“Node,” the bard answered absently. “They… give the planet life. It’s where magic comes from. Sort of. It’s complicated.”
“Why ya know schite like tha’ but can’t remember yer dammed name?” Liam threw back as they both got to their feet, Reven leaning heavily on the staff he still had nearby. The tirsai man opted to ignore the jab, leaving the question unanswered as he collected what few intact supplies he had left into his torn-up sack. Not that he had an answer. Some things he knew, some things he didn’t. His left leg for example: the scars on it and the way it pained him – especially now – told him it was injured but he did not know how or when the injury ocurred. He knew things, random things, like what a Node was or how to make certain potions, and could speak many languages fluently but burnt anything he tried to cook despite exhaustive lessons from Ajana and Liam. His mind was a maze of holes and thoughts that often plagued him inside, like the outside of him plagued him now. He groaned with pain. His head spun, threatening to bring him back down to the ground but finally acquiesced some balance.
He wore no shirt, his tunic gone somewhere and his trousers full of rips or holes. The girl stared up at them, crab walking back to her hiding spot behind the large rock.
“You don’t have to do that,” Reven repeated. “I said we wouldn’t hurt you; I meant it. Do you have a name?”
She did not answer, slowly standing instead so that all her naked, albeit filthy, glory was open for the men to see.
“She’s really naked, isn’t she?”
She did not answer, slowly standing instead so that all her naked glory was open for the men to see.
“She’s really naked, isn’t she?”
“Yer such an idiot,” Liam sighed. He removed the tunic from around his waist, moving forward to hand it to the girl. She recoiled instantly. Liam only shook his head and set the tunic down on the rock instead. “Put it on. Otherwise he’ll keep starin’ at yer ladies.”
“I will not!”
“Shu’ up,” Liam said, grabbing Reven by the elbow. “We’ve got a treasure t’find.”
Reven continued to argue while Liam dragged him into the southern exit. It was darker than they’d expected it to be, with a stench that made Reven’s stomach roil. Liam went so far as to press the back of his hand to his nose but kept going, tripping up over fallen stone or things that cracked beneath his feet.
“Any time ya’d like t’offer a light would be great, ya know,” he hissed at Reven.
“You have my snapping hand,” Reven quipped back. Liam made a vexed noise and released him. A clear crack of Reven’s snapping fingers echoed through the narrow tunnel, each fingertip lighting up with an orange-blue flame. Liam merely glared then continued onward. They kept his secret, Liam and Ajana, but the fact that he had Power at all galled the thief-taker. The illumination helped, though part of Liam wished it were still dark. He made the mistake of looking down to see broken bones and chunks of something that might have once been an animal - or a person.
“You’re scared,” Reven said from behind him.
“Why?”
“I really wish you’d not do that,” Liam snapped. One of Reven’s strongest Powers was empathy;
Liam knew that, but he did not have to like it. It always made him uncomfortable to know that Reven knew what he was feeling or worse, thinking, for the bard did that better than the thief-taker - - and could do it at will.
“Roe?” Reven persisted. “Look down,” was all he said.
“Oh, that’s fun,” Reven said, now seeing the same thing Liam saw.
“That from one of yer dragons, ya think?” Liam continued. He should not have asked, for he suddenly had visions of being chomped to bits by a giant winged lizard.
“I’ve never actually seen one,” Reven admitted. “Let alone what they eat.”
Liam only sighed, shutting his eyes briefly. That was entirely unhelpful.
“Let’s just get this over with,” he said, pulling the pistol out so that it was at the ready. Not that such a weapon would do any good against something that made such a mess. He let the light guide him, peering into the far shadows for any sign of a threat or something that might sparkle. Blessedly, they got the sparkle.
“Wow…” both men breathed out as they stepped into a large chamber. It was like stepping into a story- book tale. The walls of the cave were worn smooth by water, time, or workmanship that neither the thief-taker nor the bard could place. Faded runes decorated four fat pillars that disappeared into the blackness above them. All around were piles upon piles of riches from stacks of coins to polished wooden chests that had somehow avoided the ravages of time.
“This is not going to fit into our sacks,” Reven said, scratching his head with his free hand. “And there’s more than one red jewel…”
Liam snorted, gawking at everything around them. Reven moved to one of the chests, pocketing a few coins here or small jewel there before cracking the lid open. He flinched as a bright blue gem gleamed at him, making him feel suddenly dizzy and nauseated. His head hurt more and more. There was a voice that would not quiet itself, the ‘song’ that it sang practically a shrill screech in Reven’s skull almost in warning. Still, if it was a jewel they sought, then a jewel he would grab, warning or no warning. He tucked the staff against his shoulder and grabbed the jewel, instantly regretting it. Pain rushed his mind with loud wailing that made him believe his brain might start to ooze out his pointed ears. He shut the lid and stood up so fast that he fell backward, landing
