Jebidiah's Change Bk. 02 Ch. 07

Welcome back gentle reader

Every D&D campaign I've played in always had its own flare of how the DM interpreted the rules. One of the campaigns I ran had a couple DMs playing in it, and at times the rule debates would get heated. Usually over the dumbest things. Like the volume of a fireball. A 20 foot radius sphere equates to 33 ten cubic foot sections on a map--if you're underground. It was fun screwing with the party by determining where that spread actually went. Above ground was a different matter. I've heard arguments for it being contained to a 20 foot sphere, that the caster can determine how it spreads, that structures within the sphere counted as part of the volume, etc. Many debates over beers sometimes involving thrown dice. I always subscribed to the theory of fluid dynamics, where the fire would spread out in the path of least resistance. In a crowded area above ground, like a forest or jungle, that means it mostly goes along already cleared volumes of space--and up.

On a side note, a funny thing happened. I swap between devices as I write and on one laptop I discovered it was auto-correcting Shirley's name to Shirely. If you noticed, it wasn't intentional. One last tidbit. I used to draw a lot, but that was decades ago and I fell out of practice, so I fed sections of my books to an image generator and tweaked the descriptions until I got close to what I envisioned the characters to be. I also realized I never fully described Kelek so I have to retcon Book 1 a little. The generator thought she was an elf. Anyways, I have more information on it in my bio.

Standard disclaimer, multiply ages by roughly two to get equivalent Earth ages. Everyone is a consenting adult.

-- Somewhen, Somewhere --

Bora and Avellar watched the events unfold on the material plane with trepidation. These were events set into motion by their hands. There was no fate or destiny. What happened in the world was outside of anyone's control and, though the Divine often poked and prodded, attempting to control the outcome of important events was an exercise in futility.

Mortals would always have free will, even if some magics allowed temporary dampening of it. That alone ensured the Divine would never exert the full control they desired. Instead, they relied on influence--whispering through priests' sermons, manipulating desires of power-hungry mortals, or crafting prophecies for diviners, vague enough to fulfill themselves in multiple ways.

In the end, they might as well have left it to Udite's dice. Too many times, the mortals had frustrated the Divines' desires, often leaving mayhem and devastation in their path, amplified by the Divine intrusion. Sometimes their well-laid plans, decades in the making, came undone at the hands of an unwitting servant--or worse, some mindless twist of fate.

All the Divine went about their existence frustrated by the limitations, ignoring the implications--all except Darido. Darido had approached the two--and possibly Comlain as well--with a warning about the dangers their players posed. Dangers to the Divine themselves. He had gone on one of his rants about free will and symbols and enough other things that Bora had tuned him out, waiting for him to run out of steam as he always did.

Instead, he had stopped midway through, looked at her, and accused her of ignoring the dangers as she was ignoring his warning. She laughed, and he vanished, moving on to Avellar.

But a part of her was worried, a niggling doubt she could not shake, and when Avellar came to her later, she sensed the same in the other Divine. They felt secure in their power. Mortals might thwart their plans, but they had never posed a true threat to the Divines themselves. But Darido was persistent in his warning, trying to make them see what they were unwilling to, but his persistence was unsettling. Neither of them liked the taste of vulnerability. Instead, they did what the Divine always did--plotted on their next moves using their mortal playthings. Yet, when they checked on the players, they were surprised at what they found.

"Do you think those belong to Lashan?"

Avellar shook her head, "No, those are Magard's and their captives are the elves I spoke of before. Your House is there to rescue them."

"They are woefully outnumbered."

"Can you do anything with your champion and player?"

Bora leveled a hard glare at Avellar, her voice sharp and firm. "The work Jebidiah did to fix your meddling held my champion together, but it was a crude patch. She is mine, yet I cannot touch her. Two influences are at war within her, and while he managed to separate them, they need to be merged and stabilized."

Avellar wilted under her gaze. "I'm truly sorry, I would do something if I could."

Bora grimaced. "I think you did enough. Be that as it may, it changes nothing. Her identity has splintered. I can do nothing with her. Mila, however, works best if left to her own devices. Iztar might have ideas but I do not want to draw her into our circle. I can't trust any of the Dark, too much is at stake."

In silence, the two watched as the goblinkind army--bolstered by more than the standard goblin races--moved toward the handful of Valor forces. They scanned desperately for an edge, some way to intervene--until Bora let out a small gasp of surprise.

"What is it?" Avellar asked, her tone filled with hope.

Bora's face grew a twisted smile. "Life shall prevail." Her consciousness reached out to what she had spotted. A nudge of power, instilling purpose--commanding.

"Yes, this will do."

-- Chapter 7: Evergrow Woods --

-- Sixth Tenday of Juntaen 813 AGR --

It's only too many weapons if they're pointing in the wrong direction.

- Tayler

"What in the Divines is going on?" Dana was shouting at Idril, who looked panicked.

Jebidiah tried to stop everything from spiraling into chaos. "EVERYONE TO YOUR POSITIONS!" After shouting his command, he almost chuckled--it wasn't like he had assigned any positions, but people moved. He rushed to where Dana was still verbally assaulting Idril.

"Dana, we have to move! Idril, do you think this will change how they handle the children?"

Idril was caught in the crossfire--Dana was still berating her and Holone while Jebidiah fought for attention. He lost his temper and snapped at Dana. "Dee! We have time enough to bitch about this later. We have to act now, not figure out what went wrong! I need you to move!"

Dana stopped her tirade and blinked, staring at Jebidiah like she had just noticed his presence. She shuddered, nodded quickly, glared at Idril then left in a huff.

As she passed Jebidiah, she paused by his side and spoke without looking at him. "We'll speak of this later, husband."

He sighed, knowing he would pay a price when everything was over. He focused back on Idril, who still had a panicked look but at least looked to have lost her paralysis. "Idril, can you grab the children in whatever is happening ahead of us? I fear whatever is going on might hurt them."

Holone spoke urgently in her ear. She gave a small shake, the panic subsiding. She nodded once. "We shall see." She pivoted to Holone, spoke tersely, and he leapt straight in the air to disappear in the branches above. The motion was so fast and sudden that to Jebidiah, it was as if he had just vanished. It reminded him of Kelek.

"I wish I had Stern." He turned, scanning for Sift but did not find her. Idril tugged at his sleeve, drawing his attention back to her.

"You handle disruption well, Duke Valor. But what of your plans?"

A compliment was the last thing he had expected to hear, but her question echoed his own thoughts. The sounds of battle to the west had increased, intermixed with odd cries and growls, sounds he was unfamiliar with.

"We need to know what is happening. We can't..."

Another elf--this time a woman--dropped from the branches, hissing at him before turning to Idril and speaking rapidly in Elvish. Jebidiah was distracted by blood trailing down her side and legs, thick drops splattering onto the trail.

Idril turned back to Jebidiah even as the elf continued to speak. "A pride of coeurls have attacked. Such a thing is unheard of, but it can work in our favor. Several goblins and kobolds already lie dead." She stopped speaking, allowing the elf to finish her update. "The center of their line, with the heaviest fighters, are moving towards us now. We have minutes."

He nodded, ignoring the feeling of dread pooling in his stomach. "Stick to the plan."

