No one seemed worried or perhaps interested in the two women as they slipped away into the trees, heading east, away from everything that was happening. When they were far enough no one heard them Octavia asked where they might be heading but all she got was a low growl as Arya picked up the pace. Figured. Arya never spoke when it came to this part of herself. Perhaps because there was nothing to say. Perhaps because she just didn't know how. They continued on, now at a light jog through the trees as a storm seemed to be growing over the valley, thick dark clouds making everything much harder to see if it wasn't for thier gifted vision.
As they neared the neighbouring town to Lodestone (a quaint town by the name of Eagleridge) Arya veered right, towards a small patch of fields behind the town that was yielding crops. Most of the town still slept on, being as it was nearly 8 in the morning and not a minute after. Houses remained dark and the sky hid the sun, casting an eery glow on the town as they stepped into the field. Arya slowed then, a soft growl emanating from her lips. Octavia brandished her sword, slinking forward beside her partner.
"You will not take me you devil," a man suddenly spoke out, his voice soft enough to wake no one but it quivered with unwanted fear, "Be gone and I'll spare you."
Arya almost laughed, a cruel smile on her lips as shadows appeared around her body, slithering and wrapping like a silky fog at first before becoming thicker. It almost looked like she took a step back into them as she suddenly disappeared and the shadows grew black as the reshape into a hound like creature with hungry bloodshot eyes. The only one to do any speaking now would be Octavia. They continued forward into the wheat field, the tall stalk masking them until they reached a small knoll, a little clearing of wheat they had been cut already. In it 10 men stood with guns and swords at the ready, and an eleventh man stood in the middle of them, surrounding himself with thier protection.
"That won't work," Octavia declared, stepping into view alone, her weapon ready and her eyes guarded, "a few weapons will not stop your fate."
"Death isn't a fate witch," the man spat but fear still quelled in his voice.
"Neither was riches, but you demanded for those," somehow Octavia had guessed that had been his single want, seeing his rich fields and his expensive garbs. One man pointed his gun at the dragonling and she growled, but her snarl was barely heard over that of the one behind her, the powerful deathhoubd appearing out of the wheat with angry eyes and hungry dripping fangs.
"It is time to pay what is owed," Octavia warned as Arya lunged, hitting the first man and tearing his throats out. Octavia danced around her, striking the next man in the heart. In seconds all ten men lay dead at the elevenths feet as Octavia stood behind him, drenched in thier blood, making sure he would not flee Arya. With a sickening howl she lunged and buried her teeth into his chest, hollowing it out in one bite as she took his heart and swallowed it. The man fell, an unheard scream dying on his lips.
"Let us go before we are seen," Octavia urged as they slipped into the wheat stalk, splitting up and meeting at the forest edge unseen by any, Arya humanoid once more and dressed. It would not take them long to return to the ranch, still sullied in the blood of the fallen as Octavia pulled Arya to the well to clean their hands and faces. They had tried to find a stream on their way but oddly could not, as if the land had suddenly eaten them whole.
As they arrived Arya's darkened eyes looked around, her face calm but set. Octavia was worried. It was unlike Arya to not speak after her work was done. Usually once she had fulfilled her part of the contract she relaxed. The fact she hadn't made Octavia nervous. But before she could say anything she noticed a few of the children stepping out and became relieved when Narxis ushered them back in, seeing the state of the two women.
"Apologies," Octavia offered, washing her hands in a bucket and pouring the blood red water out, "We could not find a single stream on our way back to wash."
As Narxis approached them Arya slinked around the well, her face and chest still covered in blood but her hands and arms cleaned of it now. She stood in front of him, her eyes gleaming as she cocked her head at him, almost as if she was sizing him up. Finally she spoke.
"Where's your sorceress?"
Octavia's heart froze.
~
Meanwhile Lairia was at the western path into Lodestone where Octavia and Arya the day before had scared plenty of mercs. She had arrived at sunrise and she waited now, having told no one where she had left to. She had no intentions of being followed or caught till she returned to the ranch. Sitting on a stump she twirled the stone and Rey's gem in her fingers, kissing his gem softly when she could, letting herself cry a little over the pain of loss.
