The Mistakes Of Misfits

    I woke up with the worst headache of my life. My brain felt like it was about to burst open as I slowly came to consciousness. I put my head in my hands as I tried to get my bearings. I fortunately didn't have anybody else accompanying my bed. Luckily I had the good sense not to sleep with anyone while plastered.

      I sat up on the side of the bed and felt my head explode with a new wave of pain. Gods it had been a long time since I had a hangover this bad. I stayed at the side of the bed and thanked the gods that there was a glass of water on my nightstand to help mitigate the damage. Memories of the night before flew through me and I couldn't help but smile. I felt the taste of her lips still, the feeling of her breasts up against me, the sound of her laugh.

      Gods, what the hell was I doing? She was an orc! Yet I couldn't get my mind off of her as I changed into my tunic and a pair of comfortable leathers. It took me way too damn long to get ready considering the hangover but eventually I opened the door to the tavern.

       Sumi and I had been given a room on the second floor. When I walked out to the balcony I was met by a massive streak of sunlight pouring through the now open window. Below me my friends had found a table. I saw another face with them though, the templar woman I had met on the battlefield had joined in the morning breakfast.

     I started to walk down the stairs and I caught the attention of that female templar. She perked up and faced me. Varrin! It's so nice to meet you properly. Please find a seat, maybe get some coffee.”

     The bartender looked at me expectantly. It wasn't the same from last night. The lady before me was older and wore a massive pair of black spectacles. I nodded to her. “Coffee sounds delightful.” I told her, trying to sound more polite and less desperate. I needed some kind of caffeine to help with this hellish hangover.

     The woman brought me a small cup of coffee and I tried to slowly drink the beverage as I looked at my other comrades. I sat back, seemingly without  a care in the world. Otah kept his eyes locked on the blond templar woman, barely moving to acknowledge my presence. Sumi turned when I looked however. Her deep purple eyes seemed to be full of questions but no regrets. That… surprised me. She smiled at me though and I returned the gesture.

      We apparently locked eyes for one moment too long because Kasious noticed us. He looked at me, then Sumi, then me again. “Did you two?”

     Sumi whipped her head to him. “That's none of your damn business, prince.” She scolded. Kasious raised an eyebrow at me but let a mischievous grin from across his face.

      The templar woman looked between the three of us. “Is everything okay?” She asked us, a bit of concern crossing her face.

     Otah laughed a bit. “Trust me, this is just how they normally are.” He explained, then leaned back with his cup of coffee ready to enjoy the show.

     I looked back at the blond templar, ignoring the chaos brewing around me. “Why are you here?” I asked her.

    The woman straightened in her seat. “My name is Marline, I am a former templar who has vowed to end the king.” She turned to Kasious. “I assume we have similar goals… prince.”

     Kasious's face looked a bit conflicted upon hearing the name. “Nice to see you Marline, good to see your banishment hasn't broken your spirit.” He looked a bit nervous around the templar. He didn't seem to trust her.

     The feeling seemed to be mutual, Marline looked between Kasious and the rest of us with a bit of trepidation. “So prince… are you finally ready to take down your father?” She asked, a bit of spite coating her voice.

     Kasious smirked a bit. “You're still pissed aren't you?” He asked. He bit on his cheek a bit, preparing for the inevitable attack that was about to be flung his way.

     Marline gritted her teeth. “How could I forgive you prince? You ruined my life!” She placed her hands on the table and faced him. She didn't have her sword on her but that stare seemed to do just as much damage.

     Sumi looked between the two of them. “Anyone care to explain what the hell is going on between you two?” She asked.

      Marline turned to her. “The prince here stopped my revolution! The king could have been dead years ago but the prince ratted on my people!” The hate that she had almost radiated off of her.

      Kasious's face dropped a bit, becoming more serious than I had ever seen him. “That was twelve years ago. I was still a teenager, so of course I tried to defend my own father.” Kasious turned to us. “When I was thirteen, I heard about an attack being mounted against my father. I… I didn't know the things my father had done. I thought he was still a righteous man.” He slumped his head, unable to finish the story.

