The Mistakes Of Misfits

Journal of Varrin Stormviel page 380

We had slowly made our way back to the safehouse. The first thing we all did was take a very, very long bath. After that it was just a matter of waiting for Marline to show up. We were told by Fennik and Kyreen it would be a few hours till everything calmed down and she would return.

So Sumi and I spent the time with each other of course. We needed the release after the day that we had. I leaned over her, covered in sweat, breathing heavily. Sumi twisted around, still keeping her body bent over the dresser. She brought her arm back and cupped my face. “At least we didn't break this one.” She joked through panting. I looked down at that glorious body below me, my body limp from the release. Gods she was fucking beautiful, the large hips, the lovely smile, the shining eyes. Gods I just wanted to spend forever worshiping that perfect body.

She spun around and pressed her body up to mine, resting her arms around my neck. “I need a minute.” She requested, “I'm not used to being able to go back to back.” She rested her head on my shoulder. I nodded my head and I picked her up and carried her to the bed where we could relax.

“Benefits of being with a mage.” I told her. I laid her down gently on the bed and joined the orc on it. We found a comfortable position with her on my shoulder. She held onto me tight, maybe a bit tighter than usual.

“God today has been a wreck.” She said, “I didn't expect this to be easy but… shit we could have easily died! We're just getting started too.” She leaned back on my bicep and looked up at me with those beautiful violet eyes. “Does it bother you at all?” She asked.

I shrugged. “I don't know, stuff like this helps.” I said as I gave her a kiss on the forehead. She blushed a bit under my touch. “But I… I was raised to replace that panic with results. Orthis always told me that panic would do nothing but get me killed. I needed to harness the feeling and make something out of it. Of course I don't always do so well with that… but I try.”

She nodded. “So you are scared during our battles?” She asked. Those violet eyes seemed to study every movement in my face. I was surprised she asked me this. She rarely seemed to be worried at all during battle. She was the bravest warrior we had.

I nodded. “I'm fucking terrified.” I admitted. I thought about all the times I thought I was going to die just over the last few days. I should have died half a dozen times. I shook my head and dismissed the feeling. “We have a job to do though, I can't spend time worrying.” despite my inner fight not to my body tensed a bit.

Sumi didn't seem convinced. She hugged my body a bit tighter. “Well I'm always here to hear you rant. You don't have to face the world alone. I'm here to help.” She leaned up and gave me a kiss.

I smirked, trying to hide any of the feelings I had felt earlier. “I can think of a few ways to help.” I said. I gave her a flirtatious smile that I knew would drive her wild.

Sumi smirked at me with a hunger that made my heart beat twice as fast. “I think I know exactly what you want.” She said sweetly as she kissed my chest, then my ribs, then my waist. She made her way down my body making sure to look up at me with that vicious grin the entire way. I knew what she was planning, and I just smirked right back at her.

Before she could claim what she wanted a knock came from the doorway. She looked toward the door mouth inches away from my cock. She let out a long breath. “We probably shouldn't ignore that should we?”

I let out a sigh. I ran my arm across the wall and dismissed the sound shield. “What is it?” I asked, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

Kasious let out a chuckle from the other side of the door. “Marline's ready for us. Stop rolling around in bed for a few hours so we can get some shit done.” I sent an image of a vulgar gesture right into his mind and I heard him laugh before walking away. “I expect you two in a few minutes.” I heard him walk away from the room and I relaxed my shoulders.

“We should probably get ready.” I said, fighting every instinct to grab her and spend the entire day here in this bed.

Sumi rested her head on my waist. “Well I guess we'll have to finish this later.” She said with teasing pleading eyes. She planted one kiss on me then rose to her feet to get her clothes. I sat up off of the bed, still aware of the hardness that made it that much more awkward to dress. With her in front of me still naked, that wasn't going away for a while. Gods she was perfect, I wanted to kiss every curve, run my hands up every scar.

We didn't have the time though, so I simply put on my cloak and leathers. I wrapped my arm around the orc and we walked down into the storehouse to meet the council.

Marline sat at the table we had met when we designed the plan for the prison break. “There are the lovebirds, I guess we can get this show on the road.” Before either of us could object to what she had said, the templar shot out of her seat and made her way toward the side of the warehouse. For a moment I wondered why she didn't head to the staircase but then she shoved a few crates to the side to reveal a lever. She smirked as she looked back at us. “Welcome to the Revolution.” She said.

She pulled the lever to reveal a large doorway hidden in the wooden wall of the underground warehouse. Sumi scoffed. “You're meaning to tell me this ‘council’ has been hiding right beside us this entire time?” She asked, sounding a bit frustrated.. .

Marline shrugged. This is the most secure place, I might as well keep all my valuable assets here.” She said over her shoulder as she descended the massive staircase.

We were led down that dark path till we reached a large open room. In the middle of the space was a stage with four massive throne-like chairs. To our left and right stood soldiers of every variety. Kyreen and Fennik even were among their ranks. The four chairs were empty, only a small scribe looking man with a scroll stood on the stage, but he did not dare take one of the seats.

That scribe fumbled for his papers as we approached. “Welcome, ladies and gentlemen of the court, presenting the council of the revolution. First, the former leader of the templars and lady of rebellion Marline Yarrow.”

