Post by phantompen on Nov 2, 2012 12:50:10 GMT -5
(Hello once again. Man, has it really been 2 years since I started this? Well after going back to a few old projects I remembered this sucker and vowed I'd finish it. Doesn't hurt that it is NANO after all. So, without further ado, Chapter 2.)
CHAPTER 2
Within a barren and almost otherworldly room Kara Samsra awoke to the powerful sound of screams and hatred outside her door. Garbed in a silver nightgown she clutched her covers in terror, trying to make sense of the sudden cacophony. Unsure of how to react she sat upright and scanned the room for her trusty weapon. At least with her sword she could drum up the courage to peer outside.
Yet in an instant there was silence. Almost more terrifying than the noise her door slowly crept open with nary a sound.
“Darling, it’s okay.” A soft and beauteous voice that seemed so familiar echoed through the room, and as the door opened there stood a woman who looked more like a work of art than a simple mortal. Perfectly proportioned her dress played off the sensuous curves of her body while never betraying her dignified grace. Her hair trailed down past her shoulders, and her eyes…why did eyes that seemed so warm cause Kara’s heart to race so fast? Why were her eyes the only thing Kara could see on the woman’s face at all?
As Kara stared, fixated on the lack of details to the woman’s face she moved to Kara with a ghostly glide, standing only inches from her bed frame. She continued to look at her with those welcoming eyes and with a voice that came from nowhere she cooed. “Be not afraid my darling. All is well. All is well. All is well.” The words were hypnotic, and despite every synapse burning with a desire to flee Kara could only sit in her bed as the woman’s hands loomed closer to her delicate neck. Kara felt her lips move, and while she couldn’t make it out she swore she had said something. Another, something another…was that it? The words seemed drowned out by the woman’s calming phrase.
“All is well. All is well. All will be well. All will be well as long as you’re quiet. Be quiet. BE QUIET!” Her hands clutched fiercely around Kara’s neck as the woman’s eyes burned into Kara’s with fury. It was all she could do to scream.
“AAAHHHHH!” Kara bolted upright with a fevered scream and a racing heart. The dreamscape had vanished, instead replaced by a cramped, dank stone cell. The walls were covered in a thick mildew-ridden moss as a few uneven patches showed the eroding stonework that acted as the foundation for the room. The room would have been completely cast in darkness had it not been for a broken ray of amber light that shone through the steel bars of her cell door opposite the princess.
“That dream again.” Kara muttered to herself as her eyes acclimated slowly to the darkness. Were it any other place she might have tried to focus on the details she could still remember. Yet the woman and the words of her dream were the furthest things from Kara’s mind as she fretted over the more immediate dangers of her situation. As she brought herself to her feet her hand reached instinctively to her side, yet she grasped only at air where her short sword’s hilt should have been.
“Having pleasant dreams my dear?” A mocking, smarmy voice questioned her. Trucido’s visage blocked out the light as he looked down at her.
“Where am I Trucido? Where did you take me?” She tried to take a lunge at the door, yet her arms seemed to hold her back as the sound of rattling chains grinded against each other. Kara looked with only a moment of surprise at the small manacles that tethered her arms to the wall before looking back towards Trucido with a fearful look.
“Ah, now that is better. Don’t worry child, you’re safe here. I’ve been told you’ll be a better bargaining chip if I keep you alive, so count your blessings while they last.” Kara’s eyes could only barely make out the cruel smile he flashed her as he spoke. It was a smile of certain dominance, and it took only a second of it to embolden Kara once more. Helpless as she was now, she wasn’t going to give him anything more to hold over her. Her eyes lit up once more with resolve and she stared him down. Trucido looked at her with an intrigued look at first, but it faded quickly as Kara said nothing more. “Bah, I’ve got better things to do than look at an ugly little girl like yourself. Try not to die, at least not for a week anyways.” With a whip of his cloak and a grimace glued to his face he turned and left Kara’s field of vision.
Kara waited till only the sound of droplets hitting her prison floor could be heard before she let out a sigh of relief and slumped against the cold mossy wall. So I’ve got a week do I? A week before what? Still, probably best I don’t wait around to find out. Kara thought as she gazed at her manacles, turning them over and looking at every inch of iron that covered her wrists. Do the others even know what’s happened to me? Would they even know where to look? Friends, I hope I'll see you soon.
