Fearless

dai 38 shō

“We could be moving now, if that deity hadn’t taken over Oathbreaker.” Einkapf muttered, glaring at the sky. “Oathbreaker, what a fitting name, for someone who has broken many oaths in the past.” Ron said, looking into the fire, undoubtedly troubled by his part in the prophecy. “You know her from somewhere?” Parly asked. Ron looked over at Iris, who glared at him. “We met a long time ago, back in my youth, she taught me how to fight, showing me that size didn’t matter in swordplay. In all honesty, however, if she didn’t, I would have ended up killing myself practicing.” Ron said finally, looking back at the flames. “It is wise to rest, we have a long road ahead tomorrow.” Parly said. Krom blew out the fire and the group all tucked themselves into their bedding. “Ron, is that you?” Came a voice from the predawn light filtered through the trees. “Dere?” Ron said back. “Thank goodness, can you please tell your friend to stand down.” Dere replied. Ron’s eyes had grown accustomed to the dim light, and looking over he saw Oathbreaker standing, with shimmering daggers drawn, the symbol of Hefira blazing an one’s hilt, and the other’s blade, a blazing depiction of a map and hourglass. “Oath, relax, he’s a friend, though what he’s doing here I’m not sure.” Ron said, standing up and motioning for Oathbreaker to sheathe her daggers. “I heard that you’d found where they’re keeping Rachel, you know, the townspeople whispering about the voice of the forests and happening to see you.” Dere said. It was at that moment that Oathbreaker drove her daggers into  Dere’s chest. “What have you done Oathbreaker?!” Ron said, staggering at the sight. “Relax, this isn’t your friend, look closely.” She replied. Looking closer, Ron could see that instead of his friend, there was instead a ghoulish figure wrapped in cloth, half skeletal, half rotten flesh. “What is that?” He asked. “A wraith, it was waiting till I sheathed my blades to attack. Wraiths will take the form of people dear to members of the group if confronted by an armed victim.” Oathbreaker said. “So how did you know what it was?” Ron asked. “It took the form of Elra, apparently not realizing that Elra is dead.” Oathbreaker stated simply. “There’s Wraiths in this forest? Why haven’t we been attacked before then?” Parly asked as he donned his gear. “Something other than the influence at the center of these forests scared this one into us.  Which unfortunately means that we have stepped into a minefield, Wraiths on one side, whatever scared this one to us on another, and the CGB dead ahead.” Oathbreaker said. “So we keep at least one pair of eyes open at all times.” Iris said, walking over to the group, hair still wet from a cold shower in the creek.