Chapter Text
This had to be the worst day of Drizzaris’s life and she had plenty of days in her long elven life that were not good.
In fact she couldn’t remember the last time she had a really good day. Being an outcast for as long as she could remember, she didn’t fit in with her parents or her hometown, having to grow up to just be tossed out at the earliest convenience, which was the second she was no longer considered a child by elven standards. The struggles she faced at having to start completely from scratch with nothing but a familiar and the clothes on her back to her name.
Despite her hardships, despite everything feeling like it was against her and no one would ever side with her views, she found it within her to keep going. When the Worldwound opened, she had found her purpose and studied as much as she could to try to understand it until there was nothing left but to go out into the world and actually study it in person. Her one goal, to find out how to fix this, how to heal the Worldwound.
She had absolutely no idea how she ended up outside of Kenabres and couldn’t remember how she had been injured. The massive slash down her middle from collarbone to navel honestly looked like she shouldn’t have survived. She supposed if not for the city’s dragon protector, Terendelev, she wouldn’t have. But then Deskari and his horde of demons somehow got past the wardstone and slaughtered everyone, including the dragon protector.
As stupid as it was, she took the crossbow handed to her and shot at the demon lord, what else could she do? After everything she had survived, this couldn’t be the end.
Not expecting the bolt to sink into his flesh, those insectoid eyes focused on Driz had her stunned in fear. Then with a wave of his scythe he opened a rift in the ground that Driz somehow survived the fall.
Now she was exploring a very dangerous cavern under the city that was going to hell with a paladin named Seelah and an Eagle Watch agent with a busted leg named Anevia. Those two were alright at least they were not being nasty to her.
Then there was Camellia, this obviously aristocratic brat who didn’t know when to shut up and was just about as useless as most rich people Driz had ever met. Now this woman got on Driz’s last nerve and she was about to snap at Camellia saying something completely unnecessary, when she heard voices past some ruins.
Not even thinking Driz rushed forward to see if there were more survivors, or if someone needed help, to then stop in her tracks as someone she could barely make out in the shadows. They were tall with a single horn curved around the back of their head and she could see a single golden reptilian eye catching the light pouring in from the broken ceiling.
This person stepped into the light and nothing prepared Driz for what she saw. Divided almost perfectly in half, one side seemed almost elvish while the other was covered in green scales. He wore what looked like a hodgepodge of cloth and fabrics that only partially covered his chest and arms. He had a longbow and quiver over his shoulder, and clearly looked like he could use them well.
Their eyes met and Driz waited with baited breath. He didn’t seem hostile, Driz wasn’t entirely sure what he was, but from looking into his eyes, while strange, they looked… kind. “Wenduag!” He called over his shoulder, his voice was rather nice, a stronger but soothing voice that, despite his urgency helped settle her a little.
Then another came out of the shadows, this one’s appearance far more drastic. She looked as though she had been mixed with a cat and spider, eight spider limbs sticking out from her back, a cat tail twitching behind her. “What Lann? Are you going to tell me you found-” The woman’s voice was raspy and held a bit of an accent Driz didn’t recognize.
The woman stopped, noticing the group in front of her friend and she crouched into a fighting stance, pointing her bow at them. Her golden cat eyes glaring at them “Who are they!?” She hissed.
“Oh you know, some tourists wanting to see the exhibits. Try to remember your manners.” While his voice was very sarcastic, he did seem to give Driz a hint of a smile, before looking at his friend with a bit more of a serious expression and stopping her with a gesture. “Wait, they might know what’s going on up there.”
They both turned expectantly to Driz and of course they wouldn’t know what’s happening if they lived down here. Heck she barely understood what was happening anymore. “Uh, Des-Deskari is attacking Kenabres with a demon army!” Driz tried to swallow her nerves. There was a lot happening since she woke up and she never got a minute to just process any of it.
The man’s expression hardens. “That’s really bad, we need to hurry.” He said, turning to Wenduag.