He wheeled around and charged for the western-most opening his armswomen had created in the undergrowth, moving in around thirty feet to where the other waited, crouched in the vegetation. All he could see was Michelle and Dana behind her, but only because of Dana's height. He turned and watched the trail through the opening, barely visible through the remaining branches and vines. He pulled the threads of magic he required, tensing as they waited, the feeling of impending doom gnawing at him.

His feelings must have seeped into the bonds, the worry of the others echoed back, creating a feedback loop of negativity. He felt Crystal at the edge of his thoughts, her worry stronger than the others. He felt nothing from Kelek or Greta.

This is going to work. This is going to work. This is going to--

"Ah, Your Grace, we might need some more reassurance."

He glanced back at Michelle, confused.

"Muttering 'this is going to work' won't set the other's mind at ease."

He began to explain he didn't mean to speak it out loud when a crashing sound on the trail drew his attention. Large bodies were rushing by, flashes of red, green, brown, and yellow, their booted feet thundering on the trail as they ran. There and gone in a flash, they moved past the opening before he could make sense of what he was seeing. The elves were easier to discern. Hobbled as they were, they moved slowly enough for him to recognize them as elves. As soon as they passed, he knew there wasn't much time left.

Several cries rang out in the forest, drowning out the heavy footfalls and grunting of the children's guards.

He unleashed Fireball. An immediate sound of implosion made him flinch, but it was off to his left. His spell shot forward before detonating on the trail. Screams and shouts of pain rose from the trail as, sword in hand, he rushed forward into the maelstrom.

It was like stepping into another world. One second he was cocooned in lush vegetation, the scent of nature overpowering everything else, the next the world was on fire, wood crackled, flames roared, and the smell of woodsmoke and burnt meat filled his nostrils. He did his best to ignore the flames around him, but the smoke that stung his eyes was unavoidable. He stepped onto the trail, suppressing his urge to unleash an adrenaline fueled battle cry--then tripped. His foot caught on something heavy, twisting him as he fell onto his back, his sword nearly slipping from his grasp.

It was embarrassing, but it probably saved his life--a sword slashed through the air where his head had been moments before.

Michelle was silent as she met the blade's backswing with her own. Dana flashed past--not quiet at all--as she screamed while slashing at something he couldn't see.

He struggled to right himself. His left foot was trapped, pain lancing up his leg. He kicked against the body he had tripped over with his right foot, trying to free himself. Panic nearly set in as he struggled, unable to gain purchase, his fear blocking his ability to focus.

He stopped struggling, attempting to take a breath and calm himself. He tried to examine where his foot was trapped. The body he was stuck on wasn't an orc, goblin, nor kobold. It was large, larger than himself, covered in singed reddish brown tufts of fur. Its head was a blackened ball of charred meat, and it reeked.

Michelle grunted, drawing his attention. She held a hand to her side, blood seeping through her fingers as she staggered back from an orc. He caught a flash of Mila as she interposed herself into the fight.

A sharp yank wrenched his foot, fresh pain lancing up his leg. He swung his sword instinctively--only to stop just short of slicing into Corporal Holland's head, who had bent down to help. Just as his foot popped free, the corporal was flung to the side and a massive weight crashed onto his chest, bearing him down as it knocked the wind from his lungs.

Blackness filled his vision, broken only by two glowing green slits--feline eyes locked onto his. A maw opened, blood-streaked white razors gleaming. Its putrid breath rolled over him in a deep rumbling growl--and then it vanished, yet its weight still crushed him. His chest exploded in pain as claws shredded through his armor, the invisible beast using him as a springboard before leaping into the smoke.

Corporal Holland was sprawled to his side, stunned, ignoring the battle raging around them.

"Uther's swinging balls, what the fuck was that?" Holland's usual sultry tone had vanished in pure disbelief.

Jebidiah struggled to his feet, wincing as pain flared in his ankle and chest. He tested both gingerly, trying to get his bearings. Broken ribs--maybe even his ankle.

Michelle leaned against a tree, clutching her side as she fended off an orc with her free arm. Mila and Meredith battled another orc alongside one of the creatures he had tripped over--tall, reddish brown-furred, with a dog-like head.

To his left, Dana fought another of the dog creatures, an orc sprawled lifeless at her feet. Nearby an armswoman struggled against another orc--then, in a flash of steel, she was cut down before Jebidiah could react. Before he considered what to do, his hands pulled threads, and darts of magic lashed out at the orc, dropping it.

Despite the reprieve, it still left Dana exposed and another of the dog warriors replaced the orc. Before turning on Dana, it made a yipping sound as it jammed its spear through the downed armswoman, ensuring her death. Jebidiah began to hobble over to help when Sift's bronze body collided with the dog, knocking it off its feet.

Before he could blink, Sift was in front of him. "Sir, we must evacuate. The elves have moved south."

He nodded, his brain trying to catch up. A few more strands of magic and he amplified his voice.

"FALL BACK! FALL BACK NOW!"

They made an orderly retreat, as orderly as was possible, making for their original path. A scream preceded an elven warrior, now mostly a bloody mass, that flew past them, nearly knocking Jebidiah over.

"Your Grace," a voice cried out, the urgency in the woman's voice driven by fear. "You need to move!"

He looked for the source of the command, finding Corporal Holland, who began physically pushing him to go.

"We'll cover the retreat! Just go, Your Grace!" Even as she spoke, she fended off a new attack.

He struggled as Sift began to pull him along.

Dana moved past him, throwing herself into the cut in the vegetation, quickly followed by Mila, Greta, Tenner, and their Firsts, except Michelle who stayed by his side. It left the three armswomen fending off their attackers.

"GO!" Holland screamed, dodging a spear.

One armswoman bellowed, "WE ARE THE SHIELD!" The others roared in unison--

their voices defiant as Sift dragged Jebidiah forward. He fought against her grip--until Sift's next words hit him like a blade to the gut. "Sir, let their sacrifice mean something."

Sift's words stunned him--they were spoken with unmistakable emotion--allowing her to propel him forward unopposed, half carrying him as she hurried along their path. He could still hear the women chanting their mantra, dwindling one by one, until the last voice was cut off.

"Do you require assistance, corporal?"

He couldn't make out the answer but Sift momentarily stopped and turned.

Michelle was panting heavily, blood streaming down her side, face pale. She grimaced and said something else Jebidiah couldn't make out.

"My apologies to you both. This will not be pleasant."

He opened his mouth to protest--but Sift hoisted him into the air with ease, slinging him over her shoulder like a sack of grain. Agony tore through him, his broken ribs burning with each breath. He couldn't even scream--only a ragged, gasping groan escaped him.

With terrifying ease, Sift repeated the motion, hoisting Michelle onto her other shoulder without breaking stride. Then they were off.

Jebidiah and Michelle dangled over Sift's shoulders, their heads lolling toward the rear, blind to their direction. At a slower pace, she might have kept steady--but as she tore through the undergrowth, all they could do was brace against the relentless pounding of her unyielding metal frame. Each footfall sent hammering pain through Jebidiah's ribs, driving nails into his chest and side, stealing what little breath he had left. With his feet being in front of Sift, it was only a matter of time before his injured ankle hit something solid. The pain swallowed him whole. His vision dimmed, washed to grey--then vanished into nothing.

