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Turick stood and fed wood to the fire, reviving the flames from their own slumber. He looked at Minaiya, smiling softly at her while she slept.
He sighed. I wish I could have saved Min from all that...
He shook his head violently. how could I? my brother had me under a spell... forget it... Turick... just practice... you'll protect her next time something happens...
He nodded, striding off to victimize a random tree. But the truth is, we might not have escaped if-
“AGGHH!” he cried out for reminding himself. He breathed out and in more carefully, proceeded to beat on the tree using the martial arts the old man had taught him. As he kicked he remembered what the old man had said...
“No, no! you're doing it wrong. Kick higher and harder! If you kick them in the crotch and it will only stun them for a few minutes, but if you hit them in the head you can keep them down far longer.”
Turick kicked high and hard. Too hard, he realized, as a crack formed in the trunk. He shook his head and walked back to the camp to sit near the fire. “Min wouldn't forgive me if I actually hurt the tree.”
Min opened her eyes slowly as she heard the crack of breaking wood. She closed her eyes tightly again, trying to remember where they had camped out the night before, when she had finally remembered the old signpost they had passed, she gave in to the growing wakefulness, watching Turick's practices silently from beneath the blanket that lay over her. She hadn't remembered a blanket being there before she'd fallen asleep...
He stretched and looked at Min. "Lo, Min..."
"Morning..." She mewed.
"Ugh... I had the worst dream..." he rubbed his head. "Though it felt more like one of my visions..."
She brushed the blanket off of her, pulling out the snags in her hair. "What did you see?" She asked as she looked up at him.
"I saw a really weird looking guy... he had red hair... yellow eyes... and one hell of a short temper..." He rolled his eyes. "He said that he was in a 'glass prison' in a ceremonial chamber..." He shrugged. "I have no idea what it means."
Min squinted a moment before she waved the air aside, pushing her thoughts with it. "Don't know... the only ceremonial chamber I've heard of is at home..."
"well... my visions haven't meant anything lately... but still... I would like to go to that ceremonial chamber..." He got up and adjusted his turban. He no longer hid his ears. "They've gotten worse you know..."
"You can't...!" She squeaked. "I mean... you can't go there... it's only for rituals... it's FORBIDDEN! Only the chief can open the doors..."
"Min... this guy looked desperate... and he was asking for help... just... please my curiosity..." He picked up the pack. "What if he really was there, trapped?
"I CAN'T." She had gotten up without realizing it. "Besides... you said yourself they hadn't been ANYTHING lately!"
"Min! This dream was the most real I've EVER had! I saw his blood! I could SMELL the fear and anger he emitted!" He looked away as he realized he was shouting.
A short silence closed between them before Turick found his voice again to continue, "I'm sorry Min... I'm just curious..." he mumbled.
She stepped back from the force of his words and the calm of his defeat. She only shook her head as she closed her eyes tightly. "I can't... it's taboo..."
"Then... I will..." he looked at her with pleading eyes. "Let's at least talk with the chief... he should be able to tell me if it was real or not..."
"You said you wanted to visit, not stir up trouble, Turick..." Her eyes pleaded back for him not to ask her. “You can ask what you want of the chief, but I know what he will say..."
He looked to the side angrily. "I just want to know... I'll ask anyone in the village if he doesn't give me a straight answer..." He sighed. "I don't want to stir up trouble, Min... really... you and Lin helped me..."
"Heh," she huffed. "You're nothing BUT trouble, Turick..."
"And you know it..." He turned, giving her a less than honest smile, "Well.. I might as well drop it... you win, Minaiya... we should get going."
Her heart sunk a little as she heard him give in. Her hand unclenched from the fabric of the front of her dress uneasily. She turned around suddenly as a question came to her. "Turick! Why did you want to see Elaine again?"
"I dunno... I guess I just wanted to thank Lin... just... get away from that castle..." He smiled. "I didn't think I'd be able to stand that place, you know...?"
"... yeah... I know..." She rubbed her arms only partially from the morning chill. "But you know I'm returning to the guardians..."
He paused a moment."... I'm fine with it... I can't pull you away from your life, Min... That would be selfish of me."