Despite his obvious urgency, the woman didn’t seem to share her friend’s haste. She looked at Driz considering something. “You didn’t come from the direction of the Shield Maze.“ She stated. Though Driz was not sure what the Shield Maze was. “Damn it!” She cursed, turning away in a huff. “I could care less what’s happening up there, but the Maze… “
Seelah stepped forward “I know you guys have your own troubles. But please, we need to get back, people are dying up there.” She pleaded. “If you could just show us the way out?”
“I don’t mean to be rude,” Driz started, her eyes going back to the man, since he at least seemed easier to talk to. “But um, I’ve never seen people like you before,” Her eyes widened and she flushed, feeling like such an asshole. “Never mind that, uh what are your names? I’m Drizzaris, Driz is fine.”
The man seemed amused, while the woman gave her a scathing look. “I’m Lann, this is Wenduag.” Lann introduced. “Nice to meet you. Thanks for not screaming in our faces.”
That startled Driz a little. “Is that normal?” she asked.
“Oh sure, you have no clue how we can be treated like we’re monsters.” Wenduag spat scornfully. “We are the underground crusaders, the children of the crusade’s finest!” She said so proudly.
“Sadly ‘underground crusaders’ is a bit of a mouthful, so people usually just call us ‘mongrels’.” Lann threw in with a slight mischievous tint to his eyes.
Wenduag looked at him with utter disdain. “You just love repeating that, don’t you, Lann? ‘Mongrels’ - that’s what the uplanders call us. But we call ourselves ‘nethers’.”
All that meant was these people had a plethora of names, and none of them really meant a whole lot to Driz. She had never heard of such creatures, let alone ‘the children of the crusade’s finest’, or ‘underground crusaders’
By the way Lann winked at Driz, she had a feeling he knew that and that’s why he said what he said to mess with his friend. Driz couldn’t help but smile in turn. “And yet mongrels rolls off the tongue easier.” he smirked at Wenduag who just gave him a murderous look. “Doesn’t matter what you call us anyway, we’re still gonna grow horns, hooves and tails regardless.”
“I’ve never heard of people like that.” Driz admitted hesitantly. She was very curious, though Wenduag made her feel uneasy. Something about the way Wenduag stared at her didn’t feel right. While Lann felt kind, Wenduag felt… vicious. Like something just waiting to strike you down.
Seelah decided to interject. “In Kenabres they’re called mongrels. People used to say they come up to the surface at night and eat anyone foolish to wander alone.” Looking at both mongrels Seelah chuckled ruefully. “To be honest, I thought you guys were just made up to scare kids.”
Wenduag let out a snort of contempt and waved at Seelah while staring at Driz. “Oh look, that’s human gratitude for you.” She hissed. “Our forefathers suffered the consequences of demonic corruption, all to protect Mendev and Golarion, and for what?” She asked, her golden cat-like eyes glaring at Driz and Seelah. “So we become monsters used to frighten your children?”
That explained some of it, Driz thought, looking them both over. Demonic corruption passed down through generations? That was terrible, and for them to be reduced to nothing but a boogieman for kids to behave? Something in Driz silently raged that these people have suffered like that and no one seemed to be trying to help them. How long have they been down here?
A heavy sigh from Lann got her attention. “Well sadly we tend to look like monsters to most people.” he said with a far too knowing look for Driz’s liking. “But we at least got our own little legends to remind us that we will eventually rise up and help save the day and people will love us for it!” After a pause he added. “Well our chief tells it like that, leaving out the ‘they’ll love us for it’ part, but you can read between the lines.” he shrugged. “He refers to us as, like a reserved military force, just waiting for something to call us to arms.”
Well they could use all the help they could get if that was the case. “Where are we?” Driz asked, noting that the building looked only recently ruined, probably from Deskari’s splitting the earth.
“This is the hall where we remember the glory of our forebears.” Lann answered, holding his arms out to encompass the temple-like structure and the many broken artifacts. “Sorry about the mess - it doesn’t usually look like this, trust me.” He gave a sheepish smile. “Sometimes we even wipe the dust off the exhibits.” His smile was a little lopsided, as the scaled side of his face didn’t lift as high as the right.
