate you for it right now, you know?” Taris told him. His other fist hit the ground, “Fine, but Russel and Hadhen aren’t fit for this as they stand. I told them I’d train with them, but if I push them too hard I could leave them too exhausted to fight with us. Or worse. It’s just not enough time. Where is the other guy that left the wheat in my pocket, have you sent for him yet?”
Envy’s brow furrowed. “I have, but there’s been no word back yet,” he paused with a thought, “How long do you think your eyes will need before they are healed, assassin?”
“I think three, maybe four days, given their improvement so far.”
“I will help train them, and find Ruli, then. Get some food, Cainne will see to your needs. I… need to finish with this spell.”
Taris stood and looked at the tall elf a moment more before walking out. He knew the other was right about everything, but that still didn’t make it easy to stomach. After eating, he trained with the others working them until they could barely stand, and then training himself even more. It became the routine for the next two days. Wake, train the others, train while they rested, train them more, eat, train, rest, train, heal, sleep.
On the third day Taris woke early. His sight was much improved, another day would see it completely restored. But he felt uneasy, he worried about Aera. Every minute without her was pure torture for him, and he was terrified he might be too late. He needed to kill, and he’d promised an assassination in exchange for his freedom.
The Erris Estate was a dozen miles outside the city, but a quick jaunt through the shadows brought him to the manor grounds. The sun had not yet risen and the place was still fairly quiet. A scry through a nearby shadow located the target, an overweight middle-aged man. Taris decided to forego the darkness and nimbly scaled the wall by hand to the third floor balcony. He picked the locks on the glass door and swung it open, nearly laughing that the well-oiled hinges were nearly silent.
Taris padded across the room to where the man slept on the bed, a young woman still in her teens lay beside the Marquis staring off into nothing, wearing naught but a thin shift that revealed more than it hid. He had seen the same look in broken whores outside of seedy brothels in many towns, and the sight always disturbed him. Focusing on the Marquis, he clapped a hand over the man’s mouth and hauled him upright. The assassin conjured black flames around his body and gave his voice a demonic edge, “So sorry to disturb your rest, sir. But I’ve been made a better offer to end your contracts, at the source.”
His dagger flashed out, the pommel stunning the nobleman’s vocal chords. The assassin gagged him for good measure, and painfully began his work.
Soon enough, the sun rose over the horizon just as Taris stepped into shadow. Left behind in the room, the Marquis’ skin hung from the bedposts, his flayed body pieced apart at every major joint was scattered over the room. And still the broken girl lay on the bed, oblivious even when the maid’s scream roused the manor to a frenzy…
Envy shook his head. “If you go now assassin, you will die, and she’ll never get out. It hurts me just as much to hold you back, but I’m no fool. I need you to get her out, because I’m not strong enough on my own, or with anyone else. I know you better than you think, Taris, you revel in the violence of killing. I can see it in your face when you hold your blades.”
Taris slammed a fist into the ground, but the Kartaian continued on, “No Taris, listen. She is strong, they will try to break her spirit but she is strong. It will take time. I… don’t like to think about what they might be doing, and just hearing her is more torturous than I think actually seeing it. But it is for that reason that I need you to be healed before we attempt this.”
The assassin’s body sagged in defeat, his face a mask of anguish, as Envy’s words took root and the taller elf felt a moment of pity for him. “Damn it all to the Void, Envy, I know you are right. And I hate you for it right now, you know?” Taris told him. His other fist hit the ground, “Fine, but Russel and Hadhen aren’t fit for this as they stand. I told them I’d train with them, but if I push them too hard I could leave them too exhausted to fight with us. Or worse. It’s just not enough time. Where is the other guy that left the wheat in my pocket, have you sent for him yet?”
Envy’s brow furrowed. “I have, but there’s been no word back yet,” he paused with a thought, “How long do you think your eyes will need before they are healed, assassin?”
“I think three, maybe four days, given their improvement so far.”
“I will help train them, and find Ruli, then. Get some food, Cainne will see to your needs. I… need to finish with this spell.”
Taris stood and looked at the tall elf a moment more before walking out. He knew the other was right about everything, but that still didn’t make it easy to stomach. After eating, he trained with the others working them until they could barely stand, and then training himself even more. It became the routine for the next two days. Wake, train the others, train while they rested, train them more, eat, train, rest, train, heal, sleep.
On the third day Taris woke early. His sight was much improved, another day would see it completely restored. But he felt uneasy, he worried about Aera. Every minute without her was pure torture for him, and he was terrified he might be too late. He needed to kill, and he’d promised an assassination in exchange for his freedom.
