Chapter 24

The Road to Mortingy

Marinae didn't have nightmares very often, but they had become more frequent ever since she was nearly killed by the monk in the Mountains of Misery. Most of them had the same theme, she would be fighting against hopeless odds, she would struggle and fall, and then she would see a man's face erupting into flame. But this one was different. This time she lay on her back in total darkness. From what she felt and what she heard she knew that she was chained to a table in a round, stone-walled room. She couldn't tell where she was, but deep inside she knew. She was inside Kendra's castle, she was inside that windowless tower where Kendra had taken Eliza and done who knows what to her. Marinae felt more afraid than she had ever been in her life.

A voice broke the silence and echoed around the tower. It was a voice that Marinae knew all to well. She looked up and saw a pair of glowing red eyes above her.

"Where are the other four gems?!", Kendra shouted at her. "Who has them?!"

Marinae refused to give the dark woman any answers and in return Kendra made her suffer. All at once Marinae's body was wracked with pain and it felt like she was being pulled apart.


Marinae woke up in a cold sweat. Rambis was looking at her curiously. She jumped awake, clutching her dagger and looking around wildly for Drow. David, who had been lying awake for the past hour or so, looked over at her.

"What's wrong?", David asked, never having seen the refined elf look so disheveled before.

"Nightmare.", Marinae gasped. "Kendra had me in her dungeon, bound to a stone table. She wanted the stones! She was torturing me."

"What stones did she want?", David asked.

"Gems. Aselid was worried about them, too.", the half-elf replied.

It was early morning and the sky was still pink. Lynn stepped quietly out of the bedroom and closed the door behind her. She was wearing a loose tunic tied at the waist and in each of her hands she held two sword length iron rods. Marinae was still haunted by the nightmare and didn't even notice Lynn as she entered.

"What do they do?", David asked.

"You know...boring magical things that could lead to the end of the world.", Marinae replied.

"What?", Lynn said with a start.

Marinae was startled as well when Lynn spoke. She recovered quickly, as she always seemed to do. "You're worse than an elf, you're so quiet!", she replied, managing a faint laugh.

Lynn looked down. "I'm sorry, I'll leave you two alone.", she said and headed outside.

Marinae frowned, then wished that guilt didn't come so naturally to Lynn. "I had a nightmare.", she explained. "Kendra had me staked out on a stone table in her castle, torturing me and demanding to know who has the gems."

"Oh no.", Lynn gasped.

Marinae nodded. "Aselid was concerned about them, himself.",  she told Lynn. "His gem and book are missing."

Lynn thought about the decision that she had made to give Kendra her gem and looked very worried.

"What is it?", David asked as he saw Lynn's brow furrow.

Lynn shook her head. "We're not supposed to talk about the stones.", she said quietly.

David was a little hurt that she apparently couldn't trust him with the information. "Okay...", he said, feeling shut out once again.

"It's not like that, David.", Marinae replied. "The fewer people who know of them, the fewer who can be tortured for that knowledge."

"Besides, if we told everyone, we wouldn't have an adventure.", Marinae managed to say with a straight face.

David nodded, realizing that it was something he should have remembered. In the resistance you never told anyone anything more than they needed to know. He could feel that he was losing his edge and wondered if that's why he'd failed in Falkovnia.

"I...I hoped that I could trust her.", Lynn said in barely a whisper.

David got to his feet. "I suppose I should let you two discuss it, then.", he said, feeling a little better about not being told. He wondered if he wanted to know. "If you'll excuse me, I'll be outside."

Lynn waited for David to leave. She walked over next to Marinae and in the barest of whispers she said, "I gave her my gem."

"Eliza?", Marinae wondered.

"Kendra.", Lynn whispered.

"I'm sorry...I didn't quite hear that...Kendra?", Marinae said, hardly believing what she heard.

Lynn nodded.

Marinae wasn't much for strangling people, so she didn't have to resist the urge to strangle Lynn just then. She settled for just asking, "Why?"

"I thought...I didn't know.", Lynn began, looking nervous. "I asked her about Rastinon. She said that she didn't want him to return. I felt that the gem would be safe with her."

Marinae understood clearly why humans banged their heads against walls. Still she maintained her poise.

"Well, done is done, though I could wish it weren't so.", Marinae sighed. "But if she already has yours and managed the theft from Aselid..."

"She'll want the others.", Lynn said softly. Guilt overwhelmed her. "I'll protect you, too.", she added.

Lynn looked down at the heavy iron rods in her hands and turned away. As Lynn walked outside Marinae reflected on how one so seemingly fragile in herself could be so strong in battle.

"Am I any different?", Marinae asked herself. "No."


Lynn found David staring off into the eastern horizon, watching the sun's slow climb. He turned to watch as Lynn began to practice with the rods. She spun and whirled, striking at nothing with long graceful movements.

