|
And now another half year. The end to my Skinsaw journal has been hard to write, and I haven't enjoyed it nearly as much as earlier stuff, but the story must go on.
“What have you done?” Qakisst knelt over the unmoving body of Lyrie Akenja and stared at the still oozing whole in her chest.
“She tried to escape as soon as you were out of sight.” Caleb wiped blood from his kukri. Sorren and Luthor stood in stunned silence behind Qakisst.
“That is no excuse for murder, Caleb!” Qakisst surged to his feet and spun to face his friend. “I had her component pouch. She could not have cast more than a harmless cantrip.”
“You don’t know that.” Caleb smiled calmly, “You don’t use a component pouch.”
“It is not the same, Caleb!” Qakisst’s voice rose in pitch and volume.
“We’re being watched, you know.” Caleb sheathed his kukri and headed for the stairs.
“Caleb Deverin, bu iş bitmedi!” Qakisst turned to Sorren and Luthor in despair.
“Qakisst, o yere yalnız gitmez.” Serrin glowered up the stairs after Caleb. < Ve bunun gibi ya da değil, o uygun Adalet önce davasını savunarak edilecektir.>”
Luthor followed Caleb up the stairs. “Pretty sure they’ve heard the screaming match up there. Nothing to do now but follow along and wait for the ambush. Come on, you can argue Caleb’s fate later.”
“I can still here all of you.” Caleb turned up the third set of stairs along the east wall.
“Çok üzgünüm, Serrin. Ben o olur inanmıyordu ...” Qakisst’s voice trailed off as he followed Serrin and Luthor up the stairs.
“Ben de üzgünüm Qakisst.” Serrin looked back at Qakisst then ahead at Luthor and Caleb as the foursome continued up the stairs into the darkness. “Does anybody here that? A scraping noise?"
“I don’t hear anything.” Luthor looked down then up the tower center.
“Its y’er nerves, Serrin.” Caleb moved nimbly up the decrepit stairs.
CRACK!
“Gözcü!” Qakisst slammed his body into the corner of the tower stairs just as the massive central bell came crashing down the central shaft smashing the surrounding stairs at random.
The floor evaporated from under Caleb, but his quick reflexes allowed him to grab onto the wall. Luthor felt the stairs give way just as he grabbed one of the wall supports. Serrin felt herself start to fall and grabbed for the only thing in reach, Luthor’s foot. The sudden weight nearly pulling Luthor free from his handholds.
“Damn, Serrin. You’ve put on weight.” Luthor glared down at his fellow Pathfinder as she desperately gripped his foot.
“You can wash your socks more often, Luthor.” Serrin scowled as she transferred her weight to the wall supports holding the clock tower up.
“Everybody still with me?” An almost cheery Caleb looked back down the now demolished stairs for his companions.
“We’re all still here.” Qakisst looked up from the partially smashed corner platform where he stood. “Climbing just got a lot harder though.”
“We tie off. Caleb, you have rope?” Luthor looked up to Caleb just ahead of himself.
“Yeah, but is that a good idea?” Caleb looked back.
“I don’t think we have a choice.” Luthor glowered at Caleb. Caleb grumbled as he moved to the next corner platform and pulled out his rope. “Toss it to Q first. He has solid footing.”
“But how…?” Qakisst grabbed the end of the rope and looked up to Luthor.
“Trust us,” Luthor smiled back. “We’ve been on more than one dungeon crawl.”
Caleb scoffed as he tied the rope around his waist with a slipknot.
First Luthor, then Serrin looped the rope around themselves and tied it with a clever series of loops. “This wouldn’t do for log climbs, but it will hold long enough for a climber to grab secure handholds.” Luthor winked at Serrin, “I told you I’d have you tied up one day.”
“But did you think you’d have to tie yourself to two other men to do it? Or is this normal for you, Luthor?” Serrin smiled up at Luthor before looking back at Qakisst,”Güç büyüsünü kendine yap. Her ihtimale karşı.” Qakisst gowered, but did as Serrin requested, summoning strength from his magic.
“Obviously we’re not talking again.” Caleb loked back at Qakisst mockingly with a pouty face as he started to climb.
The four now continued scaling the wall from corner platform to corner platform until they came to the solid platform at the top of the now missing stairs that surrounded the bell chamber. The now missing bell gave a clear view around the chamber’s outer walkway, showing four shadowy figures trying to conseal themselves in the darkness of the poorly lit room.
“Blessed Goddess; o şeylerin çoğundan; Foxeldiven malikanesinin yüzsüz canlıları!” Qakisst pointed into the darkness even as Serrin cast light to fill the gloom. Recognizing the four figures as shapeshifting creatures like those he had faced at the Foxglove townhouse, Qakisst’s tongue betrayed him once more in the rush of impending combat.
Caleb piered into the dim light and smiled a genuenly friendly smile. “It’s okay. They’re just woodland spirits. There’s no need to fight them.” The four faceless figures pulled out weapons andalmost seemed to grin as they moved out onto the narrow walkway and began to approach Caleb. “Prietenii mei, aceasta nu este adevărata mea față. Dă-mi timp și putem distruge acești proști împreună.”
The four faceless creatures continued their advance, with weapons drawn, toward Caleb.
“No, no, no.” Caleb took a step backfrom the advancing creature. Luthor disconnected himself from the rope and rushed back around the platform to get to the other side of their faceless attackers. The first stalker raised his weapon and swung wildly. “STOP, PLEASE?” Caleb pleaded with his attackers even as he raised his weapon to parry the incoming attack.
“Woodland spirits, my ass.” Serrin called up balls of lightning and sent them rushing past Caleb to scatter his attackers as gouts of fire erupted around Qakisst behind her to blaze past the both of them, striking the faceless attackers.
“Watch yourself, Luthor. One is turning back to you.” Serrin called to her cohort on the far side of the tower as first one, then two of the stalkers rushed back around the tower the way they had come, to intercept Luthor on the far side.
When blades failed to penetrate Caleb and Luthor’s defenses, the stalkers stretched out one arm to grapple their foes at range. Strange biting orifices in their palms digging in and sucking blood from both.
“Please don’t make me do this!” Caleb smashed his attackers with the pommel of his weapon as both his attackers tried to grapple him.
“Hapa sauti na hasira.” Qakisst pointed to one of Caleb’s attackers and the creature let go of Caleb, grabbing his head where he would have had ears. Caleb took the opportunity to smash the creature’s jaw with the pomel of his scimmitar, but as the creature slumped to the platform, it slipped and fell into the abyss of the tower.
Caleb screamed in dispare as the creature fell to his death. Fire soared over his head to scorch the next one as Caleb began to cry uncontrollably. The stalker still grappling him pushed him to the side and advanced at Serrin and Qakisst.
“Oh no you don’t.” Serrin twisted her fingers into irregular shapes and electrical energy surrounded her just as the faceless creature grabbed her. The unexpected jolt of electricity sent it staggering back as Qakisst stepped past Serrin with his boar spear thrust forward.
“You can’t!” Caleb screemed as the creature grabbed for Qakisst and pulled him forward, only to become impaled on the spear between them.
“Mungua kuwakomboa wewe.” Qakisst swing the impaled creature to his right, pushing it over the edge of the platform, causing the creature to fall into the abyss with its former companion.
Caleb dropped to his knees staring over the edge. He stared into the darkness below as tears ran down his cheeks. “Why wouldn’t they stop?” He whispered to himself.
“If y’all are done over there,…” Luthor called from the other side of the walkway. The two faceless creatures collapsed at his feet. “… because there’s stairs going up over hear at this doorway to the outside.”
Serrin moved away from Caleb to join Luthor on the far side of the platform as Qakisst looked down at his grieving friend. “I am sorry Caleb. They refused to yield.”
Caleb glared up at Qakisst, rage filling his eyes. “Somebody made them do this.” He then surged to his feet with his scimitar still in hand and rushed to join Serrin and Luthor.
Qakisst followed, glancing at the now dead bodies where Luthor had dispatched the last two creatures; then over the ledge to the ground below. In the faint light, he could just make out the twisted and mangled bodies of the two faceless creatures that had fallen, and the lifeless form of Lyre Akenja beside them. Qakisst frowned at the macabre scene.
“Caleb, wait.” Qakisst rushed to catch the others before they could go out the door and up the outside of the tower to the top. Caleb spun and shot an angry look. “Let me.” Qakisst whispered, “Kutoweka” and light folded around him until he faded from sight. “Wait ten seconds then follow. Let me see what is there before we barge in.”
A faint creek echoed from the rickety, tacked on stairs attached to the outside of the tower. Caleb grinned after Qakisst had passed him, counted to ten then followed onto the steps behind the invisible ifrit.
Qakisst stepped quietly off of the top of the stairs and into the loft like structure at the top of the tower. He looked left, then right, then up at a massive nest like structure in the rafters of the loft. Seated within the nest a monstrous and demonic bird like creature shifted as it stared at the entrance. Qakisst froze for a second, waiting to see if the creature could see him. It made no reaction at all.
With a faint smile, Qakisst side stepped to his right to make room for his friends to rush into the room in a few seconds. He pulled parchment quietly from his belt pouch and unrolled it while gripping his spear one handed; and readied himself to read the arcane script as soon as his friends entered the room. He never got a chance.
|
|
Just as Caleb and Luthor stepped into the room and spotted the massive avian like demon nesting above them, a scream came from their right. As both turned, they saw a long spear lance into the open air from out of nothing. The spear faded into visibility, followed by a massive serpentine body, topped with the torso, arms and head of a beautiful woman filled with grace and speed. The serpentine body clung impossibly to the walls of the tower structure as the feminine body yanked the spear free of Qakisst’s unseen body; only the thump of his unconscious form hitting the ground and the pool of blood expanding on the floor giving him away.
“Dark mother of monsters!” Serrin stepped into the room behind Luthor and shouted ad her compatriots, “Lamia! That’s a thrice damned lamia!”
Caleb charged the creature swinging wildly with both scimitar and kukri. Luthor moved quickly to his left to try and prevent the creature from evading Caleb. Serren cast a blessing on them all and immediately began searching for Qakisst.
“Where are you, Q. Where are,… yes.” As Caleb and Luthor struggled to get past the long point of their attacker’s spear, Serrin called on her faith to heal the unconscious and invisible form of Qakisst.
“Yılan hanımefendi!” Qakisst came to with a screech and scanned the room quickly. Serrin jumped to her feet, exchanging concerned for one companion for the other two, leaving Qakisst to finish what he had started. As Serrin called forth balls of electricity to harry their opponent, Qakisst lifted up the scroll still in his hand and read the cryptic text, “Acele!”
Everybody’s world seemed to slow down as their own reactions sped up. Light seemed to flow off their weapons like molasses as the four heroes flickered with arcane energy giving them incredible speed. Caleb charged the wall and planted his foot firmly against it’s surface, pushing himself up at their attacker and grabbed the serpentine creature to drag her from her impossible perch.
The unhuman woman spun as her snake like lower body thrashed and knocked Luthor back. Caleb and the creature crashed to the floor. The spheres of electric discharge that Serren has summoned spun and bounced into the pile of serpentine flesh jolting the lamia momentarily. Luthor charged forward swinging wildly with his big war axe, only to bury the blade in the floor.
Qakisst scampered to the far side of the room and pointed back to the creature, “Umeme” sending a massive bolt of electrical energy smashing through the creature and the wall behind her. In response, the creature charged him, driving her spear through the wall just to his side.
“Q, get your ass behind me!” Caleb called out as he charged after the serpentine body.
Serren pulled out her crossbow, from the haversack she carried, and loaded the heavy bolt launcher.
Luthor waded in, barely dodging the spear thrust as the snake like body of the lamia slithered up the wall away from Caleb and Qakisst.
“Serrin, can those balls of lightning cling to the wall above her.” Luthor swung high, as the lamia slithered up the wall.
“No. They aren’t spiders, but I’m betting she swallowed one recently.” Serrin called forth a blade of force and sent it to attack the serpentine body of the lamia.
“O yanmaz mı?” Qakisst dug through his pack while calling out to Serrin.
“What? Oh,... Evet, olmalı.” Serrin jumped away as the creature’s tail smashed to the ground near her, then slithered back up the wall.
Qakisst pulled a scroll from his pack and unraveled it. “Yanık.” A bright red bead of light leapt from the scroll as Qakisst completed the spell bound to the paper. The page burst into flames in his fingers as the bead streaked away from him to explode above the lamia’s head in a massive ball of fire.
“Blessed maker, Q. Don’t bring the roof down on us.” Caleb glanced back them rushed forward when the serpent’s body came into range. His wild swings slashed at the snake like body, but the creature’s spear sliced into his gut and he collapsed to the floor.
“This will be all your fates for opposing my lord!” The serpentine lamias slithered back up the wall out of Luthor’s reach, but directly into Serrin’s view.
The twang of a heavy crossbow string snapped in the air as the bolt struck the creature in the neck. The serpentine monster thrashed in pain and moved along the wall to strike at Luthor, but as the creature lunged forward with her long spear, Luthor stepped up swinging overhead to smash the wall under her. The wall collapsed dropping the creature to the ground at Luthor’s feet. His heavy battleaxe came around smoothly to strike true, driving the long heavy blade into the creature’s spine. The lamia’s scream shattered the sound og combat within the tower even as fire lept from Qakisst’s finders to strike the falling form of the creature.
“Hit her again Qakisst, just in case she regenerates.” Luthor stood over the winding shape of their enemy.
“Sure, Luthor...” Qakisst’s stretched out arm froze in place as he heard his own words. “Never mind. I am certain the Goddess just told me that she’s dead. Where is Caleb.” Qakisst looked about. “Yüce cehennem.”
Qakisst rushed forward to the body of Caleb laying beyond the serpentine corpse of their foe and dropped to his knees. “Caleb!” The young ifrit lifted his friend’s head and cradled it in his lap. “Ölmeyin, ölmeyin!”
As Qakisst lifted Caleb’s head and poured the healing energies of his goddess into the form the body jolted and eyes snapped open in pain; pain that shattered the minimla concentration required of a shapeshifter to hold a form. In his arms, Qakisst watched in horror as the form of his long time friend shifted and melted like spring snow, flowing into the eyeless, faceless form identical to the four creatures they had faced in the bell chamber below.
Shock struck the three heroes as the creature’s gaping, jagged toothed grin opened in laughter. The laugh filled Qakisst’s ears and rage filled his heart. He grabbed the faceless shape in his hands, pushing his thumbs into the skull where a humanoid would have eye sockets and Qakisst screamed, “Where is he!”
Fire licked across Qakisst’s body in rage, engulfing his hands in the same way he could heat metals when crafting weapons. The skin around his thumbs and fingers on the creature began to blister and Qakisst squeezed with all the strength his magic could muster, “I said, where is he!”
The creature screamed and passed out from pain. Serrin stared on in shock, Luthor backed up a step in disbelief. Qakisst called forth the healing power of his goddess and dragged the faceless creature that had been Caleb back to consciousness.
“I said, where is he!” Qakisst continued to squeeze the creature’s head even as he called forth the elemental fire in his heart and burned eyeholes into the creature’s face. The creature screamed in pain and clawed at Qakisst, who’d body seemed on the verge of erupting into fire.
Water erupted from the very air around Qakisst as Serrin shook off the stunned shock of both seeing this faceless replicate for what it really was, and the murderous rage that filled her friend. “Qakisst, stop.”
“Stay out of this, Serrin!” Qakisst bellowed in rage at Serrin then turned back to the imposter in his hands and squeezed harder even as he called up both the healing power of Sarenrai and the elemental furry within himself.
The faceless creature screamed as the flesh on its head sizzled and popped, even as the blessings of Sarenrai struggled to knit it’s faceless visage back together. “Tell me where he is, cause I am not going to let you die until you do.” The calm rage that overcame Qakisst shook everybody on top of the building, most especially Qakisst. For the first time since being pulled out of the sink hole beneath the brambles of Thistletop Qakisst could hear quiet. A faint whisper touched his heart and shook Qakisst to his soul.
“No.”
Qakisst dropped the faceless creature to the ground and staggered back as he came to his feet. The creature, badly burned and bleeding laughed. “He will be waiting for you.” The faceless creature slumped back to the floor and continued to laugh in victory. “He has been waiting since you stole his sacrifice in the pauper’s graveyard.”
Luthor flipped the badly injured shapeshifter over and bound its arms behind its back and looped the rope around it’s neck before securing it’s feet as well. He then dragged the creature to it’s feet. “What do you have to do with all this? Who are you?”
The faceless creature turned to Luthor and smiled through the pain and burnt tissue. “Nothing. I had nothing to do with any of your business in this eternally damned city. My master sent me to spy on him and his other Sandpoint friends. To kill them if possible, or find out everything about them if not.” The creature coughed and spat blood onto the floor. “Then to send any that survive a message.”
Qakisst glared in barely controlled rage from across the room.
“I have your friend. I will do to her what you stopped me from doing to the Iomedaian.” The creature grinned, “Stop me if you can.”
|
|
Uhggggg. That was painful. Especially dragging everything out of the back of my head after almost 2 years, so I'm sure there are details that are different from our actual game play. But I have managed to get everything written out through Skinsaw. Now I get to relax a while and just write some fluff. I had all the filler for between Skinsaw and Hook mountain done two years ago. I have to re-read it now and see what needs tweaked. That won't take long, right?
|
|
Qakisst’s mind seethed. His heart raced. The warm Tian body snuggled up close to him made him feel almost human. Despite this he found himself unable to sleep the night away. Their battle in the clock tower Fireday evening had nearly killed them all. After defeating the serpent creature called Xanesha came the real stunner. The man they had thought to be Caleb Deverin had been an imposter. A faceless shapeshifter of considerable power and skill that had fooled them all.
Qakisst had been incensed, inconsolable, and terrified all at once. This shapeless stalker could have killed them at any time; and yet it had not. It had stood at their side and fought for them as if Caleb had never gone missing. This concept had not occurred to Qakisst until hours later. Hours after Qakisst had woke the shapeshifter with the healing gifts of Sarenrae and then tortured the creature with his bare, searing hot, hands. The nameless, faceless creature had not told him much of use; but Qakisst could still hear the creature’s screams of pain. More than once Qakisst had felt bone under the formless creature’s face crack as its skin blistered with burns. Every time he closed his eyes that face, burnt and blistered, would scream into his mind.
When the creature would pass out from the pain Qakisst would drag him back to consciousness with the Dawnflower’s blessings. All he learned from the stalker was that some unknown antagonist did not fear them. The longer Qakisst had questioned the stalker, the more of his divine gifts he used, the colder he had felt inside. By the time he had exhausted his ability to heal he had felt ice cold inside. Tears flowed freely down his face and his soul felt black as night.
That night his mind had raced with rage and he found himself to be cold inside. When he and Dahlia had returned to the Golden Lion Qakisst had nearly gotten into two fights over socializing with different ladies. Only Dahlia’s soothing tones had kept somebody’s brother from challenging him to a duel. His willingness to stand up to the young lady’s much larger brother had impressed her enough that she had left the common with Qakisst later that night.
She had been quite pleasing and quite eager which had let Qakisst forget the eyeless face of the stalker for a while; but when he finally drifted off to sleep exhausted that scared eyeless face filled his mind and haunted his thoughts. When the morning had come the Dawnflower had not called to him as she always had. He had no memory of dreaming and no memory of the sun rising; just the pounding of Magnimarian guards at his door informing him that the Lord-Mayor requested his presence. The young lady in his bed had been overly impressed that the Lord-Mayor himself would request Qakisst’s presence. Qakisst just grumbled about missing breakfast.
Their meeting with Lord-Mayor Grobaras himself took the form of a serious dressing down about their methods, yet they were greatly rewarded for uncovering the plot against the Lord-Mayor and solving the Star Murders mystery. Despite threats from the Mayor’s office that the Guardians would need to leave town fairly soon the party was paid the rather substantial reward that had been offered for help in solving the Star Murders. As they left the City Offices, Captain Robins informed them that they had until Moonday afternoon to leave Magnimar. He hinted that nobody would check on them until late Toilday morning but Qakisst felt no need to stay longer than he had too.