Jebidiah woke to a world of pain. It consumed him, white dots flickering in the darkness behind his closed eyes. Voices murmured--muffled, distant. He lay against something hard, the pressure in his head pounding in rhythm with his heartbeat. He cracked open an eye to find Michelle inches from his face, her pallor a sickly white. Most of her face was hidden behind her arm, just as his arm hung before him. Hung... his head was down. Sift!

He fought the pain to get his arms to push himself upright, but Sift's unrelenting strength held his legs in place. Her voice rose, no longer muffled.

"Sir, I apologize for the discomfort, but you must endure for a few more minutes. We are near the company but I have encountered a dilemma."

She slightly turned so he was able to see Idril, Holone, and another elven warrior half buried in the vegetation. Idril was injured, and by his estimation her wounds were serious.

He tried to focus and speak to Holone, but breathing was difficult. His voice was reduced to raspy, disjointed words. "Can you... get her... to safety?"

"Please, sir, they cannot speak your language. I will handle this."

Sift spoke back and forth to Holone for a few more moments before moving again.

"I will deposit you with the main force then return for them. I cannot delay much, our pursuers are not far. The gnolls are adept trackers."

His only reply was a pained groan.

True to her word, it only took a few more minutes before Sift broke into the glade they had looked over what seemed like days ago but it had only been a few hours. He prayed to the Divine that there had been enough time for the others to prepare.

Jebidiah was impressed with the discipline in his forces. He caught startled glances as Sift carried him past the first line, but no one called out or moved to give away their position. Finally, Sift stopped and as gently as she could, set him on the ground against a tree. She laid Michelle beside him, still unconscious, and was gone in a flash of bronze, retreating back along their path.

He found himself immediately surrounded by people. All tersely whispering, some in anger, most in concern, as he was poked and prodded by corpswomen and his wives. The other Firsts picked up Michelle and carried her further away from the coming fight.

"Was there anyone else following?" Tenner held his face in her palm, tears streaming down her own.

He grimaced in more pain as someone undid the straps of his boot. He shook his head instead of answering, breathing still hurt too much. He nearly screamed as someone pulled his boot off, his vision moving toward grey again as his lightheadedness threatened to overcome him. He managed to keep his cry of pain down to a muffled groan.

Someone tsked and he glanced at his foot. Though his injury was less than an hour old, his ankle and most of his foot was an angry black bruise that turned to purple at the edges. Dana was crouched by it, a horrified look on her face as she tossed his boot to the side. She looked at Jebidiah, their gaze locking on to each other, and he watched her expression turn to one of barely contained rage. She stood abruptly and stalked off, pulling the bow from her back as she went. Her bond was filled with the need for vengeance.

"I'm sorry, Your Grace, we must move you further back so we can apply some healing. I'm afraid this will hurt." The corpswoman had such a look of concern on her face, he began to laugh.

By the Divines how that hurt. Each chuckle he tried to suppress was a new flavor of pain, and for his efforts at staying quiet, he began to cough, adding new dimensions to the pain.

"RELEASE!"

The yell made him jolt, causing more pain, as the thrum of bowstrings sounded around him, followed by the throaty roar and screams of their enemies.

"I guess a spell won't matter now," the corpswoman mumbled as her hands moved to his chest.

"The ankle!" he gasped. "Please."

She looked at him with concern, but nodded. She laid her hands on his ankle and cast her spell, her hands glowing as the pain in his ankle faded to something manageable. She removed her hands to reveal most of the bruising had faded, now an ugly yellow and brown.

He rolled and moved to raise himself to his feet, fighting against the tightness of his chest to find the least painful way when hands grabbed hold of both his arms and lifted.

He looked to find Hiro holding him steady by one arm while Tenner stood by his other. He grimaced as he nodded, "Thanks."

"We need to get you back, you are not in fighting shape. Leave it to the Captain."

He scanned the area, taking stock of the situation.

The air rang with the clash of steel, the screams of the wounded, and desperate cries for medics--sounds he had grown all too accustomed to. But the weight of battle pressed against him. Pain, exhaustion, and the crash of adrenaline dragged at his limbs.

From his vantage point, several armswomen and a single armsman were visible, stepping from behind their cover to quickly aim and unleash another arrow. Stern and Olga were there, once again launching javelins into the fray, their supply running low. Dana stood beside Olga, eyes blazing with fury. She drew her bow farther than Jebidiah could have managed, loosing each arrow with a guttural grunt. Her red hair whipped wildly around her face, sweat, blood, and battle grime streaking her skin. For a moment, Jebidiah simply watched her--captivated by the raw beauty of motion and rage.

Tenner, still by his side, cast a spell that leapt through the air at an unseen foe. Vera stood behind her, scanning, her bow nocked and ready. He looked for Greta and Mila, finding neither, nor their First.

A fit of coughing overcame him, and he doubled over in pain. When it passed and he stood again, he found specks of blood on the hand he used to cover his mouth. That can't be good.

A roar of challenge--one that could not be dismissed--drew Jebidiah's attention. Stern stood with his giant axe in hand, arms stretched to his side, with his head leaned forward, bellowing the challenge, spittle flying from his mouth. It made the hairs on Jebidiah's neck rise.

Two of the dog beasts broke through the line of brush and charged Stern, who swung his axe to meet them. At the same time Vera loosed her bow, her arrow sinking into the head of one of the beasts while Stern's strike decapitated the other. "Fucking gnolls" was all she said as she drew another arrow from her quiver.

Olga's spear finished off their foes but more and more poured from the woods. More orcs, gnolls, and a couple goblins charged into the defenders, who dropped their bows, turning his surroundings into a huge melee brawl. Jebidiah drew his sword orc as two opponents sped towards his group, but Hiro broke their charge. Despite the pain, and with Vera's help, they dispatched the two goblins but, at the end, Hiro favored his one leg, more than a limp.

Stern roared his challenge again--this time, something answered. The ground trembled as a hulking form crashed through the foliage, towering over him. Until now, Stern and Olga had been the tallest warriors on the field, the gnolls barely coming close. But this beast dwarfed them all. Stern didn't even reach its shoulders.

An ogre.

Stern charged and the two clashed, the sweep of the ogre's club caught Stern's block but lifted him through the air anyways, throwing Stern several yards to land on his back. Olga screamed and sunk her spear in the ogre's side, but an answering backhand dazed her. She stumbled back, the spear still embedded in the beast's side. It brought its club down to pummel her, but Olga scrambled, barely dodging. Clods of dirt were thrown into the air from the club's impact.

Dana discarded her bow and leapt behind the beast, slashing at the back of its legs. The ogre roared in pain and kicked behind it, catching Dana fully with its ankle, sending her flying into the brush behind them.

Rage surged through Jebidiah, the image of Dana launching into the brush burned in his mind. He gritted his teeth, steeling himself for the coming pain. He gathered threads of magic--many, more than he had ever held. He had attempted the spell before, always failing. But this time, he seized his pain, his fury, and forced the threads to obey. The pattern locked into place. Roaring the words of power, he cast Lightning Bolt. Power surged before him and blasted the beast in the chest, staggering it a few paces as more magical darts from someone else's spell peppered its side. Olga managed to jab it again with a javelin she had picked up, but the ogre sent her sprawling with another backhand blow.

The ogre bellowed, hoisting its massive club overhead, beady eyes locking onto Jebidiah. Then it charged--each thundering footstep rattling the ground.

