| Sect fifteen: healing hands By Richard LeBlanc Somewhere between the ruin of Triar and Gernome - Julia and Drake had stopped in a near by village. Although it had been almost two or three days since his encounter with the blood hawk and the other assassins - he was still in bad shape. "I thought we agreed that you would see a cleric when the chance arose," she stated. Drake strained to sit up on the bed and looked over at her. "You don't understand. Due to what I am - a cleric can not help me - if a cleric tried to use holy magic on me - it would more likely kill me than heal me," he explained. Julia sighed and walked over to the window. "So I have to sit back and do nothing while you suffer?" she asked seriously. He half-smiled and slowly lowered himself back onto the bed. "So long as you are near - my suffering doesn't feel near as bad," he strained - losing consciousness. She looked over at him and sighed. "You might be content to be like that - but I'm not," she muttered as she exited the room. She looked around the small village and saw a temple. She looked over her shoulder at Drake and then hurried away. Inside the temple - a rather young looking priest was praying at an altar of an elder god. "Uhm - are you the cleric?" Julia asked. The priest looked over and smiled. "I am one of many that serve Chrinose. How may I help you?" he asked politely. "I have a friend - he's hurt bad," she began. "Bring him here - and my power will heal," he began. "It - it isn't quite that simple. He - he's sort of different," she began. "Different? How so?" the cleric asked. "Different - in the sense that holy magic might hurt him?" she replied. He sighed and nodded. He walked over to a bench and sat down. "A denizen of the night? Is his affliction the problem?" he asked. "No - he got hurt protecting me," she answered. He studied her for a moment and then looked over at the statue of Chrinose. "A denizen of the night - got hurt protecting the last of the guardian mages. These are strange times indeed," he commented. Julia was tempted to run - but remained where she was. "You needn't fear me. Chrinose knows of the sacrifices made by the guardian mages so that order could be restored. Your secret is quite safe with me," he reassured. She sighed and relaxed a bit. "Can you help me?" she asked. "Normally I would say leave the dark creature to his fate - but I doubt you could. You love him a great deal don't you?" he asked. She blushed a bit and nodded. "Then I regret to say that there is nothing I or Chrinose can do for him. He is beyond our jurisdiction by laws older than the eldest priests of the order," he began. "You won't help him?" she asked in disbelief. "I can't," he began. She fumed and began to walk away. The cleric hopped to his feet and grabbed her by the arm. "I can't - but I might someone who can. I can take you to this person on one condition," he began. She looked at the priest. "That being?" she asked. "That I be allowed to join you on your quest. Chrinose himself came to me in a vision and told me of a great peril that would befall our world. The second coming of the demon host. Your quest to reset the five sacred seals - must not fail," he replied. "I mean no disrespect - but how can I trust you?" she asked. "I swear by Chrinose - lord of Order - that your cause will be mine - that your allies be mine - and that if need be - my life - be sworn to keep you safe," he replied seriously. Julia looked over at the statue of Chrinose. "You wouldn't attack my friend?" she asked seriously. "If his intent - is your protection - if his goal is yours - he has no reason to worry about me," he reassured. The scowled at him. That didn't exactly answer her question. As if sensing her mistrust he sighed. "If he doesn't attack you - or endanger you or your quest - I swear I will protect him as I would any loyal worshiper of Chrinose," he added. The answer put her more at ease. "So - you know someone who might be able to help him?" she asked. "Although - she is not of the order and her path is a shady one that Chrinose does not favor - she has done no action that merits me or mine to remove her presence. Is your friend able to walk?" he asked. "I would prefer he rest," she replied. "But he tends to be stubborn. I am sure he will say he is fine and can handle it," she added. The cleric nodded. He clapped his hands - two younger ladies hurried out and bowed to him. "I must travel from this place to do the will of Chrinose. Until my return - as you both are my eldest pupils - both of you will be in charge of maintaining the will of Chrinose," he stated. The two bowed to him. He then motioned for Julia to follow him out of the temple. "I am known as Kaine - who might you be?" he asked. "Julia," she replied. He politely bowed to her. "Take me to your friend. And then I will take you to the one I spoke of," he requested. She nodded and headed for the local inn. As soon as she opened the door she saw Drake standing - glaring at the man behind her. "What is he doing here?" Drake asked untrustingly. "I went to get help," she began. Kaine stepped out from behind Julia and politely bowed to Drake. The former assassin studied the markings of the cleric and scowled. "Chrinose," he hissed. "Be at ease assassin. My quarrel is not with you," Kaine replied calmly. "Of course - your god is the forgiving benevolent one," Drake sarcastically retorted. "No - he isn't. He is strong - righteous and just," he replied - walking over to where Drake stood. The two stared each other in the eye. "I have seen what your people have done in the name of your just god," he muttered. "And I have seen the families of the people - your - kind have dealt with. None of us are perfect - but we all follow a path. Just as there are dark sheep among my flock - so it would seem there are white sheep among yours. Or would you have me believe that you are as all your sword brothers are?" Kaine asked. Drake glared at him. "Uhm - please? No fighting? Please?" Julia