The Mistakes Of Misfits

Journal of Sumi Ravenguard page 402

We all waited in the store room as Varrin finally walked down the stairs from his room. He carried my bracers in his hands but they seemed different. They glowed with a soft purple hue. Varrin carried a smile a mile wide as he tossed me the bracers. “That should do the trick.” He said with a satisfied grin.

I couldn't feel magic like Varrin could but the small hum that came from the bracers told me that some kind of power flowed through them. “What did you do to them?” I asked. I studied the small purple hue and it started to fade slowly as we spoke.

Varrin smirked. “They can absorb magical energy. Not much, it's only a small enchantment but it should work against most of the cultists spells.” Now everyone including Marline, was looking at the bracers intently. Varrin let out a small chuckle. “Everyone else will get the same treatment soon enough, I can only do so much enchanting a day.”

Kasious and Kerrigan almost looked jealous as I tossed on the bracers. “All these presents.” I purred. “How ever will I make it up to you.” I could see Varrin blush a bit and I didn't have to have a mind link to know exactly what he was thinking about.

Marline chuckled. “Eyes on the mission you two.” She ordered. “We've got a big day ahead of us.” She threw open the doors to the safehouse and led us into the city.

We approached what Kasious and Marline called the great hall. At one point it was the place the king would meet with his people to hear their grievances. The idea of the king of this city once caring about his people that much was hard to believe but Kasious claimed his father was once a great man.

The great hall still looked gorgeous. Beautiful mixes of gold and black twisted with each other to make the building almost shine. Kasious and Marline led our group in studded leather armor. We didn't want to catch the attention of the templars or the cult until absolutely necessary. Marline looked very uncomfortable in the leathers, something told me she didn't fight without her armor too often.

There was a younger Templar at the door to the great hall. He was younger, maybe in his mid twenties. He has bright blue eyes and short blond hair that was smashed to the side from wearing his helmet often. He widened his eyes as he saw Marline but did not move out of our way. “State your business.” He ordered.

Marline pursed her lips. “Out of my way Regan, I need to see Tila.” Marline stood as still and strong as a statue.

Regan looked to the ground for a moment as he contemplated what to do next. “If you go in those doors… there's no turning back. Tila could kill you.” He put his hand on the handle but did not dare open it until Marline gave the word.

Marline nodded. “We're ready.” She said, “It's time to face her.” The templar looked to the prince. Kasious gave him a small nod, agreeing with Marline. Regan let out a long breath, but he put on his gleaming helmet and pushed open the doors.

Our group walked into the great hall where I saw a massive Templar woman sitting on the throne. She must have been as big as me, for a human woman that was unheard of. She had short black hair that was spiked up with a purple tint covering the ends. She rested her massive arms on her knees as she leaned toward our group. Her armor was pristine, it gleamed in the light of the great hall and was adorned with red trim that made her stand out among the many templar's in the room.

Templars and priestesses started to slowly surround us. It took every bit of restraint not to unsheathe my greatsword right there and then. We all held back however as the Templars took formation around their leader. Tila, the leader of the templars stood up from the ornate throne she sat in. “You have a lot of nerve coming here to my home!”

Kasious gritted his teeth. “This is our home Tila!” He countered. “You would do well to remember that.” Kasious held his chin high, a small bit of disdain crossing his eyes. Perhaps Marline wasn't the only person who had a history with the new leader of the templars.

Marline shot Kasious a warning look before stepping toward the small group of templars. “We're here to talk Tila… please just hear us out.” Marline extended her hand.

Tila seemed to soften a bit at her words. She closed her eyes. “You betrayed our order.” She muttered. “You tried to kill the king! You're lucky we didn't murder you on sight.” She looked conflicted already at the sight of Marline. Maybe it wasn't going to be too hard to convince them to join us.

Just as my thoughts became positive I heard the doors swing open behind us. “I'm very disappointed in you Tila… I expected this little incursion to be over by now.” I knew that voice, it sent a chill down my damn spine. I turned to see the cocky grin of Sabastian Riven. He must have had fifty cultists following behind him.

We were now surrounded by enemies. I pulled out my blade and faced the cult. Varrin took his place at my side, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Kasious looked up at Tila. “Why do you bend the knee to him?” He asked angrily. “Why do you let this cult walk over our people?”

Tila gritted her teeth. “You left… both of you did. The cult came and filled in the gaps that your rebellion created!” She gritted her teeth. Her anger may have been focused on Kasious and Marline but her eyes stayed on the cult leader himself. He did not cower from her gaze either.

Marline took another step closer and to my surprise the templars moved out of her way. In fact, a lot of the templars seemed to be more wary of the cult than they were of us. A few of the templars even held their swords toward Sabastian. I didn't bother facing them, I knew my real target. Marline looked up at Tila. “The cult is using you. You've already lost so much because of them.”

