My Friend

“I know you’re here” Kysara called out, standing atop a rock by the Elrendar river. They often met here, by the waterfall at the Ghostlands border. “Come out. We need to talk.”

Her request was met with silence. Only the low roar of the falls and nearby wildlife met her ears.

“Fine. Then you can listen” she stated flatly, jumping down from her perch. “Have to say, I was surprised to find that my little golden was with me in Ratchet… considering he should have been a continent away with you.” She paused, glancing around the area. “Thought I told you to stay away.”

“Yea, cause I’m gonna sit by and do nothin’ after getting a letter like that” he finally answered from the shadows. The girl spun to look for him but found empty air. “You make it sound like you’re never comin’ back, or worse, and I’m left wonderin’. You think that’s fair?”

The ranger shifted uneasily, remaining quiet for a long moment. “No, it’s not.” She stepped forward, pacing slowly through the nearby trees. “But I’m fine now. And if you think you would act differently, you’re wrong, so don’t talk to me about what’s ‘fair’. I came to you because I trusted you. Why can’t you trust me when I say stay out of it?”

“Bit late for that…” he answered, finally stepping around an old tree and leaning against it, arms folded across his chest. She turned to face him, unable to hide a look of surprise on her face. His hair was much shorter, looking as if it was chopped with a rusty blade and tied back in a tail. A long scar stretched clear across his throat, barely visible above the high collared shirt he was wearing.

“What happened…?” she asked quietly before moving towards him, eyes narrowed. “What did you do?!”

He smirked mischievously, though it was forced, as he recalled what had happened the past few weeks. How he went searching for her in Silvermoon after getting her ‘goodbye’ letter and running into nothing but dead ends. He went to Roanna, remembering stories of how she and the Magus were meeting. Maybe she’d know. From there everything started spiraling. Seeing her sick, making a delivery to Mordecaii, the attack, being held by the Guard.

Her glare could have burned holes into him as ended his tale. “Idiot” she muttered, stepping forward and coming face to face with him. “The hell were you thinking!?”

He shrugged again. “Dunno. Never planned this… never plan anything” he grinned. “Just seems to be the path I’m stuck on.”

“No. You have a choice. I’m fine now. It’s done. Just walk away…” She reached up, pulling the collar of his shirt down slightly to look at the scar. She visibly winced before looking up at him, eyes locking and waiting for a response.

“Not that simple anymore” he said, shaking his head. A long moment passed before he continued. “I need your help.”

She raised an eyebrow at him and nodded slowly.

“Do you know where she is?”

She paused, the curious look turning to a wary one.

“I just need to know if she’s alright. I just want to see her.”

Kysara eyed him, weighing his words. He had done all this to help her… could she really say no? It’d be risky. Need to figure out when the Magus wouldn’t be around, or the others for that matter. Just a visit. In and out. She unconsciously touched the key on her belt and nodded slowly. “One week. I’ll need one week… but I want something in return.”

He nodded.

“When it’s done, you stay away. From Aeturnas Trinitas, from Suncrown, all of it.”

“Done,” he answered with a small smile.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. He paused, not sure what to make of the sudden affection, before returning the gesture. A real smile crept onto his face as he held her. This is the girl he remembered…

This has to work.

My Enemy

The bell tolled above the Undercity bank, marking the late hour as two cloaked figures slinked and snaked their way through the decrepit city. Kysara did not know if the undead needed rest as the living do, or if it was simply a habit from their past, but for whatever reason the city grew quiet at night. Something she would not argue. As they made their way deeper into the crypts, the rogue started to lose track of where they were. The girl moved quickly, darting in and out of alleyways and doubling back on paths forcing him to follow close.

“She’s not well” she said in barely a whisper, breaking the silence that befell them upon setting out from Silvermoon. “They performed a ritual some days ago.” Llucas nodded but remained silent as the ranger stopped and turned to him, only the faint green glow of their eyes visible under the dark hoods. “Her soul was ripped from her. She lives, but barely.” The man’s eyes grew wide as she turned and started moving again. He took a few quick steps to catch up and fell back in behind her.

Before he knew it they were standing before a rusted iron gate. He glanced around, quickly taking note of his surroundings as she removed a large key from her belt and set it in the lock. “I’m not sure how much time we have. So be quick, okay?” she asked, voice finally softening as she turned the key with a quiet click. Before he could respond she grabbed hold of the gate and put her weight against it, lifting it as best she could as it slowly swung open. The cell door that once screeched in protest at the slightest touch gave barely a sigh at her hand. She silently waved the man in before taking position just outside.

Llucas lowered his hood as he kneeled down by Roanna’s side. “Ro?” he whispered as he brushed some hair from her face and looked her over. Her skin was pale and breath shallow. He set a hand on her shoulder and shook gently, trying to wake her or get some sort of response… some sign. She remained silent.

The ranger couldn’t help but glance over at the two. She felt a cold sting in her chest as the woman’s skin paled and hair lightened to a near white before her eyes. The gray stone that surrounded them melted into the rich golds and reds of the Silvermoon tower. A white robed Priest stood nearby. The red-haired man sat by her side, holding her hand and whispering with a sad smile. He leans down and kisses her forehead. She doesn’t move. I can’t see his eyes.

Kysara blinked and she was back in the crypts of Undercity. A sickness rose in her throat as the smell of the sewers reminded her where they were.

“Time to go” she said as she stepped away from the cell.

The rogue nodded slowly, never taking his eyes from Roanna. “You’re right. Let’s go.” He slid an arm beneath the woman’s back and slowly lifted her upright, her arms hanging limply at her sides and her head falling forward.

“What are you doing?” Kysara asked with a raised eyebrow, both confused and surprised.

“Getting her out of here. If we’re fast we can do it. Just have to make it out of the city...” he trailed off, looking up at her.

The ranger stood silent for a moment, refusing to meet his gaze. “I can’t let you do that” she answered quietly, the words sounding strange and foreign on her tongue.

“Yea we can. I know you can lead us out without being seen. I know you want to help her. We can get out of here and you can come with us. With me. We can leave this insanity behind” he pleaded, staring up at her with the girl’s lifeless body in his arms. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. A thousand words and memories filled her mind as the man lifted Roanna up and adjusted his cloak to give her cover, her head resting against his scarred neck.

“Help him, please…”

“I promise, I won’t let them…”

“I can’t let you do that” she stated again, her voice cold and hard. The rogue turned his head to find an arrow knocked back and pointed in his direction.

“You wouldn’t” he said, his eyes narrowed though his voice hinted of uncertainty. The ranger remained silent as he frowned and took a step forward. A moment later he felt a small breeze by his ear as the crack of an arrow hitting the stone wall behind him echoed. A small red line began to form on his cheek. Llucas cursed under his breath and kneeled down, carefully lowering the woman to the ground.

”Don’t do this” he said, drawing his blades and stepping towards her. “Please.” The ranger drew another arrow and knocked it back, narrowing her eyes at the rogue.

“You chose this” she hissed. “There are things you don’t know.”

“LOOK WHAT THEY DID TO HER! You would let that continue?!” he growled.

“Shut. Up.” She sneered, quickly glancing towards the halls before turning her attention back to him. “You want us both killed?” He stepped forward and pointed his sword towards her. The two stood silently, arrow and blade locked on the other. Neither willing to back down. Neither willing to make a move.

“I’m taking her home.” he whispered.

“I think not.”

The calm was broken by the clash of metal and the thud of an arrow meeting its mark.