“This is where the relics of the first crusaders are displayed. Our lives are short, our glories are quickly forgotten, but this place helps us remember that we are just as worthy as anyone else, and that our lives are not lived in vain.” Wenduag added. She seemed to change a little as she spoke of their history, losing that viciousness and seeming, while quite prideful, more at ease.
A low whistle behind Driz made her turn to Anevia. “The first crusaders? You’ve been down here that long? That’s crazy!” She exclaimed, taking in their surroundings in a new light of interest.
That explained how long they had been here, and it only made Driz feel more furious. Only a hundred years? Not even… but far too long for them to have not received the help for their ancestor’s sacrifice. Driz wanted to help them.
“So what are you guys doing here? Trying to save what history you can?” Driz asked.
“That is non-” Wenduag snapped but was quickly cut off by Lann.
“We’re looking for a holy sword. It was here, in the center, sticking out of a rock.” Lann explained, his features turning to a frown. “The sooner we find it, the better. Some kids from our tribe took off for the Shield Maze. They figured it had collapsed and now it’s their time to go up to the surface like all the legends foretold.“ His look darkened. “Except they don’t have a clue what’s waiting for them up there. They’re not fighters. And Sull, the chief of our tribe, is dead set against going up there. He doesn’t believe it’s time yet, so those kids have no one to help them.” He sighed. “Unless we could get the sword and maybe if we took it up we could change his mind.”
“Except none of us could use the sword since we’re corrupted and the sword is made of heavenly flame.” Wenduag pointed out dryly. “It’s a fool’s errand.”
“I’ll pick it up with my teeth and tie it to my hand if I have to. It doesn’t matter, between a bunch of mongrels and an angel sword we should be able to put together a miracle. If you didn’t think it was worth trying, you wouldn’t still be here.” He grinned down at Wenduag.
“I can help you look.” Driz said easily. They weren’t getting out of this without some form of assistance, and they deserved help as much as everyone on the surface did.
The bright look on Lann’s face made Driz feel secure in her decision. “Thanks! An extra pair of eyes could only help. You should be able to spot it easily, it glows.” He then gave a smile. “And since you’re helping us, we can lead you out of here.”
“Now we’re talking!” Seelah boomed and nudged Driz. “I’m glad we ran into you guys.”
As they began searching, Wenduag crossed her arms. “Oh you just want to find it so the monsters can lead you back to the surface.” She huffed. “So be it, better to get you out of our domain.”
Electing to ignore the slightly hostile woman, Driz started going through the rubble. While her and Seelah and even Anevia with her bad leg actually got down and dirty trying to dig through the piles of rubble to find it. Camellia just stayed away, standing there, waiting. “You could help you know.” Driz grumbled.
“I didn’t agree to.” She said plainly, her hand playing idly with the snake skull necklace she had. There was a look of disgust when she glanced at Lann and Wenduag that made Driz grit her teeth. Of course she would be that kind of person.
Shaking her head in exasperation Driz continued to search. Seeing all these shattered pieces of these people’s history filled her with sadness. She wasn’t sure how short, short lives were, being an elf most people’s life spans were short by comparison and she had lived almost four hundred years already. But she understood this was important to them, and it’s all destroyed.
It reminded her of all the times she thought she had gotten her life in some form of order only for it to fall apart and had to learn to live out of her own bag for all she had lost over the centuries. Not having a home made it hard to keep anything significant.
Something shiny caught Driz’s eye and she turned to see a light spilling out of a pile of rocks. “I think I found something.” She said as she moved over to dig it out, and sure enough a glowing sword lay there. “I found it!” she called and before thinking better of it she wrapped her hand around the hilt-
And then everything happened so fast. The wound on her chest reopened, blood pouring out all over her dress and the cave was gone. Driz had no idea where she was but there was a wounded woman. A deep feeling of betrayal and the word “Traitors,” hissed out of her mouth as she felt a wound on her back. But… that wasn’t her voice…
Part of her wanted to call out to those bloody pretenders, those she loved who she thought loved her in turn, who would do this to her, to them?! But the cry of pain from the wounded woman turned her attention and Driz didn’t think twice before rushing to her aid, trying to heal her.