Jebidiah froze. He had faced death before--too many times. But this was different. The beast was too massive, its charge too fast. He had nothing left and he faced an inevitable death. Hiro limped before him to meet the charge but Jebidiah knew it was a vain gesture.

A bronze blur collided with the ogre, knocking it off course. It staggered, but Sift took the worst of it, ricocheting off its side and crashing to the dirt in a heap. Though thrown off by her impact, it quickly recovered to smash its massive club into Sift's back as she worked to regain her feet.

Jebidiah was exhausted. He had overextended his magic. All he could do was watch as Sift was crushed into the ground. Hiro limped forward to help, but paused, uncertain, as a thundering, swirling cloud began to form above the head of the beast.

The ground trembled again. A shadow streaked through the trees--Kelek's towering stallion charged, hooves pounding like war drums.

Greta.

She rode like a storm, spear braced like a lance, eyes locked on her target. The point sank into the ogre's side and she expertly released it, riding past, dodging a fist flung at her. As she passed, a small figure leapt from the horse onto the ogre's shoulder--Mila. She quickly plummeted her sword into the closest eye, then flipped backward, landing in a crouch, well away from the beast.

The ogre reared its head back to roar in pain, a sound so visceral most of the fighting stopped, the combatants turning to see what was happening. A jagged bolt tore from the storm above, a flash of light that burned an after image into Jebidiah's eyes, partly blinding him. The beast convulsed, locked in place, muscles bulging unnaturally. Its veins swelled, skin crackling with burning energy. Its greasy locks of hair burst into flames.

And then a spear burst through its chest, spraying blood from the wound. It toppled forward to reveal Stern, bloodied and bruised, body heaving with each breath. He tilted back his head and roared again, beating his chest as he did, no longer in challenge but now in triumph.

The attackers faltered. The defenders rallied, Stern's victory revitalizing their efforts. And suddenly it was over.

Jebidiah tore his gaze from the fallen ogre--only to find Hiro. Face down. Unmoving. A single arrow jutting from his shoulder.

Pain forgotten, Jebidiah stumbled forward. He dropped to his knees beside his friend, hands shaking as he reached for a pulse.

It was there. Weak. But there.

He leaned back on his haunches and hung his head as the exhaustion and pain washed over him again, before pushing himself back to his feet.

The chant swelled. "Valor! Valor!" Over and over, the name thundered across the battlefield.

Jebidiah barely heard it.

He staggered towards where Dana had vanished into the brush, pushing into the brambles, ignoring the thorns that tore at his skin. She lay within the thicket, her face looked serene. His voice was raw, hoarse with pain, and his emotions nearly broke as he cried for a medic, but the words would not come. His broken ribs fought as he struggled for the breath he required.

Hands gently tugged at him. A gentle voice urging him, "Your Grace, we have her, but we need room."

He backed out of the brambles, allowing others to take his place. He turned to the speaker, a young armswoman he did not know.

"Hiro," he said numbly.

She looked at him in confusion.

"Hiro needs help."

He stumbled back to where his First lay. And he faltered. Hiro's body was perfectly still, no hint of motion from his breathing. His knees gave out, and he crashed to the ground, unable to look away as two women rushed to Hiro's side. The one, a corpswoman, checked on Hiro then shook her head to the other.

Jebidiah's world shattered. He couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. His hands trembled toward Hiro's still body, helpless. A ragged sob tore from his throat--then another. His chest ached, ribs screaming, but he barely noticed. The world tilted, the sky spinning, the ground rising up to claim him.

The last thing he remembered was Crystal calling his name, her unanswered cries echoing in his head.

-- Somewhen, Somewhere --

Jebidiah's dreams were disjointed, flashes of images and sensations. Shouts. Screams. Smoke. The coppery taste of blood. The heat of flames.

Pain.

An impossibly large dwarf paced before him. He was old--even for a dwarf. His head and beard were once brown, they still retained the hint of it under his long grey and white hairs. Jebidiah felt impossibly small. His head barely reached the top of the dwarf's boots--he wasn't sure.

The dwarf stopped pacing, looking down at him.

"Do not mourn a true warrior. Honor him. You must be present at the service. You made an oath, do not fail."

Jebidiah felt a flicker of anger.

"Use that anger, Valor. An axe is as sharp as the stone that sharpens it. Your stone will break other's blades."

More flashes of images, thoughts, sensations.

Then Comlain was before him, another man at his side.

The two talked with each other, occasionally nodding toward him, discussing him like he wasn't there.

His anger pulsed, gaining strength.

Their faces swirled, merging into one--until suddenly Bora stood before him.

"Save my champion."

The unyielding demand in her voice only inflamed his anger.

She morphed into another, a woman he recognized but did not know her name.

"Beware Mylar. Beware Talon. Beware Faltha."

His rage consumed him. He struggled against what silenced him, his voice slowly gaining volume.

"Leave me... the fuck... alone! And leave mine... the FUCK... ALONE!"

Jebidiah woke with a start, bolting upright, shouting words he did not understand.

"Jeb! Jeb! It's okay. It's over." Tenner's voice was gentle, soothing--but it wavered slightly, betraying her worry.

Dana left an elf and rushed to his side, looking from him to Tenner. "What happened?"

Tenner shrugged. "He woke up shouting to leave him alone." She turned to look at Jebidiah, "bad dream?"

He wasn't looking at Tenner though--he only had eyes for Dana. An ugly bruise covered her face, her flaming red hair was dark, matted to that side of her head. Matted with dried blood.

His voice cracked. "I thought I'd lost you..."

Tenner and Dana tensed, afraid to say anything, to bring up the loss they knew he felt. He could see the emotions playing out in Dana's eyes, feel them in the bond.

Slowly, he looked around, bracing the pain. But there was none.

"Fuck, did you waste healing on me?"

"For fuck's sake, Jeb. Of course we healed you!" Dana's anger got the better of her, again.

"The Lady heals those I ask her to," Greta said. He turned to look at her, unaware she had joined their group.

"Are you okay, Greta? Did you get hurt?"

She just smiled and shook her head in response.

"Who..." He hesitated, not wanting to ask the question. He closed his eyes as he asked, "Who all did we lose?"

"From the initial attack, none of the squad made it back."

He nodded. "I need to talk to Montague about them. They were heroes, all of them."

"Meredith is missing as well."

His eyes shot open. "Any... any of the other First, besides... him? How bad is Michelle?"

Dana sighed. "Everyone has injuries, but they are accounted for. Michelle should recover. She was in a bad way, lost a lot of blood."

Something was off. They were holding something back.

"Who else?"

"Mila is fine--it didn't look like anything happened to her. Stern is pretty banged up, might have some scars."

"Who else?" He kept his voice calm but his anger was rising. He did not try to keep it from the bond.

"We... we don't know how bad Sift is."

He closed his eyes again and he deflated. The ogre's club was massive.

"She's not responding?"

Dana and Tenner exchanged furtive glances. "Just tell me."

"She's talking, but we can't understand her. She has... well, you'll have to see for yourself. Just prepare yourself."

He nodded and whispered to himself. "I can do this."

Standing on unsteady feet, he looked around again. The injured were everywhere, littering the area. Bloody bandages were the new uniform. He knew there were too many things he had to check, but indecision wracked him. He found himself unable to prioritize.

"Jeb?" Tenner gently touched his arm.

He shook himself and closed his eyes, blocking out the aftermath so he could think. "I need to find the Captain and Sift. Does anyone know who is closest?"

