_{by jaymamma.}

Time to take a much deserved rest. Even though Mercarri healed me, my side and midsection were sore beyond belief. Yet, still I remain unbroken. That was quite the scrap. Our teamwork and strategy improved, far from perfect, but much better. We know knew that Mercarri had two left feet, and Mystic was just not the best hider. It still took all of us. Without healing we would not have endured, the massive intimidation factor of a giant python and a giant dragonborn was also no “Small” thing. Ajax’s arrival certainly tipped the odds in our favor.

    I found it peculiar that the others had not mentioned the bounty and note. They had also never pondered how it was I knew the location of Bowgentle’s spellbook, which I had found odd at the time as well. Should I see that as a positive? Perhaps, it merely was they didn’t want to drop it on Ajax before battle? I Would have to take the leap, at least now with Ajax here I wouldn’t have to explain myself twice.

    Somethings, though I did not how to explain. Cursebringer, Umbra-Aurum. As I thought about it my head ached. The image of the others setting up camp while I rested faded away. I was standing in an inky darkness, large darker shadows streaked through the viscous atmosphere. I had been summoned.

“Cursebringer served you well, its about time you stopped hiding behind a shield. Aww, were you hurt, you’ll live. You are my assassin, my murderer if need be. Cursebringer is my gift to you to see my will done. 

    My head throbbed as I tried to form words in response. It hurt all the more, but I managed to utter.

“What of the Umbra Aurum, what have you done to my head”

“You forget your place, I have done nothing to your head child. Everything that happens to you is because of your choices, your actions. Forget the Umbra Aurum, Cursebringer is your weapon you will find you wield it better than any weapon because it was made for you, now tell your friends of your past if you must but make them accept you I demand it”

With that the pain subsided as my patron withdrew from my mind, I screamed as I returned to reality, and all went black.

    I dreamed, the reflection in the mirror, a fuzzy reflection of cursebringer gave way to golden light and the Umbra Aurum. In a flash I was locked in combat with the dreadlord wolf. He wielded Cursebringer. I held the dark blade from my face with the shaft of the Umbra Aurum. He drove me down to a knee. I noticed the bodies littered about the beast’s throne room. With both hands he began to lever the tip of cursebringer downward. I went with it and slid through his legs, severing the tendons in his ankle. he screamed, As I stood on the other side I drove the Umbra Aurum through his back and out the front of his chest. He dropped cursedbringer and spin swinging his claws at me. I picked up Cursebringer and swung….

I awoke in my bedroll next to the crackling fire. The others sat around it as well, the dwarf absent.

The way Ajax looked at me I knew they had told him about the bounty.

They eyed me with maybe concern, maybe condemnation how can a girl tell anything these days.

“I’m ok thank you for laying me down for rest”

“I healed your wound but still the toll and severity of it still taxes the body” Mercari said as she reached towards my side.

“I put up a hand to stop her.

“Bah” Dare said. “I take shots like that all the time”

Mystic glared at him with contempt. “She is a little softer than you and less armor”

Ajax moved towards me intent to check the wound.

I went to raise my hand but he swatted it away.

“I Check the wound not your choice” He said

I let him as I couldn’t stop him either way.

“The wound is fine”

“Mercarri, is a gifted healer, it is not that wound, it is the one in here” I said as I pointed to my head.

They looked puzzled

“Explain” Mystic said.

“and while your at it explain Ely”

I was really in no condition, or no mood for this , but would I ever be? No I most definitely wouldn’t.

Too much hung in the balance, the life I had started to build here, Annette who looked up to me for my ability not in combat but to play, to create something of beauty in this horrible world. I thought I could have a measure of piece here. Protect the town throw off the shackles of the past. The chains of it though now pulled taut, the slacks end had been found. It was to be now or never……