The woman stops her, calling her name. “Lariel, you said we were going to stop the demons.” She grit out.
“Only if you are ready, there is no going back.” Driz said in turn, no Lariel said, this is a memory. She was seeing this from Lariel’s perspective.
“Then don’t waste your energy healing me, go!” The woman tried to shove Driz away. “It draws near!”
There deep in the shadows of the cavern a strange thing emerges, something that looks horrific and it fades in and out of existence. The traitors bow before this being as though in ecstasy while the woman she tried to heal starts to convulse and die before her eyes.
Then the wound in Driz’s chest burns white hot in agony and she crumbles before the disgusting display before her. Her vision swims as it feels like something tries to invade her mind. With a shout Drizzaris shakes off the illusion that was covering the creature. It was Deskari and he reached over grabbing her by the throat, laughing in victory.
The demon taunted her, as her blood poured all over the dead woman at Deskari’s feet. Called Driz, no, Lariel an angel with no love from his Goddess. That he was going to die alone, caught in a web like a fly with its wings cut off.
As the creature laughed, his eyes fell to the poor woman below and righteous anger filled him. After everything they had been through, this was not how it was going to end! His sword burned in his hands and he slashed at Deskari, the demon lord dropping him with a horrible scream of pain.
Despite his injuries he landed, if a bit heavily, his stance ready and his mind clear. He knew he was going to die, but it would not be in vain. “You may kill me here and now.” Lariel said, standing tall. “But one day, someone will take my sword and rise up to save and protect the innocents… “ The words started to fade and Driz could no longer hear Lariel.
The vision fades and she feels the wound on her chest close. An echo of the sword was still in her hand and a feeling of warmth spread through her body as the mongrel ruins came back into focus. Something was given to her? She wasn’t entirely sure, but she knew in her heart that it aligned with what Lariel had foretold.
Immediately Anevia was at her side and she could hear Lann and Wenduag running over. “Hey, are you alright?” Anevia asked, seeing Driz a little disoriented. “You were kinda glowing there for a minute.”
Seelah fell to her knees and held her hands together in prayer.
“That,” Lann started, his eyes wide in astonishment. “That was it! The Light of Heaven! But how?”
Wenduag was less in awe and more suspicious. “Where did you put it?! What did you do?” She hissed.
Putting a hand to her head, Driz closed her eyes to help get her bearings. “Did… did you see that?” She asked, not anyone in particular. “The traitors… a-and dying girl?”
Lann and Wenduag exchanged glances. “It’s just us here, the Light of Heaven seemed to just get sucked into you, I think?” Lann tried to see through the blood stained dress. “Any chance you could whip it out? We do still need it.”
They all looked at him, and his cheeks, well the flesh side of his face flushed and he scratched at his neck anxiously. “Sorry, I crack jokes when I’m nervous, or when I’m upset, or happy… anyway that came out wrong.” He tried to push past his embarrassment. “We need to bring you to the Chief so you can show him the Light of Heaven, and then we can mount a rescue for our kin.”
“What makes you think she can? The tribe will just laugh at us.” Wenduag scoffed, crossing her arms.
“I think I can control it.” Driz said, remembering the feeling of the sword in her hand, like it would come whenever she called for it. Driz focused on that feeling of warmth in her hand and just like that she held the sword, bringing it up to show the heavenly glow that filled the cavern, bathing everyone in its light.
“Wow!” Seelah breathed, her eyes sparkling from the glory of the light. “That is amazing. You’ve been blessed!”
Was she blessed? Driz looked at the glowing sword in her hand. She knew how to use a sword, but she wasn’t very good at it. Was she really meant to wield this thing? How was she meant to protect the innocents?
This day just kept getting more and more difficult for her to understand by the minute.
“That light… “ Wenduag said, her eyes also wide in awe and she almost looked more like a person to Driz, less of a feral animal. “It is the most majestic thing I’ve ever seen. Is this what the sun looks like Lann?”
Suddenly Driz felt awful for thinking bad of her. She never saw the sun? The stars? The moon? Looking up and trying to think what it would be like never to see the sky, to only see that stone ceiling with only a hint of light. The sky was the one thing that really helped to keep Driz sane and hopeful. To not have that, she was sure she wouldn’t have lived as long as she has.