"I forgot to thank you.", David said, walking over to the young woman but staying far enough away to be safe.

Lynn danced her way around David, slashing at the air with determination. Three quick thrusts missed him by inches. Lynn smiled. "You're welcome.", she said softly.

"You've improved a lot.", David said, noticing for the first time that Lynn fought with her eyes closed. "You were amazing last night."

Lynn spun a few times, the rods flailing about her, striking at unseen enemies. "I hired the best teacher in all the land.", Lynn explained. "So that I can protect Eliza."

"Looks like you've succeeded. I'm impressed.", David replied admiringly. He'd had a few opportunities to watch Talons fighting, and as amazing as they were, Lynn looked as far above them as they looked above the rank and file Falcons.

"Would you like to spar?", Lynn asked playfully.

David considered her offer for a moment. "Only if you promise to go easy on me.", he replied. "After seeing what you've learned, I think I'm outmatched."

Lynn smiled and nodded. She put down one of the rods and assumed her fighting stance.

"What shall I use? Surely not my real sword?", David asked, wondering if Lynn was so confident that she would say yes.

Lynn leaned over, snatched up the other rod, and handed it to David. David tested the training weapon in his hand, getting a feel for the weight and balance for before taking up combat stance. He was surprised by how heavy it was. It didn't look so heavy when Lynn was waving it around.

"Whenever you're ready.", David said, figuring that he'd get the hang of it soon enough.

Lynn began to sing as she lunged towards David. The rods clashed and after Lynn got in a quick second blow David's rod was lying on the ground.

David grunted and retrieved his weapon. "Let's try that again.", he replied, chalking his quick defeat up to the awkward weapon that he held.

They clashed again. This time David did better, but once again he found his hands stinging and his rod lying on the ground. David shook the sting from his hands and grabbed the rod again. He admitted to himself that he had been holding back, but now the gloves were off.

"Can I ask you something?", David said as he resumed his fighting stance.

Lynn nodded and paused her singing for a moment.

"Several times you've asked me to stay here. Why?", David wondered out loud.

"You're always welcome in our home.", Lynn said. "And I was afraid of what might happen to you."

"But why? You have Eliza here. You're safe. You're happy.", David said as Lynn smiled in agreement. "My presence only seems to bring down pain on all of us."

Lynn and David clashed one more time. This time David was thinking so much about not getting the rod knocked out of his hands that he left himself open. After a futile parry he felt cold iron resting on his neck and looked up to see Lynn smiling at him with her eyes closed.

Lynn pulled her rod back. "I wish that we could all be happy.", she said. "When you're sad it's not good to be alone."

"But what if not being alone hurts more than being by yourself?", David replied.

Lynn lowered her rod. "I'm sorry. I didn't know.", she whispered.

David handed the rod back to Lynn. "I know you mean well and I love you for it but seeing you with her...", David let his voice trail off. He didn't want to burden Lynn with how he truly felt.

Lynn walked with David back to the cottage. "I love you, David. But I love Eliza too. Deeply.", Lynn said softly. "I wish that I could love you both."

David walked along side Lynn in silence, wishing that he lived in a different time and a different world.


Tshaya and Weamar rode through the forest in silence for a few hours, seeing nothing but trees and brush.

"A pair of women joined together.", Tshaya said out of the blue.

"Eliza and Lynn.", Weamar replied, remembering their rings.

"Petrov's two mistresses?", Tshaya asked.

"He certainly wanted Eliza. Not Lynn though.", Weamar answered.

"Wanted? But no more?", Tshaya asked.

"Who can say?", Weamar answered. "Also, another pair of women joined together: Eliza and Ezra, if you count the latter as a woman."

"How are they joined?", Tshaya asked.

"Eliza and Lynn? Magically. And as lovers.", Weamar answered. "Eliza and Ezra, as worshipper and god. Eliza looks very much like her goddess, her statue at least."

"Tell me about Eliza and Lynn.", Tshaya asked, trying to figure out what her fortune meant without letting on too much.

"I'm not sure I understand them well enough to explain them fairly.", Weamar said honestly. He knew them, but he couldn't relate to them, and Lynn was a compete mystery.

"You've met them right?", Tshaya asked, a little frustrated at his answer.

"Indeed. Lynn I met the same night I met Damon's daughter, her name is Marinae, by the way.", Weamar said.

"That is an elf's name.", Tshaya interjected.

"Yes, it is.", Weamar replied, a little surprised that Tshaya knew so much about elves. "We traveled together for a while, and our paths crossed with Eliza. She and Lynn became enchanted with each other almost immediately."

"Who enchanted whom?", Tshaya asked.

"That's a very long story.", Weamar replied. "Neither of them, really."

