Chapter 6

One against the Masters of Hollow

Activity at the Inn of the Golden Mushroom was high that evening. Word of the previous night's entertainment had spread and many folks had come in hopes of hearing and seeing Lynn for themselves. Eliza and Petrov sat talking quietly at a table near the hearth. Jake and the rest of his staff were bustling about taking orders. Jake greeted each of his guests hastily as he passed by.

Lynn was wearing her white gown again. She floated down the stairs quietly and gracefully. As she reached the foot of the stairs she began her first song. It took a moment but slowly the cacophony of the room dropped off and was replaced by Lynn's flowing voice. Lynn’s voices sounded as beautiful as ever and she sang with a big smile on her face. Everyone sat in silence, in awe of the graceful young woman. Eliza smiled, but Petrov remained stoic.

Lynn walked through the crowd as she sang, but as usual she didn’t make eye contact with anyone. Tonight she was full of life, enjoying every note as she sang a heart warming song about rebirth and renewal. When the first song ended she stopped and politely waited for the applause to die down. Then she began the next song. Her second song was about a mysterious foreigner whom the local people didn't trust and despised, but who in the end the helped them to defeat a common enemy, and they came to accept her. When Lynn sang that song she paid more attention to Marinae and Petrov, stopping before them while singing verses that had special meaning to them. Petrov scoffed quietly and drank his tea as she passed before him. He looked over at Eliza but she was oblivious to him. When the song ended Marinae hoisted her ale in honor of the singer and gave Petrov a sardonic grin.

Then Lynn sang the first song that she sang the previous night, the sad song of unrequited love. Tonight the song sounded even more touching as Lynn's voice wrapped around the sorrow and longing. The room went completely quiet as she softly touched their hearts. Again there were some tears and long faces as sadness filled the room. It felt as if there was a collective sigh as Lynn’s voice lingered on and then let go of the final note. Then Lynn started into the happy drinking sing along song. The mood brightened and Lynn tried to get everyone to join in. Soon the room was full of music and mirth. Jake was bursting with enthusiasm, singing off key as usual.

Lynn made her way to the bar as she sang. Gillian was sitting there next to Lucius. She looked tired and weak, but happy to be alive. Lynn gave Gillian a smile and touched her lightly on the arm. Gillian smiled and sang along weakly. Lynn was pleased when she saw a smile cross Gillian’s face. It made her feel better about the previous night. Lucius grinned and tapped his hand on the bar. Marinae sang along too, but kept her voice down so that no one else would hear. Weamar was inspired as well, and uncharacteristically joined in. Everyone was happily singing along, except for the ever scowling Petrov. Petrov touched Eliza's arm and whispered to her. She frowned and shook her head and whispered back. Petrov sighed and leaned back in his chair. He had to stay until the end.

Lynn walked around all the tables going through verse after verse. Tonight was a wonderful night. Lynn began to tire and went for the big finish. The bar erupted into cheers and applause, with an expected exception. At the end of the last note Lynn collapsed in a chair next to Eliza. The young priestess grinned broadly. Jake brought over a tall glass of Lynn's usual and winked as he rushed off to tend to the numerous customers.

"You are amazing.", Eliza gushed.

Lynn took a few sips to wet her throat. Then she smiled back at Eliza. "I'm so happy that I can sing again. And I owe it all to you."

Petrov cleared his throat, "Where are the other two? We need to plan for tomorrow if you all still intend to come with us."

Eliza ignored Petrov. "Not me.” she said blushing, “The Lady, Our Guardian."

"I owe you both then.", said Lynn.

Eliza smiled and then looked about the room. Spotting Weamar and Marinae, she waved them over. Lynn took a few more sips of her rainwater as Weamar approached them.

Petrov looked up at Weamar's arrival. "Finally, now where's the...other.”

Marinae came over, as if on cue.

Petrov asked Weamar, “Do you still wish to meet the Sentire?"

"Yes.", replied Weamar.

"Then we leave at dawn. It takes a full day to ride from here to Levkarest and I want to be within the city before nightfall. We will request an audience on your behalf, but understand that these are unusual times and the Sentire is quite busy. I do not know when he will be able to see you."

"Unusual?", Lynn asked.

Eliza spoke quietly "It is strange for a Sentire, the leader of a satellite church, to be summoned back to the Cathedral. Something..."

"Eliza. You know the rules.", Petrov cut her off.

He turned to Lynn, “Internal matters which you need not concern yourself with."

Petrov swallowed and seemed to grow a little uncomfortable, "There is also the matter of William's disappearance. Perhaps you can investigate while we arrange your meeting with Marius?"

"That all sounds fine.", Weamar answered, lightly amused by Petrov’s hushed tone.

"Very well, we will retire to the temple then.", Petrov stood and extended a hand to Eliza.

"Can't we stay a while longer? I'm not tired yet.", Eliza replied.

"It's a long ride, Eliza. You know that. We need to rest."

Lynn turned to Eliza, "I'd like to talk to you more about Ezra."

