Rashemen Book 2

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Nakia smiled up at the lovely avariel who was in many ways the opposite of the burrow born and bred halfling. The two, one of the earth and the other of the sky had traveled and fought together but had spent little leisure time together.

"Speak on, Maron. Tis a pleasure to have you by my side."

 

"Well, I have mentioned many times that I am here for a purpose, that I have a task to perform. This task involves the temple. I have to... retrieve something."

She stopped, still unsure of how much she should share. SHe had been told to keep word of the artifact quiet, but somebody had to know.

 

"Maron, you are a good person. I know if you need something it is in a worthy cause. I am rogue but not evil. Prehaps my talents can help you if you be willing to tell me more."

Nakia continued walking quietly leaving Maron to her own thoughts and decisions.

 

Maron thought for a moment, rememebring her old companions. What would they do? Minstra would plan thoroughly, Raven would storm the place, and Daie...Daie would probably. She didn't know what Daie would do. Once again, he was no help.

She sighed.

"Nakia, I have to retrieve an artifact, an item blessed by Sune herself. It is a set of pipes, with certain powers."

 

Ciana carefully picked up her mask and put it back on, then she picked up her equipment and strapped it on. She stepped out of the Inn and stood next to Sepp

"I am ready to go with you, thank you for your help"

While speaking she bent and strung her bow with a dry string from her pocket, ready for use.

 

Nakia watches Del for a moment. Del is moving tensely as if prepared for trouble at any moment. Nakia searches for her rogue sense of danager but feels nothing. Sunlight filters through the leaves of the trees but there is enough shadow that Nakia doesn't need to protect her eyes.

Atten is moving along almost jauntily. "Those boots must be really special. Now, Maron, back to this temple. Do you think it is the same one Sepp is headed to? And what do you know about it? Who runs it? How do they have this artifact?

Sorry, just tell me what you know. The more I know the more I can help."

 

Maron thought for a moment. "The temple is the only one in the area, so I must assume it is the one they are heading to. I have to steal the artifact because even though it is blessed by Sune, it was last carried by a champion of another God. The God to whom this temple is devoted. You follow?"

She stretched, spreading her wings before tucking them back in again. This walking became uncomfortable after a while.

"So, I have been asked to retrieve this artifact, by the elders at my local temple. I was heading near the area with my adventuring company, so I accepted the job. I came alone because I had intended to do the job quickly, but then I met Sepp, and, well, I became distracted."

 

Delinos asked Sepp, "Do we leave now or what?"

 

"If we're all ready, yes." Sepp, Delinos, Kelvados, and Cianna set off to the west. Sepp had a strange feeling about what was about to happen, but he could feel no other details than that. The only thing to do was to go and see what lay around the bend for him and his companions.

 

Delinos wondered if Sepp had a mental link with him. He had always heard Jex talking about it, and he slightly wanted one. He was .. jealous.

Kelvados just stared forward as he walked. He had lost so much blood that he was very dizzy and lightheaded.

 

"Kelvados," Sepp asked. "Do you have any idea what caused you to start bleeding back there? It would be good to know, if it was exposure to Cianna, who had been tortured like you, or a magical attack from afar. I'd feel better knowing that you weren't going to start bleeding again, especially since you might be in a position to save my life any time."

 

Kelvados mumbled some undecipherable words and coughed a bit. ".. Felt.. magic.. mage.. sorcer--*cough*--incantations.." That was all he said.

 

"Hmmn, and Cianna, you're sure you had nothing to do with any of that?" Sepp asked Cianna.

 

"No, no I haven't tried to cast any spells since I left the mage's tower and the only one I would have this morning would have been one of healing on Kelvados; but I felt that my using magic of any description today would have created more trouble than aid. I would cast a healing spell on him now but I am uncertain as to its welcome."

 

Del returned to the tavern with the 'uninfluenced' friends she had rounded up, only to find the rest gone. "Oh no," she sighed, "The sorceress must have taken the others. But there's nothing we can do for them now; we have to flee before she returns! Nakia, do you think your village to the west will shelter us?"

 

"Village? What village? I thought we had to go to some dodgy temple."

 

"Sure, but it would take several weeks to get there. Besides Maron needs to get an artifact from some temple to the west of here. I think it is the same Sepp is heading to. And why do we have to flee? Plus if Sepp is in danger I need to get to him.

In other words, Del, as much as I would like to help you I'm headed to this stupid temple."

Nakia folds her arms and looks stubborn.

 

Delphinae blinked and then looked ashamed as she realized what she had just said. "I'm sorry; you're right, Nakia. We have to try to save them if we can, and Maron deserves our consideration too. Still, we should leave as soon as we can to catch up. We can figure out what to do on the way."

 

Nakia relaxes and smiles. "Hokay, let's get moving." With that she packs up and moves out on the trail to the temple.

 

It felt good to be walkin. An hour or two passed with no conversation, just silent companionship. Coming over a small hill, several buildings of what must be the temple they were going to were visible in the distance. They'd be there in under an hour.

"Cianna, what do you know of this temple. What kind of god is Corellon?"