Hell's Bane (COMPLETED)

Chapter Sixteen: Ara'anskt

            Leaving Jarek, the explorers found themselves in the middle of the Aulin Grasslands, with spirits once again high for a new chance to stop Kazim from his quest to control death. Shallow hills and rocky surfaces jutted out occasionally, but most often it was the soft rolling hills that Hugo remembered from long ago, when they first met the Blind Wanderers.

Don't think about that, Hugo told himself as he felt a stab of sadness. They had no choice.

The soft part of him suddenly lashed out, scolding: What are you becoming, Hugo? How could you possibly think that? If you just didn't rope them into the war, maybe they could've lived good lives on their own. But now...

But now what? the new-side of him countered. We would've been cornered had it not been for them. They died for a cause, and if we stop Kazim from getting the Crown, then they will indeed serve a purpose for their deaths.

But will we stop Kazim? He is powerful, after all.

Hugo shook away all those thoughts, trying to clear his mind of all turmoil. The peace barely lasted for a minute.

"Save our food," Hugo advised as the thought of lunch suddenly came like a wave. "Ara'anskt isn't far away. They probably have some stocked on the ship to Fael-Anon. Which reminds me – do we have enough for the boarding fair?"

Drea reached for the money sack that she always kept in her pocket. "Hm, it seems to weigh more than the last time I checked, just a few days ago."

Hugo unstrapped his own sack from the top of his backpack and agreed. "Davis must've refilled it sometime before he left. It's filled to the brim now, with gold coins. Blood in the sky, I didn't even know the Claimant had that much money in their coffers – Davis must really be stacking everything to our favor."

Susan mimed grabbing her own sack, and muttered: "Hm, mine seems to be completely empty. Davis must've... forgot, or decided that we had enough." The spy sighed. "He doesn't really trust people that easily, does he?"

Hugo shrugged. "But do you trust him?"

"I don't really have a choice. It's one of those things where you take the best of what you have."

Joss gave a hollow snort. "You aren't alone. Then again, you aren't as used to being neglected as I am."

Susan raised her eyebrow. "Oh, so you say?" Joss smirked as if she were challenging him.

"Well, then tell me – what's the worst memory you've ever had? A beating is something of a luxury now, other than the other terrors I must face every day."

Susan sighed. "You speak of terrors, but you are only jumping at shadows."

The others ignored them. "We can pay for the fare," Drea said, not expecting any answer as Hugo was transfixed on the landscape around them.

As they continued walking, with Joss and Susan never seeming to end their quarrel, they hardly noticed the boy sitting there at the opening of another crevice of thousands that they had passed, until the boy said, calmly: "I've been waiting."

Hugo, Drea, and Susan all jumped in surprise.

"...Should we know you?" Susan asked skeptically.

The boy shook his head. "No, but I know you." Turning to every one of the explorers, he said: "Hugo Chance. The one with the dead mother. Joss Deorádhan. The one left with nothing. Susan Theolise. She who knows all and knows nothing. Drea Kvigr, the one with the missing father. He lives, don't worry."