Chapter 18 #3
“Of course, you do not.” Murbank strokes Nylan’s face creepily. “But you will bleed just the same.”
At Murbank’s words, Nylan panics and turns to run but is immediately grabbed by Redwish.
“This is insane! You don’t even know this is going to work!” It’s my turn to shout. “He’s not even a full elf! He’s half!”
“Which is why we have Deputy Rockfang here as well,” Murbank replies smoothly. “Two halves make a whole, do they not?”
“Oh, okay. So, you’re like, crazy crazy.” I mean the cult alone should have been a giveaway, but I guess I was still hoping he could be reasoned with.
“Enough of this,” Redwish complains before shoving Nylan back toward Murbank. “Can we please move things along? We do not have all night.”
“Brother Redwish is right.” Murbank sighs as he takes a hold of Nylan and moves to the altar. “Everyone, to your positions.”
Around us, all of the cult members move to stand in a half circle around the altar, all except for the four holding me and the three still-conscious rangers in place.
I can see Keenguard looking on proudly from one side of the lineup while Redwish looks more skeptical on the opposite.
Murbank climbs the steps to the altar, pulling a struggling Nylan behind him.
“We tried...everything...we could.” I hear Khazak struggle to tell Ragnar on his other end.
“I am so sorry, Ragnar.” I try to apologize as I watch in horror as my friend is about to be sacrificed to some insane plot.
“I’m right here baby!” Ragnar shouts, trying to comfort his lover. He sounds so defeated.
“Captain, if you would not mind clearing the altar.” Murbank nods at the lead box covering the altar’s basin.
At its mention, I become aware of the annoying piercing sound once again, the one that I’ve been mostly successful in ignoring while all this has gone on.
I watch Keenguard pull out her weapon, and I shut my eyes tightly as she swings, terrified that whatever is released is going to make my head hurt so much worse. If it doesn’t explode.
I hear the sound of metal on metal and something shattering, and a second later, the ringing is gone, something else in its place.
Something that sounds like speaking, or maybe whispering.
Multiple voices, I think, but I can’t even tell if they’re in the same language.
I open my eyes, watching Keenguard finish removing the remains of the lead box.
I look at the faces of everyone else carefully, looking for some indication that I’m not the only one hearing this, but I see nothing. What the hell is going on?
Murbank reaches for the sword, and I start to struggle again.
I can’t let this happen. I can’t let Nylan die like this!
But the orc behind me is strong, and he gives me a solid punch to the head to settle me.
Fuck, that hurt. I try to reach my hands up to rub my head, but they are of course still tied behind my back.
In frustration, I flail my arms, trying to summon the strength to rip apart the rope binding them, but it’s no use.
Then my hands brush over something in my back pocket.
Holy shit. It’s one of Glasha and Nikka’s smoke bombs.
They never searched Khazak or me after they captured us.
After mentally cursing myself for not noticing it earlier, I try to quickly come up with a plan, Keenguard already moving back into position with the others.
Nylan and Murbank are on the side of the platform closest to us, facing away towards the giant mural of Zeus, while the rest of the cult is on the opposite, watching.
The only things between us and the hallway out are the four cult members holding us.
As Murbank raises the sword, I start moving.
“Do whatever it takes to clear a path to the exit!” I yell to Glasha, Ragnar, and Khazak before tossing the bomb on the floor behind me.
As smoke and confusion fills the air, I turn and headbutt the orc behind me right in the groin, making him double over in pain.
Glasha and Ragnar catch on quickly and do the same, minus the headbutt, while Khazak elects to throw his body weight on his.
After a well-placed knee to the forehead, I turn to charge at Murbank on the raised platform.
The rest of the cult can see us, but Murbank can’t, and I’m a lot faster than they are.
I body slam the bastard from behind, knocking him stomach-first into the altar.
“Run Ny!” I shout to the elf, who is off before I can even finish. Good boy.
I’m tackled from the side and pushed to the ground, and as I look toward the smoke, all I can see are the shapes of a few bodies struggling. Please have gotten away.
“Yar’ku ti’na-she!” I hear Murbank’s voice shout to my left and a gust of wind blows through the room, clearing out the smoke.
I see Firedrum and the other two traitors struggling with Glasha and Ragnar, but no sign of Nylan. Yes!
“After him. Now!” Murbank shouts at a few of the cult members off to the side, two of which immediately rush down the hallway. Gods, please let Nylan be a fast runner.
