We gathered additional supplies and headed back to the last ascent point we were at. It was still under siege, so we took off in some direction on good luck.
The wound itself didn't hurt much anymore, but I still felt the piercing inside, especially when riding, and I wasn't sure if he was really a cleric or just a lousy herbalist. At least I could rely on the anesthetic from Jhanae.
At Traaskl Thorog, we climbed back up into the Upperdark. Since then, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being followed by something. Something bigger. But how could it remain so invisible? I shook off the thought for the moment and concentrated with Jhanae on searching further.
After a few days, we found a rise in the Deep Reach that didn't seem to be as heavily besieged. 5 guards, 2 praetorians, and a sword spider. That sounded manageable.
»Can you handle it? Remember, you don't have that much stamina anymore!« Jhanae asked anxiously
»I have to make it« it came resolutely from me
We left the lizard in a small cove and crept closer to the siege. The terrain was unclear. There were a lot of corners where we could hide. But also the enemy.
We sneaked closer and drew the weapons Jhanae bought in Drezz'Lynur. A short sword for her and staff for me. The gold was not enough for more. It was a plain staff without much ornamentation and enough to serve as a focus, but I felt no connection whatsoever. It felt more like a simple stick that I held in my hand.
As we got closer to them, a warning signal sounded, and the soldiers got into position.
»They're here. Get ready!« it sounded militantly
»I wonder if they'll …« I began in a whisper to Jhanae and saw in the corner of my eye someone swinging a sword at us
»Watch out!« I shouted and immediately pushed Jhanae aside
The young Drow's sword clanked on the hard stone, and he seemed surprised by the vibration of the steel. I took advantage of the moment to send a charge of electricity through his steel armor and positioned myself back to back with Jhanae. We were surrounded by no less than a whole battalion of soldiers.
»Yeah, I think they meant us« she just giggled
»An ambush?«
»Looks like.«
We could hold the position well for a while, although I could not unleash my full power without my staff. So far, only the low-ranked soldiers seemed to be attacking us. Even the sword spider stayed on the rise. I wonder what they were up to?
»We have to get out of here« Jhanae admitted, stressed »We won't make it with these weapons. «
»And go where? We are surrounded« I said, already slightly out of breath.
After a more rambling skirmish with the low-ranked soldiers, they suddenly retreated without leaving us an escape route, but they opened a path on which the two praetorians slowly approached us. Followed by the spider.
»Oh great. Now it's going to be fun.« I complained, »Watch your guard and use the dagger. You're not agile enough with the sword. Aim for the neck and joints.«
Just as I finished the sentence, the Praetorians sprinted at us with daggers in their hands. At such moments, I was always very grateful for Mother's toughness in training.
The Praetorians were very well trained. It was not easy to dodge them unharmed. The firm punches in my ribs, which slammed me against a pillar, not only broke some but also reopened the stab wound and the taste of blood filled my mouth again.
›That's it for me – finally‹, I realized abruptly and started to counterattack.
But before I could reach him, both Praetorians were hit by heavy boulders and hurled away.
»What's going on?« I asked weakly into the room but got no answer. I only saw Miara and Sunih, side by side, tackling and slaughtering the attackers before I fell to my knees, weakened. I looked at Jhanae, who was bravely defending herself with this cheap sword. After she had sunk her blade into the throat of the praetorian, who was caught by the stone, she wanted to run towards me. Rush to my aid to help me back on my feet. But I could only watch as a sword leg of the spider pierced her from behind and flung the dead body toward me.
»No« I screamed desperately, holding a hand out to her while her dead body hit the ground in front of me. Images of Mother's death flashed through my mind simultaneously as Jhanae's still open eyes looked at me.
The mana in my blood began to boil, and hatred took over me. Lightning escaped my body and penetrated the ground.
»I'm the bone of my staff – Mythral is my body and mana my blood – Have withstood pain to summon the storm – Unaware of loss, nor aware of gain. – I have no regrets. This is the only path.« I whispered in rage, spawning my whip and unleashed a storm that shook the walls of the Underdark.
»I am with you, my darling.« a voice begged, whose hand reached for me. Even though I could only perceive it muffled, it was clearly Ykril's voice.
But the anger inside me was too intense, and I actually wanted to give in to it. My whole body screamed for revenge.
I stormed off. One guard after another, I separated their limbs and heads from their bodies with skillful lashes. And even the last praetorian seemed to be an easy game. It all happened so unexpectedly fast that even their accompanying spider was not able to do much.
When finally its body went to the ground, I stood rooted to the spot in watered-down blood. Trembling full of rage, amid a furious storm, whose lightning barely missed my friends and stirred up the blood of my enemies. I tried to calm myself down, but I couldn't. Something deep inside me wanted me to keep killing. To bring that justice they deserved.