Sabastian chuckled. “Tila here is loyal to the king. She has done so many awful things in his name. She has killed innocents, burned down businesses that spoke foul of the crown… even turned against her lover when she betrayed her oath.” Sabastian's grin grew and everything fit in place in my head. Marline was in love with Tila. They were in love before she betrayed the king.

Tila seemed to grimace at the memory. Marline got close enough to take her hand. “Please. We need you Tila… I need you.” She put her head down and squeezed that hand as tight as she could.

A tear seemed to fall down Tila's cheek. “You broke your oath.” She said through a now cracked voice.

Marline slowly shook her head. “My oath is to Durik and its people. Not to the king. I will serve them till the day I die.” Her hands shook but her voice was sturdy and proud. I could see that sturdiness piercing the heart of the lead Templar.

Sabastian waved his hand dismissively as his cultists moved in. “Just deal with her Templar. End this revolt once and for all.” I gripped my blade tighter as the cultists were almost in striking distance. Kasious joined me at my side, opposite of Varrin.

Tila took a deep breath as she contemplated everything. “No.” She said, Her face was like stone, unmovable and unreadable.

Sabastian raised an eyebrow. “What did you just say Templar? I can't hear you right apparently.” He made a sarcastically over the top motion to his ear as he waited for her response.

Tila took a step down the stairs, still holding Marline's hand as she stared down the cult leader. “No.” She repeated. “I'm not going to kill them.” She gave Kasious a nod, as if an invitation to begin.

“You can't tell me you're willing to risk everything you've worked for for these… pests.” He crooned. “If you reconsider I might just spare your life.” He moved his hand back and a small bit of green energy followed. He was showing off his power, he thought he could intimidate her.

To Tila's credit, she didn't falter at the cult leader's threat. “You've done enough damage to this city.” She told him.

Kasious smirked, seeing his opportunity. “Templars! Now is your chance! These cultists have taken your lives, taken your city, taken your honor! It is time to set things right. It is time to save our people!’’ The templar's in unison unsheathed their weapons and joined our side against the cult.

Sabastian didn't seem too phased by the templar's heel turn. “Well… that's too bad. I guess you'll serve better as corpses than soldiers anyway.” He waved his arm and the cult charged forward and clashed with the templars. I smirked as the first cultist got within my range and I slashed him across the chest and sliced the puny cultist in half.

The chaos of battle soon surrounded us. Cultists and templars fought, clashing blades and even a few spells filled the air. A bolt of fire flew my way and I brought up my bracer to block the attack. The fire still impacted my arm but the magic was absorbed by the bracers enchantment. I smirked as I rushed forward and ran my blade through the cultist who fired the blast.

We wore down wave after wave of cultists. They were able to kill some of the templars but for the most part the soldiers were trained much better than the cult and the priestesses were able to heal most injuries that the cult could inflict.

My breaths started to become laybored and I soon realized that the enemy was not stopping, if anything they seemed to push us back more relentlessly as time wore on. I swore there were only about fifty… but more of them just kept coming. I looked through the crowd and I saw Sabastian, hands raised with green energy as he reanimated one of his soldiers. He could keep this up for much longer than we could. I turned to Varrin. “He's using his Necromancy!” I told him.

Varrin's blue eyes flickered as he came up with a plan. “Keep up the pressure, I'll keep him distracted.” He told me. Before I could argue he moved his arm up and teleported away in a cloud of blue smoke.

A similar cloud appeared in front of the cult leader as Varrin attempted to strike him with a knife. Sabastian easily dodged the strike and said a few words to the mage that I couldn't quite make out from the distance. Whatever he said made the mage grit his teeth and attack in answer. What the hell was he doing? Sabastian would tear him apart in a one on one fight. I took a deep breath. This was our moment, we needed to focus on the task ahead. I would scold him later for his stupid decision.

Sabastian chuckled and I heard his voice in my head. “Do you really think I came here for the Templar's little orc?” He asked. The realization hit me like a torrent of flame. He didn't want us… he wanted Varrin. I looked at Otah and Kerrigan. Apparently they had heard the cult leader's words as well because they joined my side and we cut through the crowd of enemies trying to make our way to our friend.

We mowed down the cult. Without Sabastian's support the fifty or so enemies fell relatively quickly. I slashed through the crowd straight for Varrin. I knew he couldn't take the cult leader alone for very long. I cut down another of the reanimated cultists as I saw Sabastian pick up Varrin by his collar. He looked beat to hell while the cult leader looked flawless still. He smirked at me. “Keep the templar's orc, I have everything I need.”

“Let him g-” before I could even finish Sabastian teleported away, taking Varrin with him. I tried to lunge for them, tried to get ahold of either before the spell finished… but it was too late. I only grabbed air as I fell to the ground. “Varrin!” I screamed. I knew it was pointless, screaming his name wouldn't bring him back, but it was all I could do now. All I heard was that evil cocky laugh ring through my head. He was gone… Sabastian had played us to get to him and I fell right into his trap.