From there the Guardians returned to the Pathfinder lodge to make arrangements for Qakisst’s new charges to be ready for travel to Sandpoint on Moonday afternoon; to sort through the extensive loot they had gathered; and to sell off anything unwanted as well as buy supplies and equipment before their departure to Sandpoint. Selling off everything took longer than expected and Qakisst found himself seeking comfort once again on Starnight, after sunrise service on Sunday, and again that Sunnight. Each night he found himself on the verge of more than one fight as he chose to dance a little too close to the young ladies that came to the Golden Lion. On Sunnight he chose not to let Dahlia calm the crowd and wound up in the back alley fighting for the honor of a young Tian lady as her noble cousin demonstrated the considerable unarmed martial skills of the Tian people. Only the brief familiarity with Master Soren’s martial skills and Tsuto Kaijitsu’s unarmed talents, combined with a touch of magical strength had allowed Qakisst to best the young man, but even with Qakisst’s extensive experience it had been a very near thing. That time the young lady had been less than impressed with Qakisst’s willingness to brawl, but one of her friends had been sufficiently impressed with his footwork at dancing and his willingness to stand up for himself that once more he found his bed warmed with a young lady and his mind racing with thoughts of anger and pain.
Now he rose from the bed in his room at the Lion. His heart was still cold and the rage still seethed in his mind. Three nights and four women and all Qakisst felt was rage and fear. The young Tian girl in his bed did not stir as he packed his things and prepared to go. Among the trinkets and treasures that he had not sold over the last few days he found a necklace of silver and turquoise which he placed carefully with his guest’s possessions as the minor magics he could summon cleaned and brightened her clothes and shoes. He then leaned over her in the bed and kissed her cheek.
“My name is Qakisst. If you think of me in the future I hope that it is with fondness.” The young lady did not stir as Qakisst then slipped out the door.
Down in the common room Qakisst was stunned to find Shalelu Andosana and Loki waiting with Dahlia and a young elven man. A spark of fire lit in the coldness of his heart as Qakisst froze at the top of the steps for only a moment. He leapt down the last half dozen stairs sliding to his knees with his arms wrapping around Loki’s neck. Shalelu looked annoyed with him but Qakisst did not care.
“Yaramazlık! Siz yaşıyorsun!” Loki growled softly at the unexpected attention but did not move or bite as the grinning Qakisst hugged him. The thought flooded Qakisst’s mind, if Loki is alive Caleb must be alive as well.
“Did you just call Loki, Mischief?” Konnor’s voice came from the unexpectedly pale elvish face.
“Is that what he said?” Dahlia looked quizzically at the pale faced Konnor.
“We do not have time for childishness.” Shalelu frowned down at Qakisst.
“Soğuk bir kaltak ulmak istemiyorum, Shalelu.” Konnor paled at Qakisst’s sharp rebuke to Shalelu. “Where is he? What has happened to Caleb?” Qakisst and Shalelu locked eyes as both seemed to glare at eachother.
“We do not know. I came here hoping you would have answers.” Shalelu seemed annoyed to be inside the great city of Magnimar and more so by needing help to find Caleb.
“No. Not answers you will like.” Qakisst clenched his teeth and he turned to Konnor and Dahlia as he stood.
“Can we talk and eat. I’m starved and I have a feeling we’re leaving early.” Konnor pulled out a chair from the table he had been leaning on and plopped into it.
“Yes we leave right away to....” Shalelu found herself cut off by Qakisst unexpectedly.
“Sorry but no. We are not leaving till noon; and breakfast is a good idea since we will not have time for a sitting lunch.” Qakisst flung his pack into the corner by the table and slipped into the seat next to it. His spear he placed with care and thought.
“Boy, we don’t have time to daudle while you prance around town shopping for trinkets and toys.” Shalelu looked down at Qakisst and saw fire flair in his eyes and hands. POP! A snapdragon exploded over the table just in front of Shalelu’s face startling Loki and dazzeling everybody else.
“I have gear that has to be sold, supplies that must be picked up, and other obligations I cannot ignore. We leave at noon and we will be back in Sandpoint by three bells tomorrow.” Qakisst’s almost visious response to Shalelu shocked Konnor and Dahlia, and brought a snarl to Shalelu’s face. “Now do you want to sit for breakfast so we can compare notes on what has happened to Caleb or do you want to start a fight with a fire elemental in this nice wooden inn?”
Wide eyed, Konnor leaned back in his seat and turned to look for the service staff as Dahlia figited uncomfortably looking about the room. Shalelu growled as Loki backed away snarling. The smell of wood smoke and ash filled the air as Shalelu leaned over her seat glaring at Qakisst. “Boy, don’t you go trying to fill britches too big for you. You won’t like what happens when you trip.”
“I am not having a fight with you Shalelu, but if you call me boy again I will burn every hair on your body off.” Qakisst did not turn to look at Shalelu and his eyes flashed with fire. “Including the ones I have never seen.” The low, even tone of Qakisst’s voice caused everybody to stare at him in shock. Dahlia paled as she looked at him. She had heard rage like this on others before, but not from Qakisst.
“STOP IT! Both of you!” Sapphire slammed the back of Qakisst’s chair as she stepped up from behind Shalelu. “Now, what is this about Caleb? He was here just a few days ago.”
“No, he wasn’t.” Dahlia’s soft voice carried with bardic precision as her hands reached across the table to grip Qakisst’s arm while looking up at Shalelu. “No more fighting. You are both scared for Caleb and you are both his friends.” Shalelu’s eyes narrowed as she looked across the table to study Dahlia. She did not know this bard or what to think of her, but could not deny the truth of her words.
Qakisst sat up straight but did not pull his arm away from Dahlia, “Lady Andosana ben özür dilemek; er… I am sorry. I am out of line.”
“Apology accepted.” Shalelu seemed to flush slightly but turned to Qakisst, “I still do not think that it is a good idea to wait any longer than necessary though.”
“Glad that’s over.” Sapphire pulled up a chair and sat between Shalelu on one side of the table and Konnor on the other.
“I agree. But unfortunately I have obligations that have come up and we will be ready at noon. Please sit.” Qakisst took a deep breath and ran his mind through the mental exercises he had learned to focus his thoughts. “Do you know where the Pathfinder Lodge is?” He looked down at the table and not at Shalelu while Konnor spoke to the serving girl about getting food for everybody. Shalelu eased into the seat next to him without expression.
“I too have obligations, Shalelu. It will be several days before I can break away. I don’t think you should wait for me, but first; what happened to Caleb. He was here just the other day.” Sapphire held up her hands questioningly.
“She doesn’t know yet, but you do?” Shalelu looked from Sapphire to Qakisst.
“We got separated by various events in the city. This is the first I have seen of Sapphire and Connor in nearly a week.” Qakisst looked back up the stairs behind their table then around the table at the others. “Do you know where Caleb is, Lady Andosana?”
“No. Loki showed up in Sandpoint two nights ago. Nearly got himself shot by the guard getting into the town. Luckily your friend Korbit recognized him or they’d have turned him into a pincushion.” Shalelu reached back and ruffled the massive wolf’s fur.
“We last saw Caleb in Sandpoint on the 20th; just before coming to Magnimar.” Qakisst’s hands flexed and gripped as he sat at the table.
“Wait a minute?” Konnor and Sapphire turned to Qakisst in disagreement. “Caleb showed up here last Wealday in the afternoon.”
“That was not Caleb.” Qakisst looked up. “They sent an imposter.”
Shalelu gripped Qakisst by the arm, “Who sent an imposter?”
Qakisst looked at Shalelu’s hand and growled, “Bilmiyorum. I do not know!”
“Where is this imposter now? I will make him talk.” Shalelu snarled in reply.
Dahlia looked away and paled as Qakisst spoke. “The guard got him after I was done questioning him.”
“They will let me question him.” Shalelu went to stand.
“Not likely. It is unlikely he has recovered from his burns and bone fractures.” Dahlia’s voice quavered as she spoke. Qakisst looked away from everybody and closed his eyes as they turned to look directly at him.
Shalelu broke the silence first, “Son, what did you do?” There was a softness in Shalelu’s voice that shook Qakisst to the core as Dahlia took his hand and held it tight.
“I made him talk. He did not have much to say between screams.”
“Qakisst, you didn’t?” Sapphire’s eyes grew wide and her voice shook. “How could any of you let him do that?”
Dahlia squeezed Qakisst’s hand, “We weren’t there. Seren couldn’t stop him and Luthor was apparently not inclined to do so.”
“Where were you?” Sapphire seemed about to stand until Qakisst cut her off.
“She was doing what I asked her to do. Where were you and Konnor? You were fighting cultists in an old temple same as us. Just different locations.” Qakisst sat back looking tired and pale as the serving girl slid plates of egg and potato in front of everybody. “I did what I had too to find out what I could. All I know is that he took Caleb alive and tortured him for information on us. I do not know numbers and I do not have any names. But the imposter said they would do to Caleb what he had planned to do to you, Sapphire. He does not fear us either.”
“Imposter?” Sapphire and Shalelu both looked at Qakisst questioningly.
“It was a shapeshifter, like one of those faceless creatures that we found in Foxglove’s townhouse. But not one working for the Sevens cult.” Qakisst slammed his hands on the table, “I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!” Konnor grabbed his beer and Dahlia grabbed a flying fork as Qakisst’s outburst rattled the table.
“Faceless, rubbery long arms that suck blood right out of you?” Shalelu looked at Qakisst with actual sympathy for the first time. The table turned to look at her as one.
Dahlia found her voice first, “You know what those creatures are?”
“Faceless Stalkers. Ancient assassins of the Abolith. You could not have known if it had any time to study Caleb; and it sounds like they had plenty.” Shalelu looked across the table at Dahlia and Konnor.
“O ölmemiş.” Everybody turned to Qakisst as he spoke.
“Q, maybe we have to…”
“O ÖLMEMIŞ!” Qakisst lifted his arms to strike the table again but arms reached around him and gripped his elbows. The table looked behind Qakisst questioningly to see a young Tian woman who leaned in and gripped Qakisst tight.
“Who the heck is she?” Konnor leaned over and whispered to Dahlia.
“Last night’s dance partner.” Dahlia pulled her hand back from across the table.
Qakisst leaned back and closed his eyes. The young woman whispered in his ears and smiled then stood and ran her hand across the back of his head before she left. Shalelu did not look pleased.
“You spent the night playing foo…” Shalelu’s rebuke was interrupted by Sapphire smacking the back of her head. Shalelu’s face snapped around to face Sapphire with barely contained rage in her eyes.
“That won’t help, Shalelu.” Sapphire gave Qakisst a slightly disapproving look, but winked at the same time. “And don’t give me that look or I’ll hand you your head.”
“How do you people accomplish anything?” With a growl; Shalelu sat up straight and looked about the table.
Dahlia looked at Shalelu and shrugged. “They do their best with the gifts they are given, lady Andosana. Everybody eat. The day is wasting.”
Qakisst’s soft voice caught Shalelu’s attention before he started to eat. “We will meet you at the Dragon tomorrow evening. You know where to look for Caleb’s trail. I know you will be able to track him without problem. He is your apprentice after all.”
“I will find the trail; don’t be late.” Both of them held their tempers barely in check.
“He is not dead, Shalelu. He cannot be.”
“I wish I could believe that as strongly as you do, Qakisst.” Shalelu rose from the table without touching her plate and headed for the door; Loki padding along behind her.
The group finished their breakfast quietly. Sapphire looked at Qakisst for a moment until he returned her stare. He briefly insisted that he would be alright before agreeing to meet at the Dragon in two weeks allowing Sapphire to finish her tasks for the Inheritor; trusting that Qakisst, Konnor, and Dahlia would successfully find Caleb and be back in Sandpoint by then. Qakisst then turned to Konnor and asked him what tasks he had.
“Nothing. I’m all in for finding Caleb.” Konnor smiled.
“How long have you had that hat now?” Qakisst looked at Konnor with his now pale elven skin. “I thought you had borrowed Caleb’s.”
“What hat?” Konnor gave Qakisst his best innocent look.
“He has had it for more than a week; probably found it chasing cultists with Sapphire.” Dahlia pulled up her pack and stood up. “Hats of disguise are not that uncommon.”
“Where are you going to go now?” Qakisst looked from Konnor to Dahlia.
“With you.” Dahlia shrugged.
“With me? Why?” Qakisst stood and picked up his backpack before reaching for his spear.
“Because you need me.”
“Dahlia, you asked to follow along to Magnimar last week because we just happened to be going the same way. You said safety in numbers.” Qakisst rubbed the last bits of sleep out of his eyes and looked at Dahlia.
“Yeah, well…” Dahlia looked around as Konnor went to settle the group’s debt with the Golden Lion Inn, “Nobody else has ever been my friend without asking anything of me before; so I lied about needing to come to Magnimar. I tagged along to tag along. Besides, you guys are going to make a great play someday and I plan to write it.”
“Dahlia!” Qakisst turned to head for the exit with Dahlia right behind him.
“And Caleb’s a minor noble. Rescuing him has to be worth something, right?”
“Goddess spare me; I cannot believe you.” Qakisst shook his head and headed for the door.
“You shouldn’t have been so nice to me. Now I feel like I owe you something.”
“You do not owe me anything.”
“Yes I do.”
“Dahlia, you do not have any….”
“I owe you a better Dahlia. And after last week, I need you to show me how by you being a better Qakisst.”
“Daha iyi bir Ocak-Kalp olup olmadığını ben bilmiyorsanız.”
“You’re going to teach that to me, right?”
“Sure. Then I have somebody to talk to besides Konnor when I cannot clear the fire from my mind.”
“I heard that.” Konnor caught up with the pair as they walked down the steps to the Golden Lion.
“You were supposed to.” Qakisst smirked.
“So what did your date from last night say to you?”
“Like I would tell you.”
The morning’s remaining tasks finished quickly and the trio arrived at the Pathfinder’s Lodge at just before noon. Sitting nervously inside the front sitting room of the Lodge sat Nico and Marta, the two young children that Qakisst and the Caleb imposter had found on the streets the previous Fireday. The idea that these two small children had been inside the old city tower alone with the fake Caleb for several moments before he had entered the building left Qakisst feeling cold again.
With some effort Qakisst smiled, “Hello Nico, Marta. I am sorry that I have not had much time since our brief shopping trip on Starday.”
Both children looked with shyness at Qakisst, but Nico stood and pointed at Konnor. “Msr Qkiss, who is he?”
“Oh. This is Konnor. He sometimes helps us stop bad people and monsters.” Qakisst’s comment caused Konnor to look at him through slitted eyes.
“Siz, doğru bir mı geçiyorsun?” Konnor looked at Qakisst.
“Ne?”
“Siz ciddiye şimdi çocuklar benimsemek var?” Konnor’s expression turned to one of exasperation.
“Come on you two. Let’s get your bag while Master Vishtani and Konnor rudely exclude us from the conversation.” Dahlia stepped up to Nico and Marta and held out a hand to both of them. The two children shyly took Dahlia’s hands and she led them out onto the front entry where their one small bag awaited them.
“I do not know exactly what I am doing, but I could not just dump them back onto the street.” Qakisst turned to Konnor. “I know that you understand.”
“Does Sapphire know?” Konnor looked out onto the front steps.
“Not yet.”
“Are you…”
“You asked that already. I do not know yet. I sent a letter ahead to Master Gandethus at Turandarok to make space for them, but I think I would like to make a space in my cottage for them.” Qakisst turned to look back through the open doorway into the Lodge.
“That’s crazy, Q.” Konnor stared wide eyed at the young ifrit.
“Are you sure about this, Master Vishtani?” The unexpected question came from Lady Sheila Heidmarch, one of the Pathfinder Societies two Venture Captains that have established the lodge in Magnimar. “Children are not something to be taken lightly.”
Qakisst smiled as he looked at the lady Heidmarch, “I have lived on the streets as a child, my Lady. I cannot leave them to that life.”
“Yes, but to take them all the way to Sandpoint? There are temples and orphanages here in…”
“…that have already failed them.” Qakisst turned to the front door. “They will be back on the streets in a week if I leave them here. At least the streets are a little safer in Sandpoint; and I can keep an eye out for them.”
“Qakisst, you are so young to be…” Konnor snorted as Lady Heidmarch referenced Qakisst’s age.
“My lady, he’s an old man by human standards.” Konnor’s smile made Lady Heidmarch doubt him for a moment until Qakisst confirmed his age for her.
“I will be sixty years come Spring, my Lady. I do not know that I am ready for this, but I know that they need me just as I needed my Heart-Mother.”
“Sixty?”
“I am elemental touched. I am young, but I am not. I have a lifetime of experience already. I will just have to do what every other young man who has children too young does. I will have to grow up.” Qakisst smiled and shrugged. “At least I will not be changing diapers.” He paused a moment, “I have not told them yet. They think they will be staying at a school. I can still change my mind, since that is what I told Master Gandethus; but I do not think I will want to. I just have to find Caleb first. I have until them to decide.”
“I feel better knowing that you are still thinking about this. It is a huge responsibility.” Lady Heidmarch smiled at both Qakisst and Konnor.
“Oh don’t look at me. I’m not ready to be a father.” Konnor raised his hands defensively.
Qakisst laughed and Lady Heidmarch smiled at Konnor before Lady Heidmarch replied. “Be well my friends and know that you have friends in the Pathfinder Society. If you need aide you have but to ask. Both Serren and Luthor speak well of you.”
|
|
Qakisst had little experience in being responsible for two children, but luckily for him both Nico and Marta were still sufficiently clingy that he did not have to go chasing after them on the walk back to Sandpoint. The near constant yammer to know if they were there yet brought a smile to his face for about the first hour; but even after that he surprised everybody by how well he held his temper.
Qakisst surprised Dahlia even more when they passed the way-station half way between Magnimar and Sandpoint and pressed on another couple hours before camping less than half a mile from Misgivings, the old haunted Foxglove Manor. She had been a little more upset that Qakisst insisted that she let the children sleep in her tent with her that night. Konnor and Qakisst split the night watch with Qakisst taking the second shift. He had said that he would wake Dahlia when the Sailor’s Wreck passed its high point, but when Dahlia woke several hours late to find the constellation crashing onto the world and no sign of Qakisst she was nearly frantic. She had no idea where to look for Qakisst and went to wake Konnor when she heard the faint pop of a snapdragon in the distance near Foxglove Manor. Without thought she dashed toward the manor until she could find a rock tall enough that she could scramble up onto and see what was going on.
In the distance she saw the old manor alight in the pre-dawn darkness. Flames sparked against the starry sky in an elemental dance. Silhouetted against the conflagration she saw the horn headed shadowy outline of Qakisst calling up snapdragon fireworks and sending them sailing through the windows of the now burning mansion. She watched him for an hour before he finally turned away and headed back towards their camp. She thought herself well hidden as he walked by until he spoke.
“I thought you would still be asleep.” Qakisst paused to wait for Dahlia to climb down from her rocky perch.
“How’d you seen me up here?” Dahlia scrambled down from her hiding spot in the rocks.
“It is not dark to me. It never is.” Qakisst smiled at her. “Though if it makes you feel better, I did not see you until I was nearly past the rocks.”
“Mind explaining that too me?” Dahlia pointed back over the rocks towards the still burning Misgivings.
“The house has long been rumored to be haunted.”
“So what. That doesn’t give you the right to burn it down.” Dahlia looked sideways at Qakisst as they walked through the early light of false dawn.
“The rumors were true. Old Vorel Foxglove was a wizard; a necromancer. He built the house to be the focus for his necromantic rituals to try and save himself from death.” Qakisst paused and gripped Dahlia’s arm to pull her to his right, “Watch your step. There are a few holes in the path here.”
“Oh, uh… Thanks.”
“The old man’s efforts to become immortal blew up in his face and his corrupted soul became bound to the house. It was his soul that haunted the mansion, and his soul that corrupted all of his descendants, driving them insane. Vorel Foxglove cursed his own great nephew Aldern making him the Skinsaw man. That is what Serrin and Luthor where doing while we were searching the Foxglove Townhouse in Magnimar.” Qakisst looked up at the stars as they reached the camp. “They were stripping the old mansion of Vorel Foxglove’s cursed soul. But the house was still built for one purpose; to enable a foul wizard to use dark rituals to make himself an undying abomination. Somebody else would have figured that out eventually and tried again. It had to burn.”
“And you know all this because?”
“The damned house nearly killed me. Nearly killed all of us.” Qakisst looked around as they entered the camp and gathered up what little firewood they had not used last night to restart their campfire. “And I am not talking about things in the house. It was the house itself. The place is evil. The building tainted. It had to burn.”