     Mary had no such qualms. “He ratted me out. The king executed my soldiers in a swift surprise attack. I was able to escape, but my men died and I vowed to get revenge on that bastard of a king.” She looked at Kasious. “Why would you turn against him? Why should I trust you actually want to help me?”

     Kasious sighed. “I was blind to my father's malice before. That changed after your rebellion.” He removed his tunic and revealed a massive scar. The large red gash spread from his right shoulder almost all the way down to his ribs on his left side. He looked Marline directly in the eyes even though she couldn't remove her gaze from the gash. “Trust me Marline, I found out first hand what my father does to his own people.”

     I stared in a confused daze. “Your own father did that to you?” I asked him. Orthis been cruel in my training but he had never… he had never been that vicious.

      Kasious sent a solemn nod my way. “I spoke out against him. In front of his chief engineer. She demanded I be reprimanded for such disrespect… my father agreed.” He winced, as if remembering the pain brought it back physically. “As soon as I healed I abandoned my title and left Durik, hoping to become strong enough to take on my father.”

     Marline didn't seem to back down from the prince but she softened a bit at his story. “Did you find what you were looking for?” She asked.

     Kasious looked at Otah and allowed a smile to cross his face again. “Yeah… yeah I think I did.” Otah didn't let his face move away from the stoic neutrality he wore so well but he gave Kasious a small nod. He turned back to Marline “I am ready to face him.”

      Marline didn't look fully convinced. “Are you ready to truly end his reign? You know what you have to do.” She dropped the hatred and in its place seemed to be a small bit of pity for the prince

     Kasious tensed up. “I will dethrone my father, however that is done is up to me alone.” His voice was firm and determined.

     Marline shrugged. “I'll take what I can get at this point… I offer you an entrance to Durik and into the revolution. I have contacts who can get you into the city unseen.” She looked down at her templar crest in her hand before continuing.

    Sumi leaned toward Marline. “What's the catch? You clearly have a cost to this.” She pointed out. I had realized it as well. She was clearly dancing around something important.

     Before Marline could answer the door burst open and a familiar orc walked through the doors. He strode in with his scimitars on his hips as if he was going to pick a fight with us. I could feel my blood become ice as I stared him down. He stared daggers at Otah and Sumi specifically but brought his eyes over to me in surprise. “Surely you want to hear me out before you kill me… right mage?” He put up his hands in a sarcastic surrender motion.

     Otah looked over at me “Varrin! Control!” He ordered. I looked down to my fist to find it encased in ice. I gazed at the spell in horror as I dismissed it and the ice faded away. I had never lost control of my magic like that. I could channel so little that it seemed to be the one thing I was good at at the academy. I gritted my teeth and sat back. “Why is he here?” I managed to get out.

      Marline looked between all of us like a mother trying to stop fighting children. “This is Kerrigan, he is a half orc who has been hunting the cult for years. He knows more about them than everyone at this table combined… As payment for my help I want you to take him with you into Durik.

     Sumi kept her face stoic but I could see the anger boiling beneath the surface. “If your contacts are so great, why not get him in yourself?” She asked. I leaned back in my chair. I didn't trust myself to not lose my cool if I joined this conversation.

      Marline looked a bit sheepish at the question. “I… My contacts are not so confident in the leadership of the rebellion. Without a spark, without someone to rally the people we don't stand a chance.” She turned to Kasious. “You are that chance prince. The rebellion will truly flourish if they have a symbol like you to move behind.”

      Kasious tried to smile but the weight of his responsibilities almost seemed to physically weigh down his slumped shoulders. “That’s what I'm here for right” He said. He turned his attention to Sumi and I. “I don't want to make a group decision… but I think letting this shit stain travel with us is worth the entrance into Durik. We probably won't get a deal like this again.”

