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Completed Chapter VI: Eye of the Storm

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Maggie​




For several moments, Maggie could only stare in surprise when A'kal burst through the door and spoke his dire warning. Then she nodded and looked at Auri to see which way he would decide. She had just enough time to close her book and begin to set it down, when the drakkar snatched her up! Maggie squeaked, the book thumped onto the table. She called quietly over Auri's shoulder as he and A'kal took her away, "Please excuse us, Bann Teagan! It was nice meeting you!"
 
Date: October 10th (Friday), year 3321
Location: City of Alicante, the capital of Asgard
Weather: A dark, cloudy night with occasional gusts of chilly wind. Rather cold.


  • Around 20:55
    The Great Hall, Alicante's Royal Palace

    People must have been able to tell that the Sorceress was no longer in her previous good mood; they got out of her way even more efficiently than usual, and even the most daring individuals abstained from trying to strike up a conversation. Thus she arrived quickly and unhindered back to the front of the Great Hall, where she had picked up Maggie some fifteen minutes ago. Niara Shadowleaf was still there, drinking wine in the company of Ambassador Erya Ryagundi, but Dina was not with them, nor was she anywhere to be seen - something that Ilhirel noticed right away.

    "Where is Dina?"

    No reply came from General Shadowleaf at first. It didn't seem like she'd even noticed Ilhirel standing there, though Erya certainly had. The elven ambassador was trying to subtly signal Niara to look in the right direction, but she continued leaning with her back against the wooden railing that separated the private, raised part of the hall from the rest, completely oblivious.

    "Niara. Where is Dina?" Ilhirel repeated her demand, already looking less tired and more irritated.

    But the first words out of the general's mouth were definitely not what Ilhirel wanted to hear. Even the general herself probably knew that, somewhere deep down, past her dulled senses. She just didn't seem to care at the moment. "How should I know? Not here," she answered, draining her cup. "Who caresss, anyway? Except you. You're the only one..."

    Ilhirel was speechless for only a second, but even that was enough for the bystanders to slowly start backing away as they realized where the exchange was going. "What...? Are you in your right mind?" the Sorceress raised her voice, and it looked like she had more to say when the clang of Niara's empty cup sounded off the floor, interrupting her.

    The general had simply let the cup drop. "Are you?!" she retaliated, taking every advantage of the fact that she was significantly taller than Ilhirel. "Is there anything - ANYTHING on your mind except Dina? Dina thisss, Dina that, well now there's NO MORE DINA, how about that? No Dina - n-nothing to do! Get to your homesss ev'ryone, nothing to see here!! No Dina or anything like that! HURRAY!!"

    Had Niara not already dropped her cup, she surely would have thrown it just then.

    "You're drunk," Ilhirel said flatly, and the outburst of rage that everyone expected simply did not come. The young sorceress' features were firm and awake. It was a look of cold calculation more than anything else. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion, she shifted her gaze from Niara to the nearby knight on guard duty. "You there. Have you seen what happened here?"

    "Y-Yes, Your Majesty," the knight replied, only briefly stunned. "Lady Ailsa excused herself to the lavatory."

    "Alone?" the queen looked back to Niara.

    "Of coursss not!" the general replied, seemingly shocked by the notion. "I gave her a guard." It would have been a fitting response, if only she had shut up then. But she continued, flamboyantly waving her hands in the air. "Because Maker forbid that anything should happen to THE DINA!"

    Ilhirel silently placed her hand on her forehead and let out a slow sigh.* "How long ago was that?" she addressed the knight.

    "Perhaps... No, at least ten minutes, Your Majesty."

    That gave Ilhirel real pause. "Check and report back," she ordered, and the knight immediately took off.

    *** *** ***​

    The knight was back in less than a minute, catching his breath - but that wasn't the only reason why he was finding it difficult to deliver the news...

    "Y-Your Majesty... Apologies, there's... It would seem there is indeed a... a problem."

    "Speak!"

    The knight swallowed hard before he continued. "Lady Ailsa - she's gone, Your Majesty! The guard who was assigned to her is lying unconscious, and there's no trace of the girl!"

