_{by jaymamma.}

The room was a wreck. Which implied my little goblin friend had put up a hell of a struggle. Much had happened. I would go as far as to say victory was at hand. Now I just felt defeat. That and something else. Fear. I was so scared for Droop. To my patron’s chagrin, I would pray to any god or deity that would listen to return him safe and sound. He was without a doubt my strongest tether to any degree of civility. 

I would give anything to see him to safety. The others opted to rest, we had been battered and beaten by all manner of foes. I, however, could not. I straightened up the mess left by Droop’s makeshift lab. After a few minutes, I realized I wasn’t just cleaning up, I was resetting it for his return. Mystic offered to help but I declined. I preferred my solitude in this instance. Vanity be damned at a time like this, but alas I did not want an audience to my blubbering. My eyes were stained with tears and running make up. 

“Copper for your thoughts?”

I didn’t even turn at the sound of the voice.

“I am going to fucking rip that dragon apart with my bare hands if necessary.”

“Of that, I have no doubt. We are here again Lilvari, and I fear which way this will go.”

I turned to look at her.

“What does that mean exactly?”

She sighed. “You are ruthless and violent beyond compare among even the most deadly of my Hexblades. Yet, you still have that longing and feel that same pain as when you lost your parents. You always have so desperately wanted someone, something, anything to care for. Despite any social shortcomings you may have, you always find that something. Sadly, though, you seem to lose them. When you do murder and mayhem follow. 

I smiled. “Then do something.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?” 

I dropped to my knees and pleaded.

“Save Droop, you’re right if I do not get him back safe and sound. Murder and mayhem will follow. I can’t lose another…”

“I can’t just interfere on this plane whenever I chose. I am pretty sure you have figured that out for yourself, without me saying.”

“Then put me there, teleport me as you do the other blades.”

“I could send you to your death that does not serve anyone.”

“Then give me the other Blades we will slaughter that dragon and any who stand with him.”

She looked down. 

I screamed in rage. She continued to look down until I stopped.

“Fine, if you won’t help me then so be it. There is something you can do for me though.”

She looked up, and I could see now that there was a hint of shame in her face.

“Yes, take it in I don’t have much in that way, what can I do?”

“I want you to tell me everything I don’t remember, everything. You can alternately just have your little vampire restore my memories if you like, in that case though I would like to borrow her.”

She flashes the briefest look of surprise.

“You know about that?”

“Of course I do my memory is fuzzy yes, but I am not stupid.”

“Raising the church assassin as a specter you apparently remembered that as well?”

“Always, just in this occurrence the evil of it seemed deserved.”

“Bravo Lilvari you always surprise.” “Why now why do you want to know?”

“I want all my hate, all my rage, all my disappointment it will fuel me in rescuing Droop, or it will fuel vengeance like this world has never seen.”

She now looked concerned, no fearful.

“Rescue your friend, then we will talk more of this.”

She just disappeared. No matter, I could only give energy to what I could control. If I could rescue him I would, if not well, what would ensue would not be the first time…..

“Well?”

“She is upset, very upset. Holding it together though.”

“And if the Goblin is not saved?”

“I fear for what comes next, I don’t know she can be restrained again. Her power grows proportionate to her rage as it always has. Her rage never subsides, only grows with every transgression against her.”

“Are you being honest?”

“Why would I not be? We need her, and you know this.”

“You also promised to never activate the beast on this plane?”

The dragon did not appreciate the sly smile that followed his comment.

“Oh, that was not active, he was being healed.”

The dragon quivered at that. He knew that up until now the beast had been diminishing as his sustained injuries grew and festered. The beast at full strength, not even he wanted that fight.

The queen of Raven’s sensed his plight.

“We are allies in this, the force I can bring to bare serves us all.”

“So you say, now though, what are we going to do about Lilvari?”