“You’re not going to make this a habit, are you? Burning down strange houses because you don’t like them?” Dahlia sat on one of the logs next to the fire and shivered.
“No. I rather prefer the creative aspects of fire over its destructive ones.” Qakisst pulled a coffee pot out of his pack and shuffled around the rocks around their campfire until he had made a place to set the pot that would heat water but not scorch the pot itself then tried to call on the gifts that the Dawnflower had given him. Nothing happened. Dahlia heard a faint sniffle from Qakisst as he pulled out his water pouch and poured the contents into the coffee pot.
“I thought you could…” Dahlia paused.
Qakisst took a deep breath before speaking, “If she will let me, yes. Right now, I think she is punishing me.”
“Are you alright, Qakisst?” Dahlia moved to sit next to him and put her arm around his shoulder. “You’ve been acting a bit crazy the last few days. Picking fights in dancehalls, and with friends.”
“Hayır.” The meaning of Qakisst’s words was easy to follow and tears slowly trickled down his face.
“You lost your temper, you were scared that you’ve lost a friend. Qakisst, it’s not your fault.” Dahlia turned the too young ifrit to face her and smiled at him. “You are a good person. The nicest person I have ever known. Qakisst, your only sin is that you care too much.” She ran her thumbs across his cheeks to wipe away the child like tears as she smiled at him.
“I am shut out of the dreaming city. The Dawnflower is so angry with me and I do not know what to do.” Tears flowed freely from Qakisst’s eyes even as mist rose from his warm skin.
“I am hardly the person to ask what to do when you’ve done something wrong. I would have run away and hid by now, but this guy I met recently told me that it never hurts to apologize.” Dahlia smiled at Qakisst and sat back at arm’s length.
“I said no such thing.” Qakisst gave Dahlia a dubious look as he pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his nose.
“Did I say I was referring to you? It was this really big guy who would wear ear protection while bringing me meals.” Dahlia turned to look at the fire pit and smiled. “For some reason everybody called him ‘Little Vach’ in the guardhouse.” As she stood, Dahlia patted Qakisst’s thigh and smiled. “There was always a little something extra on my tray when he had the duty to bring me meals. Sometimes a flower, sometimes a cookie. I thought maybe I had a fanboy and it might help me get out of that mess. I asked him why he was always being nice to me when everybody else thinks I’m garbage. He said, ‘If you treat somebody like garbage they will act like garbage.’ Then he smiled at me and told me that despite what I’ve done I do not deserve to be treated like garbage.” Dahlia looked over her shoulder towards the still burning Misgivings. Light from the flames now reached above the hill between there and the camp. “You do good work.” Dahlia pointed over the hill.
“I suppose I should have asked if Aldern had any other family before I lit that place up.”
“Yeah, whatever. So a couple of days after I’ve been cooling my heals as a guest of Sheriff Hemlock I get into another discussion with your big Shoanti friend about life and philosophy. I find out that you asked him to watch out for me; and not just because I’m a sneaky and manipulative b!~$!. You told him I wasn’t that bad and I just needed a chance to apologize for my wrongs. I laughed in his face. Yelled at him, ‘Who would accept an apology from the likes of me?’”
“No idea; but you will never find out until you try. It never hurts to apologize.” Qakisst sniffed as he wiped his nose. “Mamma Liandra used to tell me that all the time. I guess Vach listened more than I ever did.”
“So tell her that you’re sorry. She’s coming up right over there in the East. Maybe she’ll shut you out and maybe she won’t; but the Gods live by their own rules. It can’t hurt, right?”
“Right.” Qakisst gave a weak smile.
“Are you two going to talk all night? Some of us are trying to sleep.” Konnor tossed a small rock from his bedroll in their direction as he groused.
“Ut som du trenger flere enn å fire timer med hvile.” Dahlia slipped into the elven tongue with little thought as she rebuked Konnor for his laziness. She knew the dark skinned elf required little sleep just as her elven father rarely slept.
“Yeah, I get why that annoys Sapphire so much now.” Qakisst pushed himself up to his feet and walked to the eastern edge of the camp while the smell of coffee slowly filled the air.
Dahlia stood and kicked Konnor’s boot as she began to clean up their camp and heat a few rations before the kids could wake. They were not used to travel, and yesterday’s long walk would likely leave them both sore and grumpy when they woke.
Konnor grumbled as he climbed to his feet. “Where’s he going?”
“Not everybody drinks their morning prayers, Konnor.”
|
|
Qakisst walked out of the camp and into the harsh light of the rising sun. The light felt cold on his face and the still flowing tears stung like ice. He walked just far enough to find a clear spot and tipped his head back with his eyes closed. In the early morning light Qakiss spread his arms and poured out his heart.
In the past he had always known where to look for the sun. Her warm embrace had always called to him. This morning the cool ocean breeze chilled him to the bone and despaired him. In the distance Dahlia watched him spinning slowly arms spread, face pointed towards the sky. She did not understand religion, but she knew he needed this.
It was nearly an hour before Qakisst stopped his slow spinning motion. He opened his eyes slowly to see the sun directly ahead of him. The faint warmth of the light barely touched him, but it did touch him. He knew she was still angry with him but in his heart Qakisst knew that she would not turn away so long as he did not turn away from her faith. He whispered to her as his voice quivered with sorrow.
“Çok üzgünüm. Ben sizin bir hediye kirletilmiş ve seni af dileyerek hakkımız yok; Üzgünüm. Ben doğru yapamıyorum ve ben şimdi ne yapacağını bilmiyorsanız.” Qakisst’s voice carried into the wind and he heard no reply. In the sky above him he could faintly make out the image of the dreaming city. It shimmered briefly before him then the sun dazzled his eyes. The light warmed him but the silence still filled his ears.
Qakisst closed his eyes again and looked down briefly then smiled. He could feel her presence again, softly, distantly, more quietly than he was used too, but he could feel her. “I will do better, Dawnflower. You deserve better.”
Qakisst turned to walk back to camp and found Marta sitting behind him watching. “Wha wer you doin’ Msr Kisst?” Her big eyes looked up at him with hope and Qakisst knew what he would be doing.
“I was praying to the Goddess Sarenrae for redemption.” Qakisst knelt in the dirt next to Marta and smiled. “She is my guiding light. When I do something wrong I pray to her to help me make it right.
“Di you do sommat wrong, Msr Kisst?” Marta’s innocent eyes looked up at him with curiosity and a touch of fear.
“We all do something wrong from time to time Marta. It is what we do to make up for our mistakes that tells the gods what kind of soul we are.” Qakisst marveled at the young girl’s powerful curiosity in the face of obvious fear.
“Wha’s a sool?” Marta’s insightful question stunned Qakisst.
“Um… Bu iyi bir soru. A very good question indeed.” Qakisst scooped up the young girl and lifted her onto his shoulders carefully. “No yanking on my horns please.” Marta gasped in both fear and joy as she settled onto Qakisst’s shoulders.
Dahlia had the camp cleaned up and with Nico’s help, her tent packed and ready before Qakisst returned. The five travelers grabbed their gear and a bite to eat as they walked and started off for Sandpoint. Dahlia handed Qakisst a cup with still warm coffee in it which made him smile.
“A smile? Things are okay then.”
“They will be.” His smile broadened as Nico gripped his hand and Marta pulled his horns.
The rest of the morning passed quickly. At just past one bell the troop broke out of the timber along the Lost Coast road just outside the river gate leading to Market Street. Marta cooed when the city came into view and Nico yanked on Qakisst’s arm.
“Are we there now?” Exhaustion tainted the young boy’s question which made Qakisst smile. There would be time later for exploration, but getting these two settled would be greatly helped by their exhaustion.
“We are there. First, let us find some food. Konnor, could you… Konnor?” Qakisst spun around with Marta gripping his horns tight as he looked for the usually boisterous darkelf.
“Sneaky Freaky cut through the timber ten minutes ago heading for the gate. He’s probably already at the Dragon or figuring out how to offend the Vinders more.” Dahlia shrugged then resumed humming a pleasant tune that had been stuck in her head.
As the four of them passed under the gate the two duty guards stared at Qakisst. Nedir had never been anything but friendly to Qakisst since his appointment as a guard, so his stare made Qakisst slightly uncomfortable until Qakisst realized that Nedir was staring at Marta on his shoulders.
“Nico, Marta; this is Guardsman Nedir.” Nico shuffled behind Qakisst nervously and Qakisst could feel Marta cringe on his shoulders. Qakisst understood why the two children found the guardsman scary. Much of his own life Qakisst had thought of the guards as something to fear too. “Say hello, Nedir.”
“Uh, hello?” Nedir held up a hand and waved with a look of confusion. Behind him Guardsman Pradt gave a confused smirk as she waved.
“Jennie Pradt? Did you get your shield finally?” Qakisst looked behind Nedir to Guardsman Pradt. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks Q. Hey, did you hear about Caleb? Shalelu tore out of here three days ago looking for him or you.” The young guardsman pulled open the wooden gates to Sandpoint as she spoke.
“Yeah. Lady Andosana found us at the Lion in Magnimar yesterday as we were packing up to come back here.” Qakisst’s expression turned somewhat sour as he looked up at the gates. “When she comes through the gate later today have somebody come find me. I will be at Turandarok or the Armory. Maybe at Master Kale’s house. Have them find Sneaky too.”
“Is everything okay, Q?” Nedir and Pradt looked at each other and at Qakisst as he passed through the gate.
“We do not know.” Qakisst pressed on towards the dragon.
The short walk to the dragon proved entertaining. Everybody walking the streets started to wave to either Qakisst or Dahlia then sort of froze seeing the odd pair leading a couple of children into town. As people watched, Qakisst squatted down, took Marta’s hands off his horns, and instructed her to slide down his back just before leading both children into the Rusty Dragon.
The common room was mostly deserted when the foursome entered the room. Qakisst directed Dahlia to pin both children in the corner by the hearth so they could warm up before he walked over to the service counter and bar. To his surprise Lady Ameiko stood up from behind the bar and smiled softly at him.
“Master Vishtani. It is always a pleasure. From your expression I am guessing that you have already seen Shalelu.” The Kajitsu matron began pulling bottles from a crate and setting them on the bar. “I have Bethana sorting stock down in the cellar right now, what can I do for you, my friend.”
Qakisst smiled and blushed visibly but found the silence in his head to be a golden thing at this moment. “You can… um, you can keep your promise, Lady Kaijitsu.”
“My promise?” Ameiko’s right eyebrow inched up.
“You promised to call me Qakisst.” Qakisst struggled to maintain eye contact with Ameiko as they spoke. He flushed slightly, sure that he sounded a fool.
“And so I did. Very well Qakisst, what can… um…” Ameiko’s eyes locked onto the corner seeing Dahlia seated with Marta and Nico. “Is that Dahlia in the corner? With two kids? Dahlia?”
“Oh, ummm… Evet. Bunlar ... They are my charges.” Qakisst ran his fingers through the back of his hair. “I found them on the streets in Underbridge and could not turn them away.” Ameiko tilted her head and looked sideways out of the corner of her eye at Qakisst. “I am taking them to Turandarok for now. I have not decided yet how much I will be able to do. Ben… ev… I will wait until after I help Shalelu find Caleb before I decide more.”
“You are hardly going to find time to dance if you are raising children, Mr…. Qakisst.” Ameiko narrowed her eyes and smirked at him.
“You will make sure I get to dance, I… am sure of it.” Qakisst smiled even as his face turned brass. As he looked away with some embarrassment he placed a gold coin on the counter. “Simple foods. Something more bland with rice for them. They have never tasted spice before but this is the first Inn in town and they have been walking all morning.”
Ameiko’s eyes sparkled with moisture and she smiled. “I did not know your mother well, but I’ve a feeling she would be smiling right now. I’ll have something right out.”
Qakisst smiled from ear to ear. He was absolutely positive that this was the most he had ever managed to speak with Ameiko ever. He turned back to Dahlia and found himself engulfed in yellow. “Kutsal bir ...”
Laure wrapped herself around Qakisst and kissed him hard, then stepped back and slapped him hard enough to redden his face. “You bastard. You just disappeared.”
“Neden benim gibi tüm kızların bana vurdu musun?” Behind Laure Qakisst saw Nico jump from the commotion and Marta slid under the table to hide. “Laure, I am sorry.” With his head Qakisst motioned toward the table where Dahlia sat. Laure slapped him again and started to stomp off but Qakisst caught her by the waste and danced her across the floor. “You said I could have space so stop slapping me for dancing with Cassidy. We are just friends.”
“Who’s just friends! You and I?” Laure seemed determined to fight but Qakisst was having none of it.
“Hey kids!” Qakisst slipped just far enough past Laure and turned to the table were Dahlia sat face in hand trying desperately not to laugh. “This is my friend Laure.” Laure looked ready to bite Qakisst’s head off until she saw Nico trying to hide behind Dahlia. “Laure, you remember Lady Dahlia, the Fire Rose, do you not?”
“The what?” Laure looked at Dahlia in confusion in spite of her anger. It took her a moment to realize that she had met Dahlia in her Fire Rose guise just over a month ago.
“It is a pleasure to see you again Ms. Veskin. I hope these are better circumstances than last time.” Dahlia stood and smiled.
“Oh, uh…” Laure’s anger stuttered and sputtered in confusion as a little girl looked out from under the table and up at her.
“And this one hiding under the table is Marta. Come on out Marta and meet my friend Laure. You too Nico.” Qakisst knelt down to help Marta out from under the table.
“Qwakiss…” Laure looked at Qakisst while trying to sort out the confusion.
“I have got to teach you to pronounce my name properly.” Qakisst pulled out a chair for Laure while trying to maneuver Marta into a seat. Dahlia returned to her seat as Laure, somewhat stunned by the new developments, sat slightly red faced across from Dahlia. Qakisst struggled trying to convince Marta that it was also time for her to sit.
“Confusing isn’t it?” Dahlia smiled at Laure. “That is a beautiful pin you have, Laure. Have you ever explained its history to Q?”
Laure looked slightly panicked as she glanced down at her pin then up at Dahlia. “Um, no. It is just a pin.” Laure’s sense of calm returned and she locked eyes with Dahlia.
“Pin?” Qakisst looked at Laure’s pin and glanced back to Dahlia. Marta clambered into Qakisst’s arms and hugged him.
“She’s pretty. Are you a princess?” Marta looked directly into Laure’s eyes with a bright smile.
“What? Oh no, no…”
“Yes, she is. She just does not know it.” Qakisst kissed the top of Marta’s head and sat her on his knee. “Now be nice so Lady Kaijitsu can feed us. Ameiko, this is Marta and that nice young man hiding behind Dahlia is Nico.”
Ameiko slid plates of rice and steamed vegetables with bits of beef onto the table while smiling her crooked smile at Qakisst. “Hello children. Hello Laure, Dahlia. Are you two babysitting for Savah today?” Ameiko’s mischievous smile confused both children and made Dahlia laugh.
Qakisst choked, blushed, and shot Ameiko a dirty look while trying to cough up the nothing he had just swallowed. “Not, khuooogh, funny.”
Laure laughed, the last of her anger crushed with amusement as Dahlia smirked. Ameiko returned to the kitchen and brought out a pitcher of water and five cups along with another plate for Laure.
Qakisst seemed focused on getting Marta to eat something while coaxing Nicu out from hiding behind Dahlia and did not notice both Laure and Dahlia watching him through lunch. The two chatted quietly as Qakisst slowly won the battle for lunch with Marta. Qakisst seemed oblivious to anything else.
“He’s surprisingly good at that.” Dahlia looked sideways at Laure as she spoke softly.
“I guess growing up with the Viskalai hoard had a benefit.” Laure smirked as she watched Qakisst maintaining corral on his charges.
“Viskalai hoard?” Dahlia raised an eyebrow as Nico reached down to the floor to retrieve his fork for the third time.
“Haven’t you met his friend Korva?”
“Korva’s the one that hates you, right?”
“Yes.”
“Haven’t had the pleasure yet. The Sheriff is her uncle, right?”
“He is.”
“Then I guess that makes the big kid at the guard shack her brother. What’s his name, Vach?”
“Vachedi.” Qakisst answered by habit without even paying attention to the conversation.
“Yes, Vach is really sweet; but you’re right. He’s just a kid. Only 15.”
“Great gods, how big is he going to be when he’s done growing?
“No idea. But there are at least five others. Sweetie, what are all the Viskalai kids’ names?”
“Korva, Vachedi, Tanjah, Aryah, Veyho, Istakkos, and Bezshki.” Qakisst looked up at Laure and Dahlia as they quietly smiled back at him, “What?”
“Nothing Sweetie. Dahlia was just asking about the Shoanti Hoard.” Laure smiled as Qakisst rolled his eyes and went back to cleaning up Marta as Nico dropped his fork again. The fork surprised Nico by floating back up to the table on its own as Qakisst called up the little magics he could use for day to day tasks.
“Isn’t that a little rude?” Dahlia tilted her head slightly as she questioned Laure. “Calling them a Shoanti Hoard?”
“That is what all the kids at Turandarok called them when we were in school. Q’s Mother worked at the Deer back then and he would come to school with the Hoard every day. He and the Deverin kids.” Laure looked out the window onto the street. “A hand full of other Varisi kids joined them. They made quite a procession back in the day.”
“Deverin kids, as in Caleb and his sister.”
Laure huffed, “Yes. They have a younger brother too.”
“Um…” Qakisst sat up and cleared his throat. “I know that you two are enjoying dissecting my life, but I have to get these two up the hill. Please, stay and continue. Invite Lady Ameiko to join you.” Qakisst smiled, leaned in, and kissed Laure on the cheek. “Do not be angry with me. I have no idea what I am doing but it is an adventure.” Laure tried to snarl but failed to restrain a giggle that ruined her attempt to seem angry.
“You will explain all of this to me later?” Laure stood up and gripped Qakisst’s arm.
“If you promise to be nice it is a promise.” He leaned in and kissed her again and headed for the door. Nico made a funny face as he looked back at Laure and Dahlia.
“Goddess why do I love that man?” Laure sighed.
“He is going to break your heart and he knows it.” Dahlia looked up at Laure while sipping her water. “You know it too.”
“Shut up!” Laure turned to Dahlia.
“Do you love him?”
“Shut up!”
“I’m not the enemy, Laure. And I’m too old to be competition. Do you love him?” Dahlia poured thirty years of bardic experience into her voice and watched Laure break down and cry.
She turned away and whispered her response through her tears, “Yes.”
“Then enjoy his friendship and let him go. You’re grown up enough to enjoy any perks you might get when he needs a shoulder to cry on.” Dahlia shook her head. “Goddess knows he needed a lot of shoulders the last few days; and if it’s any consolation he says that he really appreciates your talents.”
Laure turned back to Dahlia and glowered through tear filled eyes.
“We talk. And no, we don’t sleep together. I doubt I’m his type any more than he is mine. I have not told him that you’re pin is a holy symbol either. I will let you tell him that when you’re ready.”
“Why do you care?” Laure picked up her handbag and stepped back from the table.
“I honestly don’t know. Something about him makes me want to be a better person.” Dahlia stood up and stepped around the table to stand next to Laure. “I think that’s why you like him so much. That and he does have a really nice ass.”
“You’ve seen his ass?”
“Only in pants, but we have got to take that boy shopping. I think he’s wearing the same pants Liandra bought him six years ago. They’re a bit tight in the seat now.”
Qakisst held both Marta and Nico’s hands as he led them up Market to Main Street and Turandarok Academy. They arrived at just before two bells and all seemed quiet as they walked up the steps.
Qakisst did his best to point out people and places on the short walk. Nico’s hand sweated terribly and Marta clung to his pant leg. He smiled at them both when they reached the door. To his surprise a young Ileosa Arabasti stood waiting on him at the door.
“Master Vishtani; Master Gandethus asked me to wait for you here when he got word that you were back in town.” Ile smiled at him then looked at the two children. “Are these them?”
“Um, hi Ile. I was not…. Please do not call me Master Vishtani.” Qakisst smiled and motioned with his head toward the other side of the door.
“Sorry Sir, Savah’s orders.” Ile grinned at Qakisst with uncontainable excitement.
“Wha…, Oh! Ile, Congratulations! But I thought you would not graduate till Winter Festival?” Qakisst guided Nico in the door and carried Marta on his foot where she clung to him.