Far from the unknown dungeon, the high noon sun shone down upon the lush lands of Crepusculum. Far from the rural villages and farmlands the capital of Naghtundtag stood high against the vast prairies it surrounds, with only the high mountains to the North horizon towering past its massive walls. To its citizens, rich or poor, the walls had acted as an indomitable guardian from invaders, raiders and more recently, the sinister forces under Trucido’s command. Yet to Andy and Jasmine the walls were acting as a frustrating deterrent to their journey.
“Damn it I said we’re with the Heroes, how many times do I gotta tell you that before you let us in?” Andy’s brow was furrowed with a bubbling impatience as he shouted at the pair of guards stationed outside the front gates to the city. His raising tone was drawing the attention of the guards along the wall, most looking down with a curious interest while the senior guards glared down with a cautious worry.
“Look, I told you we’re on orders to not allow anyone through the gates unless they hold residence or business within the city walls. Ever since the last attack…” The guard to Andy’s left proclaimed. He had been doing all the talking after Andy had browbeat his partner to the point where he had drawn his weapon against Andy. The man now stood with a hilt and about 5 inches left of his blade harmlessly hung at his side as he looked on with embarrassment. He knew he’d be lucky to get out of this incident with only some teasing by his coworkers.
“The Queen knows us! She’s met us! You know Yeligar Maelstrom? He sent us out this way to stop the Sumata, and you’re going to hold us back?” Andy talked loudly over the guard’s practiced speech.
“Please sir, surely if you’re so worried about us you could have an escort follow us? We only need a map of the Shade Mountains and a guide to take us up there and we’ll be out of your city before nightfall.” Jasmine had done the best she could to put herself in between the guard and Andy, hoping she might ease the physical tensions between the two men. She had considered herself lucky that Andy’s show of force had only gotten the rookie guard scowled instead of the both of them incarcerated in the castle’s prison.
“No way, the Queen is busy and we’re understaffed at the moment. We can’t spare men to baby sit any old vagrants that wander up to our gates and demand entry, especially after fighting one of our men.” The guard was beginning to lose his patience with Andy, and by an unusual glance up at the walls it was obvious he was getting ready to ask for help should he need it.
Less than a hundred feet from the heated exchange a young man approached the city walls. Looking to be in his mid twenties he sported a silken cloak and hood the colour of dried mud that covered most of his athletic build. Only from the edge of his hood could a golden strand or two of his hair be seen poking out. With an exasperated sigh Ingway Desmodius wiped the sweat from his brow before settling his eyes down on the conflict happening at the gates mere feet from him. By the Gods! Just my luck! The young man grinned ear to ear as he focused on the blade nestled in Andy’s sheath. Ever since his misadventures within the Vuoto ruins and its hidden secrets he had been able to see and sense magical energies. While the shimmering auras found on Jasmine and the red haired boy were enough to draw intrigue, the sight of the magic coming off his blade was all he needed to catch a second wind and break out in a sprint towards the gates. After all, if there was one thing that got Ingway’s blood boiling, it was weaponry enchanted by magic.
“Hey, hey hey there you guys are!” The golden haired man waved at the two of them, the speed of his pace causing his hood to fall down and reveal his unkempt hair barely contained by a thick blue bandana. He had a youthful face, one unmarred by the worry lines of age or scars of war. “Sorry to keep you guys waiting.” Ingway panted briefly for a moment before regaining his composure and his exuberant grin.
“What are you…?” Andy began to ask as he gave the stranger a bewildered look.
“…doing keeping you guys waiting? I know, but things have been crazy for your old pal. Hey what are you all doing outside the gate? Don’t these guys know we’ve got a ton of stuff to take care of?” In a smooth motion he slipped around Andy and was already standing with his arm around the senior guard.
“I, I was just saying that we had to restrict their entry…” The junior guard stammered, equally confused.
“Hey you don’t need to say another word. Gotta do your job, but see we got business beyond the walls and we don’t have a second to waste.” Using his spare hand he reached within his hood, rummaged around for a bit before pulling out a small card and placing it in front of the guards. “Everything should be in order there.” Is that guy missing half his blade? That cut looks clean too. Oh thank you Gods for this jackpot!
