Swordborn

Chapter 21: The Abyss

A creature of rotted flesh rises from an unmarked grave. It shuffles in the dark, moving slowly across the field toward the smoldering temple. It creeps between the funeral pyres, then enters the temple through one of the destroyed walls. The creature drags its decayed body through smoky corridors, making squishing noises over burned wooden floors.

Dayleth wakes to a scratching at the door. She rises, fetches her giant ax from the side of the bed, then approaches the sound. Dayleth puts her ear against the wood and listens, hearing strained breathing on the other side. She raises the ax with one arm, then opens the door and finds a man standing on the staircase, or what once was a man. Gray skin sags from its contorted face, exposing dull white skull beneath. Both eyes are gone, devoured by beetles long ago.

"I bring... a message... from... the land... of spirrriiiits," the creature says in a raspy voice.

"What message do you bring?" Dayleth asks, lowering her ax. Cain rises out of bed and stares at the creature, knowing what it is. It didn't take long for Death to call, he thinks.

"The goddess... Kalaaa... has stolen... a legion... of souls... from... Deeeaath. You must... return... five thousand... souls... and the soul... of a goddessss!!"

"That is my task?" Dayleth inquires. "So be it. Where is the goddess?"

"In... the... Abysssssssss," the creature replies, then collapses into a heap of flesh and bone. It bursts into dark flames, which quickly burn the corpse into a pile of ash. Dayleth closes the door, then dons her bladed armor in silence.

"Are you leaving?" Cain asks.

"Death has sent for me," Dayleth says softly, "and I must do its bidding. That is the agreement I made in exchange for your life. Kala must die."

Cain nods, then starts putting his leather armor on.

"You can't go," Dayleth says. "It's too dangerous. I won't lose you again."

"This is a dangerous life we lead," Cain replies. "And my place is by your side."

"So is mine!" Cries the Lala plant in Azaya's voice. Dayleth notices the plant is awake, and hopes it wasn't listening when she spoke to the undead messenger.

"It is not!" Dayleth yells at Lala. "You are definitely not going!"

The plant shuts its eyes and folds in on itself, and Dayleth shakes her head in disgust.

"This is my quest," she says. "It's my oath, not yours."

She sees that Cain is undeterred and frowns. Dayleth waits for him to arm himself, noticing him fill every pocket of his leather assassin's armor with blades, ropes, and explosives. When he's ready they exit the tower and cross the courtyard into the temple, then navigate several burned corridors until they reach those untouched by battle.

At the end of a pristine corridor lies a collection of rooms Jitmit took as his quarters after his study was destroyed. Dayleth raises her hand to knock, and the door opens on its own before her gauntlet touches wood.

"Enter," says the wizard. "I knew you'd be here tonight."

Dayleth and Cain enter a cozy chamber lit by a dozen lamps. Cain turns to shut the door and hears footsteps down the hallway. Azaya bursts into the room, no longer a child, but a human woman, tall and beautiful. She's wearing a suit of chain mail that's a few sizes too big, and a longsword that sags from an ill-fitting belt.

"Hi!" Azaya giggles. Dayleth scowls at Cain like it's his fault, to which he throws his hands up and shrugs.

Azaya takes a seat at Jitmit's table and waits patiently for the others to join her. Dayleth and Cain sit at the table, and Azaya refuses to look at Dayleth, not wanting to hear any objections. Her mind is made up. She's going.