“It’s similar… “ Lann said, his voice too in awe. “But this is more golden.“ He shook himself and then looked at Driz pleadingly. “Please, you have to show this to Chief Sull, with the power of angels on our side, he will have to mobilize and we can go save those kids. You uplanders care about your children right? Help us save ours.”
Not even thinking twice, Driz said. “Of course, lead us to your chief.” Driz said. While her parents didn’t see her as important as their child, Driz had always loved kids. They didn’t seem to treat her nearly as badly as adults tended to.
Driz never knew what it was about her that made people dislike her. She tried to be respectful and kind, unless of course the person was an asshole. She was plump for an elf, large green eyes, light purple hair, fair skinned as far as she could tell she wasn’t that strange among her kind, but what did she know, she only grew up being bullied and hated.
“Let’s go,” Lann said, his grin infectious. “We’ll take the short route… well the only route really.” Driz couldn’t help but chuckle and was happy to follow him further into the caves.
Leading them over to a ledge, which looked recently destroyed, he easily slid down the slope. Once he was on more solid ground he motioned for them to follow. Seelah set her shield down and encouraged Anevia to sit in it, letting her slide down. Lann caught her and helped her to her feet, and Seelah was about to go, when Camellia shoved her way to go first.
Eventually they all made it down safely and luckily for the ones with not so good vision, the way was fairly well lit by bioluminescent fungi. Driz really wanted to stop and study them, she hadn’t ever had a chance to look at subterranean flora before and they were gorgeous. She wished she could spend some time studying them.
They encountered more cave creatures that attacked them. Giant bugs, spiders and lizards. Wenduag was rather vicious with her attacks and when she hit something it was always devastating. But Lann was able to attack faster and more efficiently. Driz felt a little distracted watching the calm focus he had as he aimed, drew back and fired. Maybe she also couldn’t help but watch the flex of muscle.
After the last creature fell he seemed to notice Driz was watching him and turned his gaze to her. Driz looked away quickly, unable to stop a flush of embarrassment spreading on her face. What was wrong with her? Sure he was pretty nice to look at, she even thought his more reptilian half, while a bit strange was growing on her.
It didn’t help that he was making her laugh constantly with his commentary and jokes. Catching her trying not to laugh only seemed to encourage him more.
When they were faced with a massive wall of rubble blocking the path, Lann had expertly scaled it and at the top was helping everyone over. When he got to Camellia who begrudgingly took his hand, making a face at it. Once Camellia was stable she had pulled her hand away from Lann’s like she had touched something gross.
“Thanks Lann. You’re so awesome Lann.” He said loudly and with heavy sarcasm as he watched her descent to the other side and reached down to help Driz up.
Bursting out laughing, Driz almost missed his hand. Gods she needed that, and for the quip to be directed at Camellia only made it better for Driz.
Managing to grab his hand despite not quite having her giggle fit under control, he was able to pull her up. Once Lann got her over the obstacle, Driz didn’t want to let go.
Smiling shyly she said, “Thank you, Lann.” and slid down the otherside to join the rest of their group. She did catch him sending her a smile as he moved on ahead to continue leading them and yeah, he was nice looking. Probably the first time Driz had felt this charmed by someone in centuries.
A little ways further Lann noticed Anevia having a hard time keeping up and had them stop for a quick break. He took this time to fix the string on his bow and Driz was going to talk to him when she felt Wenduag pull her aside, trying to keep an eye on Lann. “Listen… I don’t know who you are or where you come from, but you and I see things as they are. So I’m asking you, don’t show them the light.” She said, in a conspiratorial whisper.
Immediately Driz felt something in her balk at the idea. “But Lann says-”
“Lann… “ Wenduag gave a huff of amusement. “He wants to play the hero, remember his first idea? To take the sword that would burn him and run with it into a dangerous maze.” She gave a very serious look to Driz. “Does that sound like a good plan to you? Worst is if the rest of the tribe takes it seriously and follows him.”