The guard paused to examine the pass shoved in his vision for a moment before he sighed. “Yes yes everything seems to be in order. Open the gates!” A moment later the gates gave way with a creaking yawn as they gave way to the paved pathway leading into Nachtundtag. The golden hair stranger smirked as he made a mental note to thank his forger later. Tucking the pass back in his hood he pulled his attention to the wide-eyed expressions firmly fixed on Jasmine’s and Andy’s face. With a similar smoothness he slid back to them and whispered, “Come with me and play nice if you want in.” His eyes panned back and forth till they nodded with understanding.
“Thank you so much for your help sir, nice to know we have such dedicated men watching out for our safety. As you were.” Ingway flashed the guards a beaming grin as he lead the two Heroes in, each one secured with an arm around their shoulder.
Andy was the first to break from the man’s embrace, separating as soon as he felt he was out of earshot of the gate’s guards. “Alright buddy, not that I don’t appreciate the help but who exactly are you?”
“Andy!” Jasmine glared in protest. “He just got us out of that mess. We owe him our thanks.” Jasmine turned her gaze upwards with a grateful smile. “I’m Jasmine Loque, and this is Andy Jammer. What is your name sir?”
“Sorry.” Andy grumbled half-heartedly.
“Not to worry, I understand his reaction all too well. It’s a pleasure to meet you both, the name’s Ingway.” He said as he tore his eyes from Andy’s blade long enough to take a glance at Jasmine. Okay, a little more than a glance. Enough of one that Jasmine suddenly felt the uncomfortable need to slip out from his grasp. Enough with the eye candy, business before pleasure remember? Ingway brought himself back from the entrancing vision that was Jasmine to meet Andy’s eyes once more. “Eh ahem, you have quite a wonderful lady with you if you don’t mind me saying…” Ingway paused, looking to Andy as if reaching for a helping hand.
“Andy.”
“Yeah, of course Andy.”
“Why did you help us?” Andy blurted out, more than a little annoyed by how much he had gawked at Jasmine.
“Hey that’s just the kind of guy I am. Those stiffs at the gate are a pain am I right? You both looked more than a little lost, don’t suppose you love birds are honeymooning here in Crepusculum?”
“Love…love birds?” Andy blushed bright red. Oh god am I really that obvious?
“We’re not, that is we aren’t married!” Jasmine managed to get out, letting out a nervous laugh.
Ingway only chuckled lightly. Looks like I hit a nerve. Time to move. “Ah, young lovers on the run then. How romantic.” In a flash Ingway was beside Jasmine, his hand lightly cupping his mouth as he looked her square in the eye. “If you are looking for somewhere nice to stay there are some truly lovely inns near the eastern wall, drop them a couple coins and they’ll pamper you like a princess.” As much as the idea caused Jasmine’s face to glow bright red with embarrassment the thought of a soft bed and luxury caused her to turn towards the eastern buildings with interest, leaving her gaze averted from Andy and Ingway.
On cue Ingway descended upon Andy taking him forcefully under his wing and whispering to him. “Hey Andy, you wanna show the lady a really romantic time don’t you? Don’t talk just listen. You wanna take the lady up to the North end at dusk by the city square. It has to be dusk too…” As Ingway talked he gestured upwards to the cityscape. Misdirection, distraction, all the old tricks he’d learnt came into play as he worked his magic, literally. With a gesture of his hand a small, incorporeal portal appeared just beyond his hand, hovering still in place. Ingway reached into it and a moment later pulled a small knife, no longer than his palm. With a masterful flourish he felt out the fabric of Andy’s belt holding his sheath to his side and cut if free. With a slight shift in weight he pressed up against Andy’s hip to distract from the lost weight as his hand moved for just an instant to catch the sword. Almost there… Ingway would have been nervous had it not been second nature to him after all these years. Pretending to forget where a particular landmark was he paced to block Andy’s vision as he swung the blade out of view and into the same ethereal portal he brought the knife from. With a final snap of wrist the portal slipped out of sight once more along with Andy’s belt and the knife. “…and well bud, after you take her back to the inn, I’m sure she’ll be so smitten that you two will have a hell of an evening. Jeez look at the time, I’ve got to see my boss or he’s going to flip. Remember bud, Roccian ale is the way to go!” Ingway turned and bolted as fast as he could with a final wave and zipped around a corner.