“My coming out is Winter Festival, but I will finish my finals in two weeks. Just do not tell my Dad. He doesn’t know yet.” Ile held a finger to her lips but grinned.
As the four of them walked slowly down the hall toward Master Gandethus’ office Qakisst frowned. “Ile, you cannot sleep on the Armory floor like I did. It is just not acceptable.”
“Savah said the two of you will help me find a place. My Dad will just take time to come around.” Ile stopped in front of Master Gandethus’ door and smiled down at Marta and Nico. “Hi, my name is Ileosa, but everybody calls me Ile. I’ve been asked to show the two of you around the student dormitory, but it looks like you are a little young to be starting school.” Ile knelt next to Marta. “Kids start school at age six, here. Can you tell me your age?”
Marta held up one hand holding out all five fingers while clinging to Qakisst’s pants. Nico pulled back from Qakisst but did not let go of his hand.
“I don’ wan’ go to school. I wan’ go back ta Underbridge.” Nico began to shake as he spoke. Qakisst slowly knelt so as not to knock Marta down and wrapped his arm around the young boy.
“I was scared too, Nico; and it is alright to be scared.” Qakisst pulled both children into a gentile hug. “I will not be here every day, but I will be here every day that I can.” Both children began to cry as Qakisst lifted them up and motioned for Ile to open the door.
“But…” Ile seemed confused but opened the door for Qakisst. He smiled at her and stepped into the room. Ile followed and stood by the door as Master Gandethus stood up from his desk.
“My boy Qakisst, this is not something I expected to see you doing so soon.” Gandethus smiled and motioned for Qakiss to sit. “Ile, your brother is in room 9 working on his geography. Can you fetch him?”
“My brother?” Ile looked confused as she fumbled for the door handle.
“Yes please. I think an enthusiastic guide closer to their age might be helpful. Bring the Viskalai twins too.” Gandethus smiled as Qakisst cocked and eye. Both young children gripped him tight as he eased into the seat Master Gandethus motioned him toward.
Ileosa slipped out the door and closed it behind her. Qakisst smiled broadly, “Do you not think Aryah might be a bit much?”
“Sometimes what you need is a bit much. And you know more than anybody how open and accepting the Viskalia family is.” The elder school master smiled. “Now, since we have a moment, and your charges do not seem inclined to wish to speak to doddering old men, let’s talk about you.”
“Me?” Qakisst smirked. “I am well, sir. As well as can be expected at the moment.”
“You are mastering the lessons that the Dawnflower is sending?”
“I have learned what I can. Söyleyebilirim… her servants are no longer a plague to me.” Qakisst’s brief hesitation brought a frown to Master Gandethus, but he did not press the matter as the door opened and a somewhat bewildered trio of Peshki, Aryah, and Veyho stared in the door looking nervous.
Qakisst smiled over the top of Nico’s head. “Good day, Master Peshki. Aryah, Veyho. Can you help Ile show these two around the school?”
“Will you make some fireworks after school?” Peshki Arabasti grinned.
“I cannot today. But Winter Week there will be fireworks, I promise.” Qakisst nudged Nico to look up. “Kids, this is Nico and his little sister Marta. They have had a long rough day so take care of them please.”
Aryah stepped up to Qakisst’s shoulder and smiled to Marta, “Hi. I’m Aryah. This is my brother Veyho. Can you play skip-ball?”
“No rough games, Aryah.” Qakisst looked sternly at the young Viskalai girl.
“Yes uncle Kisst.” Aryah’s plaintive reply caught Nico’s attention.
“Yo… yor her uncle?” Nico wiped his eyes on his sleeve and looked at Qakisst’s face.
“Bilmiyorum, she has always called me uncle.” Qakisst smiled at Nico. “So has Veyho.”
Marta pulled her face away from Qakisst’s chest and looked up at Aryah. “Wher ar yor horns?”
The other kids laughed which made Marta hide her face again, “I don’ get to have horns. I’m not spirit touched like Uncle Kisst.”
It took considerable coaxing to convince Nico and Marta to go with Ile and the others, but Aryah managed to draw them out. This gave Qakisst and Master Gandethus enough time to talk and finalize arrangements for the two orphans to stay at Turandarok. Master Gandethus did not approve of the idea of Qakisst adopting the two children and was very vocal about it. Qakisst was equally vocal that it would be his decision when he returned from his current task. Both men held their disagreement when time came for Qakisst to go.
It was nearly three bells when Qakisst finally escaped the school grounds. From there he headed straight up Main Street on his way to Kale Deverin’s house. When he reached the house he found that he could not knock. He did not have too. Before he could even begin to work up the courage to raise his hand the door flew open and Cassidy crashed into his arms sobbing uncontrollably. The pair stood on the steps to the Deverin home for nearly three minutes before Lady Cassandra guided them both into the sitting room.
Qakisst found Shalelu waiting on him in the Deverin home. “I knew you would come here first. I expected you sooner, Qakisst. Where are the others?”
Qakisst slowly turned himself and Cassidy so that he could see Shalelu while Cassidy continued to cry. “Dahlia is at the Dragon. I have no idea where Konnor went.” With some effort Qakisst guided Cassidy to a seat he could share with her. “I had to take care of something.” He hesitated and looked around the room. Kale & Cassandra looked back at him, Connor fidgeted sitting on the steps, Shalelu scowled at Qakisst. “We… I rescued two kids in Magnimar. Orphans.”
“Two orphans?” Shalelu’s shock showed in her voice. “Qakisst why didn’t you tell me before.”
“Onu duymak istemiyorum! I did not want to argue about it. I did what I had to do Shalelu. I had to bring them here. They would die on the streets in Magnimar. I have seen it happen before.” Qakisst fidgeted in his seat as almost everybody else looked around nervously.
Lady Cassandra found her voice first, “Where are these children now?”
“At Turandarok.” Qakisst grimaced as he spoke. “I cannot just adopt, not yet anyway. I have to help find Caleb.” Qakisst’s adoption comment brought a funny look from Shalelu and Kale, but Cassandra smiled.
“You did good, son.” Cassandra stepped over next to Qakisst and Cassidy, and gave Qakisst a quick hug. “This pretty much proves that you are Liandra’s boy.”
“Teşekkür ederim.” Qakisst blushed slightly as he tried not to smile. He did not feel like smiling just yet. “Shalelu? Have you found a trail?”
“Yes.” Shalelu looked somewhat uncomfortable but did not seem angry which greatly relieved Qakisst. “There were serious signs of disturbance on the edge of Tickwood and signs of a group traveling east of the Tors. Caleb left his mark there for those that know it to see.”
“His mark?” The chorus of voices filled the room.
“All rangers design a personal mark that will blend into the wilds. Only somebody trained to see it will know what it means.” Shalelu stood as she spoke. “It tells me that Caleb is traveling south and east. It is too late to start now though, we will need to leave before first light though.”
“Do we meet you at the North Gate or on the road to Tickwood in the morning?” Qakisst slowly stood as Cassidy released her grip on him.
“Northgate. You will not see a bed for many nights. I suggest you rest as much as you can tonight. Bring supplies for a ten day at least, but do not weigh yourself down too much.” Shalelu frowned and her face flushed lightly. “Kale, Cassandra; if it can be done we will find him.”
As Shalelu left no one commented on the unspoken apology in Shalelu’s voice. Shalelu had tried to refuse training to Caleb, but he had stubbornly insisted on learning the art of the ranger himself if Shalelu would not teach him. It had simply become down to teaching Caleb properly or watching him get himself killed trying on his own.
Now it did not look like it mattered. Caleb was missing, possibly dead, and Shalelu had found the Tickwood hag’s cabin ransacked. While no one else would think to do so, Shalelu blamed herself.
|
|
Qakisst had to spend considerable time finding Konnor while he sent Dahlia to purchase rations from Vinder’s general store. The feud between Konnor and Ven Vinder still prevented Qakisst from doing his own shopping; and Qakisst did not have the time or the sense of calm to attempt to reason with the overly protective store owner. He also did not feel ready to face an emotionally distraught Vinder considering that their current set of adventures had started with the death of his daughter Katrine.
Qakisst found himself barely able to hold back tears when he thought of Katrine. Her death had been not only tragic, but the only death that was pure collateral damage. The Skinsaw man had not even known her name. She had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The saddest part to Qakisst was that if Ven himself had not so vehemently disapproved of Katrine’s relationship with Banny Harker she would be home safe and sound.
Qakisst knew that he would have to confront Ven once Caleb was found, but he did not look forward to that event. He had no idea if Ven would believe anything he said or be reasonable in any way; but Qakisst had promised he would catch whomever was responsible. That man had turned out to be the cursed and corrupted Lord Aldern Foxglove. Foxglove was truly dead now, and would pass before Pharasma for judgment; but Qakisst did not feel any better because of that.
Once Konnor had been found and Dahlia had agreed to handle shopping for them Qakisst headed for the Armory. He did not expect to find Savah as it was already getting dark but felt that he needed to leave her a proper message as he would not get a chance to see her before leaving in the morning. He also needed to drop off the supplies he had bought for her in Magnimar. The chemistry he had returned with was thankfully fairly light. It took Qakisst a moment to find the hidden key and open the warehouse door. He quickly slipped into the front shop and found parchment and paper so he could leave a message along with the supplies he’d brought. Before he could begin writing his message he was startled to find himself looking down the sights of the magically enhanced crossbow Savah had bought some years back.
Savah had always planned to sell the enhanced weapon but few people could afford it. At the moment Qakisst found himself looking at its business end. On the other side of the weapon was a confused looking Keth Deskert trying to see in the mostly dark display shop.
“Who’s there? I see you and would rather not use this.” Keth’s voice quavered slightly in the dark.
Qakisst froze so as not to startle Keth and spoke calmly, “It is Qakisst. It that Ben or Keth getting ready to shoot me?”
“Oh jezz!” Keth yanked the crossbow up away from Qakisst. “I could have shot you! Its Keth, and I thought you could always tell us apart anymore. Now what are you doing sneaking in here and scaring me half to death?”
“I just got back to town today and I did not have a chance to bring the chemistry Savah had me pick up. I was going to leave her a note.” Qakisst rolled up his sleeves and the light from his tattoos illuminated the room. “And I was kind of fixated on the tip of a crossbow bolt! Now what are you doing in here creeping around after hours in the dark.
Keth grimaced and looked away. “Sleeping. I… uh… I sometimes…”
“Are you sleeping here now? What?” Qakisst’s confusion was obvious. While he had stayed in the Armory for five years that had been at his insistence when he started working for Savah.
“I… its… I can’t really…. Look, its complicated.”
“Does Savah know?” Qakisst gave Keth a somewhat stern look.
“Yes.” Keth looked down. “I got… thrown out by Dad.”
“What?!” Qakisst was stunned buy Keth’s announcement. He set the parchment he still held down on the counter and led Keth back onto the work floor and found him a seat. “You are going to have to tell me what is up, Keth.”
“I can’t. You’ll…”
“Keth, you are my friend. Finding out you have a bit of a crush on me did not change that. Whatever it is, I am not going to stop being your friend; okay?” Qakisst leaned against the main workbench and waited patiently.
“It’s personal.” Keth’s jaw tensed as he looked up at Qakisst.
“More personal that finding you learned Ateş Sesi to impress me? Really Keth; I am your friend. Friends help each other.” Qakisst implored the much younger Keth to open up. “Maybe I can help.”
“NO YOU CAN’T!” Anger filled the air as Keth barked at Qakisst.
“Okay! Okay, Keth. I will stop pushing.” Qakisst held up his hands defensively and spoke in his most soothing tones. “Just remember, we are friends. Ateş ruhlar.”
Keth laughed faintly, “Ates ruhlar? Souls of fire?”
“Yeah. Though I was going for spirits of fire. It does not translate exactly.” Qakisst smiled.
“I like that.” Keth looked up; there were tears in his eyes. “I met a boy at harvest fest. Dad found out and freaked out.”
“Oh.” Qakisst covered his mouth. “Oh, I am so sorry. I do not know what to say.”
Keth softly drew in his breath and struggled not to cry. “He tried to drag me home. We fought, Ben and Marc yanked him off of me and I ran.” He paused long enough to blow his nose before continuing. “I haven’ been home since.”
“What about Ben?”
“Dad tried to forbid him from coming to work. They fought, Ben still shows up on time. He had a black eye the third day after I quit going home though.” Keth shivered as he fought to hold in his tears.
“I am so sorry Keth.” Qakisst settled down to sit on the floor in front of Savah’s workbench and ran his hand over his eyes. “Um, I do not know if this is a good idea but I have to go back out of town tomorrow. You can watch my place for me when I am out.”
Keth smiled. “No. I don’ think I can handle that.” Keth blushed and looked away, even as the tears continued. “It’s your place and…”
“Um, yeah. I think I get it.” Qakisst blushed and looked away. “It gets cold in here at night. Make sure Savah gives you enough blankets. Savah will have a fit and dock your pay if you fire the furnace at night to keep warm. I already lost that fight.”
“You left plenty of blankets for now. I’m okay.” Keth blew his nose before continuing. “Q, thanks for understanding.”
“I only wish I could help somehow. Keth, you be careful. And do not shoot anybody with that crossbow if you can help it.” Qakisst stood and walked over to Keth giving the younger boy a somewhat awkward hug. “Tell Savah I brought back the chemistry she needed and put in the rest of her order. It will be delivered next week.”
“Yeah, okay. We heard about Caleb disappearing. Shalelu came here late last week looking for you.” Keth calmed somewhat now that the topic had changed. “Is he okay?”
“We do not know. I will not have a chance to stop in tomorrow since we are leaving to track him before false dawn.” Qakisst stepped back and clenched his fists.
Keth shifted in his seat. “I feel a little silly now being all stressed out about sleeping here and fighting with dad.”
“You should not. Be careful, Keth. I got to go. Got to go see the Viskalais before I turn in tonight.” Qakisst checked his pockets then headed out the warehouse door. The idea that the Armory was no longer his refuge but Keth’s bothered him. While he had always felt comfortable there he knew Savah had never liked him sleeping in the back of the Armory. It was not a matter of trust; it just felt wrong that Keth did not have a home.
Qakisst rolled the idea of Keth being stuck in the Armory around in his head as he walked up the hill to the White Deer. When he walked across the threshold to the commons Tanjah spotted him and squealed as she rushed across the room. The commotion drew the eyes of all the big Inn’s guests.
“Where have you been? What have you been doing? Cassidy has been over here every day. What’s going on.” Tanjah rattled off questions rapid fire while dragging Qakisst across the common room to the stateroom. Within minutes most of the Viskalai family had gathered in the stateroom to see what the commotion was.
Lady Quinta managed to pry Tanjah free from Qakisst and get her settled down long enough for Qakisst to tell them all what was up. Over the next hour Qakisst filled them in on everything that had sucked up his time since the big celebration after his return from Thistletop. He ended his story with his returning to Sandpoint earlier in the day with Nico and Marta. He was not surprised to hear that everybody had heard about the two orphans from Aryah and Veyho.
Qakisst expected Korva to be somewhat upset that he had not been up to the inn in over three weeks. When he had come back from Thistletop things between he and Korva had just started to settle down. Since then he had hardly had time to breath. He had managed to make it to the White Deer only once in that time; and that was to take Cassidy Deverin to dinner.
To Qakisst’s surprise Korva was impressively reasonable. It was Tanjah that let him know why. Cassidy had spent the last three days frantic with worry, and Korva seemed to be the only friend that understood. The frantic nature of Qakisst and Caleb’s lives the last two months had finally sunk in; and Qakisst was truly relieved when Korva managed to separate him from the younger Viskalai children and drag him into the kitchen.
“I was rather shocked when Aryah and Veyho said you showed up at school with two kids in tow.” Korva stood chopping potatoes while Qakisst sat on the wood stock next to the oven.
“I can believe that,...” Qakisst struggled with his nerves as the stress of the last week slowly ate him up. “…but I could not leave th…”
“You don’ have to explain to me, Kisst.” Korva smiled. “Don’ do anything crazy though; just know that we’re all proud of you. And I want to say I’m sorry again.”
“Sorry?”
“I didn’ trust you. Not where…” Korva’s dislike for Laure showed thought as she paused, “…Laure is concerned. And I did finally manage to apologize to her. She…”
“She did not, um…”
“What? Oh, no. We did not get into a fight.” Korva looked around the kitchen as the small staff intentionally ignored them. “If it comes to that, I can still kick her ass; but no. We did not get in a fight.”
“Well?”
“I still don’ like her; but I’m okay about her.”
“She accepted your apology then.”
“YES.” Korva tossed a bad bit of potato at the compost bin. She was obviously annoyed that Laure had not started some kind of argument or worse when she had apologized.
“But I am betting she fumed about it and strung it out.” Qakisst gave her a crooked smile.
“No. Not really.”
“I am surprised.”
“She did a really good job of avoiding me. I had to go to the Kitten to corner her!” The kitchen staff looked up and froze momentarily staring at Korva.
“You?”
“She made me say it right in the common room floor of the Kitten in front of everybody.” Korva’s face flushed red.
“You went to the Kitten?”
“She kept avoiding me! Then she actually had the nerve to say that I was the bravest woman she ever met. The b#!%*.” Korva’s quiet comment sent Qakisst into uncontrolled laughter. “HEY!”
Qakisst stood as he tried to regain control of his laughter, “Heheh; you are, hehhehe, the bravest woman ever. HEhhehahhahaha. Oh, …” Qakisst covered his eyes for a moment then looked up at Korva. “Thank you.”
“For what. Braving the Kitten so everybody is laughing at me and looking at me like…”
“Korva stop.” Qakisst walked around the table. “Thank you for letting go.” He hugged her tightly for a moment then stepped back. “Now, wish us luck. Ben… I do not know what is going to happen now. But I need you to help Cassidy. And pray for Caleb.” Qakisst paused a moment then shrugged. “I got to go.”
“You like her, don’ you?” Korva nudged Qakisst. “Cassidy, I mean.”
Qakisst flushed the color of brass as he looked away, “She is a noble, a daughter of Deverin House. I cannot expect her to lower herself to my station.”
“You’re an idiot. Stop settling for Laure if you want somebody else.” Korva rolled her eyes at Qakisst. “Laure has had her chance. If she actually does care at all she’ll get over it, but if you don’ at least try to follow your heart you never will.”
“I thought I was supposed to be pining for Lady Kaijitsu.” Qakisst glared at Korva.
“She’s a noble also. Pick one and ask her out you dummy. Now go; and hurry back, please. I don’ see enough of you anymore.” Korva wiped a tear on the back of her hand.
“You have Pavo, you will be fine.” Qakisst struggled to smile, but exhaustion was finally catching up to him. “Watch out for Nico and Marta for me. Aryah will point them out for you.”
“I will. And yes I have Pavo, but I need my pall Kisst.” Korva smiled. “You be back by Winter Week, okay. I have a feeling about Winter Week this year.”
“Winter Week?” Qakisst gave her a confused look as he stepped up to the kitchen door. “Okay. I should be back long before that. Bye Korva.”
One of the kitchen staff giggled as Korva shook her head. “Yeah, he’s clueless.” With a smile Korva went back to chopping potatoes.
Qakisst walked slowly down the hill to his cottage. He was somewhat scared to sleep alone. His nightmares of the last several nights still filled his nights with fear and he did not what to spend another night with bad dreams. It was near to nine bells when Qakisst arrived at his home. He was surprised to find Cassidy waiting patiently for him at his door.
“Hi.” Cassidy seemed almost childlike as she stood and shuffled in front of the doorway.
“Cassidy? What are you...”
“Look, I promise I won’ stay long but I need to talk before you run off again.” Her eyes pleaded with Qakisst to let her stay.
“I do not want to chase you off, but I need sleep so promise you will not keep me up too late; okay?” Qakisst opened the door and motioned Cassidy into the cottage.
“I promise, I just need to understand.” Tears filled the young Deverin girl’s eyes as she walked into the cottage. “Why does he do this? Why does he have to go running off into the woods all the time?”
Qakisst spoke as he followed her into the sitting room. “I do not even understand, Cassidy. Bunu yapar niçin ben bilmiyorum ya da ben neden böyle bir şey.” Qakisst shrugged as he guided Cassidy to a seat on his sofa. “I get asked to help and I cannot say no. Caleb is different only in that he cannot wait for somebody to ask for help. He has to go out and find people that need help.”