"Sift." Tenner answered immediately. He opened his eyes quick enough to catch a glare Dana had shot Tenner. Their attempts to keep something from him were wearing thin.

"Let's go take a look at her."

His feet were as unsteady as he expected. His ankle still ached--he wouldn't be marching anytime soon--and every breath stung, but overall, he felt much better. Better than most of the wounded they walked past. One of his armswomen sat against a tree, her left arm ending in a bloody swath of cloth. He could live with a few pains.

One thing was missing. Their attackers. "Where are all the orcs... and the rest?"

"They were collected."

Sift came into view, sitting against a tree, Kelek's First, Lana, pacing nearby... Sift sitting. His hackles rose. He stopped, drawing the others up short. "How long was I out?" He wasn't really asking--just buying time.

"Several hours, Jeb."

He steeled himself and resumed his pace, until he stood before Sift. She remained where she was, so he knelt, bringing himself to her eye level.

"Sift, can you understand me?"

Instead of her usual metallic voice, a string of nonsensical sound emerged. Sift jerkingly shook her head.

"Speech not working?"

Sift jerked her head in confirmation. Then, her arm shot forward, made a fist, and a single finger stretched out. Her movements were no longer fluid, like she had to perform each action separately. Her arm dropped, pushing her finger slightly into the ground at her side. She moved, drawing something in the dirt.

"A box? No..." Sift had drawn an upside U, the left side disconnected from the top. She hesitantly drew a smaller line to bisect the right side.

"Oh, seventeen?"

Sift nodded once.

"Seventeen... I feel like I should know that." He looked up to the others, most of them. Greta had wandered off. "Anyone?"

Dana and Tenner shrugged.

Sift had begun drawing again. She drew a larger box around the number seventeen, then drew a similar box beside it. Within that box she drew the number twelve.

His brow furrowed, he felt like the answer was right there in his mind, just waiting to burst forth. His anger flared.

Sift drew a simple design next, three curved lines that formed a symbol... fish. "A fish?" Sift nodded.

Everything clicked. "The fish for the ear. You need to go to Facility Twelve? Can you repair yourself there?"

Sift nodded.

He glanced up at Lana, who had never stopped pacing. "Corporal?"

She stopped, locking her gaze on his. "Your Grace?"

With some effort, he pushed himself up, bracing a hand against the tree above Sift's head. "You are agitated. Has Kelek done..." He whipped around with such speed he nearly lost his balance. He scanned the area again, almost frantically. "Where is she?"

"We cannot find her, Your Grace." She nodded toward Sift. "I thought it wise to wait by where she was most likely to show up."

He nodded, disturbed at Kelek's absence. He had grown accustomed to her doing whatever she wanted, regardless of what the plan was, it had not dawned on him she was still missing. He checked his bond but came up empty.

"This is probably the best place for it." He turned back to the others. "Okay, there's not much more we can do here. Where is the Captain?"

"She was in the glade."

He oriented himself then set off.

Dana coughed. "Uh, Jeb? It's this way."

Tenner raised a brow. "You sure you're ready for this?"

He smiled, nodded, and changed direction. They walked in silence--relative silence, as the entire area was filled with the moans and cries of the wounded. A keening wail behind them caused them all to pause and turn.

Kelek had emerged from somewhere and stopped to stare at Sift. Kelek was badly injured--severely by the looks of it. Her one arm hung limp, her leg on that side had flaps of thick skin hanging down, exposing the muscle beneath, bits of stick and brush embedded in the meat. Her good arm clutched a bundle--something wrapped in layers of cloth, something that moved. The bundle slowly slipped from her grasp, like her hand had lost the ability to grip, and it fell slowly to the ground.

Jebidiah turned back, closing the distance just as Lana began yelling for a medic. Kelek limped toward Sift so he adjusted his direction to meet her. The odd wail was coming from her, and as he drew closer, he was shocked to see she was crying.

"Kelek." She ignored him as she hissed something to Sift.

"KELEK." That got her attention. She turned to him then, and he noticed she was missing some teeth. "Kelek, she is injured but we have a chance to fix her."

Kelek froze at his words. He could see her mind working through what he said. "Friend." She hissed out. "Ssssave friend."

"Yes, Kelek, we will."

Kelek reached out with her good arm and pulled Jebidiah against her, in a crushing... hug? The motion was so out of character, he was too stunned to react. Then her bond opened, and grief slapped him--a grief nearly equal to his own. But beneath it, a flicker of hope. Confidence. It shocked him at first, then grounded him, humbled him even, the realization that others were grieving as much as he did.

He hugged her back as best he could, and she sank her head into his shoulder. Even in his wildest fantasies, he never imagined tenderness from her.

Kelek withdrew as someone tried to get their attention with a quiet cough. Jebidiah glanced to see a corpswoman standing near, timid, afraid to disrupt the moment. "I need to tend her wounds, Your Grace."

Kelek ignored the woman, keeping her gaze locked onto Jebidiah. He turned back to her, patted her good shoulder. "We'll get this sorted out, Kelek. You have my word. You're family after all. So is Sift."

"Jeb, Friend." Her simple statement carried a flood of... things through the bond. More than emotions. Things clicked for Jebidiah and he realized that to Kelek, Friend was a title, a badge of honor. He now understood why Sift always said 'Friend Kelek.' It meant respect, family, and so much more, all bundled up into the closest word his language had for it.

A cry drew his attention, quickly followed by several shouts. An elf, Holone by the looks of it, was examining the bundle that Kelek had dropped. It wriggled on the ground, emitting a hissing noise. Dana moved over to see what was going on, when enough of the bundle came loose for a black, furry feline head to poke out. It was big--about twice the size of a house cat. The midnight black fur had sheens of black and purple as it moved.

It hissed at Holone and struggled more, getting one foreleg out, then the other. Then another, and a... tentacle? It was definitely a tentacle, jutting from just behind the front shoulder, a thick pad at the end, covered in what looked like thicker hair. With enough of its body free, it sprang from the bundle, making Holone leap clear.

The cat ended up being closer to three times the size of a normal cat. Its body was elongated. Giving it enough room to support the extra set of legs in its midsection. With its back arched, hair raised in spikes, it whipped its head from side to side, hissing at everyone surrounding it. By now it truly was surrounded, the commotion having drawn a circle of spectators. It stopped its motion once, to lock gazes with Jebidiah, the glowing green eyes staring at him with hatred. The eyes brought back a memory. The crushing weight breaking his ribs during the battle. His hand moved to touch the gouges in his armor.

"Kitty"

Jebidiah tore his gaze from the feline beast to look at Kelek with surprise.

"Kitty. No eatssssss."

"I don't think..." His words were cut short when a chorus of gasps filled the air.

His head whipped around to see the cat had now locked eyes with Dana. And stopped hissing.

It lowered its head and took some tentative steps towards her. To her credit, Dana stood her ground.

"What the fuck! Jeb! What do I do?"

"I wouldn't run. This might suck, but see what it does, it's acting calmer."

"Suck? Easy for you to say. If this tries to eat me, sucking is the last thing I'll be doing for you."

The situation was too tense for anyone to laugh at the humor. The beast crept closer, growing bolder with each step. When it reached her feet, its gaze left hers and it rubbed a head against her boot.