Okay, dusk at the north end square, then it was dinner at…shit where was it again? Andy’s mind filled with the details all the while blinded by his imagination’s wild and flirtatious ideas.
“Andy, why aren’t you wearing your belt?” The soft and curious tone of Jasmine broke his teenage fantasy as he turned with a completely blank expression to Jasmine. “Andy where’s your sword?” Jasmine’s curiosity turned to worry as Andy looked down to see his pants hanging loose and sans his weapon.
“SON OF A-“ Andy took off in a full on blitz before he could finish the thought as Jasmine frantically followed a couple seconds behind. Rounding the corner with a skid Andy didn’t let an ounce of momentum go as he kicked off a wall and resumed full bore at the cloaked silhouette of the thieving smooth talker. “Come back here bastard! Jasmine let him have it!”
Ingway hadn’t expected the kid to be so fast or to catch on so soon. So much for dismissing those two as easy marks. Looks like I’ve got to work for my prize. Ingway flashed them a smile and waved before he turned tail and made way for an alley.
“Andy, I really don’t think it’s a good idea to do this in the city.” Jasmine protested.
“Come on Jasmine now!” Andy yelled back, his anger towards Ingway causing him to snap as his close friend. Jasmine reluctantly nodded, and with a mumbled phrase let loose a fireball that rushed over Andy’s shoulder towards the cloaked thief. He was quick though, too quick for it to be instinct alone as he twisted on his heel and pivoted away from the flaming orb, causing it to smash into a clay wall. Once again, she uttered the words of power and felt the elemental flames release from her hands, sending orb after orb towards Ingway as he dodged in and out of the narrow alleyway. Were it not for his sense of magic a couple of them might have caught him off guard. Yet with the sense it was easy to dodge the simple projectiles, letting each miss him only to take their toll on the neighboring buildings.
“Andy this really isn’t helping!” Jasmine pleaded, her pace slowing as the expulsion of magic was beginning to drain her.
“Fine! I’ve got him then!” Andy had been keeping up with Ingway thanks to the guy having to constantly dodge Jasmine’s spells and as they both swung around another corner Andy rebounded off a wall and delivered a flying kick to Ingway’s ribs. The force caught him off guard, throwing Ingway off balance and into a pile of garbage left outside on of the back entrances to a low-end restaurant. Andy didn’t skip a beat and was on Ingway in an instant, straddling his waist while he pulled him up by his scarf. “Where’s my sword you lousy thief?” Andy demanded, his other hand clenched into a menacing fist that hovered over Ingway.
“Sorry.” Ingway coughed out, still winded from the blow. “Must have left it in my other pants. Or perhaps I just hid it in this sleeve.” Ingway pointed to his left hand, causing Andy to divert his attention for a moment. A moment Andy shouldn’t have let him have, as it was all he needed to bring the portal once more appeared before his right hand. With a quick jerk of his hand he lashed out with a knife at Andy. It was a slow and weak strike, but it was surprising enough that it caused Andy to jump back as he caught the glint of metal in his peripherals. Reaching into the magical maw once more Ingway pulled out a small orb and threw it at the ground in front of him. The orb, wrapped in a scroll and inscribed with runes was a simple alchemist trap, and upon cracking against the stone pavement it burst in a blinding light. The flash caught Andy, blinding him with an agonizing pain as he could only make out the sound of soft footfalls fading in one direction as another set approached closer.
“Jasmine?” He called out, yet wasn’t met with an answer. Instead he heard the sound of more steps approaching, these ones heavy and metallic. He strained to open his eyes but all he could make out were blurry shapes. “Jasmine, where are you?”
“I’m here Andy, but we’ve got problems. Big problems.” A blurry shape of white and gold seemed to reply.
“For destruction of public property and endangerment of the people, you are under arrest! Lay down your arms and do not resist!” A nasally man’s voice called in a loud voice, and as Andy wiped his eyes he slowly made out about a half dozen men armed with swords and polearms all pointed in his direction.
“I think we’d better do what they say Andy.” Jasmine had her hands up and was looking at Andy with fearful worry written on her face.
Andy reached for his blade, only to remember the events of the last couple minutes. With a sigh he put his arms up and sighed. “Don’t suppose you guys would let us off with a warning would you?”