“You’re going to bring him home, right?” Fear filled Cassidy’s eyes as she stared at Qakisst.
“I…” He found that he could not lie to her. “I do not know.” Qakisst had no idea and that terrified him. The two broke down crying in each other’s arms until exhaustion overwhelmed them.
|
|
Qakisst found himself lying in the grass of the dreaming city. The great green carpet tickled his bare back and the indirect sunlight warmed him even in the shade of a great tree. His heart thundered in his chest as he lay there. It took him a moment to realize that he was not alone.
Behind him with her left ear next to his left ear so that they stretched out in opposite direction lay a sleeping Cassidy Deverin. Qakisst turned his head slightly to see her and froze. He had never come into the dreaming with another person and did not think Cassidy a devoted follower of the Dawnflower. He started to reach for her when a voice bade him stop.
“Don’t disturb her Hearth-Heart or she will wake in the physical world. She is not a servant of the Dawnflower like we are. She is here only because she has asked the Dawnflower to help you.” Keqiss sat on a low stone wall enjoying the sun, but called up her vision of her clerical robes when her brother looked in her direction.
“She…?” Tears welled up in Qakisst’s eyes and he found himself unable to speak.
“She forgives you, Hearth-Heart.” Keqiss stood and walked over to sit next to Qakisst and Cassedy in the shade. “And I am proud of you. Too many have so much pride that they cannot ask for forgiveness. Even I have made that mistake; only seeking forgiveness when somebody smacks me upside the head.” Keqiss’s smile warmed him.
Qakisst sat up carefully so as not to disturb Cassidy and sat facing his sister. “Is she not allowed to awaken inside the dreaming? I…”
“No, Hearth-Heart. Only divine servants can awaken here, and not even all of those. Some of us only faintly sense the connection between our inner mind and the gods, some feel it not at all. Others can enter the dreaming at will.” Keqiss smiled. “You and I can come here in our sleep because we have sufficient faith to feel her connection to us.”
“But she locked me out. She…”
“No, brother. She would never do that.”
“But I couldn’t…”
“That’s right. You could not because you lost faith. The Goddess was terribly sad and upset but she still believes in you. You broke the covenant, but that is not the end. You need only seek your faith again and you did so when you asked for forgiveness.”
“I did something terrible, Light-Heart. I cannot block it from my mind either.” Tears began to form in Qakisst’s eyes, but nothing ran down his cheeks. “I cannot bring myself to ask forgiveness for doing it, only for how I did it.” He looked away from his sister to Cassidy, sleeping in the dreaming. Her simple dress in the waking world was reflected by an ornate gown of green and gold in the dreaming world. “She deserves so much better.”
“Yes the Goddess does, Hearth-Heart. But we are mortal and she knows it. Your sleeping friend has so much more than she knows; but I think she deserves a chance.” Keqiss playfully punched Qakisst in the shoulder lightly in exactly the way Cassidy had weeks earlier. “She must really like you to beg the Goddess for help on your behalf. I can tell you that she guided you half sleeping to your bed.”
“What?”
“You were fading in and out of the dream from exhaustion earlier. Mumbling her name as you sleepwalked around the garden. You can hardly remember it now you were so tired. That is what you get for not sleeping for the better part of a week.” Keqiss smiled. “You settled right there and a few minutes later she appeared laying the other direction from you, her head right next to yours. I am betting she is with you now; watching out for you.”
“I do not… know what…”
“Hearth-Heart, she likes you. She would not be able to ride your connection into the dreaming like this if she did not have real feelings for you.” Qakisst made to protest but Keqiss held up her hand to shush him. “And you could not pull her into the dreaming with you if you did not have real feelings for her.”
“It’s not that simple Light-Heart. She is a noble, she has obligations, and I am just an unwanted bastard son.” Qakisst looked away from his sister to gaze at Cassidy’s sleeping form. “I cannot ask her to settle for somebody like me.”
Keqiss punched Qakisst in the arm. “Are you sure, brother?” The playful expression on Keqiss’s face when he turned to look at her told Qakisst that his sister knew something she should not.
“Sister, why do you keep doing that just like she does?” He looked at his sister threw narrow eyes.
“I never knew where to look for you until recently. Your tattoos when I first dared approach you here in the dreaming gave me a clue of where to begin looking.” Keqiss smiled. “It did not take long to find the only person using so much fire ink in Varisia, even when scrying from such great distance.”
“You’re spying on me?”
“Oh no.” Keqiss leaned back defensively. “I only peaked in long enough to see where you are and make sure you are safe.” She paused a moment and looked at him. “Hearth-Heart, please do not be mad. I did not peak into your personal affairs or spy on your friend. I just needed to know that my finding you in the dreaming was real.”
“I am not mad. But it is kind of creepy.” Qakisst looked at his sister and leaned forward slowly. “Can you…”
“I know what you want to ask, but I need to know where to start. It has been too long and I must have some clue to look for.” Keqiss looked away.
“Like my tattoos.”
“They are unique.” She looked back to him and gave a faint smile. “I saw Maqiss from a distance once in the market of Katheer, but that is not enough to find her. She looked tired but not beaten. Other than that I cannot say.” Keqisst sighed then continued. “I heard that Zetssaya disappeared from her master’s estate on the north of Katheer last summer. Nobody has seen her since then. I know nothing of the others.”
“You won’t get in trouble for telling me this, will you?”
“I am not supposed to tell you things like that in the dreaming. I can teach you about our faith and give guidance when asked; but it is not normal for two people to speak as we are when here. About personal things.” Keqiss leaned over and hugged her brother. “But I have been scared for you since I felt your rage. I was here in the dreaming and I could feel it but not find you. I have been looking for you.”
“I...” Qakisst closed his eyes and looked down.
“We have endured so much without breaking, you and I. It strengthens the soul. Will you tell me what happened, Hearth-Heart?” Keqiss held her brother close. She could feel him tense.
“I… I cannot. I… see his…” Qakisst moved to pull away but his sister would not let him.
“You do not have to speak of it now, but do not hold it in. Do not let it poison your soul, Hearth-heart.” Keqiss shifted positions so that she could sit behind Qakisst and hold him tight. “You have always had Mother’s temper; and that is not a good thing.”
“I didn’t want to do it.” Qakisst’s body shook softly as tears welled up in his eyes, but they did not flow in the dreaming world. “I could not stop myself, I…” He inhaled deeply as he watched Cassidy’s sleeping form slowly faded out of the dreaming. He could feel her hands on his face in the waking world even here. She was wiping away his tears and he knew she was hugging him tightly as she did so. He could faintly hear her singing a lullaby as she rocked him gently in the waking world; even though he also felt Keqiss holding him in the dreaming.
Qakisst sat for several minutes embraced in both the dreaming and waking worlds. He could fell the warmth of the sun shining and realized that the sun had moved far enough along that he was no longer in the shade of the tree where he had first woken inside the dreaming city.
“Run along Light-Heart. You do not need to sleep late this morning. Hearth-Heart is in good hands now.” Only the fact that she was holding Qakisst prevented Keqiss from throwing herself to the ground in reverence at the Dawnflower’s voice.
“As my Goddess commands.” Keqiss faded out of the dreaming leaving Qakisst feeling somewhat vulnerable.
He could no longer feel Cassidy cradling him in the waking world and turned to look for the Goddess. He saw her sitting in the grass next to the sleeping form of Cassidy, laying once more where she had been earlier. Sarenrae’s great angelic wings were spread wide to shade her sleeping visitor.
“She is very pretty. Not in the way that your friend Laure is. No, this is an inner beauty. She cares. And she has the right kind of heart.” Sarenrae looked up at Qakisst and he felt a deep shame. He looked down as she studied him. “Hers is a soul that makes gods jealous. She asks nothing for herself and everything for her friends. Desna is fortunate to have her as are you.”
“I do not deserve her even as a friend.” Qakisst closed his eyes and looked away. The goddess’ natural light pained him even as it comforted him.
“You are right to feel shame, Hearth-Heart. And I tell you this now as your Goddess, you are lucky to have so many devoted friends.” Sarenrae rose gently to her feet and strolled over to Qakisst. “I gave you my gifts because I trusted you, and you broke that trust. I could not let that go unpunished. But she has asked that I help guide you in finding your friend Caleb. He will need you and you will need my blessings.”
Qakisst shifted until he was kneeling and bowed his head down till his horns touched the grass beneath him. He did not do so because he feared the Goddess. He did so because he truly felt beneath her.
“You will stand up and face me like a man, Qakisst Mimnani.” Qakisst did not move at first. Only when he realized the Goddess was now standing directing in front of him did he move to stand. He looked down at his feet feeling like a small child called to task before his Mother. Sarenrae’s finger touched his chin and lifted up his face so she could look into his eyes.
“What you did, you did out of love for your friend. For that reason only I will forgive you your error. You are so childlike, but you are not a child anymore. No more childish tantrums my child.” Sarenrae reached into Qakisst and he felt his heart beat finally slow from the frantic racing beat he had felt the last five days. “Now lay down here and stay with her. Sleep the deep sleep. Your next few days will be hard and you need to be rested, Hearth-Heart.”
Qakisst lay back down as instructed. Once more he found himself stretched out in opposite direction next to the sleeping Cassidy Deverin; their heads nearly touching. Tears filled his eyes and he felt her holding him in both the waking world and the dreaming city.
|
|
Qakisst woke early, only faintly hearing the voice of fire in the dark of night. The soft light of eternal candles flickered in his room as well as the light from his tattoos. His vest and shirt could be seen lying over the back of a chair with his Haramaki. Cassidy lay with her head on his chest still in her dress, but she had managed to get him down to just his breaches.
He smiled feeling warmth coming off of them both. Very carefully he tried to slide out from under her but she gripped him and whispered, “Not yet.” He felt her hug him in a way that was not just friendly but needy. “You were crying most of the night.” Cassidy lifted her head to look him in the eyes. “Why?”
In her eyes Qakisst could see something different. There was no judgment, no expectation, no preconceptions, just understanding and faith. She had faith in him. She would not turn away from him ever. Even if she could not stand the idea of him and Caleb getting killed wandering around the wilds, she would not turn away. Qakisst felt incredibly small as he realized he had sold her short.
“We are still not dating, right?” The corner of his mouth turned up in a faint smile.
“Most certainly not.” She smiled warmly, “Now tell me what’s wrong before you run off again to go rescue my idiot brother.”
“Ben…,” Qakisst looked away as tears welled up in his eyes, “…bir şey kötü yaptım.” And he tensed as his tongue betrayed him once more. “I did something bad. Really bad.”
Cassidy sat up and scooted up to the top of the bed and pulled Qakisst closer, holding him. “You can tell me when you’re ready. It’s okay.”
“Hayir. You will not understand.” Qakisst hugged her tight.
“I don’t have to understand. It is still okay.” She kissed him on the top of the head. Her cheek brushed against the tip of his left horn “These things are a menace. How do you…”
“I will tell you when I come back.”
“About what you did or how you and Laure manage not to maim Laure with these.” Cassidy blushed and looked away realizing what she had just said.
Qakisst did not laugh. He sat up and pulled Cassidy close. “I will show you if you will let me.”
“We’re still not dating, right?” Cassidy turned back to him with fearful hope in her eyes.
“Will you let me ask you out?” Qakisst’s hands trembled in the soft light as he held her.
“Bring back Caleb first. Then you can ask.” They kissed for only a moment before Cassidy slipped out of the bed and strolled to the kitchen door. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“I have to go.” Qakisst whispered none too quietly.
“I know, and I need you to go. Momma does too. I just don’t want you to go.” Qakisst could hear Cassidy shuffling through the kitchen cabinets. “Sweet Desna, don’t you have any food in this house?”
“I was gone for almost two weeks. Besides,” Qakisst stepped into the kitchen fully dressed now, “I nearly poisoned myself the last time I tried cooking. It was not a pretty sight. You can walk me up to the Deer for breakfast.”
“I thought you got free meals at the Dragon.”
“You do not actually think Lady Quinta would charge me for food, do you?” Qakisst smiled and led Cassidy into the front room.
“But you’ve been telling everybody you eat at the Dragon because it’s free?” She looked at him with a slight grin.
“I do; and for the dancing, the free drinks, and the company.” Qakisst grinned as he repacked his travel pack and retrieved his spear.. “Lady Quinta will not let me rearrange the furniture to makes space for dancing.”
“Qakisst!” Cassidy laughed and punched him in the arm as he stood up.
“Here.” Qakisst handed Cassidy a key.
“I can’t take…”
“It is not for you, not yet anyway. Take it to Savah and have her arm twist Keth into staying here while I am gone.” Qakisst opened the door and motioned for Cassidy to step out. The cold damp air made her shiver. “Take my cloak too. No, do not argue. You can give it back to me when we get to the Deer.” Qakisst draped the cloak over Cassidy’s shoulders.
He then pulled out a second key and locked the door as Cassidy looked at the key in her hand. “Why does Savah need to arm twist Keth and Ben into staying here?”
“Just Keth.” Qakisst pulled his pack onto place on his shoulders as he spoke. “He and his Dad got into a fight sometime last week. He has been sleeping in my old cot in the Armory. Make him watch my place, even if he is uncomfortable with doing so.” With his gear ready Qakisst took Cassidy’s free hand, grabbed his spear, and headed up the hill.
When they reached Temple Square Cassidy stopped and handed Qakisst his cloak. “You’ll need this. I’m going to go home before we start more rumors.”
“Too late.” Pavo strolled past the pair. “Good morning, Lady Deverin. Q.” Pavo stopped just past the pair. “Should I wait for you, Q?”
Cassidy and Qakisst hugged briefly. “Bring me back my big brother.”
“I will; somehow.” He kissed her cheek then let her go. Cassidy stepped back pulling lightly on his arm until their fingers separated then turned and dashed down the street toward her parent’s house.
“Is there something I should know?” Pavo stood behind Qakisst in the pre-dawn darkness.
“No, Pavo.”
“Do I need to get a restraining order for Laure?” Pavo had a slightly concerned expression on his face.
“No Pavo.” Qakisst turned and headed for the White Deer once he had watched Cassidy walk around the corner.
“Cause Laure’s actually kind of vindictive.” Pavo followed along.
“Laure would never hurt me.” Qakisst growled softly at Pavo.
“Not you I’m thinking about. Cassidy isn’t the sheriff’s niece.”
“Laure will never hurt Cassidy.”
“You know this how?” Pavo put a hand on Qakisst’s shoulder.
Qakisst stopped and turned to Pavo. “Because I have faith, and because Laure is a lot more decent than a lot of people give her credit for.”
“Qakisst…”
“Pavo, she is my friend. And I remember you saying you approved of us!” Qakisst turned back up the street heading to the Deer. “Now; are you coming to breakfast?”
“Sure. I was actually heading for the gate wanting to be there when you head out.” Pavo fell into step with Qakisst as they walked. “You sure you don’t want me to put out a restraining order?” Qakisst punched Pavo in his left shoulder.
|
|
Qakisst arrived with Pavo just before sunrise at the North Gate to find Dahlia and Konnor waiting on him. They found Shalelu waiting just on the other side of the gate. Pavo bid them luck and logged their departure in the city records. Qakisst looked back only once. From there they headed out the Lost Coast Road past the Tickwood and down the eastern edges of the Tor.
The only time Qakisst had ever come this way before had been when they had come searching for the hobgoblin necromancer that had captured Sapphire. That fight had been indecisive. While they had won the day the necromancer had escaped; much to Tessa’s annoyance.
By late morning they had passed the Tors and headed out into the forest. Shalelu pressed them to travel as long as they could before allowing a break for lunch. Dahlia was exhausted and he did not feel much better. They started out again just before noon and made it into open farm ground shortly after that. Traveling became much easier, but the pace Shalelu set nearly ran Qakisst into the ground. They traveled past twilight nearly an hour into the dark before Qakisst finally forced Shalelu to stop.
They argued only briefly before Shalelu agreed to find shelter. She led them to a barn behind a small farmhouse. The owner was reluctant to let them stay in his barn until somebody mentioned Caleb’s name. He pressed them for details of why they were tracking Caleb and when he heard that Caleb might be in trouble he relented and let them spend the night. They set up four watches just in case, and so they would have a routine down when they were beyond anything resembling friendly territory.
Shalelu took the first watch as the rest of them set up a quick camp in the barn. Despite their insistence that they only needed shelter for the night, the farmer brought out bread with butter. Qakisst heated water for tea and made sure that there were no bugs or vermin in their bedding then settled into his bed. When Konnor woke him for the third watch he found Dahlia plastered against him for warmth. He pulled his bedroll over her before walking around the barn twice to get his blood flowing. He woke Dahlia a little late for her watch and began policing up the barn to make sure it was left in better shape than when they had arrived.
Just as dawn broke Dahlia looked out to the east of the barn to see Qakisst standing shirtless in the field with his head thrown back and arms stretched out wide slowly walking in a circle. Shalelu stepped up beside her holding a cup up.
“He said to give you this when it finished.” Shalelu handed Dahlia the cup. “He has always been an odd boy, but there’s always coffee in the morning when he’s around.
“He is older than I am and not that much younger than you, Shalelu.”
“He’s still a child.”
“You sound almost jealous.” Dahlia smirked as she sipped the cup.
“We need to get moving.”
“He is speaking to the Goddess, let him finish.”
“Get your stuff packed then.” Shalelu turned to move away as she spoke.
“He already packed up everything but the coffee pot.” Dahlia smiled as Shalelu looked back over her shoulder at him. Qakisst stopped turning facing almost straight east into the sun. Steam rolled off his skin in the moist morning chill.
Minutes later Qakisst and Dahlia huffed along behind Shalelu as Konnor strode smoothly beside them. Both were beginning to seriously envy the elven ability to function on so little sleep.
That day they passed out of the hinterlands and beyond the farms that supplied Sandpoint and Magnimar. They headed cross country with minimal rest and into the timberlands to the southeast before their pace slowed. It took Shalelu and Loki more time to find any sign of Kaleb’s track, but they began to find traces of less careful travel that preceded Calebs. Caleb was tracking somebody; perhaps half a dozen people and some animals. That made Caleb much faster at travel than his quarry, but also much faster than Qakisst and Dahlia. As sunset came Qakisst whispered with magic to Shalelu who was just at the edge of his vision in the dim light in the forest.
“One hour, Shalelu. Dahlia cannot go beyond that and I will not last much more.” Qakisst was clearly winded from the effort to keep up with Shalelu and Loki. Even Konnor was slowly wearing down.
“We can go farther.” Shalelu pressed him to keep moving.
“We will turn an ankle or worse, get separated in the dark. Lady Androsana you know you need us. You have to live within our limits.” Qakisst could here Shalelu grumbling through the whispering spell. “Find us a camp within the hour and scout ahead a little. Then we can make better time at first light.”
Shalelu relented and found a clear rock overhang that provided a little shelter from the wind. Konnor took watch as Qakisst and Dahlia quickly sent up their tent. When Shalelu returned Qakisst had managed a poor travel stew from their rations. It was barely edible but filling. As Shalelu set to take second watch it was agreed that Qakisst would be restricted to making coffee and tending the fire.
The following three days were not as harried. The forest canopy provided some cover from the heat of midday and protection from the wind. Shalelu made good time and the trail became clearer. A pattern also began to show. Caleb was not just tracking somebody. He was tracking somebody that was hunting somebody else.
The trail took the party close enough to Wartle on the fifth day that Qakisst insisted that they at least pick up some supplies. They arrived late enough that he was able to convince Shalelu that a night in a real bed with no required watch would more than make up for an hour on the trail. She had to agree and relented so long as they be ready to move at first light.
At first light Shalelu found Konnor and Dahlia wolfing down what they could for breakfast. Shalelu looked around with a frown.
“He is out by the north side of town waiting on us.” Konnor looked at Shalelu as she grabbed travel rations and headed for the door.
“He told you that?” Dahlia looked at him.
“He said to let you sleep as long as possible and bring him something to eat.” Konnor held up a wrapped bundle with sweet meats. “What’s going on with him?”
Dahlia grabbed the bundle from Konnor. “Let’s get going before Shalelu clips his horns.”
When they caught up to Shalelu they found Qakisst and Loki in the market clearing on the north side of town both looking up at the sky, Qakisst with his arms spread wide. Tracks in the ground showed that he had been walking in circles just as he had the last several days at dawn. He was facing almost exactly east. Loki was waiting patiently. Shalelu seemed less patient and more stunned by the extensive network of scars that covered Qakisst’s back. She had not been close enough to see them clearly before, but light from his own tattoos clearly illuminated the scared skin.