As all the orcs around me begin to argue amongst themselves, I can’t help but smile. I completely fucked up their plan. No matter what else happens, as long as Nylan gets away, someone will be able to stop them. The rest of the city will know about this.
“I suppose you think this is funny.” I look up to see Redwish glaring down at me angrily.
“Kinda, yeah.” I nod, mocking him even from my spot on the floor of the platform.
He grabs me from the orc holding me to the ground, yanking me to my feet, and even I have to admit that he’s a lot stronger than he looks.
The altar is in front of me and the temple entrance to my right.
Right next to it, the whispering sounds coming from the basin are even louder, but I still can’t understand them.
“I have had quite enough of you interfering with my plans.” Redwish spins me around to face him.
I open my mouth for a comeback, but I’m cut off by a sharp pain in my chest. I look down. Oh.
I didn’t even see him grab the sword.
“NO!” someone screams.
Blood pools around the weapon in my chest, dark red meeting shining steel.
As quickly as it entered, the sword is pulled back out, blood pouring from the wound and staining my dark blue shirt almost black.
Blood fills my mouth when I try to draw in a breath, and I struggle to keep standing, gripping the altar behind me tightly.
I try to move but only manage to turn myself around and collapse on top of it.
More people are yelling, and as the edge of my vision blurs, I see Khazak.
He’s struggling, crying, trying to say something, but I can’t hear him.
I can’t hear anything over the whispering.
When did it get so loud? The light in the room is fading.
I try to reach for him, but my limbs are too weak.
I can’t breathe. It’s so cold. Heh, he’s gonna be so mad at me for this.
I’m sorry...
...I don’t want to go...
...I love you...
It’s dark. At least I think it’s dark. I can’t actually see anything. Or feel anything, or hear anything, or—Oh fuck, am I dead? I can’t move my body... Actually, I’m not sure I have a body anymore. I’m not cold. I’m not hot. I’m not anything. Is this death? Just...nothingness, forever?
[Amused Male Voice: “Well, that took long enough.”]
I hear someone talking, only not out loud. Like it’s in my head.
[Confident Female Voice: “You can’t rush prophecy.”]
Another voice.
[Cocky Male Voice: “Well you can, it just doesn’t usually end well.”]
How many people are here?
[Soft Female Voice: “And we are certain this is the correct one?”]
I try to answer but can’t figure out how to make any sounds.
[Confident Female Voice: “Yes. There was always a chance it could have been either of them, but it’s been clear for some time it would be him.”]
I give up on trying to talk.
[Disdainful Male Voice: “I still say we would’ve been better off with the other one.”]
Well, that feels rude.
[Amused Male Voice: “I thought he still had like, six or seven years to go?”]
[Cocky Male Voice: “No, not that other one.”]
[Sultry Female Voice: “I dunno. He’s definitely the cuter one.”]
Thank you, disembodied voice.
[Sultry Female Voice: “And you know I’m a sucker for a good love story.”]
[Curt Female Voice: “Seeing as this is who we prepared for, I think we should be grateful.”]
[Proud Male Voice: “He’s plenty strong. I’m not even sure I’d know what to do with his brother.”]
Brother?
[Defensive Male Voice: “He would have been just as strong, simply in different ways. Have you known my line to be weak?”]
Who are these people?
[Disdainful Male Voice: “Are we certain you want to do this, brother? He called you a drama queen.”]
Wait, I know these people?
[Haughty Female Voice: “He’s not wrong.”]
I think that’s the tenth voice I’ve heard now.
[Defensive Male Voice: “Excuse me?”]
[Cocky Male Voice and Curt Female Voice: “He’s not.” “He’s not.”]
Those are definitely siblings.
[Exasperated Male Voice: “Can we move things along? It’s a pain in the ass getting up here, and we really don’t have a lot of time.”]
We don’t?
[Defensive Male Voice: “Yes, yes. Is everyone ready?”]
No! I still don’t know what’s going on!
[Wise Female Voice: “Is this truly the only option?”]
[Defensive Male Voice: “You know that it is, sister.”]
[Wise Female Voice: “He just has such a difficult journey ahead of him.”]
...I do?
[Defensive Male Voice: “A journey he will not be making alone.”]
[Cocky Male Voice: “Good thing too. I have a feeling this one is going to need help with control. At least he already likes being kept on a tight leash.”]
[Curt Female Voice: “Yes, I’d say we lucked out with his large green master, as long as he actually does what he’s supposed to.”]
Khazak?
[Exasperated Male Voice: “Neither of them is going to be doing anything if we don’t speed this the fuck up and send him back already!”]