Eliza smiled and looked at Petrov. He sighed and seemed torn. After a long pause he gave in. "Promise that you won't stay too late and that you will have Lucius escort you back?"

Eliza nodded quickly "I promise!"

Petrov nodded his head in a slight bow. "Well, good night then. I'll see all of you bright and early tomorrow."

"Good night.", replied Weamar.

"I'd like to talk in private.", Lynn said to Eliza.

"Of course." She looked to Weamar and Marinae "It was good seeing you two again."

Marinae bowed slightly "Thank you."

"You as well.", Weamar added.

Jake came over as the demands for ale calmed somewhat, "So how are you all this evening? What a show, eh?"

"Very well, thanks Jake.”, answered Weamar, “Yes, she sings very well."

"My only experience before tonight has been with the, 'cultured', music imposed upon us by the Duke.”, Marinae said, “I find this setting much more entertaining."

"Glad to here that, miss.”, Jake grinned, then frowned slightly, “Too bad you all are leaving tomorrow. I hope you'll come back round here some day."
 

Eliza and Lynn walked up the stairs and into Lynn’s room.

"So, what do you know about Ezra?" Eliza started. She enjoyed talking about her goddess and she was excited that Lynn was interested in hearing about her.

"I remembered something else about my dream.", said Lynn, "There was a riddle that I couldn't figure out. Maybe you can. The statue of Ezra said, 'The man in between is waiting for you. Time is against him.'"

Eliza's brow furrowed in thought. "She didn't say what he was between?"

Lynn wracked her brain, "Umm. The coming storm, I think...and us."

"Perhaps. The Books of Ezra state that the world is divided into two realms. Our world and the world of those who have passed. If the Lady Spoke to you, perhaps this is what she meant.", Lynn lowered her voice, "One who was trapped in between would neither living nor dead but torn between both."

"An undead!", gasped Lynn. "Why would he be waiting for me?"

"I don't know. But it seems strange that she would phrase it as she did.", Eliza thought deeper, “'waiting for you. Time is against him.' It's as though you are to help him."

Lynn remembered the vision at the end of her dream and shivered. The creature was too horrible to think about. But yet she started to feel a little sympathetic towards him. He needed her help, and Lynn liked to feel needed. It was rare that she was. But Lynn kept her feelings to herself and she didn’t tell Eliza about the creature that she saw in the dream. That was something that she vowed not to share with anyone.

"I've always been taught that the undead are completely evil. Why would the goddess want you to...”, Lynn interrupted and changed the subject.

"Oh, I know how to thank you properly for healing my throat."

“Oh, your welcome. I'm always glad to help."

Eliza watched Lynn go over to her pile of stuff and rummage through it. She pulled out a half bar of something and unwrap it. Then she sat down next to Eliza, broke off a piece, and handed it to her. Then she broke off another piece and put it in her mouth. Lynn let it sit on her tongue and slowly melt. She savored the flavor. "Mmmmm."

"Is that... I haven't seen this since I went to school in Richmulot. Thank you!"

"Chocolate. My favorite.", Lynn wrapped up the rest of the bar and put it away.

Eliza smiled and licked the melted candy from her fingertips.
 

Lucius came over to the table next to Weamar and Marinae and took a seat. He leaned in, "Gillian is healing well. I see no signs of, of what you feared."

"That's good to hear.", Weamar breathed a sigh of relief, "It seems only the three I saw came through."

"Small mercies. Still I will continue to observe her just to be..."

Lucius was cut short as a crash sounded. The door to the inn burst open, slamming against the wall, and a powerful wind blew through the entry.

Marinae quickly cast a spell. A shield appeared before her.

"Never a dull moment", Weamar thought to himself.  His hands went to his weapons as he looked toward the door.

The wind died down. No one was at the door. A storm was brewing outside.

"Since we have an early start, I'll see to Cujia and my horse, and then be off to bed, I think.", Weamar got up to leave.

“I need to check Maelstrom, myself”, Marinae added and followed Weamar out into the street.

Outside, no stars could been seen through the heavy cloud cover. An erratic wind rose and fell, whipping their hair about. During a lull in the breeze and loud hoot came from behind them. Marinae shivered, remembering an old tale of owls being lost souls. Weamar looked in the direction of sound. The bird sat across the street from them, atop one of the buildings. It bore a striking resemblance to another owl Weamar knew. From its perch it looked at them both in turn.

"Who.", wooed the owl.

"No way I'm holding up my arm without a leather gauntlet.", joked Marinae.

But Marinae was suspicious. She cast a spell. Her vision shifted and she looked around the owl. She saw a faint aura of magic. It had the feel of transmutation. The owl was not really an owl, it was some other being which had taken an owl's form. Weamar shrugged and walked off towards the stables, unconcerned about the owl.

"I see you.", Marinae said to the owl.

"Who."

"Okay, so you're not all that bright. I know you're not an owl."

The owl tilted its head to the side. "Who, are you."