END CHAPTER 2
(Thanks for reading guys. Feel free to post any critiques or comments you have. As before, I've tried to keep things as close to canon regarding characters' personalities, but don't be surprised if you see some big changes regarding powers and events in the coming chapters. I've gotta keep you all guessing don't I?
CHAPTER 2
Within a barren and almost otherworldly room Kara Samsra awoke to the powerful sound of screams and hatred outside her door. Garbed in a silver nightgown she clutched her covers in terror, trying to make sense of the sudden cacophony. Unsure of how to react she sat upright and scanned the room for her trusty weapon. At least with her sword she could drum up the courage to peer outside.
Yet in an instant there was silence. Almost more terrifying than the noise her door slowly crept open with nary a sound.
“Darling, it’s okay.” A soft and beauteous voice that seemed so familiar echoed through the room, and as the door opened there stood a woman who looked more like a work of art than a simple mortal. Perfectly proportioned her dress played off the sensuous curves of her body while never betraying her dignified grace. Her hair trailed down past her shoulders, and her eyes…why did eyes that seemed so warm cause Kara’s heart to race so fast? Why were her eyes the only thing Kara could see on the woman’s face at all?
As Kara stared, fixated on the lack of details to the woman’s face she moved to Kara with a ghostly glide, standing only inches from her bed frame. She continued to look at her with those welcoming eyes and with a voice that came from nowhere she cooed. “Be not afraid my darling. All is well. All is well. All is well.” The words were hypnotic, and despite every synapse burning with a desire to flee Kara could only sit in her bed as the woman’s hands loomed closer to her delicate neck. Kara felt her lips move, and while she couldn’t make it out she swore she had said something. Another, something another…was that it? The words seemed drowned out by the woman’s calming phrase.
“All is well. All is well. All will be well. All will be well as long as you’re quiet. Be quiet. BE QUIET!” Her hands clutched fiercely around Kara’s neck as the woman’s eyes burned into Kara’s with fury. It was all she could do to scream.
“AAAHHHHH!” Kara bolted upright with a fevered scream and a racing heart. The dreamscape had vanished, instead replaced by a cramped, dank stone cell. The walls were covered in a thick mildew-ridden moss as a few uneven patches showed the eroding stonework that acted as the foundation for the room. The room would have been completely cast in darkness had it not been for a broken ray of amber light that shone through the steel bars of her cell door opposite the princess.
“That dream again.” Kara muttered to herself as her eyes acclimated slowly to the darkness. Were it any other place she might have tried to focus on the details she could still remember. Yet the woman and the words of her dream were the furthest things from Kara’s mind as she fretted over the more immediate dangers of her situation. As she brought herself to her feet her hand reached instinctively to her side, yet she grasped only at air where her short sword’s hilt should have been.
“Having pleasant dreams my dear?” A mocking, smarmy voice questioned her. Trucido’s visage blocked out the light as he looked down at her.
“Where am I Trucido? Where did you take me?” She tried to take a lunge at the door, yet her arms seemed to hold her back as the sound of rattling chains grinded against each other. Kara looked with only a moment of surprise at the small manacles that tethered her arms to the wall before looking back towards Trucido with a fearful look.
“Ah, now that is better. Don’t worry child, you’re safe here. I’ve been told you’ll be a better bargaining chip if I keep you alive, so count your blessings while they last.” Kara’s eyes could only barely make out the cruel smile he flashed her as he spoke. It was a smile of certain dominance, and it took only a second of it to embolden Kara once more. Helpless as she was now, she wasn’t going to give him anything more to hold over her. Her eyes lit up once more with resolve and she stared him down. Trucido looked at her with an intrigued look at first, but it faded quickly as Kara said nothing more. “Bah, I’ve got better things to do than look at an ugly little girl like yourself. Try not to die, at least not for a week anyways.” With a whip of his cloak and a grimace glued to his face he turned and left Kara’s field of vision.
Kara waited till only the sound of droplets hitting her prison floor could be heard before she let out a sigh of relief and slumped against the cold mossy wall. So I’ve got a week do I? A week before what? Still, probably best I don’t wait around to find out. Kara thought as she gazed at her manacles, turning them over and looking at every inch of iron that covered her wrists. Do the others even know what’s happened to me? Would they even know where to look? Friends, I hope I'll see you soon.
