Blood and Gold

Bloodbath

When Ajax and I returned two days late, I was greeted with three hugs, the first from Elvira, one from Dagfinn, another from Kestrel, and a bit of scolding from Felix and Vidar. Once we explained that we were busy helping out the people of Northwind, Onyx backed off.

"Just find a way to let us know next time." Onyx pinched the bridge of his nose, "I'll start with the Bloodbath."

"Thank you."

"Go tell your guildmates about your mission, I'm sure they're dying to know." I scoffed a laugh out of my nose before heading back to the main hall.

"So?" Dagfinn was the first to speak, he was sitting on the table, one leg up on the chair beside him.

Elvira sat on her leg, with both hands holding her alchemy notebook. Felix sat across the table, spinning her dagger in her hands. Aiken and Brynjar quieted down a bit after noticing everyone else's silence. Kestrel was bandaging Vidar's back as he bounced his leg up and down.

"He's dead." Dagfinn nodded, but everyone continued to stare with curiosity. "I tailed one of the customers into a tavern, which, it was almost complete luck that they were actually in on it. Then flirted with the woman at the front desk, got myself a vial of whatever they were selling, made it believable. If one of the alchemists wants to take a look at it, I still have it."

I explained my fight with the guy that was on one of the substances offered, Elvira and Felix were the only two that looked unphased. Then, I told about my skulking through the cave and finding the tunnel, I paused when Ajax returned almost immediately after I described my meeting with Wynstan.

"He shot you?" Ajax gestured to my ear.

"Yeah," I sighed, "Then he went on to diss Ajax before trying to fight me. I stabbed him in the stomach, then punched him a bunch." I watched Elvira's gaze dart down to my hands before traveling back up to my face. "Then he threw me into the water and I-"

"Theron." It was Hawthorne. "Onyx is ready."

I bowed my head as I started backing out of the room. Elvira followed me, she grabbed my hand, making me jump. I hadn't heard her footsteps. "You had to stop punching people, your hands aren't made for that."

My heart pounded as she examined my knuckles, I couldn't tell if she knew what she was doing or not. The way she dragged her thumb over the back of my hand, she wouldn't meet my gaze.

"Elvira," Hawthorne muttered, "Good, I need to talk to you."

"Good luck?" She shrugged.

"Thanks."

Onyx and Sparrow were in the room, as they were last time, they waited as I stepped down into the dark, metallic-smelling liquid. I took a breath, knowing roughly what to expect this time. I had blocked out anything Onyx or Sparrow had said, not on purpose, I was just excited to speak to Khazros.

I opened my eyes, and this time, they settled in on the tall, tan grass that swayed in the warm breeze. I allowed myself a second to take in the surroundings, last time, I'd treated this like a trial, now, I was given a chance to explore.

The breeze carried the soft scent of something sweet, a pastry, or something of the sort. The grass was dry but still soft, and the trees scarcely scattered across the plains stayed unmoving in the wind.

I listened, closing my eyes and letting my breath out quietly, slowly. The very faint sound of water caught my ears. I headed that way, following the sound as I became suddenly aware of the wind rushing through the new slit in my left ear.

It didn't take long to find the small pond that Dahlia was sitting in front of. She held her knees to her chest and kept looking around.

"Looking for Alvina?" She jumped when I spoke.