      His words were tactical and emotionless. He reminded me more of Otah than his usual self. I turned to Sumi. She knew as well as I did we should take the deal. Could she put that grudge aside though? Hell, could I put that grudge aside? I gave her a small nod. She let out a long sigh and turned back to Kasious. “He may come with us, we'll need the information he carries.”

      Kerrigan smirked. “Well, I guess I should go pack my things.” He muttered. He made his way to the door

    Marline put her hands on the table and stood up. “I will ride ahead and prepare the rebellion for your arrival. I will travel faster by myself… Please don't kill each other.” She told all of us.

      Kasious chuckled, a bit more of the prince we had grown accustomed to shining through as he put his shirt back on. “Don't make me promise that.” He joked.

     Marline gave him a scowl that resembled a mother toward her child. “I expect to see you all soon… all of you.” She straightened her chest and strode out of the room the way only a soldier could.

    It took less than an hour before we were fully packed up and ready. We bought a few rations from the general stores that were still open, as well as a few more bottles of liquor for the road. I would need to get my tolerance up if I wanted to beat Sumi next time. From what I was told the orc practically carried me to my room after we were done drinking. We gave the villagers as much silver as they would allow. It was much less than the food was worth but they refused to take more.

      We loaded onto the cart, the half orc Kerrigan now joining us. My blood boiled seeing him on our team. I kept my jaw tight, he was a tool. We would use him in Durik then never have to see him again.

    A crowd had formed to see our departure. They stood on the edge of the city waving and cheering us all out. I enjoyed the hero treatment. While Kerrigan and Otah sat on the front of the cart Sumi, Kasious and myself stood on top of the cart itself so we could wave back to the grateful villagers. I saw the children I had shown magic to the night before gazing up at us in amazement. I smirked. “Give me a bit of room.” I told Kasious and Sumi. “I want to try something.”

     The two of them did as I asked and I focused my energy. I had been thinking about my aura all morning. The red aura was fueled by rage, but the yellow… the yellow was based on panic. Panic was something I could summon much easier than rage. I closed my eyes and brought back memories from the night before. My panted breathing, Otah's screams, the sadistic grin on the cult leader's face as he stood over Sumi.

    I felt it, the yellow aura that powered me the night before. I felt the power threaten to lift me up in the air but I planted my feet, prepared for the power this time. A bit of pride in finally being able to use one of my auras on purpose threatened to swallow me but I pushed it aside and focused on my task. I need to use the power now that I had summoned it. It was almost overwhelming the amount of it that there was. I thought about making a fireworks display, maybe flying around and showing off… no. I had the perfect idea for a display, something these people would never forget.

      My power formed into a massive blue dragon made out of arcane energy. The dragon didn't mimic the one from Dagna's emporium, this dragon's body was long like a snake and had fur like a mammal, these were the dragon's of old legends and of the gods. I moved the dragon around on a flourish above the townsfolk. A long movement of my leg and an upward slant of my arm caused the projection to shoot upward towards the sky.

     I heard townsfolk gasp and gawk at the massive spell. I didn't dare open my eyes as I envisioned the memories of Orthis beating me into shape. I remembered the fear that crossed my mind as I fought for my life. The terror as I fell from great heights until I learned how to levitate. I spun my entire body around and the dragon followed a similar motion. It was like a ritual dance and the dragon was following the same beat as I did.

      I moved my arm to the left and the massive pressure of the power made me falter for a moment. The dragon dropped and careened toward the townsfolk. I gritted my teeth and shot my arm back up, making the dragon arch as if it was just part of the show. I knew I needed to end this little performance fast, otherwise I might not be able to hold onto my power.

      I spun the dragon around in circles above the small town. Each motion mimicked my own dance-like movements. The dragon sped up to the point where it was nothing but a bright blue blur. I stomped my foot and the circle of blue shattered into ice and fell as small light snowflakes.

     The townsfolk looked upwards in awe and even my teammates watched the snow fall with a mix of pride and amazement. But Sumi did something different, she had the same look of awe but it wasn't focused on the sky. As I looked at her those bright purple irises were focused on me.