XXII: Sylis

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SYLIS

“Sylis! We can get in serious trouble for this!” Lana seethed. She looked at the woman bound in the corner. This was the Wizards idea of a present and it scared Lana. She was feeling the itch to kill again, but this was far from what she had wanted. Every kill had to be done tactfully if she didn’t want to get locked up.

But the fear in the woman’s eyes was tantalizing. The high in her bloodshot eyes did little to ease what she knew was coming. Lana was in control over her without having lifted a finger. Lana had seen the woman before too. Making money by seducing men and stealing from vendors when they weren’t looking. Nobody would come searching for her. She was nothing- though at that thought, a twitch of pain shot through Lana as she looked at what could very well be her future.

That morning when Lana woke up, she listened to the rhythmic beat of Rin’s heart. She began to tap a finger along his chest in time to it, pausing long enough to enjoy the warmth of his skin. Her mind wondered what the scent of his blood would be like, but as she got lost in thought, flashes of what she saw in Barut’s dungeon horrified her.

Lana sat up, shaking the daydream from her mind and with great reluctance knew she had to return to the guild. If she didn’t feed her needs carefully, she may come to regret it later.

As she looked at the notice board in the guild, seeing if any requests for an assassination were available, her attention was drawn away.

“You’re back?” Sylis questioned. Lana looked doe eyed for a moment at the Wizard before smiling brightly.

“Yeah. I was thinking the other night that a couple thousand gold wasn’t going to really support a baby forever.” She held up her fingers as she began to list, “Food, toiletries, whatever education we’ll want for them, and cloths! Goodness, that can be it’s own fortune,” Lana rambled. She then sighed. “So yeah. Figured I’d keep saving up until I’m too fat to even waddle.”

Sylis laughed with her before kissing her forehead. He then leaned away from her, surveying her avoiding eyes.

“You need another kill don’t you,” he whispered. Lana’s face dropped, part of her cursing her inability to keep in character. She thought about arguing it, but when she looked to Sylis she knew it was pointless. Disappointed at not being as deceiving as she had hoped, Lana nodded.

“Don’t be sad babygirl. You have nothing to be ashamed of,” Sylis consoled, pulling Lana into a hug. Lana felt numb. So badly she wanted to believe that, but fear reared it’s ugly head, forcing Lana to smile to hide it.

“Well, there’s nothing here that has caught my eye. I’ll go put my things up stairs and perhaps we can get some practice on my knife throwing today?”

“I actually need to head out, I’m suppose to meet with an acquaintance to see if the travel portals are useable- oh!” Sylis said, pulling a note from his pocket, “Mother has asked for my help in Trolenport. Will you please come so I can introduce you to her?”

Lana tried to hide her disinterest in meeting with Xara. She was still on the fence about Sylis. Rin had the hope that Lana would give the Wizard up, and she didn’t want to keep leading Sylis on, especially if family got involved.

“I’ll think about it,” she replied, “When will you be back?”

“In an hour or two?” he shrugged. Lana nodded and made do with dinking around the guild with Shard and Kari.

It wasn’t until twilight that Sylis returned. Lana was simmering and proceeded to throw catty insults at him when he walked through the door. Sylis, beaming at his fiery girl and wrapped her into a kiss before telling her, “Let’s go out to eat.”

“Really? That’s how you’re going to make up for being ridiculously late?”

“You make it sound like I stood you up. I have a life to live too,” Sylis replied playfully. Lana pouted. She was being childish, but she wasn’t use to Sylis not waiting on her hand and foot. She would have been stubborn and refused to go, but the child within insisted on something fried.

Lana was full of mirth and food as midnight drew nigh. They were strolling along the boardwalk, the moon and stars bright in the clear summer sky. Ships creaked in the light wind that gently encouraged the waves to lap to shore. It was a pleasant end to the day when Sylis said, “I have a surprise for you.”

Lana cocked an eyebrow. “And what would that be?” she asked. The Wizard pulled on her hand leading her to an old shack at the base of a cliff. She heard him whisper something and the faint click of a lock releasing sounded briefly. The door swung open silently and Sylis beckoned for Lana to enter first.

With fire in her hand, Lana moved into the building. That was when she saw the frightened woman in the corner.