requested - making her way between them. Kaine bowed and politely stepped back. Drake sighed and lowered his guard somewhat. "He is here because he said he knows someone who might be able to help you," she said to Drake. The former assassin laughed. "How would one of his status know? His kind seeks out and destroys the darkness that opposes the light," Drake asked. "The one we seek follows an - unusual path. She traverses the fine line between chaos and order. Although she does tend to dabble more on the darker side of things. I have prayed to Chrinose on many occasions to seek his guidance in how to deal with her. He said nothing. As such - I have left her to her devises," Kaine replied. "I don't trust him," Drake replied seriously. "Drake - you are hurt - bad. Until you are well - I am not going on with any of this," she began. She walked over and held his hands. "He swore that he wouldn�t do anything to us - either of us. He wants to help. Please let him," she requested. Drake looked over at the calm looking cleric and sighed. "Betray us - and you will not see the stroke that kills you," Drake warned. "As you say assassin - betray her cause - and I will make you wish - you were never born," Kaine politely rebutted. Julia scowled at the two. "Behave boys," she scolded. Kaine quietly laughed and bowed to her. "As you say Lady Julia. If you both would be so kind as to follow me - I will take you to the witch in question," he replied - as he turned and began to walk away. Drake was going to comment but Julia raised a finger - motioning for him to be silent. Julia and Drake followed the cleric outward from the village to a desolate, barren looking place. The trees were withered - the grass was either a dead yellow - or singed black. It was then that the cleric stopped and pointed to a cave that was between two pillars of bones. "I sense a powerful magic in this place," Drake muttered. "She is one of the elders of her coven. Witch! Show yourself!" the cleric called out. for a few moments there was no sound - nothing - it was then that a tall looking old woman wearing a long tattered black robe staggered to the mouth of the cave - still remaining in the shadows. Her face looked to be older than time and her claw like gently reached out and touched the bony pillars. "The zealot returns and brings friends - hold - these are no ordinary friends - are they?" a raspy voice asked. "A - companion - is in need of help," Kaine began. "Then help him - that is what your order does - is it not?" the witch retorted. "He stands beyond our ability to aid," the cleric stated. The witch tilted her head and stepped back into the shadows - vanishing completely from sight. Before another word could be said the witch was behind them and placed her hand on his shoulder and one on Drake's. "He is different," the witch muttered. It was at that moment when a certain disturbing sense of familiarity began to come over Julia. She slowly turned and looked up at the old witch. "Have we met?" Julia asked. The witch removed her hands from the men and stepped away. "Me - no?" the witch replied - her voice sounding much younger. Julia grabbed a handful of robe and yanked it away. Both Drake and Kaine were startled when they saw a little girl with an old head on a stick strapped to her neck - holding two withered hands that were also attached to sticks. "Okay - maybe once," the witch replied as she giggled. "She - is the elder witch?" Kaine asked in disbelief. "I am. You got a problem with that?" she retorted to the cleric. "You must be joking - this is who can help me?" Drake asked untrustingly. "I know much of many things demon boy. I know that you are dying and will die should I not help. Of course the choice is yours. I could be mad - right?" the girl replied. With a wave of her hand the head and hands vanished. "Dying?" Julia asked. "There is a potent poison running through his veins. It prevents his demon blood from healing his mortal wounds. I am surprised you have survived as long as you have," the girl commented. "Can you help him?" Julia asked expectantly. The girl smiled and nodded. "Come with me," the girl said as she skipped back towards the cave. Drake and Julia followed. Kaine whispered a silent prayer to Chrinose and followed them in. Within moments - the small band was in the dome like room that Julia had been in when her quest began. "Back here?" Julia asked. "No - this is my summer home," the girl replied as she moved everything off a table. "As for you Mr. Man - take off your top and lay down here," she continued. Julia helped him remove his badly damaged armor. Once off - he got on the table and lied down. The girl looked at him closely and traced her hand across his chest. "Will this take long?" Kaine asked - not feeling remotely comfortable in such a place. The girl looked over at him and smirked. She then tapped Drake on the forehead. "Poison is gone," she replied. she skipped over and took a dark vial from the shelf and brought it over to Drake. "Drink this and you should be feeling like your old self in no time," the girl stated - handing the vial to him. "If - that is all it took - why did you have me take off my armor?" he asked. The girl began to whistle and looked away. "Good question," Julia added. "He's so cute - I just wanted to see what he looked like without his top. Talk about sexy - I mean yum!" the girl said with a giggle. Drake modestly blushed and quickly downed the contents of the vial. True to what she had said - almost instantly he was feeling like his old self. "Can we go now?" Kaine asked. "No - there is something you must know about Gernome and the daemon champion that dwells within. As you are - you will not be enough to fell the black knight that walks that dead place," the girl warned. The words didn't sit well with Drake. "Did you say - black - knight?" he hesitantly asked. "Yes - your father has returned - and now guards that seal," the girl answered. To be continued... |