"Bora's tits, pet it, Dana!" Tenner's exclamation made Dana start and the cat reared back some, looking up at her again.

"I swear by all the Divines if this goes badly I will make all your lives miserable."

Dana hesitantly reached down and scratched behind its ear. The cat pushed back into her response.

"Its fucking purring!" The shock in Dana's voice was replaced by one of wonder. "What do I do with it?"

Holone said something in Elvish, but there was nobody to translate. He sounded disturbed.

"I don't know Dee. I'll leave it to you to figure out. Just... watch out for those tentacles." He turned back to the corpswoman who was picking things out of Kelek's wounds. "Do you have this in hand?"

Her voice was shaky. "I believe so, Your Grace. I will do what I can."

He turned his gaze back to Kelek. "Kitty?"

Kelek tried to shrug, an always difficult motion for her, but her limp arm turned the gesture comical. "Danassss kitty."

Holone was growing agitated, Elvish streaming from his mouth rapidly, frustrated no one could understand him.

Jebidiah sighed and turned, heading back in his original direction toward the glade. There was an opportunity to mess with Dana, but he had gone through too much, his humor was dark and grey. Tenner moved to follow him but turned her head to speak to Dana as they left. "I think Holone is saying you're going to have to clean up after your cat."

Dana made a rude gesture as the black beast curled atop her feet.

Jebidiah stepped through a break in the foliage, entering the quiet glade. Only Tenner remained at his side. The remaining vegetation muffled the sounds of his armswomen, leaving the area eerily serene. The silence suited his somber mood.

To his right he saw a group of armswomen, Captain Montague's shock of white hair visible in their midst. Stern and Olga towered over them, both sporting the new uniform of bloody bandages. To his left, at the other end of the glade, was a pile of bodies. It was unsettling to notice two of the bodies dwarfed the rest. Ogres. He never saw the second.

He stepped up to the group of women, and the discussion ceased as every set of eyes turned to him. Tenner gasped as, in one fluid motion, the entire group of armswomen dropped to one knee, heads bowed in deference. Beyond them was the line of cloth wrapped bodies. Too many of them--much more than they left at the outpost.

"Your Grace."

Their display of respect stunned him. He stammered, struggling to formulate a response.

"I am no man to kneel to, Captain. Ladies."

They began to rise, but Montague was shaking her head with a rueful smile. "You are exactly who we should be kneeling to. We are your shield."

Her words were repeated by the others, their tone reverent.

"And Valor is the axe."

Smiles filled his audience.

"It was a great victory, Your Grace."

Jebidiah scoffed. Montague stiffened at his response.

"Please, Captain, I am not trying to detract from your victory, nor disparage what your women accomplished. It just..." His gaze moved over the line of white in the grass, settling one on off to the side, separated from the rest. "It came with great costs. Costs I wasn't prepared to pay." He shook himself and returned his attention to the Captain. "No, Captain, your troops fared better than I could have hoped. My worst fear had been more orcs than we estimated, but this..." He gestured toward the other end of the glade and fell silent.

"The bards will sing of Bravo Company for generations, Captain."

Montague turned in surprise at Tenner's compliment, "Why thank you, my Lady."

"I count thirty. Is that the full toll?" Jebidiah's gaze roamed over the line of dead again.

"In truth, we only lost twelve more." He involuntarily winced at the number.

He mumbled to himself. "Pray we never reach the point where we always regard this loss as 'only'."

"Forgive me, Your Grace."

He looked back at the Captain. "There's nothing to forgive. You have only my thanks and admiration." His voice rose. "All of you. Anyone can be a warrior. Anyone can put on armor, grab a sword, and hack away at someone they don't like. But you, you are soldiers, my soldiers, every one of you. No warrior can match what you did today." A cheer rose from the gathering. He contemplated stopping them, but instead decided to let them celebrate something. He nodded to the Captain. "If we could have a word?"

"Of course, Your Grace." She separated from the crowd and followed Jebidiah and Tenner over to the dead.

"There's more than twelve lying here. I'm not questioning you, just confused."

"The rest are the elves, Your Grace. After the first wave rushed the glade, the two ogres were slow to keep pace. They left the safety of the trees to rush one of them. Nearly all lying here fell to the beast. It was a brave sacrifice, their children were already safe."

"The children." He grimaced. With everything that had happened, he had nearly forgotten why they were there. "Where are they?"

"The elves took their wounded and children and left. Only two remain that I've seen."

He looked at Tenner. "Remind me, I have to see how Idril is. Her injuries looked pretty bad."

"Idril? I did not see her at all."

"We stopped to speak with her and Holone during our retreat. Sift had gone back to help her, that's why she was late to the fight. Holone might know, but language is suddenly a huge issue again." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Two steps forward and a giant fucking leap back."

He furrowed his brow, thinking. "Ten, do you know where Michelle is? How much healing was done?"

Tenner nodded her head back toward where they had come.

"She's back with the walking wounded. Mobile, but I'm not sure what her status is."

He sighed, regretting his next steps. "We need to gather everyone, find enough horses. Can you go tell the others?"

Tenner nodded and took off.

Montague was about to speak but Jebidiah cut her off. "Captain, how long until you can march?"

"Your Grace..." the conflict in her answer was mirrored on her face. She let out a heavy sigh. "I can have whoever is capable ready in an hour. However, I had to send a few back north to gather up Holland's squad, and I'll need to leave some able hands to help with the dead and wounded--plus most of the corpswomen."

"Relax, Captain. Our paths diverge here." She stiffened at his words.

"Your Grace, we still have fight left in us."

"This is not a dismissal, Captain. Not after everything your company has sacrificed. I need you to recover everyone here and get the wounded and fallen back to the outpost. By now, those we left behind should be in better shape. Consolidate what you can, set a guard for the bodies, and then ride for Mylar Keep. If you're still itching for a fight, you'd best not be late."

She nodded in response. "I think the girls will accept that. They won't be happy, but they'll accept it. We won't let you down, Your Grace."

He patted her on the shoulder as he stepped away. "You haven't yet, Captain, and I can't imagine you ever would."

He walked on as Montague turned and began issuing orders. His feet brought him to that lone shrouded figure, grass gently swaying around it in the breeze.

He knelt, placing a hand on the covered chest. "Rest well, my friend. Uther's light guide you."

He rose back to his feet, still staring down at Hiro's body. "Comlain. If you can hear me, know this--one day, you will answer for what you have done."

He stood over Hiro's body for a moment longer, his hand clenching into a fist. Then, without another word, he turned and strode into the trees.

A few hours later, a somber group of thirteen made their way to the east, Lana and Vera taking point while Melissa and Olga stationed themselves at the rear. Their party had been reduced to Jebidiah, his wives and Stern, their remaining Firsts, and the elf, Holone. They organized themselves into pairs--Mila with Greta, Jebidiah with Tenner, Kelek with Stern, and Dana with Holone--while Michelle hovered near Jebidiah. There was one additional member, a bundle of black fur, pacing beside their horses, seemingly tireless.

Jebidiah studied the displacer as it trotted along, tentacles testing the air, amazed at its resilience. "Where does it get all that energy?"

Nobody had an answer, of course.

Kelek hissed something in reply, but he couldn't understand her. Sift's absence had already left a gaping hole in his spirit--but losing her abilities was nearly crippling. He could sense Kelek's frustration as well, their shared grief having finally strengthened their connection.