    "Lock down the palace," the Sorceress ordered after a moment's consideration. "Send word to the King's Gate and conduct a search of the palace grounds. No one gets in or out of the quarter without my approval. Find Dina and bring her to me. As for those with her... Take them alive - if possible. Go!"

    "As you command, Majesty," the knight replied and marched off. So did the others, cutting a wide path through the receding party guests. One of the knights, an elf, seemed as if he was about to approach Niara, but Ilhirel waved him off.

    "The general is relieved of duty," she informed him before turning to face Niara, who stood there as if paralyzed. "I am disappointed in you, Niara," she told her, her voice cold as ice as she turned around and walked away, disappearing in a blur of fading black flakes.

    She'd gone into the Shadow Realm.


    *Yes, Ilhirel did indeed just facepalm.
 
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Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​


Auri was flustered. He realized he was still carrying Maggie when the guards challenged him. Still in a huff, he tried to think quickly. Knights tended to think in terms of honor, discipline, and chain of command. Perhaps if he took on the atmosphere of someone at least as important as himself, he might bring a swift end to this conversation and be off. Whatever happened, they had to get out of here. Lingering was not an option. With The Sorceress about to blow like a volcano, every moment counted.

He puffed up his chest draconically and replied proudly, if impatiently. "Why, none other than Ambassador Auri Grashaal of the Drakkar nation! This is my guest, Maggie, and my companion, A'kal!"
 
The two knights were both human, of similar size and build. The design and markings of their armour put them in the Royal Guard - the elite force that protected the royal family and palace grounds. Of course, given such loyalty, it meant that few, if any, still remained of their original count three years ago; most were either killed in the siege of Alicante or had fled following the king's death. The Sorceress bolstered their ranks since, but it was widely (albeit quietly) believed that the new Royal Guard was inferior to the old one.

Auri didn't recognize these two men from his previous visits to the palace, but fortunately they did seem to finally recognize him. While Auri could hardly be mistaken for just anyone else, there were other drakkar in the city - and a few of them had even made it onto tonight's guest list.

"Oh... Ambassador," one addressed him with slight surprise. "Apologies. We didn't recognize you at first. The keep's off limits during tonight's event, but sometimes guests will wander off. We've, uh..."

"Intoxicated and otherwise," the second guard chimed in.

While one could have told their alarmed state even from a distance when they had first entered the room, the two knights were now well at ease. They clearly expected no trouble from someone of Auri's station, even if he was in the company of two unknowns. Etiquette prevented them from being nosy about Maggie and A'kal, unless there was justifiable doubt - and that wasn't a risk many a guardsman was keen on taking.

The first knight glanced at his companion before re-fixing his gaze on Auri. He seemed a little nervous. "We've been told not to admit anyone into the keep, you see. Per standard procedure. The Lord Steward's orders. So..."

The man didn't say it, but the obvious ending of that thought would have been something along the lines of "so if you'd kindly return to the banquet premises". Yet one thing didn't add up there, obvious to Auri and likely his companions. If the knights were told to prevent guests from entering the keep, then why were they coming from the tower, only fortunately happening to halt someone? And why was there no one posted at the door to the south wing?
 
Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​


Auri raised a large and disapproving eye at both of them. "Oh, I see! And is 'The Lord Stewart' aware that you are here and not at the door to the south wing where no one is posted?" His feigned and stormy tirade began like a snowball rolling down a mountainside.

"I suppose young folk like yourselves think it is easy for someone of my size and age to just walk all the way back where I have already been? Instead, why don't you tell me where you have been?" His irritation seemed to grow mightily. "Or better yet! Let's all go have a talk with the general! Seems to me she had been looking toward the empty door at the south wing - where someone should have been posted! Had someone been there, it would have saved me a looooong walk out here where I was minding my own business and not harassing anyone! Now you want me to walk all the way back?!"

He brandished his dragon-headed cane and leaned on it as if weary. "Why, you know? I believe you should join me! We should go aaaaaall the way back and so I can waste more of my time hearing you explain this little dereliction of duty with our forgiving and understanding general! It does so seem Her Majesty's security is lacking tonight, now doesn't it?