"..." She was finally at a loss for words. "... It should only be a few days away... at least..."
He nodded. "but getting there fast would be nice..." I don't know if I'm going to pass out next time a vision strikes... he stared at the ground. I might not wake up...
She smiled a little bit. "You just don't want to have to race me again..."
He looked at her and smiled. "Heh... found me out, huh?" He chuckled.
She laughed uneasily as she tossed the blankets at him. "You should pick up the camp before I throw the HARD stuff at you..." She joked as she picked up a pot.
He waved his hands. "hey now! I've got enough pain in my head thanks to my visions! I don't need a pot imprint as well!" He laughed as he helped to pack the camp up.
Her smile faded again as Turick was no longer so intent on answering her. Just pretending to be happy lately took effort...
"Come on, Min." he got up as he finished the last of the packing.
"Uh-huh? H-hai..." She nodded as she was about to step up behind him onto the horse. She paused a moment, and Turick looked down with confusion.
“I-I'll walk.”
“What's wrong, Min?”
“The horse is probably burdened anyhow, with all our things. It-it's a good chance for me to enjoy the trail on my own.”
Turick didn't have to be a visionary to know that something was fishy, nor had this been the first time she'd found an excuse not to ride. At the moment, it didn't seem important to ask her why. “Whatever, Min. But you can't walk very close by on such a narrow trail...”
“I know.” And I planned. I need as much time as I can to think...
Turick smiled in his visionary half-sleep, crouched below the wonderful shade of one of the older oaks that dominated the region. He laughed as the vision began to fade. Odd... to see Min smiling like that... and-GACK! He yelped as he tumbled a few feet back from the sudden impact. He looked up into clevage, and raised his line of sight further until he finally saw Min's face.
"Er... Min?"
"Looklooklook! My ears! My Tail! We have to be in the territory of Elaine! We MUST! I've been forgiven! Thegodslookwellonmeand-LOOK!" She jumped up to a tree branch some 10 feet in the air easily. "I've returned!" She cried out triumphantly.
"Announce it to the world..." He smiled sarcastically as he sat up to look at her happy face. "Now... would miss kitty be a little quieter? Unless she wants unwanted attention...?"
"But who would really care? The territory of Elaine is protected by the guardians themselves! There IS none in this place who could HOPE to harm me!" She said without the least bit of modesty, and with just a BIT of her own naïveté's showing through.
"Moh..." He tilted his head as he sighed. "Quit acting like an eughat...."
Her ears drooped towards the side of her head as she looked down at Turick. Must you remind me...
He smiled and stood. "Eh... it's ok. You're just happy to be back to your old self. I'm happy I don' have to hide my ears." He grinned before running and jumping on the back of the horse, making it whinny and gallop. "come catch me, Min!"
"Wahh?... But you don't know the way as well as m-" She cried out too late, looking back at him as he rode off.
Min sighed as she lounged across the branch, trying to decide what to do. "If I head to town... it just means Turick has reason to leave sooner... if I wait... it simply means I don't see him... and I couldn't ask him to stay..." She breathed out unhappily as her ears perked slightly from instinct.
She turned over, holding onto the branch as she dropped down to hang. She looked around, her defenses down. She shrugged it off as she dropped down to the ground, completely unaware of the trap that had been set.
Turick slowed the horse down as he arrived. He peered around, realizing how much of the town he had missed in his fit of frustration the first time he'd been here. Slowly guiding the horse towards the healer's hut, he was painfully reminded of his own condition, and was soon hurrying the horse again to find his destination. Finally arriving, he peeked into the hut.
"Hello?"
A few crashing noises echoed from the back of the small wooden building, along with the responsive curses of another language.
"(Lo? Is that common?) Who is it coming in here speaking such-" Lin stepped over a few containers that stood in her way as she rummaged her way towards the door, her jaw dropping as she stepped into the main room.
"The dark elf boy... what are you?! Where's Min-chan?"
"She should be here soon." He smiled. "She's just enjoying her abilities again."
Lin's mouth closed again as she averted her eyes. "Then... what are you doing back?"
He blinked. "Well, I thought I'd visit... and to say thank you."
