[While on a rescue mission gone crazed, a holy warrior and a rogue fight bandits, demons, and the urge to rip each other's clothes off.]
The mission, rescuing a princess, could be going better.
Séa is an earnest paladin, honest and gullible. Tash is...
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The black lid on top of the ocean of pain lifted, and Séa breached the ocean's surface and gulped air. Her eyes flew open to let in the light of consciousness. Tash's dark eyes met hers, intent and searching. Hints of purple tinted the kaleidoscope of browns that formed her irises. The paladin felt a smile tug at her lips at the entrancing sight. But something was wrong. The rogue was injured! Something had mangled her shapely lips, and even her cheeks and chin. Oozing blood obscured the full extent of the damage, but dark crimson rivulets crawled down her lower face and neck to glisten upon her leathers.
Séa's twitch of concern created a swelling wave of pain from her arms. It was so intense, she almost blacked out again.
She couldn't reach for Tash. Her arms only flopped, and the attempt produced more waves of hot agony.
"Tash!" she blurted. "Socket! It wasn't a nightmare. It was real."
"Ssseh!" the rogue vocalized, then winced.
Séa blinked to clear her vision. Where am I? The ambient light glared a violent red. Tash's mouth was a horror, and gore cascaded down her front. The paladin's armor lay scattered on a dirty stone floor. She herself kneeled naked, cradled in the arms of the injured half-elf. Ghomarck and Chantelle slumped against iron crosses, dull red glows on their chests. The last clear memory flooded back and she groaned. "Tash. I am so sorry. I took his cursed item. What a fool I am."
Tash shook her a little. "Ssseh. Heee seeh." The agony of attempting speech caused tears to form in her beautiful eyes.
Séa's heart wrung, and tears spilled from her own eyes as well. "Heal, myself, you say?"
Tash nodded her head up and down.
But that's selfish, right? I should heal Tash.
You can't, you fool. Your arms are broken. You can't reach her.
I cannot reach her. But I must.
You're a fool. Rules must be bent. Be pragmatic.
Frullan was pragmatic, and I hate her for it.
Tash is pragmatic, too, but I adore her. Tash would call you a ninny, or worse. You can help. You can help everybody, but only if you can function.
Oh, merciful Torugg. Guide me.
"Merciful Torugg," whispered Séa.
Tash nodded again and raised her blood-smeared hand. Cupped in her palm lay a cheap pewter amulet, crudely beaten into the shape of Torugg's hammer. Its cord was broken, but Tash pressed the amulet to Séa's chest and splayed her fingers on Séa's bare skin. Tash's eyes pleaded.
My symbol. Hot ears flowed down the paladin's cheeks. Her voice strengthened. "If it be your will, send me your aid. I pray, my god, in this dark hour, send succor." She took a deep breath. "I ask for your aid, Torugg Endurer, Torugg Steadfast. I ask for myself this day. For m-myself."