"Or... you could leave me to my pleasant stroll and I might forget about this!

"What it is going to be, young ones?" The huge drakkar stared down on them as if they were undisciplined hatchlings just come out of their eggs.
 
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Maggie​




Maggie couldn't think of anything to add to Auri's performance, and she certainly didn't want to detract from it! So she remained quiet, trying to haughtily look down her nose at them. She hoped the guards would take her friend's not-so-subtle hints and let them by. They'd surely run out of time before they could find an alternate exit, and she didn't really want to have to do anything... drastic... to the guards to force their way past. Maker, please let this work! she prayed silently. Smooth our path, let us avoid violence while we can.
 
Auri's tirade made the two knights very visibly uncomfortable. They exchanged glances with each other more than once, appearing less sure of themselves by each passing moment, until eventually they just looked genuinely glad that it was over.

"Please, Ambassador, I really don't think there's need for... any of that," one said.

"Indeed," the other agreed, trying to smile politely. "We had stepped out for a minute, 'tis true, but we shall now resume our vigil. And of course, you could just... resume your walk. I don't see a reason why an exception couldn't be made for His Excellency if he desires a stroll along the terrace with his guests, do you?" he looked to his companion.

The first knight subtly shook his head. "None at all," he said, and his gaze lingered on the priestess for a while before he looked away.

"Right, then. No harm done, I hope? The evening's far too fine to be spoiled by needless trouble."

After that, they both sighed - almost in unison.

*** *** ***​

A'kal was still praising Auri's performance when, just as they neared the top of the staircase, they heard what sounded like a fight. Not metal against metal, but the dull thumps of punching and something heavy hitting the ground. Grunts and suppressed shouts. A'kal's hand immediately reached for the pommel of his sword, which of course wasn't there. None of them were armed.

A'kal led the way, moving quickly yet more quietly than one might expect from a man of his size. He hugged the wall until the very end, then signaled Auri and Maggie to line up behind him. He chanced a peek behind the wall. His face when he looked back at them was relief mixed with concern.

Beyond the top of the staircase was the huge terrace that made up the second floor of the keep - completely open to the night sky as it spanned the space between and around the two main towers of the palace. The wind had let up, but it was still quite chilly outside. Some hundred feet away were the familiar figures of their companions; Meric, standing protectively in front of Dina, and Laurolf - the dwarf having just stood up off what looked like the body of a Royal Guard knight. A second knight lay unmoving a little ways off.

"Aye, that'll do," the dwarf said, dusting off his hands and clothes with satisfaction.

Meric looked less than satisfied, though, until he noticed the approaching A'kal and those whom he was just waving over.
 
Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​


Half-sneaking, half-waddling, Auri took his peek and quietly informed Maggie and A'kal what he saw. Then when it was safe, he returned Meric's wave and joined everyone, careful to keep himself as out of sight as he could, especially given his round, voluminous self.

Seeing Meric and Laurolf, Auri nodded to Maggie and spoke just loud enough for his elf and dwarf friends to hear and be teased. "Dear Maggie, I liked our solution with our knights better, but boys will be boys! Heh heh!

"But you know," he pointed his dragon-headed cane at the two fallen knights, "if one were to add some alcohol in their mouths and faces, enough to imply heavy drinking, it might make whatever story they tell a little suspicious. Especially should their fellows come upon their unconscious forms and especially given the current 'less-than-sterling' reputation of the Royal Knights? Hmm?"

He examined Dina and tried to move between her and the wind if no one else had already thought of it. Warm-blooded or not, he imagined the human with her lack of scales and girth was quite cold, especially given her attire. "How are you feeling, Dina? Anything an old mage can do to improve your comfort during our 'little' adventure?"
 
"That might be a reasonable suggestion under different circumstances," said Meric as he walked up to Auri. "But I'm afraid that there'll be no hiding what transpired here tonight. Also, we've no alcohol on us. Do we, Laurolf?"

The dwarf looked perplexed only for a brief moment before he laughed.