“Sylis!” Lana hissed as the Wizard locked the door behind them. The woman began to cry, Lana going to her aid.

“Surprise!” Sylis replied, freezing Lana in place. Hands just inches from the restraints, hovering motionless as the situation’s reality hit her. HE KIDNAPPED HER!? her thoughts rushed.

“Please don’t hurt me!” the woman wailed.

Lana whipped around on Sylis, ignoring the woman, and marched back over to him. “It’s this kind of recklessness that can get us into trouble!” Lana scolded in a frantic whisper.

“I know. But only if we get caught,” the Wizard retorted.

Lana was momentarily lost for words. He had used her own logic against her. Her heart pounded violently inside her chest. So much could go wrong. Someone could walk by and hear the woman’s cries. And if they let her go? It’d be a cold day in hell if Lana were to accept the thief’s promises to remain quiet. In a way she’d be ridding the world of another useless being. Lana continued to debate silently, cursing Sylis for the predicament he had put them in.

“Babygirl,” Sylis spoke. He walked up behind Lana and wrapped her firmly in his grasp. His breath was warm against her ear as he whispered, “Let me help you. Better to ease the ache then to let it fester again.”

“But this is murder!”

“And the others weren’t?”

“Those were under contract! I had permission! Who’s giving permission over this!?”

“I am,” Sylis’s smooth voice answered. A shiver ran down her spine to the allure of the his words. They seeped into her veins, warming her inside and out.  

Make her scream, her thoughts coaxed.

Someone will hear!

“Enjoy your moment,” Sylis interrupted, sensing her thoughts. His words we like the silk dress she wore last night, clinging to her, wrapping her in their comforts. Sy’s hand slid down her arms and to her hands. Little currents of energy prickled at her fingertips as he guided them to the daggers on her belt. “You did say you wanted to practice your knife throwing. No one will even hear her cry,” he whispered down her neck.

Why is he doing this? Lana weakly thought. You’re no better than her-

I’m worlds better!

It was vain for Lana to try and reason with herself. Her blood was hot, her heart palpitating with excitement as the woman continued to cry while Sylis moved his lips along the nap of her neck.

The Wizard left Lana in a haze of desire. He hoisted their hostage up, positioning her in a star formation against the wall. Her pleas fell on deaf ears, Lana biting her lip eagerly. Once tied in place, the Wizard returned to Lana’s side, waiting with bated breath like herself.

He has done this for me, her thoughts soothed. No judgement. No limits. No rules but our own.

A smile curled at the corners of Lana’s mouth. It was like seeing Sylis for the first time. No longer was her love for him a game as she let her hunger for blood and the Wizard take over, unrestrained. The sounds of terror and passion echoed about her, feeding her. Nothing had felt so liberating to her as that night. For the first time Lana didn’t feel she needed to look over her shoulder to see who was watching.

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XXI: Kari

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KARI

Lana kissed Sylis on the cheek as she gathered the rest of her things and left. Her spirits were higher than had been in a long while, but it still didn’t mean she was going to return to the guild.

Earlier in the day, Lana had entered the Bringers of Hope to retrieve her items. No longer in debt, and expecting a child, she was happy to be free of Rasuvius. However her leaving was much to the displeasure of Sylis.

It had been three days since the King’s Hunt, a banner still hanging in the entry hall in celebration of the guild’s win that Lana and her guild mates had achieved. The past few days, Sylis had been trying to persuade Lana to return, at least at night. But she refused.

“What about us?” he had asked the first night after her stay at Rin’s.

“What about us?” Lana questioned back. She knew if she stayed, she’d get roped into further missions. “I’m not forcing ya to sleep at the guild. That’s your choice if ya want to stay here.”

“Well, it’d make me feel better if you stayed or at the least didn’t sleep at his place,” Sylis muttered bitterly, avoiding Rin’s name. He continued to make his opinions known as Lana laced up her boots. Once ready to leave, Lana grabbed Sy’s face and kissed him firmly. He relaxed at her affection and when she withdrew she told him she’d see him in the morning.

Lana made sure to spend time with the Wizard each day. She still had her training, let alone whatever antics they found themselves in. Yesterday they had reached the top of a clock tower. The view was breathtaking, though Lana’s lips curled as she recalled Sylis’s kisses along her neck. Still, she returned again to Rin’s at the end of the day.