Konnor seemed oblivious and strolled out the gate to the small town. “What’s holding everybody up?”
At the sound of Konnor’s voice Qakisst jumped into motion and grabbed his shirt and vest; quickly pulling himself together. Dahlia leaned forward and whispered to Shalelu, “Still jealous?”
“Who did that to him?” Shalelu turned her head to whisper at Dahlia.
“He will not say.”
“You knew?”
“I suspected; and I am a good listener.”
“Loki is getting anxious, m’Ladies.” Qakisst had pulled himself together quickly and stepped up to Dahlia. “You brought me breakfast? Thank you. Let us get moving.”
The next two days were much like the previous two. The foursome traveled quickly by foot. Shalelu would find signs from Caleb marking a trail. The tracks he followed would travel straight line for a while, then wander about aimlessly as though they had lost their quarry before returning to follow a trail. This meant that whomever Caleb was tracking, they were a very determined group. It also meant that Caleb had been gaining on them. Shalelu hoped it would mean they were gaining on their target just as Caleb had.
Late on the third day out of Wartle they came across signs of a fight. Caleb had finally caught up to his quarry and found himself overwhelmed. Scattered bone fragments and desiccated bodies gave Qakisst the shivers.
“Undead. Skeletal remains. No telling how long they have been dead, but this fight happened more than a week, maybe as many as two.” Shalelu picked through the bones looking for clues.
“Could it have happened that long ago?” Konnor scanned through the perimeter trying to scope out the entire battlefield. His eyes faintly glowed with othersight as he walked around.
“You say a week to two weeks, Shalelu? How fast could Caleb have traveled while tracking? He was in Sandpoint on the morning of the 20th.” Qakisst scoped the inner battle area with othersight, looking for magical residues. Necromantic energies still permeated some of the debris, but there was no way to tell how long the magics had been decaying.
“I do not think he could have made it this far in less than five days. It has taken us seven, but we are tracking a cold trail and traveling at less than maximum speed.”Qakisst spun to look at Shalelu as she continued. “That narrows the window to seven to ten days. And the quarry has been traveling much slower than us, and the group hunting them. I think we are close now.”
“We will cold camp then. Konnor, just before nightfall I will need you to levitate above the trees to look around.” Qakisst walked over to where Dahlia was resting. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. You guys aren’t as much fun as you used to be.” Dahlia sat on a fallen log out of the way; still trying to catch her breath.
“I tried to warn you.” Qakisst held out a hand to her and pulled Dahlia to her feet.
“Why do you want me to levitate up through the trees at sundown?” Konnor picked through the underbrush to Qakisst and Dahlia.
“To look for smoke. We’re cold camping, but that does not mean the enemy is.” Shalelu nodded to Qakisst then whistled for Loki. “Time to move on.”
“What she said.” Qakisst smiled then followed Shalelu out of the battle zone. “Shalelu, are they still losing the trail every few hours for a short time?”
“I believe so. The trail will be very consistent for a few hours, then they are losing the person they track for an hour or so. They are still following somebody though.” Shalelu did not slow.
“It is him.” Qakisst huffed trying to keep up with Shalelu. Dahlia was slowly falling behind and Konnor had given up trying to keep up with the elven Ranger when she hurried.
“Who, Qakisst? Do you know something?” Shalelu paused to examine the track.
“You said there was a large wolf like creature, and we found scattered bones from undead creatures. Not all human either.” Qakisst bent over hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. “The necromancer that had attacked Sapphire. The one that Ragnus and Silvanus asked me to check into. He got away on a warg that he had transformed. It is him, I am sure of it.”
“Maybe. But there are other boot prints, and they do not shamble and drag the way undead things do.” Shalelu turned back to Qakisst. “We will know within the week.”
“Shalelu, we are running low on food. We have maybe four days of rations.” Qakisst looked up at Shalelu. The stress of the last week showing in his face.
“We can’t stop.” Shalelu held her temper and kept her tone even.
“I know. But in five days we start to starve. Push us as far as you can now.” Strain cracked Qakisst’s voice. “I promised Cassidy that we would find him. I…”
“Keep your faith, Qakisst. He is alive.” Shalelu frowned. “He has to be.”
Qakisst looked away unable to meet Shalelu’s eyes. “Ben…”
“You have taught me faith.” Shalelu turned to continue following the trail while Qakisst caught his breath.
Konnor passed him pushing to catch up to Shalelu as Loki bounced through the underbrush effortlessly. Dahlia caught up to Qakisst and he cast strength on himself and her so that they could at least have a few moments of easy travel to catch up without being too winded.
They managed to push until just before sundown when Qakisst reminded Konnor to check above the canopy for campfire smoke while Shalelu searched ahead for a good camp site. Unfortunately Konnor had no luck in spotting anything above the canopy.
Shalelu found a tight copse of trees to set up a camp in. Qakisst heated food by heating the skillet with his hands as he could weapons. Konnor set the first watch and cleared the area. On the second watch Shalelu nudged Qakisst on the foot as he and Dahlia slept in the tent. Qakisst began to get up to take his watch when he heard her whisper.
“Something is moving in the woods. Wake Dahlia.” Shalelu pulled out the long bow that was her preferred weapon as Qakisst nudged Dahlia before climbing out of the small tent.
Qakisst blinked and looked out into the darkness as he stood hefting his spear. He looked around in the darkness for his three compatriots and cast the whispering spell. “Shalelu says that there is something in the woods.”
Lumbering through the woods out of the darkness came a brutish huge beast of a man. An ogre carrying a small tree trunk one handed followed by three heavily deformed humanoids with ogre like features. The massive brute bellowed a challenge and all four charged forward through the brush.
Shalelu let loose the arrow knocked in her bow as she heard Qakisst cry out in unintelligible words. A strange soothing voice rang out clearly in the encampment as Konnor shifted to his feet ready to face off with the deformed creatures.
In the commotion Shalelu lost track of Qakisst. Dahlia was directly besides her swinging a rapier with some modest skill. Konnor was to her left parrying and dodging one of the more deformed creatures. To her right Shalelu caught movement from a second ogre charging out of the forest with a massive metal mace headed right for her. As the ogre got close she spotted Qakisst. He just blinked into existence right behind the second brute as Shalelu spun to release a flurry of arrows into the creature. She saw the foolishly young boy stab at the creature with the hunting spear he carried, but the sharp point was unable to pierce the creatures hide.
However, the attack did interrupt the creature’s charge as it swung back to nearly knock Qakisst from his feet. Konnor did lose his footing when one of the badly deformed creatures yanked him to the ground as Loki slammed into the monstrous beast pushing it back.
Shalelu buried three more arrows to the fletching in the first attacking ogre when she spotted a small red ball of light that zipped past the second ogre. The red ball moved as if in slow motion and Shalelu’s reactions saved her and Dahlia from serious burns. The ball moved right into the center of the attacking creatures and exploded in fire and light.
The deformed creatures howled in pain and panic as one of their number collapsed to the ground. The remaining two bolted as the first ogre finally closed enough with Shalelu to knock her from her feet with the tree branch it was swinging. Loki leapt between Shalelu and both ogres. The massive wolf yanked the brutish ogre swinging the tree trunk from his feet as the second ogre reached back to swat Qakisst like an annoying pest.
Dahlia rushed to get between the ogre carrying the metal mace and Qakisst as Loki tore into the throat of the one that he had tripped. Shalelu rolled to her knees to put three more arrows in a tight cluster into the still standing ogre who seemed smart enough to know it had lost its only chance at winning the fight. The creature turned to run, but Shalelu gave it no chance to escape. Three more arrows buried themselves to the fletchings in the creature’s back and it dropped to the ground.
Panting heavily and in some pain, Shalelu called out to her party, “Everybody okay?”
“No.” Dahlia’s voice came from the darkness to Shalelu’s right. “Qakisst is pretty badly hurt. Where is it, where is it.” Dahlia was rummaging through Qakisst’s pack before she finally pulled a crystalline bottle from the pack. “HERE!”
“What was he thinking, getting into close combat with an ogre?” Shalelu moved over to help Dahlia.
“Never mind me. I’m good.” Konnor panted from the far side of the encampment, struggling to roll over the deformed creature that had died before it could escape.
“Shut up!” Both women barked at Konnor as they pulled Qakisst into a sitting position. Dahlia pulled the top off of the crystalline bottle.
“Hold his head back, please.” Dahlia spoke softly as she worked to poor the content of the bottle into Qakisst’s mouth. “He was at least thinking.”
“Are you sure?” Shalelu cradled Qakisst’s head as the young ifrit began to sputter and cough. The healing draught working its magics to nit muscle and bone back together.
“Choughhh, ahgg. Did… chough… did it work?” Qakisst slowly shook his head.
Dahlia and Shalelu looked at each other, before looking back at Qakisst. “Did what work?”
“That firebomb? I heard somebody shout something that sounded like trolls so I used the firebomb.” Qakisst slowly shifted to sit up on his own.
“That was you?” Shalelu gave him a wide eye’s look.
“I yelled troll-kin.” Dahlia turned Qakisst’s head left then right looking for damage. “I’m surprised you understood me. You were babbling in ignan again.”
“Yeah. That was me. I picked it up on a scroll in Magnimar. One shot though. I cannot do another.” Qakisst’s hands glowed with white light as he called forth the blessings of Sarenrae and gripped Shalelu’s arm.
Shalelu grimaced at the pain of rapid healing. “So you can’t do another one if needed?”
“Sorry. No. I have a lightning spell, but it cuts a straight path like a bolt from my fingers arcing out.” Help me up.
“Stay where you are for a moment. And good job. That ball of fire might have saved our lives.” Shalelu stood up. “You. Sneaky. You have some spell knowledge. Is any of this brute’s junk dangerous or useful?”
“Did she just compliment me?” Qakisst looked up at Dahlia.
“End of the world type stuff.” Dahlia pulled the top off of a second bottle. “You’re still bleeding some. Drink this.”
“We only have…”
“Shut up and drink. We don’t know if those things were part of who we’re tracking.” Dahlia forced Qakisst to drink a second of their healing potions.
“No. These creatures just happened across us. They may even have been tracking either us or our quarry. Their footprints are too large for anything we have been tracking.” Shalelu prodded the ogre she had dropped with arrows. It was in fairly heavy armor. A metal breastplate. “Can you do anything with this?”
Qakisst struggled to his feet gripping his ribs. “I can make a pull sled.” Shalelu looked at him dubiously. “We do not know what shape Caleb will be in when we find him. Having a pull sled is not a bad idea. And I can pile this other stuff on the sled.”
Qakisst tended to the party’s remaining wounds before Shalelu made him go back to sleep. She took a double watch that night and woke Dahlia in time for the last watch. Dahlia surprised Shalelu by insisting that she climb into the tent with Qakisst.
“You will sleep better if you are warm. We are going to have to make up some time tomorrow and you have been pushing yourself the hardest.” Dahlia whispered so as not to disturb Qakisst. “He is an elemental. There are some advantages to that. Use them. No arguments, just go to sleep.”
Despite her trepidations, Shalelu relented. When morning came she found herself still warm but alone in the small tent. Just outside the tent she saw Qakisst shirtless and one again standing with his arms spread and head back as he slowly spun in a circle. Steam in the cool morning air rolled off his skin. Dahlia was sitting watching him as Konnor gathered his equipment.
“I think this is a first. You are the last to rise.” Dahlia spoke softly so as not to disturb Qakisst’s strange meditations.
“I think that you are right. I have been pushing myself hard. How late is it?” Shalelu continued to watch Qakisst spin where he stood, just outside the camp.
“The sun should just be rising above the canopy. Even in the dark under here, he can sense it.” Dahlia stood up. “Help me with the tent. He will be done by the time we get it packed.”
Less than thirty minutes later the four were following Loki through the woods again. Now Qakisst was pulling an oddly shaped sled made from the chest and back plates of the one ogre’s metal armor. It slid surprisingly well over the fallen leaves and pine needles that littered the forest floor. Konnor had fashioned a rope harness out of silk rope and quickly harnessed Qakisst to the makeshift sleigh.
Two more days they tracked their determined quarry without catching them. Midway through the third day Shalelu held up a hand and signaled a stop to Konnor, who followed her some 30 feet back. Konnor quickly signaled both Dahlia then Qakisst to stop as well.
The forest was quiet. Not even bird song penetrated the canopy above. Qakisst released the harness from the makeshift sled, pulled his pack and his spear from it, and quietly moved up to Dahlia’s position. Spotting Konnor he brought up the whispering spell while looking for Shalelu.
“Why have we stopped? Do you see something?” Qakisst’s whispering spell carried his voice directly to Konnor’s ear. Konnor looked back and shushed him then slowly moved forward.
Qakisst and Dahlia slowly moved up to just short of Konnor’s last position where they spotted Shalelu with her back against a tree. Qakisst reached into his pack, pulled out his knucklebone wand, and readied it. They both spotted Konnor up against another tree some forty feet from Shalelu. Both Qakisst and Dahlia froze into place so as not to make a sound. Near Shalelu in the brush they spotted Loki slowly moving through the brush.
Qakisst fixed the whispering spell on Shalelu and spoke soflty. “Shalelu, only you can hear me. What do you see?”
Shalelu looked back in his direction and held up her hand signaling five people and one other.
“Speak softly and the spell will keep your words between us only.” Qakisst tapped his lip and his ear as she looked at him.
“Five people. It looks like three warriors, an orc in heavy armor, and a hobgoblin in robes. And a mottled, mange covered warg. There are others beyond that stone circle, but I can’t see them clear… Gregan?” Surprise tainted Shalelu’s voice and she shifted slightly to get a better view.
SNAP!
The sound of a breaking twig echoed through the forest around the ancient stone circle that Qakisst could only just see through the forest. Faintly through the whispering message spell Qakisst heard both Shalelu and Konnor swear.
Qakisst tapped himself with the knucklebone wand and tucked it back into his pack as he dropped the pack to the ground. He could see two armored knights pressing out into the brush into the area between Konnor and Shalelu. Dahlia carefully moved up to a tree not too far behind Shalelu where she could see Qakisst and the others. Qakisst lost sight of Konnor though and whispered to him, “Where are you?”
Konnor stepped out from behind a tree just as a third armored form rushed out of the stone circle in Shalelu’s direction. Qakisst heard Shalelu call out to this new foe, “Gregan you idiot, what are you doing with these fiends?”
“Betrayer!” The warrior spoke and Qakisst recognized the voice but could not understand the words. He had heard that voice in school at Turandarok years before. The speaker charged toward Shalelu as Konnor stepped out of the brush to attack the other two warriors. His finely crafted wakizashi came clear through one knight’s chest through the back of the armor.
Qakisst expected to see blood explode from the night’s chest as he rushed forward to help Konnor. Instead the knight looked down then turned all the way around, forcing Konnor to pull the blade out or lose it. The knight’s face came into view and bright red points of light shown out from skeletal faces as both warriors turned on Konnor.
The voice of fire exploded inside Qakisst’s mind and he spoke words of power. Magic wrapped around him to hide him from the world while he moved to get into position to strike without getting cut down. The voices, long missed, took control of his tongue and he could not understand anything except the voice of fire.
Konnor pulled back as the two now deathless knights raised massive two handed blades to attack. Dahlia’s clear voice echoed in a strange tone across the forest and Qakisst felt the surge of bravery so familiar from his childhood.
The Asmodian priest Shalelu had called Gregan rushed her with rage as she put arrows into the meaty part of his thighs. Qakisst thought that she seemed reluctant to put one in his chest, and though Qakisst’s memories of the Asmodian were not fond; he understood. It is always harder to kill somebody you have known.
Thwom! A strange sound came from the far side of the stone circle for a second and then a cackling laugh from the now visible armored orc still standing inside that circle.
Darkness erupted around Qakisst so deep it blinded him completely. “<Damn it, Konnor! Did you do this?>” The whispering spell still linked them and Qakisst heard a grunt and startled cry in reply.
“<Gah! I need help!>” The clash of steel rolled through the darkness.
“<I can’t see!>” Qakisst heard mumbling to his left then silence. Complete and unnatural quiet. Even the voices in his head were gone again. Then there was pain. A pain he recognized all too well. Somebody was channeling dark energy.
Qakisst struggled back away from where he remembered the stone circle being and sound came back into the world. Quickly he turned back and sent jets of flame into the dark quiet before yelling out, “Konnor, <drop the darkness, I can’t see through it.>”
The unnatural darkness evaporated but Konnor was nowhere to be seen. Standing just fifteen feet in front of Qakisst stood the Asmodian necromancer that had tried to sacrifice Sapphire to his dark god months earlier. The hobgoblin’s lips moved, but there was only the sound of arrows zipping in the air and the clash of steel from someplace off to his left in the woods.
Off to Qakisst’s right he saw one of the deathless knights coming his direction through the forest. Qakisst swore, sent a burst of fire at the necromancer, then dashed back toward where he thought Dahlia had gone. Dahlia’s clear voice lead him right too her where he found another surprise. There was no sign of Gregan, but floating above the body of Caleb some distance away was a hag. An actual hag.
The wicked creature seemed to be helping Loki get an unconscious Caleb away from the stone circle. From out of sight Shalelu shouted something he could not understand and the hag came rushing through the air across the forest floor towards him and Dahlia. The hag was pointing behind him and Qakisst turned seeing Dahlia bring up her blade to a defensive position.
Standing over him Qakisst found one of the deathless knights with the great blade in its hands held high. Qakisst stepped back and called up both magic and fire. He had no idea where Konnor was, what condition Caleb was in, where Shalelu was, or if this hag really was helping them or why. But he knew this deathless knight was going to kill them all if he did not stop it. Arcane fire shot from his fingers and engulfed the knight.
The creature shuttered, once side of its skull exploded, and its armor melted to its bony frame, but the creature did not stop. One blood red eye remained and it locked on to Qakisst as it stepped forward. The great blade in its hands came down across Qakisst’s chest cutting deep, but he did not fall. The blade came back around before Qakisst could move and went straight through his chest. He dropped the boar spear in his left hand as the knight lifted him into the air on the end of its blade; it’s one remaining eye locked onto Qakisst’s.
In his mind Qakisst heard a desperate screaming voice in clear Taldan with an Andorani accent. “I’m so sorry. Please help me; I can’t stop myself.” For a brief moment Qakisst looked at this deathless creature that had just killed him and he saw the tall blond Eagle Knight that was fighting desperately to hold himself back. Tears streamed down the young man’s horrified face while his corrupted form flung a now dead Qakisst to the ground.
|
|
It was with a great bit of satisfaction that I played though my death scene. The GM, knowing he'd just crit Qakisst asked me how many hit points I had left. I refused to tell him and asked how much damage he had just done. By a unanimous and impromptu vote, once combat was over and the party had managed to just barely squeak out victory, all the other players insisted we spend a crap load of money for a raise dead. Nobody wanted to continue the game with out Qakisst. It is extremely gratifying to know you accidently created something everybody else loves too.
There was darkness and cold. Qakisst had felt pain for some time, but had eventually grown numb to it. In the far off distance he had heard arguing and swore he could hear somebody crying softly. He was empty; hollow.
When he tried to open his eyes Qakisst was sure that light had ceased to exist in the world. He could see nothing; not even the soft glow of the fire ink tattoos on his own skin. This darkness had frightened him at first. He had never experienced anything like it. Not even the unnatural darkness Konnor could generate was so complete.
He struggled to remember how he had become lost in this darkness. His mind was like a hive of voices; the never ending sound that had become so prominent since Thistletop, but it was different now. The voices sang to him. If he pushed hard enough to remember there would be a flash of too bright blackness and them a flood of memories. His entire life would stream through his mind’s eye in an eternal instant. The overwhelming deluge of memories would batter him again and again until he curled up in the fetal position sobbing in fear and pain.
Qakisst could no longer separate the moments of his life. His mother urged him to push on through the snow in desperation while his father whipped and beat him in the courtyard of their Katheer estate. Tabansi helped him grip a hammer for the first time as he learned to pound hot metal while Savah offered him a chance to work in her smithy if he promised not to call her m’Lady. Laure wiped away tears from his eyes when he came home after fighting Simon Korvut’s ghost while he and Nichelle dashed across the Shingle Roads of Korvosa laughing as the guards chased them. Liandra taught him to move with the grace of traditional Varisi dance while Ameiko Kaijitsu glided in his arms around the south common room in the Rusty Dragon. Keqiss cradled him in the garden of the dreaming city while Cassidy Deverin held him tight against his nightmares at his home in Sandpoint. His own mind surprised him as he clung to the memory of Cassidy in the dreaming as she asked the Goddess to help him.