"But you said that they were magically joined.", Tshaya said, almost accusingly.

"Bits of it are far beyond the understanding of this woodsman.", Weamar confessed, trying to get himself off the hook. "They are joined by magical items, neither of them made the items."

"One is good and one is evil?", Tshaya asked.

"No, I don't think so, both strike me as more good than evil.", Weamar answered.

"Then it isn't them.", Tshaya said with a frown.

"I can't think of two other women joined as intimately and completely as Lynn and Eliza are.", Weamar added, but Tshaya no longer cared to hear what he had to say about them.


The bedroom door opened again and Eliza shuffled out, still looking rather sleepy. She greeted Marinae with a smile. "Good morning.", she said drowsily.

Marinae's smile was somewhat less heartfelt. "Good morning.", she replied.

"Is something wrong?", Eliza asked.

Marinae's smile turned ironic. "I had something of a dream that seems to be closer to reality with each passing minute.", she answered. Then she told Eliza about the dream and what Lynn had told her about the gems.

Eliza looked away. "I had my reservations about giving the stone to Kendra. But Lynn trusted her. I couldn't say no.", Eliza said as she hugged her arms. "The other three gems are still safe though, right?"

"Mine is safe. Have you seen Weamar at all?", Marinae asked.

Eliza shook her head. "Not since we parted in Pont-a-Museau.", she said with a sigh. "I knew that my new calling would be difficult but this is an unexpected way for it to start."

"How have you been?", Marinae asked.

"I'm better.", Eliza replied, placing her hand on her stomach. "The pain is gone, mostly. I still feel a twinge sometimes. Being here with Lynn helped, a lot. I don't think I'd have made it if it weren't for her."

Marinae was pleased, and said so. "Strange that a voice from Darkon was what it took to get me past much of the guilt I felt for your injury.", she began. "But Ellan is one of a few elf-kin who could say things I needed to hear the way they needed saying."

Eliza smiled. "It's good to have someone like that around. We're lucky when we find them.", she replied.

"He started out teaching me knife-fighting.", Marinae explained. "And we ended up sparring in an entirely different manner."

Eliza blushed, wondering exactly what Marinae had meant by 'sparring'. Marinae smiled, seeing that her subtlety still worked.

"He...was just what I needed, after Jonathan.", Marinae continued. "He is still as pretty now as two years ago!" she added with a grin.

Eliza only knew a little about what had happened with Jonathan but what Lynn had told her was enough to allow her to sympathize. "I'm glad you found some comfort.", she said, remembering the last three months. "I went to the temple of Ezra in Port-a-Lucine, by the way. Luckily for me, they aren't too fond of following the orders of the Home Faith. They didn't care about my…status."

"They shouldn't.", Marinae said defiantly. "But we both know that people do care about such things."

Eliza nodded. "I read a lot in their library.", she said. "There is so much about the church and its history that I was taught that is just outright false. My being with Lynn, is against the morality of the church as codified in the Canon of the Virtues but the Canon is not a genuine part of the scripture. It was added after Yakov Dilysnia's revelation."

Marinae nodded knowingly. "My grandmother told me that humans and elves alike change their religions to suit their own biases.", she said, pursing her lips. "Usually to the detriment of the rest of us."

Eliza nodded "I think it is time for a new change.", she said, taking a quick breath, still not sure if she was up to the challenge.

"There are all too few women in places of responsibility in this world.", Marinae said, remembering the sexism in Baron Vyssulte's court. "But it seems that when a woman gains power, she is as corrupted by it as any man would be."

Eliza looked away again, appearing somewhat worried. "It isn't always like that.", she replied.

"You have shown your own strength, Eliza. You would stand against such base temptation.", Marinae assured her.

Lynn and David stepped back in through the front door. Lynn put away the rods and began making breakfast for everyone. Eliza moved to help her.

"We should probably be leaving soon if we're going to make it to Mortingy in time.", David said, taking a seat at the table.

The ladies agreed. Breakfast was kept brief and after loading their gear into Lynn and Eliza's cart the group was soon heading south toward Chateaunoir.

"Did you hear anything of the resistance while you were in Falkovnia?", David asked Marinae.
"The King pretty much sent me packing after Drakov's defeat.", Marinae replied. "I went straight back to Neblus, so I don't know about the resistance first-hand."

David looked rather worried. "I failed them. I brought Vedarrak down on them.", he replied. The thought that relief had been so close at hand made him wish that he had done things differently. "If I had just stayed away, there would be seventy men who would still be alive right now. Seventy sons of Falkovnia who could help to forge the nation into what it should have always been. I can only hope that there are still enough surviving members of the other cells to make a play for control against the generals."

"Is there any one general who looks to take the throne for himself?", Marinae asked.

"Every one of them is a power hungry bastard.", David replied.