Dina stuck close to Meric, so she too was right next to Auri by the time he was addressing her. She appeared the same as she did earlier; still in the same satin dress, with its dark blues and ruffled blacks blending well with the night - the long, purple scar on the underside of her right arm left exposed. That, combined with how eerily silent she was created an ominous mood about her. "I'm fine," she answered, meeting Auri's eye only for as long as it took to say that. But even that was enough for Auri to peer deep into her eyes, noticing for the second time the unusual purple coloration of her irises.

She certainly lacked the expected enthusiasm and gratitude of someone being rescued from imprisonment. Perhaps she just felt drained by the experience, and yet...

"I'll scout ahead," A'kal offered, already moving towards the now unguarded ramp that led to the outer wall.

"Not without me ye ain't!" Laurolf quickly joined him, and without any interference from Meric, the duo was quickly away yonder. If there were any guards to be found, they would surely make quick work of them.

Meric glanced at Dina, who all but clung to him, then spoke to Auri and Maggie. "Were you followed? And have you seen Valtieri?"
 
Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​


"Not to my knowledge, and without Asher's talents and expertise, I cannot be sure. I have not seen Valtieri." He put his free hand on his overly-wide hip and frowned.

"Where are he and Asher? Do we wait for them or hurry onward?" Auri took a worrisome glance back toward the Tower. What could be done if the Sorceress or the Royal Guard had them?
 
Maggie​




Maggie gave Dina a friendly smile, trying to hide the worry she felt. Before she'd been kidnapped, Dina had apparently disliked her purple scar, hiding it or fighting the power it represented. Maggie hadn't known her for very long, of course, but that had been her impression the whole short time they'd been together. Now, not only was the scar publicly displayed, but the power had apparently reached Dina's eyes as well. The priestess glanced at Meric to see if he'd noticed, just as he asked his questions of them. She shook her head. "I don't think I've seen Valtieri since dinner ended. But... I hate to say this, but I don't think we can afford to wait, or not very long anyway. He's very competent; I'm sure he can find his own way out of this if he can't reach us. Perhaps he already has?"
 


"M. Success. On our way out. Imminent trouble. Go plan B."

"V. Received. Standing by."

Receiving the message, Asher packed the journal in one of his pockets, waited for one minute, then hurried to descend the tower. The way down is always harder, but for Asher it made only for a small difference.

Aiming for Fort Artan, he started to climb down back the way he came from, hoping to cross the same bridge he used to get inside the palace. Following the wall, his path would lead him towards the bridge to the fort.

Looking from above, he saw the guards scrambling about, with a lot of yelling and commands being issued. With a bit of luck, the rearrangement of the guards' positions could help Asher reach the fort more quickly, but it could also hinder him in unexpected ways.

It might be time to go all out. Asher thought, now aware of the weight of the dagger at his belt.
 
"Asher...!" Meric practically slapped his own forehead. "I almost forgot about him. He was probably still on the West Tower when I gave the signal..." He looked up at the tower across the courtyard, but there was no lone figure to be spied on its exterior. "Perhaps he'd already come down. He could be with Violet by now," the elf concluded. "And no, we can't afford to wait. For him or for Valtieri. We didn't come here to trade one prisoner for another, and yet - if we don't get out of the city within the hour, chances are we never will."

While Meric explained this, Dina was staring intently into the distance. Too intently; enough for the others to feel compelled to follow her stare... And see General Niara Shadowleaf standing not a hundred feet off, presumably having arrived from behind the East Tower. She seemed to be all by herself, a dark blue-skinned figure against the white marble of the terrace, clad in her signature gold and green metal armour.

Meric locked eyes with her, speechless. But the general was all but.

"Meric!" she shouted his name in a voice that had a desperate quality to it. "You've come... After all this time! But have you come for me? No. No, no, no, nooo..." She made a few steps closer, obviously half-drunk. "It would appear... that I am not the princess you've come to save here tonight. Not tonight..." There was something pathetic about her, about her words and her current state, something capable of making one feel sorry for her.

When Meric finally replied, it was much too quiet for the general to hear him, so he must have been addressing his companions. "Niara..." he sighed. "I'll deal with this. You two take Dina and catch up with the others. Get to Violet. Get out of here."

"You come here, after all this time..." Niara continued, "But not for me. For that brat!" her voice suddenly rose like an accusation, only to plummet again, defeated. "Not for me. You never came for me, Meric."