“I… I thought you considered the mongrels great warriors?” Driz asked, confusion and a bit of doubt creeping into her voice.
“Descendants of great warriors!” Wenduag whispered fiercely. “I believe my people deserve greatness and can do many great things. But it’s one thing to hunt down here, and another to fight for your life in the Shield Maze.” Her eyes dilated as she spoke further. “I was there, I trained my whole life to prove myself and there were many of us at the start, trackers who were young and stupid. I was the only one to survive.” She turned her head, a far away look in her eyes. “I had to learn from my friend’s mistakes and walk over their bodies to get to the end… I don’t want to have to do that again.”
Driz’s heart ached and she couldn’t help but give a glance at Lann. Could she live with herself if something happened to him? To the unsuspecting people of his village? “What about the kids?” Driz asked, now not sure what to do.
“I don’t think it’s worth getting the village killed for the sake of a bunch of dumb kids.” Wenduag hissed. “I do want to save them, but I’d go it alone if I have to. Only risking myself to do it, not the uninitiated who have no idea what they’d be getting into just because Lann shows them an uplander with a shiny sword.”
There was a hard pause, but Driz already felt she knew her decision. “I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t show them the sword.” Wenduag whispered as Lann ran up to them.
“Hey, we’re ready to keep moving, are you two okay?” He asked and Driz didn’t have the heart to look him in the eye. Wenduag didn’t answer and just moved past him. Lann looked between them confused and Driz tried to swallow her shame.
“Yes, sorry, Wenduag was asking me something.” Driz said a little uneasy. It wasn’t a complete lie, but it still felt like bile in her throat, and the wound on her chest ached with the deception. She always hated lying. Driz understood sometimes you had to, and she wasn’t the worst at it, but something about lying to Lann made it so much harder.
Maybe because she knew this lie might be the reason things didn't work out and she was just one step closer to being alone again. The thought felt like a cut right in her heart. How did she get her hopes up so fast only to willingly be the cause of pushing someone away?
Closing her eyes Driz, shoved that thought aside. She couldn’t risk innocents getting hurt because of her, better to push Lann away and deal with her own issues herself rather than have a whole village’s blood on her hands.
By the way Lann seemed to look at her, she thought perhaps he could tell something was wrong. “Did she say something not so neighborly to you?” He asked. “She can be a bit… “ he struggled to come up with the right words. “Harsh, but she’s a decent person. Don’t let her get to you.”
All she could do was nod and give a small smile. “Thank you,” He smiled in turn and nodded, before moving forward to help lead them to the village.
Gods, his earnestness made the lie so much more bitter. She already knew how this would play out, she would pretend she had no idea what he was talking about and he would be crushed. But it was for the good of the village, she couldn’t risk innocents and if she can’t convince Lann that perhaps he was being too rash with these people’s lives then there was nothing for it.
Couldn’t she at least try to talk sense into him?
By the time she thought this, they arrived at a small strip of land leading out into an underground lake and in the middle an island with the village the two mentioned.
She could see the many different shapes of the mongrels in the shadows and their eyes practically glowing like animal eyes in the dark. She could see some gutting and preparing fish while others repaired fishing nets. It was a quaint little fishing village, filled with so many different kinds of people, she was starting to understand the mongrel, demonic corruption they suffered from.
All of them were very different and many looked to be in pain. All of them were staring at her and the others from the surface with wide and almost fearful eyes, some of them seemed to struggle with their mutations.
Wenduag was right. These were not fighters, these were just innocent people trying to live. They couldn’t fight in a gauntlet, much less the demons they would meet topside.
It broke her heart, but she had to lie, she had to, for the good of these people.
That was the thing, in all the books she read, all the stories she loved. They never quite describe how hard doing the right thing could be. How much it sometimes felt so wrong, even when you knew it was the right thing to do. How you could feel so alone doing what you thought was right…
They were led up the hill of the village where a tall and grizzled, balding old man stood, his face contorted like it couldn’t decide between being human or a rat. He too also looked pained, but he seemed to push through it as he stood to meet them. He looked them up and down with a heavy sigh.