The Erris Estate was a dozen miles outside the city, but a quick jaunt through the shadows brought him to the manor grounds. The sun had not yet risen and the place was still fairly quiet. A scry through a nearby shadow located the target, an overweight middle-aged man. Taris decided to forego the darkness and nimbly scaled the wall by hand to the third floor balcony. He picked the locks on the glass door and swung it open, nearly laughing that the well-oiled hinges were nearly silent.
Taris padded across the room to where the man slept on the bed, a young woman still in her teens lay beside the Marquis staring off into nothing, wearing naught but a thin shift that revealed more than it hid. He had seen the same look in broken whores outside of seedy brothels in many towns, and the sight always disturbed him. Focusing on the Marquis, he clapped a hand over the man’s mouth and hauled him upright. The assassin conjured black flames around his body and gave his voice a demonic edge, “So sorry to disturb your rest, sir. But I’ve been made a better offer to end your contracts, at the source.”
His dagger flashed out, the pommel stunning the nobleman’s vocal chords. The assassin gagged him for good measure, and painfully began his work.
Soon enough, the sun rose over the horizon just as Taris stepped into shadow. Left behind in the room, the Marquis’ skin hung from the bedposts, his flayed body pieced apart at every major joint was scattered over the room. And still the broken girl lay on the bed, oblivious even when the maid’s scream roused the manor to a frenzy…
Taris first waking thought was that he could see. His second was that he could see, barely. He swung his legs off the bed, finding it strange that Envy was gone. The Kartaian seemed the type to make sure he was there as you woke up just to make you uncomfortable. No matter, the assassin was restless, he needed to do something besides lay there. He opened the shadows, noticing that the wards in the city had gone.
He stepped out into the training room, noticing Envy leaving on the other side of the room. He grabbed a spare bow and quiver and placed himself in front of a target. He could make out the colors of the rings now at least, which was promising. He waved a hand over the arrows, turning the fletching a bright yellow that stood out in his damaged sight. The assassin nocked an arrow and drew back, sighting as best he could. The arrow flashed out and struck nowhere near the center.
Taris grunted, but he’d expected no different. He ran through his arrows, one-by-one, aware that halfway through the quiver Hadhen had stepped up behind him and was waiting. He fired every arrow from the quiver, each shot getting closer to the bull’s-eye. He set the bow and empty quiver on a table and turned to face the blond boy. “You want something from me, Hadhen?” he asked curtly.
The young man stiffened but stayed in place, “Russel and I, we’re coming too. Aera’s been our friend for a long time.”
The shadow elf considered his words a moment before answering, “And what makes you think I’m going to take you with me? I’m not going to deliver you to your deaths, so unless you can show me that you can stand up to trained killers then you are not coming, period.”
Hadhen bristled slightly at his words, “I can shoot better than you, right now.”
Taris laughed aloud, and Russel came over at the sound. He wiped his eyes and he grabbed a pair of daggers. The elf magically blunted the edges and tossed them to the two boys. He held his hands out and his daggers appeared in them. He gestured and a shimmering barrier blunted his blades as well, “We’ll be underground likely, arrows will do little good. You want to prove that you can hold your own? Come at me and try to land a hit.”
The two pleasantly surprised him by launching at him immediately. The assassin let his ears guide his movements more than his eyes, dancing around their strikes. A few steps back and a swift strike with both of his blades, and their daggers clattered on the floor. “You have to do better.”
They picked the blades up and came on again, moving quicker, but just as controlled. Taris spun, ducked and parried, “Better, but still not enough.” He struck out, stinging blows on their ribs. He grimaced, “Come on, do you want to help save her or not?”
They growled and attacked anew, and Taris had to move even faster. The two moved as a team, striking well, getting closer and closer to making a hit on him. The assassin grinned and sped his own strikes and parries. Still they came on, faster and faster, playing off each other’s movements. After several minutes Taris ducked inside their reach and punched out with the hilts of his dagger, knocking their blades out of their hands once more.
He sheathed his daggers. “Very good. We will train more every day until we can leave, and if I find your progress satisfactory, then yes I will bring you.” The elf turned and walked out heading off to find Envy.
He stepped out into the training room, noticing Envy leaving on the other side of the room. He grabbed a spare bow and quiver and placed himself in front of a target. He could make out the colors of the rings now at least, which was promising. He waved a hand over the arrows, turning the fletching a bright yellow that stood out in his damaged sight. The assassin nocked an arrow and drew back, sighting as best he could. The arrow flashed out and struck nowhere near the center.
