Chapter 19 #2
“I was already starting to fade, all the energy and adrenaline drained from my body. But then you clutched the altar and stood up,” Khazak continues.
“At first, I did not understand what I was seeing. Then I was just happy that you were still alive. But something was off. You were not talking and your eyes looked dark, unfocused. Until you looked at one of the cult members. Then all I could see in your eyes was fury. Even after you...stopped them, you were still not acting like yourself. It was only when I was able to get your attention that I saw for just a moment that you were back, right before you passed out, and we brought you here.”
I’m speechless when he finishes, but when no one says anything, I press forward. “So, we still don’t really know what happened to me?”
“Though it may sound far-fetched, the simplest answer is that whatever the group was attempting to accomplish worked.” Kind of surprised it’s a doctor saying this. “Unfortunately, we do not have a way of truly knowing.”
“So, I’m ‘blessed’ by the gods?” Sure doesn’t fucking feel like it.
“We are going to figure this out, David,” Khazak tries to reassure me.
“While you were recovering, I spoke with the remaining members of the Tribal Council. Murbank was correct about the city having more information regarding the temple, but it is not much. They intentionally asked the elves to keep it secret to prevent something like this from happening. We may not know what they really discovered twenty years ago, but we know who does, and your friends have already been discussing your travel plans for what to do next.”
“Yeah! We’re gonna figure this out together, David,” Corrine tells me cheerfully before turning to the doctor. “Would it be alright if he started seeing visitors?”
“Yes, I think that would be fine, but only two at a time other than the captain, please.” She holds up two fingers, then looks at me. “I would like to keep you here a bit longer, just to be sure that everything is alright before releasing you.”
“Got it.” I nod. “Thank you.” It’s not her fault we don’t know what’s going on.
As soon as the healer is gone, Corrine nearly throws herself at me to hug me, already crying again.
“It’s so good to see you guys,” I say after she’s finally composed herself. “How are you even here right now?”
“Aside from you almost dying? Turns out our former lawyer wasn’t actually a lawyer and was the one who stabbed you.” Good point.
“After your apparent resurrection, Redwish was one of the first ones to leave the temple in the chaos that followed.” Khazak sighs unhappily.
“We were able to catch most of the others, but unfortunately not him. We searched his home and found it nearly empty, and it appears he may have forged his entire identity. We are not even sure Naruk Redwish is his real name.”
“So, because of that, they released us and a few of his other defendants early,” Adam finishes explaining.
“Considering we definitely did the thing we were accused of, I think we got pretty lucky,” Corrine adds with a sniffle after fixing her hair.
“Seriously.” It’s so great to see them like this and not cuffed behind a table.
“What about you?” Adam asks, concerned. “Are you alright?”
“I guess?” I feel fine. “Other than this gnarly scar.”
“We don’t mean physically, David.” Corrine touches my arm gently.
“...I don’t really know.” For so many different reasons.
“We’re here for you, David,” Adam assures me. “We’re going to figure this out.”
“Yes, we are! Pákannon is only a five day walk from here, so if we leave in the next couple of days, we should arrive around a week from now!”
“The friends you’ve made while we’ve been locked up have been really helpful.
” Adam looks at Khazak with a smile. “We’ve been staying with Captain Ironstorm’s family since yesterday.
They’re letting us crash there until we leave.
His sister already helped figure out the fastest path from here to Pákannon and then from there to Manamequohi. ”
“How did you say that so easily?” I look at Adam, half-surprised and half-annoyed.
“What? Manamequohi?” Corrine asks and my look moves to her.
“Whatever,” I grumble and cross my arms. “I’m glad Ayla was able to help. Khazak’s family is great.”
“They’ve all been so nice,” Corrine agrees, smiling at Khazak.
“Some of the rangers told us about where to find some decent weapons and armor, and that Nylan guy offered to show us around the marketplace later today,” Adam adds.
“That’s great.” I try to sound sincere and not nervous about what Nylan may inadvertently reveal about how I’ve been spending my time here.
“As long as they let you out soon, we figure we’ll be on our way in a day or two.” Adam grins, and it’s hard to not smile back.
“Yeah, I guess it’s time to go.” With Murbank dead and his plot out in the open, there’s not any reason for me to stay.
“Rest up, okay?” Corrine says while hugging me again. “We are just so happy you are alright.”