"Is there someone you would like to see on the throne, yourself?", Marinae asked.

David looked at her, thinking back to his time in Kendra's laboratory. "I don't know.", he said. He wondered how he would do things differently if he ruled Falkovnia, and if the people would accept him.

"Tell us how you defeated Drakov.", Lynn asked Marinae, wanting to hear the full story.

As Marinae talked about the war she felt it taking on a kind of a distant quality, like it had happened years ago and not weeks ago. She shook the feeling off and told her friends the whole story of the duel between Azalin and Drakov and how she played a key role in winning it. As Marinae told the tale David wished that he had been there. He felt a mixture of emotions, elation at Drakov's defeat, jealousy at Marinae's triumph, but most of all emptiness, as if his reason for being had been stripped away from him.

"You didn't deserve to go to jail.", Lynn said after she absorbed the full story.

"I didn't think so, either.", Marinae replied.

David clasped his hands in front of him. "It's just so hard to believe that he's really dead.", he said.

"I have to say, I wasn't quite as enthusiastic about seeing him die as I believed I would be.", Marinae admitted. "In my mind's eye it was always me delivering the coup de grâce. A she-elf, striking the Evil One. I could almost feel robbed, actually."

David felt the same way, but kept silent.

"But you told Azalin which hand was which.", Lynn said softly.

"You of all people should understand the pleasure of a well-delivered stroke, sister-friend.", Marinae said wistfully. "Even as you realize you're ending a life, there is still the thrill of knowing your aim is true."

Lynn shook her head. "No. It always hurts.", she said quietly.

"Of course it hurts.", Marinae replied, not wanting to sound unrepentant. "I still see the men I killed. But I know that that man will never injure another person, will never take pleasure in death. As carefully-trained as you are, Lynn, you are more humane in delivering the quick thrust than one who would stab someone just to see him bleed."

"Last night, I wasn't good enough.", Lynn confessed. "I took a man's hand. I didn't want to."

"You saved my life.", David said, trying to save Lynn from herself. "You saved hers.", he added, nodding toward Eliza.

"The blade is so sharp.", Lynn added. "I wasn't used to it."

"You did what needed doing. If losing a hand stops an attacker, is it not better than taking his life?", Marinae asked. "He would not have been as generous."

"I'll be better next time.", Lynn said, then went silent, hoping that there wouldn't be a next time.

Eliza rested her head on Lynn's shoulder and Lynn gave her a hug in return.

"Do not trouble yourself about 'next time' until it comes.", Marinae said, watching the two women. "There are things here and now that deserve more attention."

The road was long and the weather was hot. It was a perfect day to sit back and think about nothing, but there were many thoughts on the four traveler's minds.

"What will we do when we reach Mortingy?", Eliza asked. "How do we get Aselid out?"

"We are legendary heroines…and David.", Marinae replied. "We shall set foot in town and they will tremble before us!"

"They will hand him over, of course.", Marinae added with an impish smile.

Eliza laughed. "You don't know how much I've missed you Marinae.", she said with a smile.

"We have had some good times.", Marinae replied.

Marinae wondered if she'd been holding herself back from the others, like Ellan implied. "It's not as though I've ever been the social sort.", Marinae thought to herself. "And a sorceress doesn't have much time to be with others, what with all the studying."

They arrived in Chateaunoir before nightfall. There they had dinner and turned in soon after since tomorrow would be another long day.


Weamar and Tshaya rode faster as the sun began to go down and were able to reach Gillsburg before sunset. Gillsburg was much like the other towns in Verbrek, what few there were. It had a small cluster of buildings in a rough circle where business was performed, and all the homes were scattered about the surrounding country. At the inn Tshaya gave the innkeeper the gold piece and told him that she expected nothing in return for it. Weamar held his head in his hands as he watched her. The innkeeper looked at her strangely but gave both Weamar and Tshaya special treatment nonetheless.

Weamar kept his ears open. He learned that no one in town had heard about what had happened to Tricco. Weamar felt that uneasy sense of perfect calm once more. He felt as if he couldn't get out of Verbrek fast enough. That night in his room he took some extra time cleaning the scratch that Talrak had made. It still hadn't completely healed, but it looked like another two days would make things better again. That was odd. He usually healed much faster than that.

Weamar stared at the wound, thinking deeply about what it meant and about Talrak's comment about his non-humanity. He decided to conduct an experiment. Weamar took one of his silver musket balls and made a small nick in it with a knife. Then he used that to scratch the back of his other hand. He looked at the wound for a moment, half-expecting something to happen but nothing did. Then he shook his head and went to sleep, curious about how it would look in the morning. Just as he had feared the wound that he had made with the silver ball appeared to be almost fresh.

Weamar knew what that meant, and he didn't like it at all.