"I am Marinae. Why are you here?”

"Why are you here?", replied the owl.

"I was brought here by powers unknown, for reasons unknown.", Marinae chuckled a little. It was an answer, kind of.

Weamar tended to his animals at the stable. On his way back he found Marinae talking to the owl. He’d seen some strange things in his life, and this one another.

The owl looked at Weamar "Who, are you?"

"Weamar."

"Why are you here?"

"Good question.", Weamar had to admit that he had no idea either.

"I think it's a transmuted philosopher.", Marinae smiled.

The owl continued to ask questions, "Do you know what it is?"

"I didn't call for a familiar, is that what you are, bird?", the owl didn’t answer her.

The wind started to pick up and the owl looked off to the north. "Time grows short. Answers will come but must be sought, perhaps at heavy cost. We will meet again."

Without a further sound it spread its wings and swooped off into the gloom. Marinae shrugged.

"I think it thinks it's a transmuted philosopher too.", Weamar said grinning.

"Are the four-feets all right?", Marinae asked.

"Aye, they're being well cared for."

"We've got a long ride ahead...might as well get some rest."

"Good idea."

Thunder rumbled in the distance and a light rain began to fall.

"Hopefully this will pass by morning.", Weamar said quickening his pace towards the Inn.

"I hope so too.”
 

"Do you want to hear about Ezra?", Eliza asked.

"I do", Lynn said softly, "Tell me about her."

Eliza’s voice took on a dramatic tone as she told a story that she’d heard dozens of times. She never tired of hearing it, or telling it either.

"In a time before time, in a land cloaked in mist, there was a woman, and she was Ezra. She was a healer of the sick and protector of the weak. For many years she did good works and watched over her people. But as time went on, she began to see the Hollow. From the Mists came horrors of the night. Drinkers of Blood. Stealers of Breath. The Rending Beast. Ezra knew that death would come for her as it comes for all mortal kind. When she entered the Grey Land, there would be no Guardian to take her place. There would be no one to stand against the Legions of the Night. Thus, she set forth on a quest to find a Guardian for her people. She sought one of pure heart who would assume her role.

"Ezra's search was in vain. She never found the pure heart she sought. In time her quest brought her to the end of all things. Behind her stretched all the lands of the world. Before her rose only the Mists of Death. She spoke to the Mists, asking why they had created the Legions. Why they had forsaken her people. The mists were silent. Four times further did she entreat them. And when she thought her quest had failed a voice called from the Mists.

" 'Turn back mortal. You know nothing of the Grand Scheme. You know nothing of the Mists. You have reached the end of your world. Continue and you shall find only your destruction, nothing more.'

"Yet Ezra held fast against the Mists, saying, ‘You cannot bid me enter, yet I cannot turn away. I offer myself to you so that you may know the suffering of my people. If I must be destroyed for them, then that is what must be.’”

Lynn gasped, "Wow. She was so courageous."

Eliza nodded, "The Mists of Death fell silent. Then the Voice spoke, once more. "Enter the Mist if you must, Mortal, but not as you are. Your kind has no place here. To enter the Mists, you must become as one with the Mists. Never again shall you leave them. Will you forever sacrifice yourself to watch over these few mortals?'

"Spoke Ezra, 'Such is my role in the Grand Scheme, so it must be.' And with those words did Ezra become our Guardian in the Mists."

Eliza finished her tale, and seemed to come back from a far away place. She looked over at Lynn who had an expression of awe on her face.

"So when the mists bring someone from somewhere else, Ezra protects them?"

"Yes, though she is not alone in the Mists. She is but one against the Masters of Hollow. That is why Anchorites were created. We assist and serve the Lady in any means that we can."

"How do you serve her?", Lynn asked.

"I learn, I heal. Someday, when the strength of my spirit has grown, I will walk the Mists."

"I'd like to spend my life helping others.", Lynn said looking downward, as if to say "but I can't".

Eliza moved a little closer. "You helped Weamar and Marinae against the wolves."

"Yes, but I almost...", Lynn paused, then conceded, "I guess that you're right."

Eliza smiled, "You just have to find the way can best help others. You have to find your place in the Grand Scheme. Jake said you were pretty good with a sword."

"I'm ok.", Lynn admitted, "I hope that I can find my place someday."

Eliza put her hand over Lynn's "I believe you will." Then she looks out the window at the falling rain. "Oh dear. it's raining. I should go before it gets too heavy."

Lynn looked down at Eliza's hand. At first she wanted to pull it away, but she stopped herself. Lynn felt the warmth of Eliza's hand. It felt good to her.

Eliza stood up and went to the door. "We can talk more on the road tomorrow, if you like."

Lynn let her go. "Until tomorrow then." She smiled.

Eliza closed the door behind her. Lynn felt warm inside. She had controlled her feelings all day long. It had been a wonderful day. She didn’t know if she would be able to control herself every day, or what would happen when she didn’t. But there was one thing that she was sure of, she was falling in love.