The Wilting Ballad

27

"What do we do with him?" Asked Neania, slinging her treasured satchel over her blue cloak. She had put on her spare shirt under her cloak and hands his father's old black ones to Jlyn, who had been without a shirt for longer than he care to admit. She braids her bright hair in two for the special occasion, her blade strapped on her right thigh instead of her usual behind-the-waste style.

'The hardest part of a fight is entering the fight' she recalled her father's word and have, quite controversially, found him to be wrong. She, for one, cannot wait to enter the fight, perhaps it was because she was to face her father's killer.

Jlyn was standing beside her arms folded, still barefooted below his newly given shirt, they had become quite inseparable. After Jejtsu and Semariv Serpari and himself shared all that they knew, they had come up with a rather reckless plan to infiltrate the party at Moss Island, by wearing burlap sacks to blend in.

Vanacius glare nervously at the mortals who, unfortunately, held his fate in their dirty hands. Try as he might, he cannot break free from their binds.

"Do your thing on him." Berick said to Semariv, looming threateningly at the man who supposedly was the representation of war.

Cassav and Jejtsu nod agreeably, "There isn't much choice, is there? Other than to turn him into one of those gorgeous pillars all three of his friends have turned to." Said the latter, admiring the new third yellow pillar that was Shick. "It's a shame this too isn't white like the two ladies of your little group. But it accurately matches the colour of his teeth so... who am I to complain?"

Vanacius scoff, "Interesting as it sounds to be sealed for many millenniums... I overheard that little plot of yours... and posing as assassins from Moss and surreptitiously assassinating everyone until you get to the Ill-Fated One Himself? I am sorry to break it to you but..." He laughs snidely, "It will not stop the prophecy at play. And. You. Will. Lose."

"Can I use that?" Cassav asked Neania, gesturing at the sheathed blade on her thigh.

Reluctantly unsheathing it, Neania handed her the sharp thing. She took it and drove it through Vanacius' shoulder, much to the appalled look on the faces of her friends. The tip of the blade piercing through the bones of his ribs, shrieking like he was alone in an island. "Next one goes through your throat. Now, that may not kill you but let me assure you, you will lose that sweet voice of yours." She draws out the blade, its silver steel marred with cloggy substance, she wiped it with a piece of cloth and threw it at the ocean.

"There's no need for that, Cas. He'll soon be sealed like the rest of them." Jejtsu said calmly, taking Neania's blade from her and handing it back to its rightful owner.

His amused vexed giggle was poison to the ears, "Oh, don't you understand it yet... he's not sealing me. Why don't you tell them, my new friend." Vanacius said to Semariv.

It seems as though twelve eyes of very different colours were gazing at the depths of his soul. This is the part I like most. Semariv thought sarcastically to himself, he sighed, straightening his back. "I have a theory... Hal'odmyrtu has been set, as you are all well aware. I have a theory that should we detached the jewel, we might be able to stop His plan... and hopefully, stop Him." He turns strikingly to face their destination. He whirls around and pointed at Vanacius, "And that man there knows where it is and is willing to assist us."

Semariv would not lie if he admitted to expecting a more dramatic response, if they felt disgruntled by the words he had spoken, they were doing an exceptional job at hiding it.

Jejtsu gazes around at the others from one another before replying to him with the simplest of word, "Fine."

"Bloody hell, that was easy. A lot of persuasions occurred in my head when I imagined having this conversation with you lot." Semariv said, clapping his hands. "Now then..." He strode before Vanacius, he murmured a word and free him from his bind. "Now then, Vanacius, open the Doorway of Ill and lead us to your master. Should you try anything funny? I seal you on the spot."