Tenner was trying to chat with Greta early in the journey, asking how she would portray the battle in her ballad, but Greta only looked confused.

"Why would I do that?"

Tenner opened and closed her mouth, eyes glistening with tears as she struggled for words. Greta ignored her and turned to Mila, starting up a different conversation.

Jebidiah leaned over to Tenner. "We'll get to the bottom of this, Ten. The Divine have much to answer for."

Tenner wiped her nose on her sleeve.

"Bardssss broke."

Jebidiah turned in his saddle to look back at Kelek. "We'll fix it, Friend Kelek."

Tenner laughed through her tears. "Oh Divine, not you too!"

His gaze snapped back to Tenner. "Shh. This is important."

Tenner wiped at the snot in her nose on her sleeve. "If you say so." At least her mirth had stemmed her tears.

Dana spent her time cursing at her new, fuzzy companion, exasperation clinging to her as persistently as the cat.

"Why did I get stuck with this thing? What Divine decided to punish me so?"

Tenner laughed some more. "You should have paid more attention in Druid class."

Dana glared at her.

"Maybe we can find a beginner's guide for Druids somewhere."

Dana's glare turned to slits. Jebidiah noticed the cat had now focused on Tenner, the hairs on its back raising.

"Ah, Ten," he nodded towards the cat. "Perhaps we shouldn't antagonize Dana right now."

Dana looked down at the cat, and gave a small smile at the posture. "Well, I guess it can be useful. Good kitty."

Jebidiah would swear to his dying day that the cat managed to smile back at her.

He left Tenner's side, slowing his mount, until he drew next to Kelek, who looked down and nodded her head in acknowledgement.

"Kelek, we'll figure something out for the language issue, but can you tell me why you brought us that cat?" He pointed to the displacer which was dashing along the line of horses.

Kelek snorted. "Not badsss."

Jebidiah sighed. "Not bad? Good? I'm not sure 'not bad' is the right description for that cat. But honestly, Friend Kelek--why bring it to us?"

Kelek shook her head. "Not badsss." She then made a show of laughing.

He was stunned. "It was a joke?"

Kelek concentrated for a minute, and he began to see a series of images through their bond. Common house cats in a city, what looked like Soldier's Rest. Several cats cycled one after another. Then a new cycle of images, his wives, their faces angry.

"No eatsss. Kitty not badsss." Kelek shrugged. "Was there. Siftsss..." Her voice trailed off. Jebidiah had been around Kelek long enough to have learned a lot of her body language, but he wasn't sure what was passing across her face.

She reached into one of her pouches and retrieved what looked like a glass bauble. Nestled in her palm, its details obscure--until threads of magic coalesced around it. Kelek began a monotonous hissing chant that Jebidiah realized was a spell. The strands of magic coalesced into a pattern, shrunk onto the object in her hand, and then quickly expanded to encompass Kelek's head.

"Better. Magic over soon." Her speech pattern was different, none of the slurring accent present.

"You have a translation spell? Why have you never used it?"

"Friend Sift not hard. Friend Sift does not bad work. Magic strong. Die soon."

"So a difficult spell to cast? I may have to sit down with you and learn it. Thank you for expending the effort to cast it."

Kelek waved dismissively. "Friend Jeb." She acted like the phrase explained everything.

"I appreciate the title, Friend Kelek. I think I understand what it means."

Kelek nodded, looking pleased.

"But, back to this beast, let me see if I got this right. Because everyone told you not to eat pet cats, you brought... that to us? In the middle of a battle?"

"Kitty not bad. Kitty not bad warrior. Kitty not hurt Dana. Kelek told."

"Told? You were told to bring the beast to us? Who?"

Kelek shrugged in reply and pointed to the sky.

"The Divines? Which one, do you know?"

Kelek hissed out a long word in response, as though that alone should answer him. Maybe it did.

"Was that a name?" Jebidiah asked, curiosity overriding his consternation.

Kelek nodded. "Night hunter."

Jebidiah sighed. It would take time to figure out which of the Divines she was referring to.

"Kelek need know."

Jebidiah wasn't sure what to make of her statement. "What does Friend Kelek need to know?"

"Friend Jebidiah leash." She made a pulling gesture in the air, as if trying to lift something unseen between them.

"The bond?"

"Bond. Yes." She gestured to the others around them. "Everyone leash. Bad. Not not bad."

Jebidiah kept his silence, waiting to see where Kelek was headed.

"Crystal not bad. Dana not bad. Dana angry. Angry not bad... maybe bad. Tenner not bad. Tenner not strong, maybe bad. Greta broken. Bad. Much bad." She pointed at the sky for emphasis.

Shocked, Jebidiah cut in. "You can tell what the Divines have done?"

Kelek shook her head, then paused. She finally shrugged. "Not words."

"You know but can't explain?"

Kelek shrugged. Jebidiah was growing agitated at the language barrier, missing Sift all the more. He fought against his emotions, staying as calm as he could.

"Short ones, Joy. Mila." Kelek stopped speaking, her eyes narrowed. She pointed behind her towards Greta and Mila? "Mila?"

Jebidiah hesitated, then nodded.

Kelek nodded to herself, satisfied.

"Friend Kelek, you cannot harm Mila."

Kelek shrugged. "Clutchling."

"What does clutching mean?"

"Same clutch. Egg mate."

"You mean family?"

Kelek shrugged again, "Not words."

Slowly Jebidiah was catching on. Kelek's language lacked certain words, and therefore some of the concepts behind them. Good, joke, funny, maybe even humor was lumped into 'not bad' and she was missing words for other concepts altogether. She was sharing her evaluations of his family.

"Shirley?"

"Shirley not bad. Shirley strong. Maybe, Friend Shirley."

That was news to him. He had not known the two had interacted much.

"Stern?"

Kelek laughed, glancing at stern before returning her gaze to Jebidiah. "Stern big Stern. Not bad. Big warrior. Big fight." She mimicked her hand coming down on top of something and made a strange noise, not quite a squishing sound. She laughed some more. Stern snickered.

Jebidiah laughed. "Okay, so that's all the clutchlings. What now?"

"Leash." Kelek made the same motion of picking up something. "Leash big not hate. Kelek hate."

Jebidiah frowned. He had been following her speech so far--at least, he thought he had. But now? This made no sense.

"But kitty not bad, Crystal not bad, Dana not bad. Why is 'big not bad'... bad?"

Kelek let out a frustrated hiss. "Leash big not hate. Kelek fight. Kelek big fight. Kelek not big not hate."

It wasn't a lot of words, but it was a lot to process. Jebidiah considered it, turning her meaning over in his mind.

"Okay... maybe peaceful? You like to fight, but there's no fight in the bond? So when it's this 'big not hate'--that's bad?"

Kelek huffed, more agitated. "Not words."

"Love."

Stern's voice caught Jebidiah off guard. He had not realized Stern was fully listening.

"Sorry, Jeb. You guys were getting loud, didn't mean to listen in."

"It's okay, big guy, but what do you mean by 'love'?"

Stern shrugged. "Kelek is saying she hates the love in the bond. I mean, it's always there. Sometimes it can be a bit much, even when you're used to it."

Kelek hissed in reply. "Big hill right."

Jebidiah couldn't help it and laughed. "Big hill? Like a mountain? Stern, you may have a new nickname."