It annoyed Lana that the one person who could anger her so quickly was someone she somehow needed. Like a drug, she thought as she shouldered her pack and quietly left the room. She was still in her fancy dress, her hair a mess from their bedroom games. The entire day seemed surreal.

Lana was making her point more clear about her desire to be as withdrawn from the guild as possible, by gathering her gear from her room. Sylis had an appointment and Lana took that opportunity to get in without another argument of staying.

As she entered the room, she was surprised to find gifts arranged for her. A box wrapped in a tulle ribbon laid on the bed and a bottle of cider with a single flute and card were on the bedside table. Lana snatched the card up, wondering what new antic Sylis was up to in his attempts to reclaim her in his bed, but was surprised to find the note a mere invitation from the new guild member, Kari Fayre.

Lana read the note twice, perplexed by the invitation to join the Tiefling for dinner. It was refreshing to have had another lady fight alongside her during the King’s Hunt, but she had thought she left a terrible impression upon the woman.

“You are to return to the guild now!” Kari had instructed when Don revealed the truth of her pregnancy to the group.

“I can’t,” Lana responded through gritted teeth, “If I don’t participate, I won’t earn my share of the winnings that’ll pay off the debt I owe.”

“You can have mine,” the Tiefling insisted.

“I don’t take charity,” Lana lied. She mostly didn’t want to be told what to do. She was fully aware of the risk she was taking with her child.

“And if you die, the child does too! We might not be able to resurrect both you if that happens!” she said adamantly. Part of Lana was touched that she cared about her and the baby’s safety, but at the mention of being spared death, Lana’s fury erupted.

“Good! If I die, I don’t want to be resurrected! It was resurrection that has me in this hell right now!”

Lana hadn’t meant for the words to be implied about the child, but about the madness she had endured since Rasuvius administered a potion to her over two months ago. Her emotions had a mind of their own and her enjoyment of killing folk warred for control within her. Lana couldn’t bare another revival if that was the price to pay for renewed life.

Kari seemed to hate Lana or thought that she was unsuitable for a mother. So it made her nervous to be asked on a date by the Tiefling. Still, she couldn’t help but look at the dress that the note implied was in the box.

It was of extraordinary quality. Silks embroidered with intricate details and exotic beads shimmered up at her. A pale green dress, that complimented her eyes, with silver accents, fit for someone rich, someone noble. As Lana held it up, a few ladies knocked at the door. They were there to help her prepare.

The gown hung from her slim form perfectly. Lana almost didn’t recognize herself staring back when she looked in the mirror after the work the girls had done. It was as though she evolved into a princess. If only...

Lana then went down stairs to the carriage awaiting her. She climbed in, Kari already seated inside.

“Well aren’t you a pretty thing,” the Tiefling commented with a faint smile. Lana rolled her eyes a little. How could someone not be beautiful in the dress she wore? "I hope you are ready to feast and be entertained,” Kari continued after a long drag on her pipe. She blew a puff of smoke out of the window before adding, “There is a show being played at the De'Maurus La Frunn tonight and I couldn’t think of a more fitting place to get to know you.”

Lana furrowed her brows questioningly. Thoughts of caution lit her mind up. Was this a friendly ‘get to know you’ or an interrogation? Her nervousness worked up, but she figured she’d put on an act. With a smile she replied, “Well that sounds fun! This is rather generous of ya to go to all this fuss on me.” Kari laughed, Lana’s facade dropping.

“Tell me then, why are ya getting into guild work when you’re clearly loaded?” she asked icily.

“Oh child, I have yet to spend a silver coin,” Kari chuckled. She then explained to Lana that she is the first born of the House of Fayre, a fashion empire that Lana somehow managed to not know. Then again, she was still very new to the big city, having only had her freedom for a little over six months.

Their chit chat continued back and forth, melting the initial tension between them. Lana found herself feeling rather comfortable with Kari. She had only known girls, and even then, girls with varying mental illnesses. Kari’s maturity and wit was something to be desired.

“I think I’m really going to enjoy having another lady around to talk with,” Lana commented as she leaned back in her seat, “I might actually miss the guild some. It’d be fun to show the guys up. The two of us.”