*** *** ***​

In those very moments, unbeknownst to the others, Asher had reached the bottom of the other side of the West Tower. Passing underneath its shadow, on his way to the wall ramp, he finally came in view of what was going on on the terrace. He could recognize Niara Shadowleaf even from behind - the likeness of the elven general was imprinted in the memory of many a survivor of the Kossariat League, as she spent weeks in charge of the hunting parties on the Sorceress' behalf.

Now she stood a mere hundred feet away, alone and apparently half-drunk, shouting at Meric and those with him. The drakkar ambassador was there, that priestess with him, and Asher could only barely observe Dina as she was partially hidden behind Meric who was saying something inaudible to his companions. The rest of the party must have already gotten to the rendezvous point on the skybridge.

Owing to the alarm that had clearly been raised, there were no guards in sight. It seemed that the terrace wasn't on the list of places where the Sorceress excepted her quarry to be found, but that didn't make it safe. Sooner or later, that too would change.
 
Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​


Caught red-handed by General Niara herself! Auri's first thought was to move like hell. But then Meric and she had words and Auri found himself not knowing what in the world to do! Finally, Meric seemed to think with his heart instead of his head and throw himself and possibly his very life in the direction of the general, and therefore, The Sorceress.

What could an old drakkar do but follow Meric's advice? He turned to Maggie and Dina and said, "What choice do we have? Let's scoot out of here!"

And that is exactly what he did.
 



Niara Shadowleaf. He only saw glimpses of her figure on the slaughter-grounds, issuing commands far from Asher's reach, and only much, much later did he find out her name. But the memory was still vivid.

The smell and taste of ashes...

Witnessing her drunken figure, Asher could only think of her as pathetic. Is this disgrace what helped butcher all of my comrades?

He might have missed his opportunity before with the Sorceress herself, but he would not let similar happen again.

Asher readied his crossbow, loading a tranquilizing dart whilst doing his utmost to remain calm. His hand shook slightly as the crossbow was set. The dart ready, he unsheathed his dagger and steadily walked into range.

A thief is always vary.

A dart in the back.
A stab in the neck.
That's all it would take.

Luna guide me...
 
It wouldn't be hard to sneak up on the drunk and distracted elven general, Asher knew as he made his careful approach. Yet something did go wrong - something that had nothing to do with his wariness, his footsteps, or anything else for that matter. And perhaps something not as unexpected as it probably seemed.

When Asher was but a few feet away from his mark, someone cried out a warning.

"Niara! No!!"

That someone was, of course, Meric. His cry was timely... If only just. And it made General Shadowleaf turn around, more swiftly that one would have guessed, putting her face to face with her would-be assassin.

That didn't mean that Asher couldn't still go through with it. As surely as Shadowleaf would normally outmatch him, she was both intoxicated and surprised. Asher still had the edge, what lingered of the dispersed moment of surprise. Unlike Shadowleaf, he was prepared. It's just that the clean, stealthy takedown that he was hoping for was off the table.

What would he do?
 
Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​


Asher! Safe and sound and right where he was least expected! Just like the excellent rogue he was!

Auri heard Meric's terrible cry of warning, and from it, he saw Asher's killing intent. Both of these men were virtually strangers to Auri, each with their own pasts and agendas. There was too much going on just now to judge one way or the other, so instead of risking Dina's freedom along with everyone else's, Auri kept moving to safety, with Maggie if she were willing, but letting her go her own way if not.

For all the old drakkar knew, General Niara's sins were just now catching up with her with Asher as the executioner, or perhaps she was innocent of some misdeed or Meric was thinking only with his heart - either way, Asher did not seem to be the kind of man to strike without extremely good reason. Auri trusted Meric enough to want her alive, but Asher enough to not intervene in her assassination. It was the only course of action he could reasonably and prudently decide upon, given what he knew in that moment.

He continued to move everyone he could to safety.
 



He wasn't surprised by the warning that was issued, instead was partially counting on it, or counting it in, though Asher failed to notice who issued that warning, his focus completely on his target. Just him, Niara and the memory of fire.