“Uplandersh eh?” The chief gave a humorless chuckle. “The end timesh are upon ush indeed… “ his voice lisped on the crooked and large bucked teeth. He also seemed to weeze with labored breathing.
“Chief Sull.” Lann said excitedly. “We found the heavenly sword and one who can wield it!” He pointed at Driz, and she tried her best not to show her emotions. As Lann’s eyes met hers they looked like pure joy. “The Light of Heaven is somehow a part of her now. Quick get everyone together that can hold a weapon, we can still go save those kids.”
“Ah Lann, alwaysh dreaming, alwaysh rushing. I know you wantsh to believe and to trusht, but I am chief, and I can't go on jusht trusht.” He motioned to Driz. “Show ush the light.”
Glancing from Lann’s expectant stare to Wenduag who shook her head subtly, Driz cast a glance around the village once more and gave a tired sigh. “I can help you find the children in the maze, but… I,” She couldn’t stop herself from giving Lann the most sorry expression she ever felt in her life as she swallowed her pride. “I don’t know anything about a light or holy sword.”
Seelah and Anevia both gave startled looks, but didn’t say anything. “If you could please, one of my party is injured, if she could stay here, I’ll go find those kids and bring them back.” Driz continued, trying to push past this point and just move on, even if it hurt her heart. Her wound pulsed with pain and she forced herself to ignore it.
“Look,” Lann was pleading, not quite understanding what was happening. “Just show him the light, it costs you nothing.”
Wrong… it would cost these people’s lives. Driz hated this but she couldn’t let innocent people suffer because of her. “Lann is mistaken.” She insisted, holding her head up, her eyes set as she fought the urge to crumble. “We didn’t find a sword.”
The look of utter betrayal on Lann’s face was crushing. His fists clenched but then he seemed to push down his frustration and just stare hard at her. “I don’t know why you’re lying, but we both know you’re lying, and Wendu knows.” He turned to Wenduag. “Tell them.”
“I don’t know what he’s on about.” Wenduag shrugged, not the least bit bothered. “He saw what he wanted to see.” How could she make it look so easy, to crush his hopes and dreams?
He looked between Driz and Wenduag and Driz tried to convey how sorry she was, but she wasn’t sure he saw it. But something seemed to click in his eyes. “I see, so you two are in this together then?” He shook his head, clearly disappointed.
“Everyone around me never wants to lift a finger to help others.” He sighed and gave a humorless laugh. “I didn’t want to believe it, but that’s how it is I guess, I gotta take things further than anyone else ain’t that right chief?” The Chief only had a look of weariness. “Fine, I see how things are. I don’t need any more convincing.” Lann offers Driz a crooked smile. “See ya.” With that he left, ignoring Sull’s imploring but weak voice asking him to understand that miracles weren’t meant for them.
“You did the right thing.” Wenduag whispered to Driz. “It was the lesser of two evils. I’ll take you through the maze. Let’s rest up.”
Driz couldn’t stop looking after Lann, wishing he could sense her emotions as plainly as she could sense his. Witches were generally empathic by nature, but Driz always felt everyone else’s emotions so strongly.
In her early years it was so hard for her to discern her own feelings from others and that got her into a lot of trouble. Then there were people who were so good at hiding how they felt. Those lessons were always so hard to swallow.
But Lann didn’t seem like that at all. He seemed like such a good person, just wanting to do what he thought was right. She felt a connection and just as quickly she severed it. She wanted to apologize to Lann but when she tried to find him, he was gone. Probably for the best. Why would he believe her apology when she had gone back on the first promise she had made to him?
With a heavy heart, she followed Wenduag to where they could rest. Hoping they could still save those kids with just a few of them. Driz wasn’t sure if she was ready for a gauntlet, sure her magic had gotten her far in her life. But she had no idea what to expect in this Shield Maze. Wenduag and Lann both had seemed formidable on their way here. Maybe they did stand a chance? So long as they worked together right?
Sighing heavily, Driz fell into a fitful sleep. She felt like she was being split in two. One side feeding off her misery and loneliness and the other struggling to remind her why she continues to fight, why she never gave up. A small amount of light she could feel was being covered with blood.