“So you have quit? You were rather brave out there the other day, despite that pit you fell in. I was rather impressed,” Kari complemented, “A bit feral, but none the less fearless.” Lana had smiled brightly at the praise, but her face became sullen.

“Hardly fearless,” she mumbled.

“You took down two Centaurs with a dagger.”

“Don’s friend was in trouble.”

“Deary, we all saw your fit of madness. You enjoy stealing life from the living,” Kari pointed out. Lana felt ice form inside her. Was this the reason of their date? Did the Tiefling single her out to blackmail her? Lana vainly attempted to keep her composure.

“N-no I don’t,” her dry mouth spoke.

“Sure you don’t.”

“I don’t,” Lana said more indignantly.

“Hey, you’re welcome to use the mask of ‘killing bad guys’,” Kari went on, emphasising her statement with her fingers, “but to be honest, I don’t think it’s a flaw against you either. It’s what makes you so fascinating. A feral beauty.”

“I’m not feral!” Lana snapped. Her mind worked rapidly. Where was Kari going with her observation? She didn’t want to be thought of as a cold blooded murderer. There was nothing enjoyable about the torture she conducted on her victims- though with the stress of the situation, part of her began to entertain the idea of stabbing Kari a few times. Maybe then she’d feel her anguish.

Suddenly her mother’s words came mind: The truth will set you free. Lana swallowed hard and, coupled with a look, let out a sigh of defeat. Carefully, she divulged what had happened to her, explaining further all she knew about her post resurrection. “If things keep going as they are... it’ll  be the asylum again for me.”

A mirthless laugh escaped Lana as she realized what she had confessed. “Well, I guess there ya have it. I’m crazy by the way.”

Kari sat composed, looking regal as her champagne colored gown glowed against her skin. She looked out the window, letting another puff of smoke escape and commenting that they were nearly there. Lana’s stomach stirred with anticipation. What did the Tiefling think? What judgement would she pass?

“I was sent to spy on the guild,” Kari announced. Lana cocked her head.

“What?”

“Your first question. I never answered it. And with the secrets you’ve divulged, it’s only fair I share some of my own. You and your group have accomplished some great feats. My family wants to see how serious you all are.”

“Right... Seems odd for people in fashion to worry over us, doesn’t it?”

Kari chuckled, taking another drag from her pipe. “You’re welcome to ask me any questions you want,” came the Tiefling’s reply, “You’ve earned that right.”

Lana thought for a bit. She wanted to pursue more information about the spying, but at the same time, there was something familiar in Kari’s eyes that Lana knew all too well. She was hiding something.

“What do ya regret most?”

A stiff smile formed on Kari’s lips as she withdrew into her thoughts.

“Being born a Tiefling,” came her curt reply.

The carriage came to a stop as Lana asked, “Why?” Sure Kari was different in looks, but for all Lana cared, she was beautiful and stood out.

“Don’t worry your pretty little mind about it. For tonight, we are celebrating you.”

The carriage door was opened, preventing Lana from pestering. To further distract her, Kari summoned in front of Lana a tiara and adorned her head with it.

“Tonight, you get to be whoever you want to be,” Kari instructed.

Childlike giddiness warmed the insides of Lana. Whatever intent Kari had didn’t matter, for it was the escape she had been desiring. Even if it was temporary, when she stepped from the compartment into the twilight, she was Lana, sister of Kari Fayre, heiress to the noble House. No longer was she the crazy orphan girl, desiring to kill. For the hours she was with Kari, her old self was dead.

The euphoria of forgetting her faults lingered well into the night. When Sylis returned to the guild, he walked in to find the pair of women in a fit of giggles as Kari painted Lana’s nails. Upon seeing the Wizard, the Tiefling quickly made her exit, leaving the lovers to their time of bliss.

Lana explained that the fanciness was all Kari’s doing. “She just wanted to get to know me better. Have a girls night really. I think she’d like it if I remained apart of the guild,” she said.

“As would I,” Sylis responded. Lana smirked not bothering to answer. Dinner had elevated her mood and she wasn’t about to let it be soured with a redundant argument.