By the time Meric shouted his warning, Asher was in range. Despite Niara's incredibly fast turn, she could not avoid the ejection speed of a released crossbow bolt; something Asher had experienced countless times.

Without any hesitation, Asher fired the bolt towards his target.
 
Maggie​




Maggie could only watch in surprise as Asher appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Surprise and relief, for that was one less person to worry about being left behind. His clear intent towards Niara was less surprising: the general was delaying them, or at least Meric, and she did work for the enemy after all, even if Maggie could have hoped for no further bloodshed this night. With all that had happened that evening, she'd nearly forgotten that Meric had a history with Niara until his cry of warning, but she couldn't stay to help, if she could even decide which side to help -- Meric's former friend, or their current ally (who, after all, was acting to help the group escape).

The priestess reached for Dina's hand to tug her after Auri. "Come on," she said quietly, but with the urgency of the situation clear in her voice. "We must get you out or all will be for naught!" With or without their hands clasped, Maggie would stay only as long as Dina did.
 
In those few moments, which seemed to move in slow motion for Asher, the thief could peer right into the eyes of the elven general. The surprise, the sudden awareness, the rapid assessment of the situation... And the blunt shock when the crossbow bolt connected.

Though rushed, Asher's aim had been true. The bolt hit the general straight in the chest, embedding itself just below her right breast. Had she been wearing proper mail, even a point-blank shot like that would have merely made a dent - but her ceremonial armor was simply too thin. She staggered back but somehow remained on her feet, her hand clenched around the hilt of her drawn sword.

Behind her, the others seemed to be fleeing across the ramp. Dina allowed Maggie to pull her away after Auri. A'kal had moved at first but then froze indecisively in place. And Meric was running in the wrong direction: towards Niara and Asher. He did not look pleased. There was no telling what he was planning to do.

And Niara herself... Though she remained standing, it was clear that she'd suffered a serious injury. Her breath came in quick, shallow bursts, and her free hand automatically sought the bolt that protruded out of her. She did not loose her grip on the sword, however - and though she did not seem keen on attacking, Asher knew he'd be wise to stay out of her reach nonetheless.

Besides, there was the other elf to consider.
 



Seeing that he didn't miss and that the agent was injected into Niara, Asher took his chance and rushed towards his target, the dagger trained towards her most vulnerable weakpoint, her neck.

The tranquilizers action was quick and unless Niara had any resistance to it, she should be losing the grip on her consciousness. Combined with the alcohol in her blood by the time Asher would reach her, she would be too weak to effectively swing her blade. Still, Asher chose to approach away from her sword arm.

Beyond the scope of his focus, Asher saw a blur starting to move towards them, but decided to ignore it. Killing Niara was too important, too compelling, and he believed that he was faster and closer than any interlopers.
 
Things were probably turning into a blur for Niara, whose quickened breathing suddenly slowed down to match her already slow movements. Shadow elves had high resistance to toxins and were even immune to certain poisons, but Asher's tranquilizer was doing what it was designed to. It was an accomplishment that she remained standing, but she was clearly in no shape to fight. She would probably collapse on her own before long, if she were given the chance.

But the master thief moved too swiftly for that, closing the last few feet between them and sinking his dagger just about where he intended. Niara was neither still nor compliant, but her normally superior reflexes had been dulled to the point where her resistance might as well have been in slow motion. She went down in a spray of dark, red blood, the clang of her sword on the stone tiles barely preceding the thud her body made.

But so did Asher.

Down - not in blood, but disarmed as well, and quite violently at that. Something had shoved him away with such force that he went rolling for a clear ten feet before being able to get his bearings again. His dagger lay nearby, just out of reach. Bloody.

"What have you done?!"

Meric stood over Niara's fallen form like a guard dog, his own sword drawn and gripped so tight that Asher could see the whitening of his knuckles, a very pale blue against the rest of his skin, which was dark. Somehow darker than usual, it seemed. He looked truly fearsome, as if he might come charging straight at him at any moment. If that happened, Asher knew that nothing short of shadowmelding would save him. While he'd never seen Meric fight, if half of what he heard from the others was true, that's how it was.