"It is not good to revisit the past, child..." She said worriedly. "Please don't tell me you left Min in the forest..."
He froze for a second. “Wo...would it be bad if I said yes?" he felt the fear beading up along his brow.
She dropped one of the vials as she stumbled towards Turick. "You do not realize the ... politics... shall we say, of this region, do you? ... It isn't truthfully by Taboo, as Min may say, that things aren't done around here..."
"Eh?" he pulled back. "I... I don't..."
She shook her head for loss of words. "Min is very... naive..." She sighed in frustration. "But she is also... my only friend."
"What's going to happen?! Lin? What do you mean?"
"I don't know exactly... it depends on if they believe how much she knows... from being around me..."
He took a deep breath, as he felt that he would forget otherwise. "What do you know of a man named Katron?"
"... nothing..." She shrugged.
"Though I've heard the chief mutter such a name... when I've had to treat him in times of strong illness."
"A man with red hair and yellow eyes... in a prison of glass..."
She dropped the rest of the vials to the ground. "How... how do you KNOW of him?" Her eyes suddenly focused intently on his.
"I had a vision of him... he told me he was trapped in the ceremonial chamber. He was angry but also afraid..."
She covered her mouth with her hands as she muttered to herself in her own tongue. (how... no they wouldn't think- would they?- they might... and... Min... shit...) She turned around again as she put the pieces together in her head. "No.. there's no way they know you know... but they might have easily taken Min for 'Baptizing...'"
"Where is this 'Baptizing' to take place?" He shook his head in pent frustration. "Where?"
"... The very same ceremonial chamber... they're probably trying to wipe her memory, reinforce the spell, or simply sacrifice her... as so many in our history..."
He jerked his head. "Well! WHERE IS IT?" he felt like he was about to pop.
"... I've only been there once myself... and they blindfold you..." She stared him down. "But if your connection with the sleeping giant is as strong as it sounds, he may be able to guide you..." She pulled a vial from one of the nearby drawers. "And you may be able to free him with this..."
He took the vial and put it in his pocket. "I only hope he's as helpful as he is desperate!" He shook his head and ran out of the hut. Okay, Katron, help me out here... he thought blindly, feeling a slight tingle as he ran back into the forest as fast as his lungs would allow. He only hoped his intuition was correct for once...
“(He... didn't stay long enough to find out WHAT the vial was...)” She muttered to herself as he left. “(At least I'll be ready for them if they try and make me a sacrifice once more...)” She glared towards the wall as she thought.
The chief looked up towards Minaiya, who hung limply against the altar of the chamber on her knees. He looked over at one of his trusted guardians, one of the few to know the true secrets of the chamber.
"Sir... there's no reason to think she knows of Katron... or about the spell that is working on her. Unfortunately, one of the other watchers says she did not return alone-that she had the drow boy with her..."
"As long as he causes no trouble, there is nothing to link us back to Minaiya... we can keep her hidden until the boy leaves, or is thrown out by the townspeople themselves..."
"Yes, M'lord..."
"She's to great an asset to simply let be turned against us. And with the spell in place, we can easily blur her memories of that boy... why... we might even be able to get HER to throw him out herself... yes... I like THAT idea!" He guffawed loudly through the echoing chamber.
The guardian that stood beside him smiled. "I do love such irony, lord... but we should worry about the healer... she may lead him here."
"She does not know where 'HERE' is... she can't help him in the least... it's only BECAUSE she knows so little that we let her live..."
“But if she causes trouble?”
“We may have to sacrifice again this year... for the weather, or the crops, of course.”
“Of course.” The young man smiled back, crossing his arms over his chest smugly.
Turick took a second to catch his breath before he took a moment to peer over the dense undergrowth which came up at the base of the mesa he had come to. He wiped the sweat from his brow against the back of his wrist, realizing how long it had been since their last decent washing together. He could smell the stench of a long weeks ride saddleback as he searching the green surroundings aimlessly.
Towards the east... let yourself down...
Sure enough, as he was searching in that direction, he lost his footing and fell down onto an opening of some sort, rubbing his head where he'd come in contact with the great stone steps first hand. Already he could see a light dimly from the distance within the tunnel.