Far from the unknown dungeon, the high noon sun shone down upon the lush lands of Crepusculum. Far from the rural villages and farmlands the capital of Naghtundtag stood high against the vast prairies it surrounds, with only the high mountains to the North horizon towering past its massive walls. To its citizens, rich or poor, the walls had acted as an indomitable guardian from invaders, raiders and more recently, the sinister forces under Trucido’s command. Yet to Andy and Jasmine the walls were acting as a frustrating deterrent to their journey.
“Damn it I said we’re with the Heroes, how many times do I gotta tell you that before you let us in?” Andy’s brow was furrowed with a bubbling impatience as he shouted at the pair of guards stationed outside the front gates to the city. His raising tone was drawing the attention of the guards along the wall, most looking down with a curious interest while the senior guards glared down with a cautious worry.
“Look, I told you we’re on orders to not allow anyone through the gates unless they hold residence or business within the city walls. Ever since the last attack…” The guard to Andy’s left proclaimed. He had been doing all the talking after Andy had browbeat his partner to the point where he had drawn his weapon against Andy. The man now stood with a hilt and about 5 inches left of his blade harmlessly hung at his side as he looked on with embarrassment. He knew he’d be lucky to get out of this incident with only some teasing by his coworkers.
“The Queen knows us! She’s met us! You know Yeligar Maelstrom? He sent us out this way to stop the Sumata, and you’re going to hold us back?” Andy talked loudly over the guard’s practiced speech.
“Please sir, surely if you’re so worried about us you could have an escort follow us? We only need a map of the Shade Mountains and a guide to take us up there and we’ll be out of your city before nightfall.” Jasmine had done the best she could to put herself in between the guard and Andy, hoping she might ease the physical tensions between the two men. She had considered herself lucky that Andy’s show of force had only gotten the rookie guard scowled instead of the both of them incarcerated in the castle’s prison.
“No way, the Queen is busy and we’re understaffed at the moment. We can’t spare men to baby sit any old vagrants that wander up to our gates and demand entry, especially after fighting one of our men.” The guard was beginning to lose his patience with Andy, and by an unusual glance up at the walls it was obvious he was getting ready to ask for help should he need it.
Less than a hundred feet from the heated exchange a young man approached the city walls. Looking to be in his mid twenties he sported a silken cloak and hood the colour of dried mud that covered most of his athletic build. Only from the edge of his hood could a golden strand or two of his hair be seen poking out. With an exasperated sigh Ingway Desmodius wiped the sweat from his brow before settling his eyes down on the conflict happening at the gates mere feet from him. By the Gods! Just my luck! The young man grinned ear to ear as he focused on the blade nestled in Andy’s sheath. Ever since his misadventures within the Vuoto ruins and its hidden secrets he had been able to see and sense magical energies. While the shimmering auras found on Jasmine and the red haired boy were enough to draw intrigue, the sight of the magic coming off his blade was all he needed to catch a second wind and break out in a sprint towards the gates. After all, if there was one thing that got Ingway’s blood boiling, it was weaponry enchanted by magic.
“Hey, hey hey there you guys are!” The golden haired man waved at the two of them, the speed of his pace causing his hood to fall down and reveal his unkempt hair barely contained by a thick blue bandana. He had a youthful face, one unmarred by the worry lines of age or scars of war. “Sorry to keep you guys waiting.” Ingway panted briefly for a moment before regaining his composure and his exuberant grin.
“What are you…?” Andy began to ask as he gave the stranger a bewildered look.
“…doing keeping you guys waiting? I know, but things have been crazy for your old pal. Hey what are you all doing outside the gate? Don’t these guys know we’ve got a ton of stuff to take care of?” In a smooth motion he slipped around Andy and was already standing with his arm around the senior guard.
“I, I was just saying that we had to restrict their entry…” The junior guard stammered, equally confused.
“Hey you don’t need to say another word. Gotta do your job, but see we got business beyond the walls and we don’t have a second to waste.” Using his spare hand he reached within his hood, rummaged around for a bit before pulling out a small card and placing it in front of the guards. “Everything should be in order there.” Is that guy missing half his blade? That cut looks clean too. Oh thank you Gods for this jackpot!