Marline walked out of our group and made her way to her seat. “Good luck.” She told us. Her throne was adorned with the symbols of the templar's and had a large red gem above her head as she took her seat.

The scribe gestured to his right as he continued. “Lord Calibri of the Stratant quadrant.” I racked my brain for the terminology I had learned in my studies of the human lands. The Stratant quadrant was the middle class of the city. They resided in between the slums and the walls of the inner castle.

Calibri stepped out and right away I knew he was no normal lord. This man was a soldier, or was back in his youth. Calibri must have been at least as tall as Sumi if not a bit bigger. He had wide shoulders adorned with different medals and crests. He ran a hand across his long white beard as he made his way to his seat. Calibri's small throne was made of wood and was painted with small blue symbols, none that I could recognize but it matches the blue gem embedded in the top of the throne.

The scribe waited till he sat before he introduced the next council member. “Lord Rycard of the harvest quadrant.” Lord Rycard was a bit shorter than Calibri but his younger body was rippled with muscle. He did not wear finery like everyone else in the room. He wore a workman's tunic and pants that were still covered in mud, as if he had just come back from work. He took a seat at his small throne that had no symbols or markings except for a large yellow gem at the top of his throne.

“And finally, lady Calorina, lead engineer of the king's armies” Kasious stilled a bit and I saw his fist clench at the sight. Sumi had let me know about what exactly happened in the prison before we became lost in each other's bodies. I knew how much he hated the old woman, even if she had taken one of Fennik's pistols and helped take down Sabastian in the ambush earlier today. Our interests aligned for now are least, we would see how long that lasted. She gave all of us a smile that even sent a chill up my spine and took her seat in her very ornate throne, covered in gold and jewels, the biggest being an identical gem to the others but glowing green.

The four council members sat in front of us in their thrones. Calibri was the first to speak. “You four have gone through a lot to get here… why put yourselves at risk for our city?” His eyes were cold and calculating as he studied us.

I looked at my friends to see if any of them were going to speak. Of course they all looked at me in unison. Why the hell did I make myself the de facto leader of this team? I would have to see if someone else would want that position once this was all over. I stepped forward. “We're here for the cult of the depraved.” I answered. “We believe the cult is behind the recent war between the orcs and the mages.”

Rycard, the harvest quadrant lord answered this time. “From what we know, the mages and the orcs have been at each other's throats for centuries, especially the Rovan and Darmati tribes. What makes this different?” His voice was much less professional than his older counterpart, but was much more direct.

I turned back to Sumi. I nodded to her and she pulled out the knife we had shown to the monks of Surin to convince them of what happened all those weeks ago. “An assassin tried to kill my chieftain with this blade. The man wielded simple magic so naturally we assumed the mages had made a move against us but I have been informed…" She stopped for a moment and looked at me. “The magic the knife channels is not from the weave, it instead seems to come from the hells.”

Calorina ordered the scribe to pick up the knife. The scribe hastily did as he was ordered and delivered the knife to the engineer. She looked over the knife, as if she could see the magic embedded in the gems like I did. “Fascinating.” She muttered.

Marline nodded her head. “A war between the Roven and the mages would surely force the other tribes to fight. A full on war between all four tribes of orcs against the mages? The victor would be weak enough for any major civilization to walk in and destroy what was left. Would the king really be so calloused to let a war destroy so much just to weaken down the orcs?” The four council members contemplated her question.

Kasious nodded gravely. My father has hated the orcs ever since the sirica killed my mother. Taking out the mages, a major threat to his rule in the process would be a bonus.” He looked almost solemn as his eyes met Marline's. “I would not put it past him, especially in his current state.”

The council looked at each other, seemingly surprised at the confirmation. “If this is true… then we need to act quickly.” Said Calibri. He ran one hand through his long white beard. “Prince, how much do you trust these… people.” He gave us a cautious glance.

Kasious smirked. “I trust them with my life, they are ready for whatever plans you have.” Kasious held his head high and faced down the council.

Marline chuckled. “I told you all they were our chance. I say we take it. It's time to move on the Templars. We need their support to take the castle.”

Rycard raised an eyebrow. “I'm surprised you of all people want to move on the templars oh, fallen leader.” His voice was light and sarcastic, despite his workers uniform he still seemed to act like a smug lord.

Marline pursed her lips. “I may be the only one who can convince them to stand down.” She muttered with almost a mournful tone.

The rest of the council looked at each other for a moment, taking in every word and request. After a moment they nodded to Marline, a silent acceptance of her plan. She directed her eyes at us. “Get ready, we will move out in thirty.”

We nodded as we made our way up the long stairway. In the long dark area I got to thinking. I was the only one to have a way to defend against Sabastian. If we faced him again it would be difficult for the others to survive. An idea closed my mind. I looked at Sumi. “Can I… can I see your bracers?” I asked. I could only do a little bit right now… this might just work.

Sumi raised an eyebrow at me as she took off her leather bracers. “Thought you would have at least waited till we got back to the room before trying to undress me.” She joked.

That earned a groan out of Kerrigan and a laugh out of Kasious. I rolled my eyes at the beautiful orc. “Not till later, I actually think I might have an idea to help stop Sabastian.” I said nothing more before running ahead to start my plan.