Taris grunted, but he’d expected no different. He ran through his arrows, one-by-one, aware that halfway through the quiver Hadhen had stepped up behind him and was waiting. He fired every arrow from the quiver, each shot getting closer to the bull’s-eye. He set the bow and empty quiver on a table and turned to face the blond boy. “You want something from me, Hadhen?” he asked curtly.
The young man stiffened but stayed in place, “Russel and I, we’re coming too. Aera’s been our friend for a long time.”
The shadow elf considered his words a moment before answering, “And what makes you think I’m going to take you with me? I’m not going to deliver you to your deaths, so unless you can show me that you can stand up to trained killers then you are not coming, period.”
Hadhen bristled slightly at his words, “I can shoot better than you, right now.”
Taris laughed aloud, and Russel came over at the sound. He wiped his eyes and he grabbed a pair of daggers. The elf magically blunted the edges and tossed them to the two boys. He held his hands out and his daggers appeared in them. He gestured and a shimmering barrier blunted his blades as well, “We’ll be underground likely, arrows will do little good. You want to prove that you can hold your own? Come at me and try to land a hit.”
The two pleasantly surprised him by launching at him immediately. The assassin let his ears guide his movements more than his eyes, dancing around their strikes. A few steps back and a swift strike with both of his blades, and their daggers clattered on the floor. “You have to do better.”
They picked the blades up and came on again, moving quicker, but just as controlled. Taris spun, ducked and parried, “Better, but still not enough.” He struck out, stinging blows on their ribs. He grimaced, “Come on, do you want to help save her or not?”
They growled and attacked anew, and Taris had to move even faster. The two moved as a team, striking well, getting closer and closer to making a hit on him. The assassin grinned and sped his own strikes and parries. Still they came on, faster and faster, playing off each other’s movements. After several minutes Taris ducked inside their reach and punched out with the hilts of his dagger, knocking their blades out of their hands once more.
He sheathed his daggers. “Very good. We will train more every day until we can leave, and if I find your progress satisfactory, then yes I will bring you.” The elf turned and walked out heading off to find Envy.
Taris nodded in thought. “Fast won’t be a problem. Just stay close behind me, Envy, and tell me where you think they’d hold her. I’ll clear the way. You and whoever comes with us, I want you to get her and get out. I’ll draw them off.” He became quiet for a moment, and Envy straightened at the sudden stillness. “Envy… I’m not sure I want to know for certain, what they’re doing to her… My mind is supplying bad enough images, and it is becoming difficult to contain myself.”
“Envy, Aera means everything to me. Everything. My powers, well, to be plain, my skills with the shadows likely far outstrip yours and likely those of any of your race. There is one thing I can do that no other of my kind has ever been able to achieve, and live. I’ve let Shadow become a part of me, before. The results weren’t pretty, but it was effective.”
The dark elf pondered this for a moment, “Could you do it again, Taris?”
He breathed quietly for a while, trying to calm himself, all the while his daggers were humming softly. Images flashed in his mind, of back then. Back when Layne was killed. He remembered the shadows entering him, the total control of the void he wielded for the short time. He remembered also, the nearly irresistible feeling of pleasure that it gave him. That it nearly consumed his being, nearly devoured his mind and soul. But there was little choice, this time. The Shadow Elf knew of no other way to ensure her safety. The Lady of Shadows granted him her favor back then, without him asking for it. This time, he would.
He would master the Shadow for Aera.
Taris lay back down on the bed, wanting the healing sleep brought with it. The assassin looked over towards the blur that was Envy, “I’m going to warn you, Envy. When we do this, it will not be nice, and I may not seem like myself.” He sighed, “I will call my Mistress to me, and she will change me. It will be… shocking, in the least. I need to know that you will keep focused on the mission. But yes, I can do it again, Envy.”
“Envy, Aera means everything to me. Everything. My powers, well, to be plain, my skills with the shadows likely far outstrip yours and likely those of any of your race. There is one thing I can do that no other of my kind has ever been able to achieve, and live. I’ve let Shadow become a part of me, before. The results weren’t pretty, but it was effective.”
The dark elf pondered this for a moment, “Could you do it again, Taris?”
He breathed quietly for a while, trying to calm himself, all the while his daggers were humming softly. Images flashed in his mind, of back then. Back when Layne was killed. He remembered the shadows entering him, the total control of the void he wielded for the short time. He remembered also, the nearly irresistible feeling of pleasure that it gave him. That it nearly consumed his being, nearly devoured his mind and soul. But there was little choice, this time. The Shadow Elf knew of no other way to ensure her safety. The Lady of Shadows granted him her favor back then, without him asking for it. This time, he would.