He remembered an atypically shy young Qakisst blushing as Korva Viskalia introduced him to Caleb and Cassidy Deverin at Turandarok. Cassidy had giggled when his face flushed to the color of dark bronze then grabbed his hand and told him to come play skip-ball with her.
He remembered walking to school with the Viskalai Hoard. Year after year different students gravitated to the ageless Qakisst then moved on as they outgrew him, but Cassidy was always fearlessly right there without a thought for the strangeness of his eternal youth.
He remembered the constant flicking of his horns in school to get his attention. While other kids had stared at him in awe or fear, she had smiled and asked him what he wanted to do. Later when others made demand of his time with great expectations; she thanked him for each moment like it was precious to her.
When some people pandered to the spirit touched boy, or others made demands of the free spirited elemental unhuman, and still more sought to possess the fiery goblin slaying hero; she punched him in the arm without thinking him different than any other friend. The things that made him unhuman were just quirks to her that made him Qakisst, not the entirety of him draped in an all too human body. His spirit cried because he knew he had missed his chance and sold her short. She would never see him alive again and he wanted to cry but had no tears.
|
|
We are adventurers. Death is not the end for us.
PAIN!
Searing white hot pain. Fire erupted in his heart and seared Qakisst’s soul. “So this was judgment” a small corner of Qakisst’s mind thought as the memory of dying in the Santos Forest came back to him. He found himself screaming in words he could not understand. The voices in his head were like a beloved song sung too loudly; where you knew the melody but could not tell what the words meant.
Qakisst’s body hung suspended in the air as if balanced on a pillar of fire as flames erupted from his very pores, incinerated the cloth coverings draped across his body, and scorched the hard stone alter in the temple of Desna sending acolytes and priests scattering. Sacred oils and diamond dust evaporated in fire so hot that it blackened stone and charred everything it touched.
“Great Traveler!” Qakisst heard the words but did not know their meaning. The speaker reached for him with trepidation as the fire surrounding him evaporated. Qakisst clambered away from the strange woman. He found himself surrounded by people he did not know, all of them rushing around to cut off his escape as he looked for a way out. Water cascaded about the sanctuary as the Desnite clergy called on the power of their goddess to stop the fire.
Ash fluttered in the now steam filled air from the ceremonial garments that had until moments ago covered Qakisst’s now naked body. Sound and confusion overwhelmed his panicked mind and he called up the fire in his heart ready to incinerate anything that got between him and freedom. Qakisst’s eyes locked on to a set of deep brown eyes filled with mischief and sadness. Somewhere in the background he could hear words in the voice of fire but he could not understand them.
Those eyes. They grabbed him and Qakisst froze. Just five feet away knelt Caleb Deverin. “Kisst! Can you hear me, Kisst?” Qakisst slowly backed away, crouching like a feral beast. Caleb looked back over his shoulder at one of the strangers trying to keep Qakisst corralled, “Is this normal? Traveler Brenita, what’s wrong with him?”
“M’Lord Deverin, it is never normal when you plead with the gods to send somebody’s soul back across the spirit wall. Less so when that soul is bound to a primal force.” The woman speaking knelt beside Caleb and sang in the voice of heaven. “Qakisst Vishtani, <can you hear me? I hear you speaking in the celestial tonuge.>” The Desnan priestess held out her hand to Qakisst. “Cousin Kisst, <nobody will hurt you here. You’re going to be okay.>”
“You’re all idiots? Stop trying to grab him.” Dahlia held out his cloak and moved around to Qakisst’s right. As she held out the cloak she softly hummed a Varisi lullaby. The confusion in Qakisst’s eyes slowly faded as Dahlia’s soft musical voice touched him.
Traveler Brenita continued to speak softly, her musical voice matching the tempo of Dahlian’s hummed tune. “<It’s okay, son. You’re safe here.> The look of panic slowly faded and Qakisst took Traveler Brenita’s hands. Dahlia draped his cloak over Qakisst’s shoulders.
“What happened to his hair?” Konnor sat in the back of the sanctuary out of the way. “And can somebody please put pants on that kid. There are some things I never wanted to see even once and I keep getting a free show.” Dahlia, Melissa, and Caleb turned to glare at Konnor.
|
|
Qakisst lay curled up in bed unmoving. It seemed only days since his encounter with the skeletal warrior that had run him through; not close to three weeks. The bright red eye of the badly damaged monster still stood out in his nightmares in contrast to the ghostly aura of the Andoran knight this monster had once been; a knight which had pleaded for forgiveness as Qakisst had felt his soul become unbound from his mortal body. That realization had been shocking. That the soul of the man that had become his undead killer had still been bound to that corrupt skeletal form until just seconds after Qakisst’s death when Dahlia smashed what was left of the horrifying creature’s skull.
Qakisst could vaguely recall the young Eagle Knight breaking free from his undead prison and drifting through the either with him; until both found themselves drawn beyond the physical world. After that things became a horrifying series of revelations and nightmares that still pressed upon Qakisst. There had been no beautiful garden in a dream like city. There had been a great crush of sentient spirits drawn irrevocably toward judgment. Qakisst’s Eagle Knight escort had been terrified that he would be judged for actions after his living death and Qakisst could not comfort the young man. Something slowed his journey to judgment, held Qakisst close to life, and bound him to his mortal form; but not trapped as if bound in unlife as the Eagle Knight had been.
The experience had been traumatic in ways Qakisst just could not describe. In death, he could feel his life replaying again and again, distilling itself down to the things that were important. So many moments in his life had shaped who he had become, formed the man he was becoming; not all of them good. Qakisst knew that when judgment came he would have some unpleasant things to answer for and it horrified him. He was not a bad person, but this glimpse told him that he could be so much more and so much better. Qakisst was only just coming to grips with the idea that he would be judged soon when his slow progress towards judgment halted. At that moment his mind’s eye had been fixed on the crying face of Cassidy Deverin; heartbroken over his death and his failure to save her brother Caleb. Qakisst had promised to bring Caleb home and knew that his failure would condemn him. That failure had gnawed at his soul and made him fear his moment before the eyes of Pharasma.
Then there had been pain. At first Qakisst was certain that his judgment had begun. But the pain had been the pain of healing, reknitting the wounds of his broken body back together. This was not pain like the discomfort when other divine casters had healed him before. This was life clawing back into his still cold dead mortal form, and demanding that his body function in order to accept his soul’s return. At first his body rejected this call as the cold hand of death continued to grip his soul. When the tiny spark that was the spirit of fire, which had always been a part of his life, touched his soul life erupted as flames from Qakisst’s body scorching the stone alter on the temple of Desna in Magnimar. He imagined that it must have been an impressive sight.
The distance between his encounter with the skeletal knight and finding himself on the stone alter had seemed like seconds at first; but had felt an eternity at the same time. He had been surrounded by floating ash and strange people in robes. His memories played tricks on him as he could not recall his journey to judgment at first; only the forest where his life had stopped for a time. He felt as though he had been burnt inside and out, every nerve raw and screaming, and he had made to run for his life until he had heard singing. A gentile lullaby that Liandra had sung to him when he could not sleep as a child. The soft song had pulled his attention to Dahlia, who was holding out his cloak for him. It was then that Qakisst had realized that like a bad dream, he was standing naked in a crowded room.
This had not been the first time Qakisst had found himself naked unexpectedly; in fact much of a slave’s childhood was spent that way, but he had still been embarrassed and shocked. He had been even more shocked when the warped and twisted form of the hag that had helped them in their forest battle had shifted and changed to that of a beautiful redhead. A moment of confusion was replaced with recognition of a young girl he had known years ago at Turandarok. A young girl that had supposedly died at the hands of the Tickwood Hag. The shock had been too much and Qakisst had collapsed to the floor and into darkness.
When he awoke later, Qakisst was still confused and still naked. Temple acolytes had helped Dahlia and Caleb move him to a small room where he could lay for a while as a healer helped tend his wounds. They helped him dress, because he found himself incredibly weak, and helped him eat, though he could stomach very little. One of them cast a stronger spell upon him to help heal what she said was damage to the connection between his soul and his body. The pain had been excruciating, but Qakisst had recognized the effects of a Restoration spell. The middle aged woman called Traveler Brenita spoke to him in words that sounded like music. They were like nothing he had ever heard before; and yet he knew their meaning without effort or thought. Still confused, and not understanding how Melissa could possibly be traveling with Caleb, Qakisst found himself led to the Golden Loin where he was placed in a room and allowed to sleep.
For the first day after his return from the beyond Qakisst could not grasp what people were saying in any language except the sing-song tongue he was told is the celestial language. His ability to understand ateş sesi, the voice of fire, returned before the next morning dawned; but Qakisst dared not come out of his room at the inn where he had been moved. He could not follow conversations in Taldan or Varisi, and even the voice of fire was hard to focus on. It was not until the third day that the voices in his head calmed themselves enough to allow him to think. But the light still hurt his eyes and the noise of the crowd in the common room struck him like a club when he had tried to go down stairs for a meal.
As he shifted positions in the bed on the fourth morning, there was a brief knock on his door, then the door opened slowly. Dahlia slipped into the room with a tray of food and carefully crossed the small room to place the tray by his bedside. “I know that you are not sleeping, Qakisst.” Dahlia’s soft musical voice filled the air. “You always wake with the dawn and the sun came up half an hour ago.”
“<What do you want?>” Qakisst’s own voice sounded strange in the sing-song tempo of what he had come to learn is the celestial language.
“You haven’t even managed to teach me ignan yet and you’re prattling at me in celestial. I want you to take this gift by the hand and embrace life. I want you to stop hiding.” Dahlia walked back across the small room to stand in the doorway. “And I want you to quit coloring your hair every time I come into the room. It looks good on you and you don’t look quite so much like a child with white hair.” Standing in the doorway she turned back to him, “Qakisst, you’ve been given a second chance. A third chance if your bunyp story is true. I don’t think your goddess will approve of you hiding in a dark room letting it waste away.” She slowly closed the door and left him in peace.
Qakisst found that he ached when he tried to move. His recovery had not been easy, and was not even complete. To fully mend the wounds to the connection between his body and soul would require more divine aide, but also more time. Time that Caleb insisted they spend in Magnimar. Qakisst was alright with that, even though he still refused to speak to Caleb in anything other than the angelic tongue he could now speak. As much as a part of him ached to rush home, he was terrified. If word leaked out about his death and resurrection he would not know what to do, or how to deal with it. He had no idea how anybody else would react either. More than a dozen Shoanti in town already treated him as if he were spirit touched, and his sudden knowledge of the Celestial tongue only further confirmed it to be true.
Then there were Laure and Cassidy to cope with. Laure was still expecting an explanation for everything that happened on his last trip to Magnimar. He had come back with two orphaned children that time. This time Qakisst would be coming back risen from the grave. Laure would take it all in stride of course. She loved the adventurer that she thought him to be. But he was not in love with her or being an adventurer; and this would only make him seem more interesting to her. Cassidy was the part that really terrified him. After Qakisst had nearly died at Misgivings she had freaked out and put the brakes on their having a relationship. He had only just managed to open that door a tiny crack before rushing off to try and save Caleb. How was she going to react to knowing he had been dead for the better part of two weeks?
Qakisst slowly stretched his stiff muscles as his mind raced through all the possibilities. Later that morning, while he was sitting on the bed still trying to work the cramps out of his legs his door opened. Caleb stuck his head in the door.
Caleb spoke softly, “Hey Kisst. We are going to the market, are you feeling up to a walk this morning?”
“Fara í burtu, Caleb. Að ég er ekki tilbúinn til að tala til þín.Qakisst covered himself with a pillow and glared at the open door.
“Come on, Kisst. I heard you talking normally last night. How long are you going to not talk to me?” Caleb stood up in the doorway looking somewhat indignant. “I had good reasons for not telling you about Melissa.”
“Hayır! You – had – reasons. Það þýðir ekki að þeir voru góðir.” Qakisst tossed his pillow to the side and stood up to find his pants. Caleb spun away from the naked ifrit. “I – am – not – that – mad. En þú hefur ekki treysta mér; og ekki réttlátur óður Melissa. Þú þurftir á krampakasti þegar ég eyddi eitt kvöld í mat með Cassidy líka.” Qakisst growled and grabbed at his horns after pulling his pants up. “It – is – zor, grrrr, hard – to speak – still. I – am – mad,… but – not – that – mad. Ben yapamam….”
“He says he is not ready to speak to you yet, m’Lord Deverin.” The voice beyond Caleb in the hallway startled Qakisst. He recognized it from his last trip to Magnimar. “However, I believe that the fact that he is not yelling is a good sign that he will be soon. Who are Melissa and Cassidy?” Over Caleb’s shoulder Qakisst could see a crown of black hair bundled in a grouping of Tian style hair pins. Her voice was tinted with just a touch of humor that drew a faint grumble from Caleb.
Caleb’s natural shyness got the better of him though and he slipped down the hallway, “Fine. Melissa and I will go alone. Excuse me, m’lady.” Qakisst pulled his shirt on as he continued to look out the still open doorway.
With Caleb’s departure the door way framed a young Tian woman who had danced with Qakisst his last time in Magnimar; until her cousin had picked a fight. “I hope that your injuries are not a result of you seeking trouble again, m’lord Kisst.”
Qakisst fastened the seashell buttons on his shirt but did not turn away. “<Do you really understand celestial, or are you just really good at bluffing?>
“<I understand celestial.>”
“Ijanai? <That is your name, right?> Qakisst picked up his socks, looked at them funny then called up the little magics he knew to clean them. “<You will please excuse me as I make myself presentable. I will only be a few moments.>”
“<Very close.> My name is pronounced Ijatai. <Considering how we had only met and you were very drunk, I am impressed.>” The young woman stepped into the room and closed the door. “<You should have some privacy, but I have limited time.>”
“<I can more easily understand you if you speak> Taldan. <I can hardly understand myself right now.> Qakisst gave an odd smile as he sat to pull on his now clean socks. “<Do I need to worry about your cousin right now? I think he would be very upset to find you in my room.>”
“He does not know where I am at the moment. I am here to thank you for a friend.” Ijitai stood perfectly poised.
“<I don’t understand. Your friend> Chiyoko <obviously sent you; but I do not know why.>” Qakisst pulled on his boots as he thought of the young Tian girl that had spent the night with him just before his last return to Sandpoint.
“She cannot thank you herself. Her family believes that she has dishonored them and has cast her out.” Ijatai’s statement stunned Qakisst and he turned to face her as he continued to clean up his clothes and dress himself. Ijatai seemed unimpressed by his lack of shyness.
“<Why would her family do this?>” Qakisst’s expression showed that he felt he knew the reason. Ijatai confirmed it.
“Her family is poor, but proud. They are pure Tian in descent and her brief relationship with you did not remain a secret. I believe that she stayed with you that night knowing she would be cast out.” Ijatai’s posture remained perfect, but tears welled softly in her eyes.
“<Why would she…>” Qakisst sat on the edge of the bed somewhat stunned. “<Why would you thank me for this?>” There was no anger in Qakisst’s voice, only bewilderment.
“Chiyoko was being forced to marry a man she did not love, who was three times her age; for the financial benefit of her family.” Ijatai’s lip quivered, but her voice did not crack. “I gave her what money I could and she left Magnimar a few days ago. She bade me to give you this message. Told me that you would be here.” Ijatai handed a sealed parchment to Qakisst. The seal had cracked but not opened. Qakisst looked at the cracked seal. “I wanted to open it, but I promised her I would not.”
“<How could she…>” Qakisst broke the seal carefully and opened the folded parchment. “<I cannot read it. I think this is in Minkai.>” He looked up at Ijatai and pleaded with his eyes while holding it out to her.
Ijatai took the parchment and paused before unrolling it and reading, “‘I will always think of you fondly, Qakisst. You have granted me the freedom I sought. I can only hope that I was able to grant you some of the peace you need. Thank you.’”
“Why –would… <Why would she write this? She had no way to know I was here or that you would ever see me again.>” Qakisst took the parchment from Ijatai’s hand and looked up at her with a bewildered expression.
“I cannot say, Qakisst. She made me practice your name the morning she left. It was important to her that I pronounce it properly. She was my friend, and because she asked I have given you her message. I do not wish to see you again.” Ijatai turned to leave and opened the door. As she stepped out into the hall she whispered, “Thank you.”
Qakisst finished dressing for the day and dared to leave his room. The ashen white color of his hair had burned through the minor magics he had used to color it black earlier, but he did not notice. He descended the stairs and found Dahlia sitting with his guitar strumming it and singing. Her fingers fumbled with the cords and made him cringe. She did not notice him until he had retrieved a lunch plate for both of them from the service counter and sat next to her on the hearth.
“You have – a – beautiful – voice, Dahlia. Please do – not – play my guitar. It – is – painful – to hear.” Qakisst smiled at her and took the guitar from her, checked the tuning, then began to strum a song.
“No sad songs, Qakisst. You are alive and that is a good thing.” Dahlia shoved a slice of apple into his mouth and began to sing.
|
|
Eight days in Magnimar passed quickly. On the journey home Caleb had commended on the burnt remains of the Foxglove manor as they passed. Before Qakisst could answer Dalia commented that she thought it looked much improved. This had brought a laugh from both Caleb and Qakisst and finally broke the ice between them.
The remainder of the morning turned into a vigorous debate about Qakisst being too brash, and Caleb not always thinking things through. The debate lasted until Melissa declared them both to be five year old brats. Dahlia and Shalelu both agreed whole heartedly. Even Konnor agreed until Dahlia stated that he was comparatively younger than Caleb which would make him a baby.
As the party approached the gates to Sandpoint Qakisst pointed out that this entire argument started because somebody thought it was a good idea for Melissa to pretend to be the Tickwood Hag so that the Asmodian inquisitor Gregan would want to kill her instead of marry her. He then looked at Shalelu and asked who had gone along with that brilliant idea for the last five years. Before Shalelu could take offense Dahlia cheerfully declared herself the only innocent party for once and demanded a celebration.
“This is a first for me, you know.” Dahlia seemed to have more spring in her step than in the last twenty years. “This is the third time I’ve come through these gates and I haven’t been run out of town yet.”
Melissa smiled, “The day is still young, bard Dahlia. You have time.” As everybody laughed, the heads of Melissa’s twin cats poked up out of Caleb’s backpack where they had been riding since Magnimar. The cats, one black as night and the other white as snow seemed as amused as Dahlia.
“They keep letting Konnor back in, you got nothin’ ta worry about, Dahlia.” Caleb smiled as the white cat climbed across him to Melissa’s shoulders and settled across her backpack and shoulders. The Black one climbed up to perch on the top of Caleb’s pack and lean over his head as it looked around with curiosity.
“So says one of the people that once tied me to a chair, stuffed a rag in my mouth, and let pasty there cut my hair.” Dahlia pointed at Konnor who had disguised himself as a pail white elf with dark hair. “Trust me; I will be on my best behavior.” Dahlia held her hands in the air as the group strolled under the gateway onto Market Street.
“Kisst, quit fussing.” Caleb looked over at Qakisst, who had just run his fingers through his hair to alter the ash white coloration back to the jet black color it had been before. “And you forgot your eyebrows.”
“Where too first? The Dragon?” Dahlia looked around at the group.
“Yeah, but I…” Caleb paused in front of the Goblin Squash stables to look around. It had been nearly two months since he had been back to Sandpoint.
“Caleb’s house.” Qakisst spoke in a flat tone. “But you all do not need to come.” He looked at Dahlia and Konnor.
“Fine with me.” Konnor smiled and headed for the entrance to the dragon.
“M’lord Deverin?” Dahlia looked out of the corner of her eye, “If you wouldn’t mind…”
Caleb cleared his throat before speaking. “Actually Dahlia, I would rather you take Qakisst and go…”
“Hayır.” Qakisst interrupted Caleb with a wave of his hand.
“Don’t even think it, Caleb.” Shalelu spoke over all of them. “Cassandra is expecting the entire family; which will include Sparky here. Dahlia, can you let Ameiko know that I will need a room tonight?” Shalelu’s rather diplomatic settlement brought a quiet look from everybody.
