Demon(#Wattys2017 Entry)

Chapter 54: Hands

Black Griffin had begun its trek to save Gem. They'd brought with them half of their force, and travelled quickly. Few supply wagons were brought, and the army mainly subsisted off the land, hunting what they could, or buying rations off of villages they passed. The large tents were left behind, in favor of light bundles of cloth carried by each man, which could be quickly tied up for protection from the rain, though less defensible. Morz had cautioned against rushing, but Guiltare had been preoccupied. She was anxious to see Gem safe, and Giles had made clear his displeasure at being delayed in his retrieval of Narra.

She walked alongside Reba, watching her from the corner of her eye. Reba smiled."...I taught you that staring was rude, didn't I?"

She sighed."I'm sorry...with the job in the North, I suppose I didn't really get a chance to learn more about your condition...If it can be called that."

Reba chuckled."Ah, fair enough, I suppose. Well, what would you like to know?" She asked.

Guiltare considered."Well...what exactly are your limits?" She asked."I mean...you survived fire, if barely. What should I know about you?"

The Willow chuckled."Oh, is that all? Nothing very complicated, really. My condition, as you call it is a form of artificial possession...Necromancy, if you wanted to be technical about it. Giles, inexperienced as he was, about near killed himself to bind my soul to that scythe...it was the only thing he had that made sense...Suppose I should count myself lucky I didn't end up a boot!"

Morz, who had been walking silently behind them, seemed curious."Hmm...and could it be repeated?" He suggested."It could be a way to save more lives, and-"

Reba shook her head."Firstly, don't give a false excuse Morz."

The Cloak tilted his head."...I have no clue what y-"

"You just want to know if it'd be possible to make more weapon-men like me."She continued, making her blade appear out of her hand for emphasis."Probably be very destructive, wouldn't it?"

Morz sighed."...It wouldn't hurt." He admitted."But it would save lives as  well."

Reba shook her head, sighing."...Secondly, it wouldn't be possible. That Giles is alive is a miracle, in all honestly. Using up so much magic at such a young age should've killed him."

Guiltare nodded."I see...and your durability?" She asked.

Reba sighed, raising a hand."Well...say I had an arm cut off. The soul used in it would be in tatters, but it'd heal over time, like a cut, and I could use it again. If I'm completely destroyed like this, I'm stuck in my scythe form for a while. If the scythe is destroyed, then that's it for me." She replied.

Guiltare nodded."I see...why go to your scythe form at all then?" She asked.

Reba sighed."Well, honestly-" She looked at Morz."...You mind? The ladies are talking. Go lurk over N...Someone else."She ordered.

Morz sighed."...I heard that." He replied, walking ahead of them, ruffling the foliage of the low-hanging branches as he did, leaving a swath of torn leaves and snapped branches in his wake.

Reba sighed."...Still doesn't feel real, not having her with us...Probably keep the men from grumbling if they had some of her cookie-muffins."

Guiltare smiled, chuckling quietly."...She never could get them right, could she?"

Reba chuckled."...She'll be back soon, i'm sure..." She looked ahead."...Certainly faster if Giles would stop sulking over it."She replied, looking at the blond man who was at the head of the column.