Neledh || ONC 2023

Chapter 8 | Eira

Wybaldicon, as the centaur was called, had dragged her into an alley, only moments before the guards made their next round.

A few years ago Eira was asked by Themis to find out more information about a certain group of warlocks. They had made some questionable moral decisions and Themis wanted to know if they would become a problem in the future.

Eira had proceeded, by creating a new identity and infiltrated the group under a new name. There had been some setbacks as she was no warlock, and could therefore not perform the same magic as them.

Until a few hours ago it had gone perfectly well, as she had assumed the role of an eager supporter of their clause. But she feared her cover had been blown with the arrival of the bosses of the group, the more fanatic supporters of the deity they wanted to bring back to power.

Eira was ruthless, or at least could act that way when necessary. Unfortunately for her cover, that didn't mean she was also cruel to other harmless beings.

Someone who had wandered into the wrong part of a magical city and had been caught up in the schemes of the warlocks. He had been brought in front of the leaders. Who had set up something that resembled a sacrificial circle, for Eira to stand down.

She had created a diversion by setting a storage room ablaze. In the resulting chaos, she had cut the bounds of the centaur and rushed them outside.

They were in the hole of the lion. Surrounded from all sides in a city under control of the warlocks.

One way in, one way out.

The gate was heavily guarded. And once the people inside the building saw that their sacrificial lamb was gone, was everyone within the town's borders notified. No one would be allowed exit nor entrance till the traitors had been found.

This of course made life all the more difficult. Though she couldn't deny the adrenaline rush that made her feel more alive than she had felt in centuries.

That was how Eira found herself in the company of Wybaldicon, hiding within the darkness of an alley. The air seemed to be loaded with electricity. The crickets hadn't shut up since Eira had set a foot outside the building, muffling any and all sounds the fugitives produced.

"You-"

Eira immediately slammed a hand over Wybaldicon's mouth. The guards may have passed their alley, but that didn't mean they should announce their locations to everyone.

"Quiet," she hissed.

As long as they didn't need to speak, they should stay in complete silence. Eira was racking her brain for a way out, that didn't involve a bloodbath.

"But-"

If looks could kill, Wybaldicon would be very dead.

"I know a way out."

Eira backed off after that, as that was indeed quite important information. She didn't know a way out so if this person was confident in his abilities to bring them to safety, she would gladly follow his advice.

Though she was curious what his plan was. He hadn't spent a lot of time within the city after all, so how he had time to find an exit, she wasn't certain about.

Wybaldicon led them through the alleys till they were as far from the gate as possible, and Eira was getting more irritated with the minute. This was not leading them to safety, but to an early grave.

Yes, the warlocks wouldn't be looking for them this far away from the exit. As it was the farthest away from the exit. And fugitives would be trying to get out, not try to stay inside. Cornered on all sides.

"This. Is not a way out. What are you doing?"

Eira usually tried a bit harder to not be unnecessarily mean to civilians during her jobs, but this centaur was testing her patience. She had let a long time project slip between her fingers to save him. The least he could do was, being honest about his abilities to get them out.

"I know what I'm doing. I just need to get in contact with my family."

After a few painful minutes of Wybaldicon talking to a wall without getting an answer back. And Eira getting increasingly angry, was the silence broken by a soft buzzing sound.

Eira was tapping her foot against the cobblestones as the buzzing got louder and louder, drowning out the crickets.

They hadn't yet attracted the attention of the guards. And if Wybaldicon had known this would have happened, then it became a lot more logical they were this far away from the gate. But that didn't take away the anxiety that was building, as whatever that would get them out of here was yet to be seen.

She hadn't thought it a moment too soon, as a portal appeared where moments before only a wall had been.

"See, I told you I knew what I was doing."

Eira had yet to see actual results. Because a portal was really nice, but could it also deliver and safely transport them to their destination.

She had never put much trust into them, even though she regularly used them. Once they had landed her in an embarrassing situation and after that she had regarded them with some healthy suspicion.

"My family has a caster, so it is a straight way home for me. But I don't think you're interested in that, so I asked them to take us to the closest human town. You'll be able to find your way to safety then, right?"

Eira nodded and was without further ado swept from her feet. Once the swirling had stopped and her stomach had settled, was Wybaldicon already through the portal again. Leaving her in an alley in central London.

A safe house from Themis was nearby, where she could contact them and get herself back home. A quick look around revealed that no one was watching and Eira faded away in the surrounding shadows.

-

"Change of plans, no more research. We're going into the field to put our knowledge to use. Well you and Nadine are, I'm gonna look around to see if we can even the playing field."

Eira looked up from where she was laying with her head in Nadine's lap.

"There has been a curious case. Someone can't shut up about it. It'll be perfect for the two of you."

As fast as Themis had appeared, as fast were they gone again. Leaving a very confused Eira and Nadine behind.

A map was lying on the table, probably containing all the necessary information about the case.

"Well, it looks like our vacation is over."

-

Author's note:

We're entering the final arc of the story. I really hope everything will work out and I can finish the story the way I want it.

Also I'm really nervous for the second round qualifiers.

-

April 18, 2023