I saw Sanise, Miara, and Sunih struggling not to be torn away at the edge of my storm. Only Ykril stood up to it and tried to get closer to me. They shouted something, but I did not understand them. Everything sounded hollow. Resting my whip on the wet ground, I stood stunned and stared absently at my friends.
Ykril made it to me only with effort and clung to me. No matter how many lightning strikes he was hit by in the storm or leaped over from me to him. He endured them. To be able to be with me.
»I am here, my princess« he began softly.
I looked towards him but was unable to speak or move. All the images in my head of Mother's and Jhanae's death paralyzed me.
»I miss you, my love. Please come back to me.« he asked gently as he stroked my face with one hand, holding me tightly with the other one
Slowly but surely, I calmed down, sank with him to my knees, and fell weakly into his arms. The storm ebbed, and I could perceive the sounds around me normally again. His scent, his warmth, his soft but strong touches. I felt safe. Tired, I wrapped my arms around him and leaned my head against his shoulder.
»There you are, my prince« I cried exhaustedly as I listened to the beat of his heart and felt how he enclose me completely with his wings.
»I'm so tired« I continued to chirp as Ykril's warmth and security permeated me
»I know, honey. You're safe now! – Get some rest.« he growled softly in his slightly smoky voice, which I loved so much before a sharp pain made me push my back. In a moment, I could breathe again without pain. My wounds closed, and nothing remained but the blood that had leaked out. It was only a few seconds, yet it robbed me of the last of my strength. Nowhere I would rather lose consciousness than in Ykril's arms.
»I wonder who she was?« Sunih asked over a fresh grave when I regained consciousness on the surface. It was the deepest night, and I was lying, wrapped in Ykril's sleeping bag, next to a small campfire that was burning peacefully. Everyone was standing around a fresh grave on which they had placed Yhanae's sword.
I crept up behind Ykril, wrapped my arms around him, and leaned my head against his back. He didn't respond for long but just put his hands on mine.
»Her name was Jhanae T'orgh. Slave from Sshamath and mother's close friend.« I replied calmly, »I owe her my life.«
»She's awake again« Sanise squealed right off that my ears hurt, sprinting towards me and knocking us down.
»And then dressed this sexy. Sorry Yki babe, but she's mine now.« she laughed out loud, to which Ykril just looked confused
»We all missed you so much« she remarked as she groped my free belly
»Why do you have such soft skin? What is that fabric? Did you created your dress by yourself?« she immediately continued to pester without taking a single breath.
»Ohh, Yki sweety. You buzzkill. Please – let me grope her a little longer.« she started to whine and wriggle when Ykril lifted her off me
I started laughing as I stood back up.
»I missed you guys too.«
»You really show a lot of yourself« Ykril said quietly and sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head and eyed me with a wide grin
»But you're the only one who's allowed to do more than just look – much more« I smirked, placing my left hand on the back of his neck, took his hand, and placed it on my belly as I pulled him closer to me
»You – the only one for me« I moaned in his ear while I tenderly kissed his cheek and slowly guided his hand over my belly under my top. In his flushed face, shining eyes, and excited heartbeat, I could already readout that he would love to get rid of my clothes on the spot. And his hand on my breasts felt so good that I would also just let him do.
»Get a room« Sunih grumbled exasperatedly and sat down by the fire.
»What? I'm hungry.« I grinned into the face of the others, who were watching at us, fascinated.
»That's the way, sis. Take what you can! I swear I will not watch.« Miara cheered with crossed fingers, who was already enjoying an ale. Definitely not the first one.
As we all sat together around the fire baking campfire bread, I told them everything happened while Ykril clung to me like a limpet. But not the unpleasant kind. He tenderly stroked my back under my cloak and top, giving me a sense of secure belonging.
When Miara heard what the Zarethi descendants put me through, she swore revenge. The only question is whether she will still remember her promise in a few hours.
»I will cut off their limbs and then leave them to starve.« she announced
At the same time, I was told how they managed to get Sunih to go on a journey with a Drow to find a Drow. After all, she was still very dismissive of me. But she also admitted that she had more fun in the battle than expected. Sunih confessed that she had only agreed at first because she was annoyed by Sanise's whining. But then she was impressed by Ykril, that he would go into the Underdark even without any combat training, just to find me.
»Can we go back to Ramshorn?« I asked Ykril, who just shook his head slightly
»I don't think so. When Sanise arrived with Miara, they immediately wanted to organize a burn.« he lamented but continued confidently
»I did a little research on our way, and I think we might be able to drop off at the Sword Coast. Humans and Drow are supposed to live together peacefully in Luskan.«
Leaning against him, I looked at him, totally in love while he explained his plan. He had given up his whole life for me. His job, which he loved so much. His house, for what he worked so hard. All that seemed unimportant to him. Instead, he was very euphoric about planning a new life. One where we could be together without any sorrow.