Entering the chamber silently, he peered over at the two figures who seemed to be debating amongst themselves before Minaiya. He felt a tingle and he glanced at the wall opposite them, which he dangerously leaned beyond the corner of the room to get a better look at. Later, Katron... sleep just a moment longer... He walked out into the open of the chamber. "I don't need anyone to help..." He said as he took a defensive position.
"Taerin?" The asked as he saw his commander turn his head ever so slightly. "What is it?"
"We have a visitor, m'lord... a 'shadow' if you will." he chuckled to himself.
"Oh, shut up, asshole..." Turick waved the 'bring it' sign
Taerin turned around fully, whispering to the chief, “(Begin the spell, my lord, and I will defeat him or die trying).”
"Hmph..." was the Chief's sole replied.
Taerin turned around fully, short, square cropped, almost military hair darkly framing a well-worn face. "And what gives you the impression that you're worth the effort, boy?"
"Because you have someone I want..." He rushed at Taerin in a round kick.
Taerin feigned back, avoiding the kick as he ducked under him, knocking his other leg out from under him in return. "You may want, but you cannot have... such a greedy child." He laughed haughtily.
He kicked at the man's legs and latched his own legs around them, rolling to his feet as he hurled the older man away. "Damn straight I'm greedy! I want Min! And I ain't leaving without her!"
He fell hard to his back, grunting as he hit the hard stone floor. He looked up as Turick stood.
The chief walked towards the altar. Min's eyes fluttered open slowly, as she began to take stock of her surroundings, to some extent. He waved his hand over her face, and a glazed look returned to her eyes, as they had before. “(Now... we can't have you AWAKE for the spell... we don't want to damage you, after all)”
Turick looked back as he heard talking. "Get away from Min!"
Taerin flipped back to his feet from the ground, bringing his sword out from his back with a slightly audible grate “(Master... I can kill him now if you wish...)”
Turick turned on his heel and kicked at the guy's head, catching his heel on the sword but knocking the guy senseless. "Shut up!" He didn't notice the vial slip out of his pocket and break on the ground. "Now... step away from Min..." He glowered at the cheif.
As the vial's contents dispersed, Turick heard an audible crack. He turned to discover its origin, and was tackled to the ground with Taerin's sword to his throat.
“Remember who your opponent is, boy.”
A loud crash filled the room as glass poured from a nearby hallow. A deep, hard groan rumbled as Red-haired man emerged. He looked at Turick with dazed eyes before seeing shock register in both the chief and his lacky.
The chief turned at the sound of the smashed glass, looking back at Minaiya, the new spell half cast, and the old spell half bound.
Minaiya groaned as her senses returned slightly. She looked forward through bleary eyes, not believing what she saw to be reality. She gritted her teeth as a dull pain rang through her temples.
Taerin retained a grip on his sword, no longer underestimating the Drow he was holding.
The chief spun around to face the dark-haired man, the fear on his face concealed beneath the tribal mask he wore.
He paused and took a deep breath. "What is going on in this sacred place...?" He glanced at Taerin. "Release the dark one..."
The chief nodded towards Taerin, and then gestured his head towards the intruder, and Taerin caught his meaning.
Turick grimaced as he picked himself up from the ground, growling towards Taerin, the pain in his head making his temples throb uncomfortably. He turned his attention back to the , finding himself still held speechless by the embodiment of his visions.
Katron turned swiftly and shoved both hands in front of him, spouting a short whisper of words as the two froze in place. “(Stop!)” Katron grimaced as he realized that he had acted on instinct. He walked towards them, leaving a stupefied Turick on the ground. “(I see that no one has changed in my two hundred years of slumber...)” He turned to Minaiya and his eyes widened, a vision of his sister resurfacing.
“(Trinity... it can't be you!)” Katron a hand out and stroked her cheek. “(I thought I lost you... I saw you die...)” A tear had swelled in one of his eyes as he bowed his head.
“Hey!” Turick pushed himself up and limped over to him. “What are you waiting for? Get Min down!” Turick flinched as Katron turned to him. “Can't you see she's not well? Lo—ok!” He pointed at Minaiya, and not seeing any understanding in Katron's eyes, proceeded to try and retrieve Min. Katron grabbed Turick's arm in a grip that made Turick cry out.