The guard paused to examine the pass shoved in his vision for a moment before he sighed. “Yes yes everything seems to be in order. Open the gates!” A moment later the gates gave way with a creaking yawn as they gave way to the paved pathway leading into Nachtundtag. The golden hair stranger smirked as he made a mental note to thank his forger later. Tucking the pass back in his hood he pulled his attention to the wide-eyed expressions firmly fixed on Jasmine’s and Andy’s face. With a similar smoothness he slid back to them and whispered, “Come with me and play nice if you want in.” His eyes panned back and forth till they nodded with understanding.
“Thank you so much for your help sir, nice to know we have such dedicated men watching out for our safety. As you were.” Ingway flashed the guards a beaming grin as he lead the two Heroes in, each one secured with an arm around their shoulder.
Andy was the first to break from the man’s embrace, separating as soon as he felt he was out of earshot of the gate’s guards. “Alright buddy, not that I don’t appreciate the help but who exactly are you?”
“Andy!” Jasmine glared in protest. “He just got us out of that mess. We owe him our thanks.” Jasmine turned her gaze upwards with a grateful smile. “I’m Jasmine Loque, and this is Andy Jammer. What is your name sir?”
“Sorry.” Andy grumbled half-heartedly.
“Not to worry, I understand his reaction all too well. It’s a pleasure to meet you both, the name’s Ingway.” He said as he tore his eyes from Andy’s blade long enough to take a glance at Jasmine. Okay, a little more than a glance. Enough of one that Jasmine suddenly felt the uncomfortable need to slip out from his grasp. Enough with the eye candy, business before pleasure remember? Ingway brought himself back from the entrancing vision that was Jasmine to meet Andy’s eyes once more. “Eh ahem, you have quite a wonderful lady with you if you don’t mind me saying…” Ingway paused, looking to Andy as if reaching for a helping hand.
“Andy.”
“Yeah, of course Andy.”
“Why did you help us?” Andy blurted out, more than a little annoyed by how much he had gawked at Jasmine.
“Hey that’s just the kind of guy I am. Those stiffs at the gate are a pain am I right? You both looked more than a little lost, don’t suppose you love birds are honeymooning here in Crepusculum?”
“Love…love birds?” Andy blushed bright red. Oh god am I really that obvious?
“We’re not, that is we aren’t married!” Jasmine managed to get out, letting out a nervous laugh.
Ingway only chuckled lightly. Looks like I hit a nerve. Time to move. “Ah, young lovers on the run then. How romantic.” In a flash Ingway was beside Jasmine, his hand lightly cupping his mouth as he looked her square in the eye. “If you are looking for somewhere nice to stay there are some truly lovely inns near the eastern wall, drop them a couple coins and they’ll pamper you like a princess.” As much as the idea caused Jasmine’s face to glow bright red with embarrassment the thought of a soft bed and luxury caused her to turn towards the eastern buildings with interest, leaving her gaze averted from Andy and Ingway.
On cue Ingway descended upon Andy taking him forcefully under his wing and whispering to him. “Hey Andy, you wanna show the lady a really romantic time don’t you? Don’t talk just listen. You wanna take the lady up to the North end at dusk by the city square. It has to be dusk too…” As Ingway talked he gestured upwards to the cityscape. Misdirection, distraction, all the old tricks he’d learnt came into play as he worked his magic, literally. With a gesture of his hand a small, incorporeal portal appeared just beyond his hand, hovering still in place. Ingway reached into it and a moment later pulled a small knife, no longer than his palm. With a masterful flourish he felt out the fabric of Andy’s belt holding his sheath to his side and cut if free. With a slight shift in weight he pressed up against Andy’s hip to distract from the lost weight as his hand moved for just an instant to catch the sword. Almost there… Ingway would have been nervous had it not been second nature to him after all these years. Pretending to forget where a particular landmark was he paced to block Andy’s vision as he swung the blade out of view and into the same ethereal portal he brought the knife from. With a final snap of wrist the portal slipped out of sight once more along with Andy’s belt and the knife. “…and well bud, after you take her back to the inn, I’m sure she’ll be so smitten that you two will have a hell of an evening. Jeez look at the time, I’ve got to see my boss or he’s going to flip. Remember bud, Roccian ale is the way to go!” Ingway turned and bolted as fast as he could with a final wave and zipped around a corner.
Okay, dusk at the north end square, then it was dinner at…shit where was it again? Andy’s mind filled with the details all the while blinded by his imagination’s wild and flirtatious ideas.