After Adam and Corrine leave, I expect Liss and Nate to be next. Instead, a sobbing Nylan jumps halfway onto my bed to hug me tightly, Ragnar entering behind him.
“I’m s-so happy y-you’re okay!” he cries into my neck. “You got stabbed a-and then d-died and it w-was all because of me! I w-was so worried you w-weren’t gonna wake up and—”
“Ny, it’s okay. I’m okay.” I hug the half-elf tighter as he chokes up. “I’m glad you’re alright. That’s all I cared about.”
“David, I don’t know how I can thank you,” Ragnar manages to tell me over his crying boy. “If you hadn’t risked your life like that to save him... Just, thank you, so much.”
“I didn’t even think about it.” I release Nylan, now only sniffling instead of sobbing. “I just wanted to protect my friend.”
“The ranger force is in shambles right now.” Ragnar shakes his head.
“Almost half of the cult was made up of rangers and officers. Everyone is demoralized and suspicious of everyone else potentially being a traitor. The people in the city are furious with the council and Chief Grandtooth for letting this happen on their watch. Half of them are suspected of being traitors themselves.”
“We apprehended Keenguard hiding in the forest with several of the other cult members. It has been easier than anticipated getting them to talk. What happened in the temple seems to have shaken them,” Khazak adds, leaving out that I’m the thing they’re probably afraid of.
“We were able to locate where Murbank had moved the black carriage, which was housing the missing supplies.”
“Finding out Murbank was a wizard was a surprise. Even to his wife, she claims.” Ragnar sighs.
“But at least it explains how he was able to get away with all of this for so long without anyone suspecting. We even found out he and the cult are the ones responsible for all the patches of Ralor’s crown that have been popping up in the forest.”
“We have already started to root out other people in the department.” Khazak sounds more confident. “Considering the small amount of us we know for a fact are not compromised, it will take some time. But with the main issues resolved, you are free to leave the city like we originally planned.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I smile, but inside I feel a stab of regret. I don’t have a reason to stay anymore. In fact, I have a very good reason to go. “Now I just need to try and figure out the rest of this shit.”
“I might be able to help with that.” Nylan blows his nose into a tissue Ragnar hands him. “I have family in Pákannon where the archaeology group came from. Plus, my dad led the expedition with my mom, so if anyone knows about the temple, it’s him. I wrote letters to both places.”
“I know your friends are already talking about that being your first stop,” Ragnar adds before turning his head when a throat is cleared. “And they are waiting for their turn next. Come on, boy. We’ll be back.” With a smile and another hug, the couple leaves the room.
Liss and Nate are next. Liss is her normal gruff self, but I can tell she missed me.
Even Nate seems happy to see me. Or happy to be out of jail, at least. Next comes Glasha and Arik, and then Hazatin and Stonearm, all of whom look recovered from the ordeal themselves.
They’re friendly, but I can’t help but feel like they’re looking at me funny.
Like they’re afraid of me too. Khazak’s family is next, even Brull, but I can’t help but notice one glaring omission. One I’m worried to ask about.
“Hey, do you mind if me and Khazak talk alone for a bit?” I ask Brull, our conversation having veered into small-talk territory. I need a break.
“Of course! Feel better, pup.” The larger orc gives my thigh a light squeeze. “Make sure you come see me before you leave to say goodbye, alright?”
“I will, I promise.” I nod with a smile as he exits.
Once Brull’s out of the room and we’re alone, I can relax a little more, and I feel Khazak do the same.
“I cannot even begin to tell you how scared I was.” Khazak pulls a chair closer to the bed so he can sit, never letting go of the hand he started holding once my friends left the room.
“Grief, then anger, and then shock when you were alive again. I thought I had lost you, and I never... I am just so happy that you are still here.”
“I was pretty worried about you, too.” My eyes go to his throat where Redwish held the knife. “I am glad you’re okay too.” I squeeze his hand, my mind lingering on the question I am afraid to ask. “Where’s... Where’s Orim?”
“David, I am so sorry.” Khazak sags in his seat. “Orim and Shaman Bonespirit did not make it out of the forest.”
“No...” It feels like the wind is knocked out of me. “I shouldn’t have let him go off on his own like that. If he had just stayed with us, he might still—”
“You cannot think that way, David.” Khazak moves quickly to swat that thought down. “You are not the people who killed him. You are not the reason he is dead. None of this was your fault.”