“(Don't touch my sister...)” Katron hopped down from the altar, with Min still in his arms protectively.
“Katron! I can't understand a word you are saying, and Min can't translate for me-but DAMNIT! Move you ass! We need to get away from here before those two wake up, or whatever!” Turick shouted at him as he pointed a the chief and Tearin.
“Turick?” Minaiya whimpered through eyes strained with pain. “Phon he-who're you?” She grimaced up towards Katron.
“This is Katron, and he's being a freak. Min, make him understand that we need to get outta here! He's spewing out gibberish!” Turick tried to touch her but got a warning growl from Katron.
“(Leave Turick alone!)” She yelled with undue vehemence. She drew her hand back, not realizing she'd instinctively reached out.
“(Trinity...)” Katron blinked. “(Why are you siding with the dark one...? They are the evil ones...)”
Turick let out a frustrated growl. “Shut Up, Damn it! Just shut the hell up! Katron! I keep hearing the same word out of your mouth! MOVE!” Turick grabbed them both and ran from the chamber.
Taerin felt his body being released as the three left the room. “(I didn't know that he had magic, sir.)”
“(He was a guardian, once...)” The chief slammed his fist against the ground. “(Bring me the healer-woman! We still need a sacrifice, after all!)”
“(I'll call one of my men to get her...)” He picked himself up from the ground, giving out a long, high whistle between his teeth. Taerin returned from outside the cavern, his face greatly paled. “(She's gone...)”
Minaiya pushed against the strong arms that held her, fighting back not only what she hazily perceived as a stranger, but the violent urge to relieve her insides against the ground. Her head spun even though she wasn't the one running, and a strange fire burned down from her throat to her abdomen, recoiling through every nerve and organ she thought was there. She finally caught the man's attention the way a small child would: with her claws, eyes, and a very shrill cry of outrage.
She gazed back at the two of them as she worked her way up from the ground. Turick she recognized, and understood why he was here. Her eyes shifted uncertainly from the blur of dark skin to the next, not nearly-so-dark blur. Red, purple, blue, green... the bright colors slowly settled into distinguishable shapes as she continued staring forward defiantly.
“I don't think it's safe to travel yet!” Turick tried again to convince him, as he grabbed Katron's arm as he reached for Minaiya with the arm she had bitten mercilessly moments before. “Give her some time... we don't know what they juiced her with!”
Katron shluffed off his grip, and proceeded forward.
“(Don't touch me!)” Minaiya screeched, clamping her teeth and her eyes closed as she saw the blur reach towards her. It stopped, mid-motion, and dropped back once more.
“You don't know what she's been through.” Turick voiced angrily, more to himself than his seemingly-deaf cohort. “And if you put one more hand on her without her permission, I'll-“
“Probably have your foreign boot beat.” Came a voice to coincide with a rustling in the distance behind him.
“I think you mean 'butt', and who says?!” Turick replied warily.
“It's just me...” Lin called from above him, spooking him slightly that she could deceive his hearing.
Minaiya's vision moved slightly up to where Lin had just appeared. Lin swung down from the branch with Katron eyeing her warily. She locked eyes with him defiantly, until he finally turned away with a small huff.
She proceeded forward carefully, raising her hand as she spoke. “(Calm, Minaiya... it's Lin. I'll explain the other to you soon...)” She reached out towards Minaiya's hair gently.
Blue... a blue blur came before Minaiya, slowly sharpening as it drew closer. Her ears perked at such familiar words, and she felt herself falling forward into welcome arms instinctively, the short-lived adrenaline draining what was left of her strength from her.
Lin caught Minaiya roughly, not expecting her friend to cave in so quickly, brushing back the trailing of her hair as she tried to balance them both. She turned to Katron first, as she realized Minaiya was crying. “(What did you do to her?)”
“(My sister!-)”
“(MINAIYA! She is not!)”
“(...)”
“(Your sister is dead... as is mine, and any fool who tried to free you before now...)”
Chapter 6: Never say it can't get Worse
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