“Sparky?” Qakisst looked up at Shalelu with a frown.
“I like it.” Melissa smiled and gripped Caleb’s arm. “And I’d like to get off the street please. We seem to be drawing a crowd.”
Gathering around the five of them, a growing crowd of gawkers calling out to Caleb and Shalelu with questions began to press in. Fortunately before the crowd could get too large several of Sandpoint’s watch gathered around them.
Capt Bar Merik strolled up to the group as the crowd parted. “Go on, everybody. I’m sure that if there’s a story we’ll all hear it at the Dragon tonight.” He shooed the crowd then stepped up to Caleb. “Good to see you safe and sound, Caleb. When that mangy big dog of yours came crashing through the gate alone we were worried.”
“Mangy?” Caleb seemed indignant.
“Well; he does a better job grooming that you do.” Bar’s gap toothed smile showed his jest as he slapped the young ranger on the shoulder. “Your aunt sends her best and said to tell you she will stop by dinner at your father’s to hear the story. Come on all you. I’ll escort you up to Kale’s house.”
“You both could use a bath.” Melissa sniffed and held up her nose.
“Shalelu figured out soap, how come you never have, Ranger?” Qakisst looked from Caleb to Shalelu, “Is it really an elven secret how to keep clean without magic in the wild, Shalelu?”
“Some things just have to be learned with experience.” Shalelu chuckled as the group headed across the market toward the Kale Deverin home.
As the group approached the quiet and unassuming house of Kale Deverin Qakisst and Shalelu paused and looked at each other. For different reasons both felt somewhat out of place as Cassandra Deverin came rushing out of her home and into her eldest son’s arms. Qakisst ran his hands through his hair to renew the coloration cantrip as Shalelu fidgeted uncomfortably.
Melissa seemed most uncomfortable of all, hooked to Caleb’s arm as both Cassidy and Conner rushed out of the house moments later to join the family hug. Kale stood in the doorway watching his family for a moment before he cleared his throat.
“Casandra, bring the boy inside. The neighbors are wondering what the fuss is.” Despite his reserved nature, Kale beamed with excitement. “He certainly needs a moment to explain who this young lady is that seems to have snuck into my family?” Kale’s reference to Melissa brought the other three family members to pause. Cassidy and Conner stepped back.
“Hi.” Melissa squeaked softly.
“Um, hi Dad. This is my…” Caleb’s usual shy nature rarely affected him around family, “…um, this is Melissa.”
Shalelu leaned over and whispered to Qakisst, “We should go now.” Both made to turn and leave as Melissa and Caleb stumbled through introductions.
“Shalelu. Qakisst.” Lady Cassandra’s clear voice, even as choked up as she was caught them both before they could leave, “Don’t you dare.” Still clinging to Caleb as though she might lose him again, the lady of the house motioned to the door while looking at them both. Even through her joy, Cassandra’s expression let the two know that they had no choice.
Once in the house, Cassandra made a great fuss over Melissa as Caleb slowly explained how over the last three years he had been helping her hide from Gregan until the obsessed inquisitor found help in seeking out Melissa’s hiding spot. Both Cassidy and Conner were as stunned as Qakisst had been to learn that the Tickwood Hag had been no more than a myth turned to Melissa’s advantage.
Kale gave Shalelu a dirty look over the story, figuring that he would be prying the extended version from the elder ranger later. Conner sat at the foot of the stairs with his feet up on the banister listening as he carved at a piece of soft pine. Cassandra fussed about the house while constantly tending to Caleb and Melissa.
Qakisst tried to sit unobtrusively out of the way, but Cassidy squeezed into his chair with him and put her head on his shoulder.
“Thank you.” Cassidy whispered as she gripped Qakisst’s arm.
“I…” He took several slow breaths to calm himself as he spoke, “…said I – would find him.” His slow speech and deliberate breathing caused Cassidy to look up at him with concern.
Conner looked at the two of them and made a face as Caleb and Melissa continued to tell their story. At Cassandra’s insistence Shalelu and Qakisst would stay for dinner.
Several times during dinner Cassandra asked Shalelu and Qakisst to elaborate on how they had found Caleb. Qakisst deferred time and again to Shalelu as the expert tracker. Inwardly he was becoming more and more agitated; though Qakisst managed to remain outwardly calm. That calm shattered with Cassidy’s well intended question.
“What happened to your hair? You have streaks of white in it.” Cassidy squeezed Qakisst’s arms as she spoke. Qakisst’s startled reaction made everybody freeze.
Surging to his feet, Qakisst lost what calm he had and with it, control of his tongue. “Ég er hryggur. Ég þarf að fara í.” He pushed his chair away from the table somewhat awkwardly and rushed for the door. He did not grab his pack or his spear propped inside the door and he rushed out. Cassidy sat stunned along with Shalelu and the rest of the Deverin family.
Seconds later the sound of footsteps coming back from the entrance caused everybody to turn. In the doorway to the dining room stood Kendra Deverin, Sandpoint’s mayor, “I am sorry I’m late. Has something happened? That was Qakisst with the white hair, wasn’t it.”
Caleb’s too soft voice was barely a whisper, “He died fighting to save me.”
|
|
Qakisst stumbled up the streets of Sandpoint until he reached Junker’s Cove. This seemed to be the place he always wound up when he needed to clear his head. Looking out over the cove to Chopper’s Island he felt the anger in his heart, the rage well up within him. With no more than a thought the air about him filled with Snapdragons.
He reached up to grab one and sent it sailing across the cove into the still green brush that had cropped up on Chopper’s Island since he had last burned the remains of Jervis Stoot’s cottage, and everything around it to the ground. Faster and faster he sent the dazzling pyrotechnics from his spell sailing across the cove to slam into the island with a pop and a burst. The late twilight sky grew darker except for the ever bursting fireworks.
Tears welled up in his eyes while he exhausted the first spell’s power and called up another. As he flung the unerring snapdragons across the distance to the island soft arms wrapped around him from behind.
“It’s okay.” Cassidy’s soft voice filled the air as she held him. The pair slowly settled into the damp evening grass overlooking the cove. The last bits of color in Qakisst’s hair had now burned away with his use of magic. Cassidy leaned back and ran her fingers through his coarse Mwangi curls.
“Mér þykir leitt.” His inability to control his tongue renewed Qakisst’s anger, but Cassidy pulled him tight again.
“Shhhhhh…” She held him as he cried softly. “You came back. You came back to me. That’s all I care about.” They sat for nearly an hour, kept warm by Qakisst’s unhuman heritage; neither one speaking.
“It is dark. You should go home now.” Qakisst’s voice was hoarse as he spoke.
“I got you to be my night light.” Cassidy pulled up Qakisst’s sleeve exposing the fire ink tattoos on his left arm. “Come back inside with me, please?”
“Ég…” Cassidy stopped his speaking with a finger to the upper lip.
“Just stop; come in side and talk to me.” Cassidy stood up and gripped Qakisst’s hands to pull him to his feet.
Qakisst stood and held her hands tight, “I have to do something else.”
“Qakisst…”
“I have to see them. I promised I would be back as soon as I could; but I had to see Caleb home and I wanted…” Qakisst hesitated a moment, “Hayır, I needed to see you.”
“Them? The two kids you rescued?” Cassidy smiled as a touch of excitement seemed to come back into Qakisst’s eyes.
“Evet. Have you met them yet?” He began to pull Cassidy toward Main Street and the Turandarok Accademy.
“I have.” Cassidy pulled back. “But you won’t find them there.”
“Hvað?” A touch of panic flooded Qakisst’s eyes.
“No, no, no. They’re not gone. They’re just staying someplace else.” Cassidy bit her lower lip and grinned as she pulled Qakisst up towards Temple Square. The confusion on Qakisst’s eyes made her chuckle. “The morning you left Lady Quinta stormed Turandarok to retrieve her family.” Cassidy’s smile illuminated her face as she pulled on Qakisst’s arms. “Come on. They know you’re back by now.”
The two raced up Temple Street hand in hand. Qakisst’s fear of people asking about his strange new hair color, of them finding out about his death and resurrection evaporated. Cassidy had his hand and she was not afraid.
The pair leapt onto the steps of the White Dear just before seven bells. As soon as Qakisst and Cassidy stepped through the front door of the inn they found themselves mobbed by the Viskalai children. The commotion drew glances from some of the Deer’s patrons as the mob drug Qakisst across the Common to the back of the inn and the family quarters.
Questions abounded and Qakisst was given no opportunity to deflect. When the subject of his new hair color came up Cassidy rescued him by telling everybody that she liked it and turning the conversation into a debate about his new hair color and not how he had come to have it. Korva eyed Cassidy and waited until the mass of children drug Qakisst to the floor to wrestle before pulling Cassidy aside.
“You know something, don’t you.” Korva narrowed her eyes and locked gaze with Cassidy.
“I do.” Cassidy leveled her eyes at Korva. “But you will have to wait for him to tell you.”
“Cassidy, he’s my best friend!” Korva seemed ready to fight. “I need to know what happened.”
“And?” Cassidy raised both eyebrows and shook her head slowly. Before Korva could reply Cassidy continued, “Korva, let him tell you when he’s ready. He’s hurting inside, but he’s happy right now. Let him be happy for a while. Look at him.” Cassidy and Korva turned to see Qakisst crawling through a pile of six children that all sought to pin him to the ground.
Both women marveled for a moment as Qakisst soothed tempers and cajoled children into keeping calm. Korva raised her eyebrow as she watched. “He’s surprisingly good at that.”
“What, behaving like a child? Don’t insult him, Korva.” The mischievous grin on Cassidy’s face showed her jest and Korva laughed.
“Brat.” Korva stuck her tongue out at Cassidy. “No, keeping them under control.”
“Of course he is. He learned by practicing with You, Vach, and Tanjah. And we all know what a hand full Vach was.” Cassidy smiled as she watched Qakisst lifting Bechi and Marta into the air while lying on his back.
“Oh yes, weren’t we all a hand full.” Korva rolled her eyes. “He was a kid then too.”
“Was he?” Cassidy gave Korva a serious look. “You were what? Nine years old when he moved here. I was just eight. He was what?”
“I don’ know. Around fifty I think.”
“And he looked like a ten year old. Now he’s almost sixty and he looks like a twelve year old.” Cassidy punched Korva in the arm softly, “He was never a kid. He just gets to pretend because he looks so young. You’d kill yourself if you were trapped in the body of a twelve year old for thirty years or more.”
“You’re both silly. I would kill to have the body of a twelve year old again.” Lady Quinta stepped up behind the two teenage girls startling them.
“Mom!” Korva struggled not l laugh.
“Lady Quinta. Thank you for letting me join in the festivities.” Cassidy blushed slightly as she acknowledged her host.
“Nonsense, Cassidy. You have always been welcome here. Now, let me go and rescue Qakisst before things get out of hand. It is a school night.” Quinta slipped forward to begin the process of organizing the hoard for bedtime.
“How in the world does your mother manage?” Cassidy marveled as Quinta took control of the still squirming mass of children.
“You think she manages all that by herself? Maybe when it was just Vach, Tanjah and I. Before the twins came, Qakisst and his Mom had taken up residence so he got to do a lot of babysitting.” Korva gave Cassidy a wistful look. “This as you said; explains how he got to be so good with kids.”
“I suppose being a childlike little sprite never hurt.” Cassidy smiled and Korva laughed as a massive shadow came up from behind them. “Hi Vach. Your mom said you were at work.”
Korva looked over her shoulder at her younger brother as he smiled. “I am at work.” The massive Vachedi smiled down at the two girls. “The advantage of being the boss’ nephew and having parents that own the nicest inn in town is that I get sent to pick up dinner.”
“What’s the disadvantage?”
“I’m always the one that gets sent to pick up dinner.” Vach shrugged. “How long has he been here? I heard he and Caleb got back at around two bells.” He then looked at Cassidy, “I also heard something about a redhead attached to Caleb.”
Cassidy sighed, “Her name is Melissa, she used to be a student here, Caleb went off to rescue her which is how he got in over his head, the others went and rescued him, now everything’s fine.”
“Is his hair white?” Vach looked over the top of Cassidy at Qakisst, who was still helping Quinta prepare children for bed.
“We had that conversation already.” Cassidy looked away from Korva and Vach in an attempt to dismiss the subject.
“No, we didn’t.” Korva frowned.
“His hair is white. What the heck?” Vach pushed past Cassidy to talk to Qakisst. “Excuse me, Cass.”
“Yes we did, Korva.” Cassidy turned her head to return the glare she was getting from Korva.
“I can actually hear you from across the room!” Qakisst’s comment as he helped Nico and Aryah gather up toys and put them in the toy chest made Korva laugh.
As Vach picked up both Nico and Aryah, tossing them over his shoulders before trudging off to help put children to bed, Qakisst stepped up to Cassidy and Korva. “Remind me in the morning to say thank you to lady Quinta.”
“What for?” Korva and Cassidy both gave Qakisst a confused look.
“For taking in Nico and Marta while I was gone.” Qakisst smiled and looked over his shoulder toward the door to the children’s rooms.
“While you were gone?” Korva cocked an eyebrow as she looked at Qakisst. Cassidy covered her smirk with her hand.
“Evet.” Qakisst turned back to face them. “I hope she will keep them a little longer. My place is not really big enough for two kids.”
Cassidy pinched her nose as Korva’s stunned expression conveyed more than her words could. “Are you really… are you crazy… you can’t actually… Qakisst!”
“Düşüneyim.” Qakisst tried to look as serious as he could. “Yes. Yes I am.”
Korva’s expression changed from bewilderment to shock. “Kisst, you are not doing this. You can’t possibly…”
“Yes I can.” Qakisst smiled.
“But…”
“Korva. Yes I can.”
“Cassidy, you tell him!”
“Okay. You’re going to need at least two new bedrooms in that little hut of yours, and a bathing room. Maybe a play room too.” Cassidy began ticking off the type of expansion Qakisst would need on his small cottage. “Do you have a work space at your house or are you going to restrict that to Savah’s armory?”
“Well, I…”
“Cassidy!”
“You asked…”
“You can’t possibly agree with this?” Korva looked back and forth between Cassidy and Qakisst.
“Agree with what?” Vach returned from helping put kids to bed.
“He thinks he’s going to adopt them!” Korva pointed from Qakisst towards the bedrooms behind Vach.
“I thought he already had.” Vach shrugged.
“Not formally, not yet.” Qakisst looked up at Vach as Korva’s expression of shock made Cassidy turn away to keep from laughing in her friend’s face.
“Korva…” Qakisst found himself interrupted by a hand on his shoulder.
“Korva, please be a dear and see to the morning prep in the kitchen.” Lady Quinta stepped in front of Vach as she turned Qakisst to face her.
“MOM!” Korva’s temper seemed about to blow.
“Level heads, dear. Fighting won’t do any good here.” Quinta’s calm response sent Korva huffing for the big inn’s kitchen. “You too, Vach. I’m sure that the gatehouse guards are wondering where their dinner is.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” Vach hugged his mother and looked at Qakisst mouthing, “You’re an idiot, Kisst.” He then left, nodding to Cassidy as he went.
“Cassidy, can I borrow Qakisst for a couple of minutes please?” Lady Quinta smiled at Cassidy and looked at the door leading out into the common room of the inn.
“I should get going.” Cassidy squeezed Qakisst’s hand.
“Please wait.” Qakisst turned to her with panic in his eyes and he gripped her hand. “Please?”
“Kisst, I should…”
“Please? I will not be long.” Qakisst pleading caused Quinta to raise an eyebrow as she looked at the pair.
“Okay. You get five minutes, then you’re on your own.” Cassidy smiled and stepped back still holding Qakisst’s hands until their fingers could not reach. She then slipped through the door into the common room.
“You never brought Laure to brunch. Am I to presume that she won’t be coming by?” Lady Quinta’s to the point comment made Qakisst’s face flush.
“Probably not. Though I did ask before my first trip to Magnimar.” He looked sideways at lady Quinta with a smile.
“And do you really think you’re ready to handle two children?” Quinta looked closely at Qakisst and she spoke.
“Nope. Does not matter.” Qakisst leaned in and kissed Quinta on the cheek. “Where you ready when Korva was born?”
“Qakisst, this is serious.” Quinta reached up and ruffled his hair. “As is this. Don’t wait too long to be ready to talk to me.”
Qakisst wrapped his arms around the woman that had acted as his mother for the last five and a half years and hugged her. “I know. And I know it is serious.” He parted from her and sat on the sofa that dominated the room, pulling her with him. “I…”
Quinta cradled his face in her hand and smiled. “We will always be here to help you.” She could see the unshed tears in his eyes. “When you’re ready.” Qakisst leaned into her hand and smiled. “So,... you and Cassidy?”
“I hope so.” Qakisst smiled and leaned back. “You’re not going to try to talk me out of adopting them?”
“I brought them up here because I knew there would be no way I could.” Qunita scrunched up her face as she looked at Qakisst. “You are rather like Liandra when you decide to do something. Irrepressible.” The both smiled at each other as their thoughts drifted to Liandra. “She would be very proud of you.”
“Thank you.”
“She would also call you a blithering idiot for thinking you’re ready to handle something like this; but she’d be proud just the same.” Quinta stood and pulled Qakisst back to his feet. “You make sure you let us help.”
“Where are my kids sleeping while I try to figure out how to make my house twice its current size?” Qakisst grinned.
“Your lady is waiting on you. Brunch is at ten bells on Sunday.”
“Yes ma’am.” Qakisst hugged lady Quinta again and slipped back out the door. He scanned the common room for Cassidy but could not see her. His eyes finally locked onto Garridan behind the service counter and bar. Garridan was pointing to the kitchen with a somewhat exasperated expression.
Qakisst headed for the kitchen the long way, giving Tanjah a quick hug when her hands were no longer full of dished from cleaning tables. “Sorry you missed out, Tanjah.”
“Go on, or I’ll squeal you out to lady Laure. She was looking for you earlier. Daddy was fit to chase her off, but I managed to let her know you would talk to her later.” Tanjah scowled. “Are you and Cassidy?”
“I do not know.” Qakisst grimaced and rushed into the kitchen as Tanjah went back to cleaning tables while rolling her eyes. As he entered the kitchen Qakisst caught the tail end of a fight.
“I did not say I agree with him; but you know there’s no stopping him. I don’t even know if trying is smart.” Cassidy sat with her back to the door. The kitchen staff seemed to be blissfully deaf, though Qakisst knew that places like this were the fuel of Sandpoint’s rumor mill.
“Cass, how can you…” Korva’s expression changed from exasperation to anger.
“Stop looking for reasons to be angry at me, Korva.” Qakisst hugged Cassidy from behind then stepped across the kitchen. “I will need all the help I can get; and this is not helping.”
“Qakisst, if you would just be reasonable.” Korva seemed ready to continue but Qakisst cut her off.
“My faith is telling me that this is reasonable.” Qakisst kissed Korva on the cheek. “Give me a chance; I am not doing this by myself.”
“You’re insane!”
“How long have you known him?” Cassidy laughed from next to the common room door. “I said I’d wait five minutes. Your five minutes are up, buster.”
“You will get plenty of time to yell at me later, Korva. I cannot take the kids yet, I do not have a place for them to stay yet.” Qakisst stepped back and took Cassidy’s hand. “I have to go.”
Korva frowned at the two of them. “Cass, talk some sense into him.”
“Good bye, Korva.” Cassidy smiled and let Qakisst lead her out the door into the common room.
As they headed out the door Qakisst waved to Master Garridan behind the counter. Once into the chilly night air he draped his cloak about Cassidy’s shoulders. “Please. Stay with me.”
“Qakisst…”
“I cannot be alone; and I know that you really do care.” Qakisst desperately held onto Cassidy’s hands. “Please. I need you.”
“Kisst; you died. I…” Tears welled up in Cassidy’s eyes.
“Shhhh…” Qakisst pulled her in tight. “Bu geçip gitmesine izin vermeyin. We may not get another chance. Please take this one with me.”
“You make me so mad!” Cassidy beat his chest with her fists.
“I promise I will behave.” He let her step back, still holding her arms.
“Liar.” Cassidy lay her head on his shoulder as she spoke, “First time somebody comes rolling into town asking for help you’ll be out getting yourself killed again.”
“If I did not…”
“You would not be you.”