He would master the Shadow for Aera.
Taris lay back down on the bed, wanting the healing sleep brought with it. The assassin looked over towards the blur that was Envy, “I’m going to warn you, Envy. When we do this, it will not be nice, and I may not seem like myself.” He sighed, “I will call my Mistress to me, and she will change me. It will be… shocking, in the least. I need to know that you will keep focused on the mission. But yes, I can do it again, Envy.”
Taris listened intently. Something still seemed off. They’d need some idea about where Aera was first, to begin their search once the ward was gone. He frowned in thought, unless the Kartaians’ lair was nearby, they’d likely need an informant in the city. The assassin brought a hand to his face, all this was giving him a headache.
At least his skin seemed to be healing up quickly, another night’s sleep should see him healed. But his eyes were another matter. Everything was blurs still. Even after the healing powder in the bath, Taris could only hope he’d get full use of his eyes. His magic was even tapped out trying to heal them, already. The Shadow Elf tried to focus a little more on the dark elf across the room, before the pain caused him to fall back onto the bed.
He turned his head back in Envy’s direction, keeping his eyes closed. “We need a plan. We need to heal. We need to know where they are. I need to know more about your kind. And yes Envy, I know you distance yourself from them, but they remain your kin. And you need to realize, to get her back safely, I will kill everyone there. So I hope that ‘sibling hatred’ is mutual, my friend.”
He sank deep into thought. Something nagged at the back of his mind. That tingle the other night, after Aera had left. It made sense to him now, he'd felt them in the shadows. He felt guilty. He never should have let her leave. Moreover, he should have just killed that bastard Kentaro, instead of letting his ego get in the way. He could have protected her. The assassin growled and the darkness crawled out from under his bed, swirling around his hands.
Far off in the castle, his daggers flashed, and the black of the blades pulsed. Slowly, the blackness shifted, tearing away from the blades leaving them completely silver for a moment, before settling over them. The shadow pulsed once, and dissolved, leaving nothing.
Taris held his arms out the shadows swirling faster. There was a thump that was more felt than heard, and Taris was holding his blades. “Hello my angels,” He whispered, and the blades seemed to hum in his hands. “We’re going to spill much blood, soon.” At his words the blades gave off a singing sounds, as if they themselves were happy. Taris had a thought, “There will likely be many of them, dozens I’m guessing, and I don’t want to take any chances getting Aera out. Do you know anybody else who can fight? Like that one you sent to look in my head?” He grimaced at the memory, “What about him? Can he fight?"
At least his skin seemed to be healing up quickly, another night’s sleep should see him healed. But his eyes were another matter. Everything was blurs still. Even after the healing powder in the bath, Taris could only hope he’d get full use of his eyes. His magic was even tapped out trying to heal them, already. The Shadow Elf tried to focus a little more on the dark elf across the room, before the pain caused him to fall back onto the bed.
He turned his head back in Envy’s direction, keeping his eyes closed. “We need a plan. We need to heal. We need to know where they are. I need to know more about your kind. And yes Envy, I know you distance yourself from them, but they remain your kin. And you need to realize, to get her back safely, I will kill everyone there. So I hope that ‘sibling hatred’ is mutual, my friend.”
He sank deep into thought. Something nagged at the back of his mind. That tingle the other night, after Aera had left. It made sense to him now, he'd felt them in the shadows. He felt guilty. He never should have let her leave. Moreover, he should have just killed that bastard Kentaro, instead of letting his ego get in the way. He could have protected her. The assassin growled and the darkness crawled out from under his bed, swirling around his hands.
Far off in the castle, his daggers flashed, and the black of the blades pulsed. Slowly, the blackness shifted, tearing away from the blades leaving them completely silver for a moment, before settling over them. The shadow pulsed once, and dissolved, leaving nothing.
Taris held his arms out the shadows swirling faster. There was a thump that was more felt than heard, and Taris was holding his blades. “Hello my angels,” He whispered, and the blades seemed to hum in his hands. “We’re going to spill much blood, soon.” At his words the blades gave off a singing sounds, as if they themselves were happy. Taris had a thought, “There will likely be many of them, dozens I’m guessing, and I don’t want to take any chances getting Aera out. Do you know anybody else who can fight? Like that one you sent to look in my head?” He grimaced at the memory, “What about him? Can he fight?"
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