“Andy, why aren’t you wearing your belt?” The soft and curious tone of Jasmine broke his teenage fantasy as he turned with a completely blank expression to Jasmine. “Andy where’s your sword?” Jasmine’s curiosity turned to worry as Andy looked down to see his pants hanging loose and sans his weapon.
“SON OF A-“ Andy took off in a full on blitz before he could finish the thought as Jasmine frantically followed a couple seconds behind. Rounding the corner with a skid Andy didn’t let an ounce of momentum go as he kicked off a wall and resumed full bore at the cloaked silhouette of the thieving smooth talker. “Come back here bastard! Jasmine let him have it!”
Ingway hadn’t expected the kid to be so fast or to catch on so soon. So much for dismissing those two as easy marks. Looks like I’ve got to work for my prize. Ingway flashed them a smile and waved before he turned tail and made way for an alley.
“Andy, I really don’t think it’s a good idea to do this in the city.” Jasmine protested.
“Come on Jasmine now!” Andy yelled back, his anger towards Ingway causing him to snap as his close friend. Jasmine reluctantly nodded, and with a mumbled phrase let loose a fireball that rushed over Andy’s shoulder towards the cloaked thief. He was quick though, too quick for it to be instinct alone as he twisted on his heel and pivoted away from the flaming orb, causing it to smash into a clay wall. Once again, she uttered the words of power and felt the elemental flames release from her hands, sending orb after orb towards Ingway as he dodged in and out of the narrow alleyway. Were it not for his sense of magic a couple of them might have caught him off guard. Yet with the sense it was easy to dodge the simple projectiles, letting each miss him only to take their toll on the neighboring buildings.
“Andy this really isn’t helping!” Jasmine pleaded, her pace slowing as the expulsion of magic was beginning to drain her.
“Fine! I’ve got him then!” Andy had been keeping up with Ingway thanks to the guy having to constantly dodge Jasmine’s spells and as they both swung around another corner Andy rebounded off a wall and delivered a flying kick to Ingway’s ribs. The force caught him off guard, throwing Ingway off balance and into a pile of garbage left outside on of the back entrances to a low-end restaurant. Andy didn’t skip a beat and was on Ingway in an instant, straddling his waist while he pulled him up by his scarf. “Where’s my sword you lousy thief?” Andy demanded, his other hand clenched into a menacing fist that hovered over Ingway.
“Sorry.” Ingway coughed out, still winded from the blow. “Must have left it in my other pants. Or perhaps I just hid it in this sleeve.” Ingway pointed to his left hand, causing Andy to divert his attention for a moment. A moment Andy shouldn’t have let him have, as it was all he needed to bring the portal once more appeared before his right hand. With a quick jerk of his hand he lashed out with a knife at Andy. It was a slow and weak strike, but it was surprising enough that it caused Andy to jump back as he caught the glint of metal in his peripherals. Reaching into the magical maw once more Ingway pulled out a small orb and threw it at the ground in front of him. The orb, wrapped in a scroll and inscribed with runes was a simple alchemist trap, and upon cracking against the stone pavement it burst in a blinding light. The flash caught Andy, blinding him with an agonizing pain as he could only make out the sound of soft footfalls fading in one direction as another set approached closer.
“Jasmine?” He called out, yet wasn’t met with an answer. Instead he heard the sound of more steps approaching, these ones heavy and metallic. He strained to open his eyes but all he could make out were blurry shapes. “Jasmine, where are you?”
“I’m here Andy, but we’ve got problems. Big problems.” A blurry shape of white and gold seemed to reply.
“For destruction of public property and endangerment of the people, you are under arrest! Lay down your arms and do not resist!” A nasally man’s voice called in a loud voice, and as Andy wiped his eyes he slowly made out about a half dozen men armed with swords and polearms all pointed in his direction.
“I think we’d better do what they say Andy.” Jasmine had her hands up and was looking at Andy with fearful worry written on her face.
Andy reached for his blade, only to remember the events of the last couple minutes. With a sigh he put his arms up and sighed. “Don’t suppose you guys would let us off with a warning would you?”
END CHAPTER 2
(Thanks for reading guys. Feel free to post any critiques or comments you have. As before, I've tried to keep things as close to canon regarding characters' personalities, but don't be surprised if you see some big changes regarding powers and events in the coming chapters. I've gotta keep you all guessing don't I?