When the sun was high enough to mark it a little past eight she caught sight of someone travelling up the road, making their way up the lazy hill between the mountains alone. Lairia cloaked herself immediately, not wanting to be seen in case this person had ill intentions. As he got closer though she let the spell die, seeing the face belonging to the man. He was tall, taller than her at least, with sandy blonde hair cut short. Broad shoulders and well defined muscles could be seen through his leather jacket outlined in fur. He looked like a mountain man in his dressings, with a billowing cloak behind him flying loosely with the breeze. His footsteps crunched in the dirt under his black boots, as piercing blue eyes looked up and caught site of her. With his square jaw and high cheekbones he had a model look to himself, only ruined by his thick blonde eyebrows and thin pink lips that stretched now in a smile, revealing his fangs.
"At long last I see your beautiful face again," he declared as he reached the peek and without warning wrapped her into a hug, "I thought I might never see you again Lairia."
The sorceress blushed than coughed, waiting till he let go and stepped back, "It has been some time Jamie."
She turned a little and looked around him with a raised eyebrow, "Wonderful army you've brought me."
Jamie laughed, "I'm not idiot Lairia. If this guy is who you said he is, than we can't afford to reveal your plans. A entire party traversing down the road towards your encampment is plenty suspicious. I have them hiding in the mountains for now. One of them is a mage, and he can contact us when need be. When and where you need them, they will be."
She nodded and finally smiled, "Thank you Jamie. It's one of the Circle, I swear. He goes by Nickens here, though by his face I remember him as Zachariah."
Jamie flinched and stiffened, "That son of a bitch got free? He was one of the cruelest Lairia. Always power hungry, always greedy. The man was smart and calculating, but dead cold."
"And he's alive," she growled, "for now."
Leading him into the trees, they took the forest as cover as they began the trek back to the ranch, speaking the whole way.
"So you have a plan on how to kill him?"
Lairia shook her head, "I'm not the one in charge. I would be if I could, at least on this matter, but up until I saw his face and he took Reynault from me, I was willing to let Elaya lead the fight. Now I just hope she'll allow me to set my plan."
"That name sounds oddly familiar," he mused, trying to catch it.
"Princess of the Metuzi," Lairia explained and he nodded, realizing where he had heard it before, "I should probably catch you up while we have the chance..."
By the time they had reached the ranch Lairia had explained why she was with her group and who they were. She still had plenty to catch him up on but it wasn't essential as of now, and she was still finding it hard to even look Jamie in the eye, especially after all that had happened between them. As they set foot on the ranch, however, she had little time to announce her arrival before the woman named Arya that Lairia had only briefly met turned and started to stalk towards her.
"Arya no!" the other woman - Octavia she believed she was called - jumped forward and planted herself between Arya and Lairia. Instantly Jamie was on defense too, stepping ahead of Lairia as he brandished a long sword, ready for a fight. Narxis had jogged off quickly, but was already returning with Amitiel and Elaya at his side.
~
Meanwhile at the Golden Hill Ranch Tatia was waking up with a splitting headache, but more concernedly was the earthquake that had woken her. Without a window though she could not see what was happening. Banging on the door brought no one either. Sitting down she tried to think of what might be happening but came up with a blank. She couldn't even remember all of the day before, only remembering the contract and then a man claiming to be a sorcerer coming to visit her. After that she was drawing a blank, now having woken. Had they done something to her? She felt no pain. In fact, other than the headache, for the first time in days Tatia didn't feel at the edge of death, and her body did not ache a million times over. Her brain no longer felt muggy and muddled, allowing her to think rationally.
And as she sat there one thought did come to mind. The pain. All the pain she had endured from those deaths, from the men she had sent in on Nickens orders. Why had she felt pain? At the time, she hadn't considered it, the pain too overwhelming, the thought that it had to be her connection making the most sense. But now that she could think on the matter, she knew her powers had never done so before. She never felt their pain. What had happened?
"Hello?!" she called out, hoping for answers not of just this question but of what was happening, where was everyone, and why she couldn't remember.
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