Stern grinned. "I'd take that one."

Jebidiah contemplated Kelek again. "Okay, so the love disturbs you. Wait, you said 'not words'. You don't have a word to describe love?"

Kelek shook her head. "Not words."

Jebidiah's voice turned incredulous. "Is that why you always shut off your bond?"

"Kelek hates big not hate."

"But Friend Kelek, you have big not hate for Sift?"

Kelek stiffened, she managed to make her answer angry and terse. "Different. Not big not hate."

Jebidiah just nodded in response, a grin on his face. "I'll consider this information, Friend Kelek. We'll find an answer for you."

"Jeb Friend." He noticed the magic threads fade from her head.

"I guess the spell's over. Can you show me how it works tomorrow?"

Kelek nodded.

Jebidiah felt a tug at one of the bonds--Dana. He glanced over his shoulder to where she rode, the beast keeping pace beside her. A strange expression darkened her face. Guilt.

He nodded to Kelek again and allowed his horse to slow its pace, falling in beside Dana.

"What's up Dee?"

She hesitated, looking sheepish.

"Oh, this should be good. Just come on and say it, Dee. It can't be that bad."

She let out a long sigh before speaking, "Sorry. I'm just... you remember how I used to say I kept things back--things I never told anyone? So that someday I could pull them out and surprise everyone--like 'Ha, thought you knew me, didn't you?' sort of thing?"

He nodded but remained silent, letting her build momentum.

"Well, I was just watching you talk to Kelek, and since she was speaking clearer, I figured there was magic involved?"

"Yes, she used a translation spell."

"Do you think you can learn it and, I don't know... fake it?"

Jebidiah's brows furrowed. "Dee, what in the world are you getting at?"

She huffed, exasperated. "I know a lot of Elvish and I need to talk to Holone, but I don't know how I can do that without looking like an ass because I could speak it already, but I never let him or anyone else know, so if you could just fake casting a spell every so often so I can go, 'huh, now I can speak Elvish', this would work out much better."

Jebidiah stared at her for a moment, "Holy minotaur shit, Dee, have you been taking lessons from Joy?"

Dana blushed, then scowled.

"I mean, I don't think you even took a breath just now."

"I'm not in the mood for this, Jeb."

He laughed, feeling some of the tension slip away. "I'm not laughing at you, Dana. Just... in your general direction."

She swung a fist toward his shoulder. He dodged easily, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

"Okay, okay. I have a solution."

That stopped Dana short, pausing her next attack. "What?" Her voice was a strange mix of anger and hope.

Jebidiah kept his gaze locked on Dana but raised his voice to address someone behind him. "Holone!"

A moment later, he heard hooves beside him as Holone drew near.

Jebidiah looked over to Holone. "Do you understand me?"

Holone raised a hand, making the universal gesture for 'a little'.

Jebidiah nodded, then pointed at Dana. "She speaks Elvish."

Holone's eyes widened.

Jebidiah grinned and spurred his horse forward, leaving Dana behind.

"Fuck you, Jeb!" Dana's angry shout and the equally pissed-off hiss of the cat followed his retreat.

He caught up to Michelle, who was lost in thought, her expression heavy. Normally, a distracted guard would be cause for concern, but given the circumstances, he couldn't blame her.

"How are you doing Michelle?"

She startled in her saddle, "Your Grace, forgive me."

His voice hardened. "Corporal Simmons."

She braced at the use of her rank, expecting a reprimand.

"I don't want to have to start this conversation over again." His tone softened. "It's just Jeb. Maybe even Jebidiah, if you're mad at me."

A small smile escaped.

"Seriously, Corporal." His voice carried a sharper edge. "I know his absence is hitting us all hard, but I'm afraid I need you to step up."

Her brow furrowed. "Your Grace?--Jeb?"

"I need a First of the First. Until you prove me wrong, you're it."

Her eyes widened. "But... Jeb, the Captain decides that."

Jebidiah smirked. "The Captain isn't here. I am. And if you've been paying attention, you should know by now that asking permission isn't exactly my style."

That drew a larger smile. "I think that's been well established."

The smile faded quickly.

"Unless you're not ready." He hesitated. "But I really need you, Michelle. You can handle Dana--and you can handle this."

Michelle inhaled deeply, then squared her shoulders. "I won't let you down, Your Grace."

She winced at her words.

"I won't let you down, Jeb."

He nodded. "I'll try to get us back before the ceremony."

Regret hit him immediately. The shift in her expression betrayed her grief.

"The preservation spells last for tendays, Jeb. If I miss his ceremony, it'll only be because I'm part of it."

He reached out and placed a hand on her arm. "Let's make sure that doesn't happen. There's only so much grief I can handle."

They rode in silence for a few miles. Just as he was readying himself to rejoin Tenner, Michelle spoke again.

"He loved you like a son, you know."

Her words struck like a hammer blow. He swallowed the lump in his throat. His mouth was dry when he spoke, voice creaking. "He was one of my best friends. It took time to realize how much. I resented him at first--fought against his advice. I think... just to fight him, not because he was wrong."

She nodded. "He told me." A sad smile settled on her face. "Used to curse your name. Curse the Divines for saddling him with you. But in the same breath, he'd say:" She lowered her voice in an attempt to mimic Hiro's. "'At least he has enough spine to handle women.'"

Her silence after was laced with sadness. After a moment, she quietly added, "And you do."

She smirked. "We used to make bets about what your women would allow you to get away with. He always bet on you... always."

Jebidiah mulled over the thought. "How often did he lose?"

Michelle grinned. "Now, what fun would it be to tell you that?"

He laughed, but the weight of loss pressed down again.

"Thank you, Michelle."

She tilted her head. "For?"

"Everything. Mostly just... thank you for the words. I wasn't sure how to start processing his absence."

She smiled sadly. "We are your shield."

He nodded. That phrase kept adding more meanings, becoming part of his soul.

"Uther's own."

Jebidiah barely had time to register the warmth of the moment before Crystal's voice burst into his mind.

"Jeb! I need you!"

His spine stiffened. "Is everything okay, Crys?"

"We're camped near the fort. I didn't want to approach it after what you said about the outpost. Something's wrong. We've got lookouts posted--keeping an eye on what's happening, staying out of sight."

"Smart. What did you see?"

"Jeb... there're fucking orcs going in and out of the fort. With the guard. And not just them--goblins, kobolds, gnolls. Even a couple bugbears. We had to pull back our scouts. The gnolls track too well."

A cold weight settled in his gut. "Shit. I half expected the fort would be overrun, but this? Siding with the orcs? That's worse than I feared."

"It gets worse, Jeb. They just pulled a young elf from the fort--took them toward the village."

His heart pounded. "One of the elven children? But we rescued them all."

"Not the first set. They must be here. But I have no idea how many are left--or how much time we have."

Jebidiah clenched a fist. "Keep watching. No heroics. I've lost too many already. There are more forces moving into the area, keep an eye out for them and hold them to the south of the fort, out of sight if that's possible. We need to put together a plan."

"Okay, Jeb. Just hurry it up. I've got a bad feeling--"

"Crys?" After a few more seconds he tried again. "Crys!"

The bond was empty. No response.

Fear flooded him.

"FUCK!"

All eyes turned toward his shout of frustration. He ignored them, kicking his horse into a full gallop.

"WE RIDE!"

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