"What the hell have you done?", he demanded again. "Didn't you hear me shout? I said NO!"

At long last, it didn't seem likely that he'd actually attack Asher. His stance was protective more than anything, though there was great anger in his eyes when he beheld the thief. Behind him, A'kal was walking over - and his face was nothing but grave concern.
 
Auri Grashaal the Insatiable

- Drakkar Ambassador to Asgard -​


"Keeeeeep moooving!" Auri told his nearby companions without raising his voice.

Hearing Meric shouting, Auri waddled with his cane as fast as he could. He moved protectively too for Maggie and Dina's sakes. It was all he could do to resist the urge to roll up into his ball-form and roll for all he was worth after the others ahead of him. Had he been alone, that would have been exactly what he would have done.

Old Auri had seen Niara fall and heard Meric's demands. Whatever was happening, despite his grief and anger, if Meric kept up all this shouting, the Sorceress herself might eventually hear him...

...and if the Sorceress caught them, she would make Niara's end look like a birthday party.
 
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Being thrown like a rag-doll, Asher took a moment to get his bearings. He looked up and around, his eyes quickly readjusting, when the body of the general entered his sight. The last few moments before he stabbed her were very vivid, as well as the feeling of his blade penetrating her flesh. Asher was exhilarated at the scene before him.

Niara Shadowleaf in a pool of slowly reaching-out blood.

But it's been decades since Asher was a child, and he quickly refocused himself. His goal was achieved, and though the result was in question, the damage done today was still significant. At least he felt a bit of relief.

Instead of replying to Meric, Asher decided to roll towards his dagger in an attempt to grab it, and then shadowmeld to escape before the Sorceress was upon them.
 
Having watched Asher retrieve his dagger and disappear into the Shadow Realm, Meric cursed, spat, and collapsed over Niara's body.

"Niara? Niara?" he called her name again and again, frantically checking for life signs. "Maggie, you have to do something! Please," he cried out in desperation, but the priestess was nowhere to be seen. "Maggie?! Maker..." Dismayed, the elf looked back at Niara's still form, completely oblivious to his own name being cried out by A'kal in the background.

"Meric, we have to go!" the northerner insisted. From the far end of the terrace, armored figures were starting to show up. "Now! We're out of time!"

It took A'kal's superior strength to pull him up and away from the fallen general, even as the first arrows whizzed past them. And still the elf was unwilling, but his comrade was relentless in his intention to save him.

"I'm not leaving without you! Come!"

At length, the two of them hurried across the ramp onto the outer wall, following the others, with the Queen's men in close pursuit...

*** *** ***​

The skybridge that connected the outer wall of the Royal Palace with the outer wall of Fort Artan was much like any of the other bridges of Alicante, in that it spanned two halves of the city over the Shallow river. Except the skybridge was private, narrower, and much, much higher. It was built in a slight arc to compensate for its great length, and typically guarded by both the Palace Guard as well as the Royal Army.

Except the only guards that Auri, Maggie, and Dina found when they reached it were Violet and her men. The westerner, Battojutsu, was there also - speaking with Laurolf who was now wielding his trusty battleaxe (and looking all the more content for it). Vittorio Valtieri was not among them...

Braziers lined down the low parapet were the only source of light in the dark of the night, and they were constantly shifting with the wind, which up here was quite forceful. It was cold, more fit for early Winter than the middle of Autumn. Even if it weren't for the impending threat of being found and caught, no one present looked like they'd relish staying around for longer than necessary.

"Dina!" Violet hugged the young girl so violently that her indifferent, cold mood was finally broken like dispelled enchantment.

"C-Can't... Breathe..."

The elf maiden laughed, stepping back but continuing to hold her by the shoulders. "Sorry! I'm just so happy to see you! You're... You're alright!" It was then that a little doubt crept across her face. "You are alright, aren't you? What... What did she do to you?"

Dina looked aside, as if ashamed, and shook her head. "I'd rather explain later..."

"Okay. There will be plenty of time for explanations later. We're not out of the woods yet, anyway... Ambassador!" she suddenly focused on Auri. "Where are the others? Meric isn't answering my hails on the Morse device."
 
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