Only when Lana knew Sylis was deeply asleep did she get out of bed. She felt bad to leave him without good bye, her heart full, but she really didn’t want to stay any longer in the guild than she already had. It was unfortunate Sylis didn’t like Rin better. Maybe then they could share the Halfling’s place. Maybe then everything would be perfect.

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XX: Lana pt. 2

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✻  ✻  ✻  ✻  ✻

“Lana not sick?” Rin asked. Lana blinked as she took in her surroundings. She was sitting on Rin’s bed. The morning sun was shining through the windows and the Halfling was looking imploringly at Lana.

Why is he asking if I’m sick?

There was dread, a weight that rested on her shoulders.

“I just saw Faela. She had confirmed it,” Lana caught herself saying. It felt like she was underwater. Her speech felt slow and slurred. Nothing felt tangible.

“...that all that matters,” Rin’s voice penetrated, “Lana not damned. Lana blessed.”

Then there was that. The unwavering optimism the Halfling had. Why she was angered by it though, Lana couldn’t remember. She had went to see him a week ago. Something had changed. Something big, but all that came to mind was her need to be held.

The smell of bacon and warm muffins filled her nose. She was cooking with Rin and burnt the pheasant eggs.

“Lana is smart,” the Halfling told her in her frustration, “and kind and very important.”

A bite of a citrus yogurt then filled her mouth. They were at the table, breakfast nearly done, and Rin instructing her to say, “Lana gonna be okay.”

“I’m going to be okay,” she repeated. The dread Lana felt was beginning to leave, but on its heels came a sense of urgency. There was life and the need to live.

“Rin stand by Lana and be child’s father if Lana chooses,” were the final words Lana recalled as she sucked in a cool breath of air, immediately coughing up the obstruction that tried to fill her lungs. Daylight blinded her and left her in a haze.

“Babygirl!” Sylis’s voice came. She felt weak as he lifted her into a hug.

“Did I die?” she questioned as her senses began to give more dimension to her surroundings.

“No, but we should get you back and have the baby checked on just to be safe-”

“Baby?” came a familiar voice. Shard was looming over her. It brought a soft grin to Lana’s face to see her friend.

“Yeah,” Sylis began, a proud smile on his lips, “We’re expecting Shard.”

The Warforge took Lana from Sylis, hugging her almost too firmly. “I’m going to be an Uncle!?” he exclaimed. Still weak from being crushed, Lana remained helpless to Shard’s bout of joy. He then insisted on carrying Lana all the way back to Sharn.

Along the way, Lana learned that they had accomplished the task of killing the Dao, a token of their kill being brought back for evidence. The judges voted them as the victors, gaining The Bringers of Hope guild more renown and money.

There was much celebration throughout the city, the festivities of the holiday abounding, but Lana was far from merriment. She met with Faela who noted the child within was fine. As they walked back to the guild, Sylis wrapped an arm around Lana and said, “We were lucky this time, Lana, but this is why you need to be more careful when fights rise up.”

If clouds could form over Lana, she would have had enough for a storm. All day they had been collecting and it didn’t help that Sylis began to talk strategies with her while Shard continued to tell anyone with ears the good news.

“I’m to be an Uncle!”

“Perhaps we can work on your reflexes.”

“My girl, Lana! She’s pregnant!”

“Some foot work might be useful too.”

“Do you know where I can buy a solid gold bassinet?”

“Oh and some more running to keep your stamina up.”

Lana’s voice seemed lost as her friends continued on and on. It was as though she left it behind in the King’s Woods, in the very pit the Dao tried to bury her in.

They entered the guild hall, the festivities abundant as fellow guild members congratulated them on their win. Lana was given her share of the prize money and surprisingly was given added portions from Kari and Shard.

“For the two of you and the future of your child,” they had said. The emotions continued to mix aggressively inside Lana. She was grateful that people cared and were supportive, yet she hated that everyone seemed concerned about her ability to look after her kid.

Lana walked toward Rasuvius’s office to pay off the last of her debt, Sylis in tow. He began to suggest that they do some training which pushed Lana up to her breaking point.

“Sylis, I’m going to stay the night at Rin’s!” she snapped.

The Wizard nearly tripped with shock.

“Wha- why?” he asked.

“Because I’m sick of all of this!” she gestured to the celebrations taking place, “and to everyone knowing I’m pregnant, no thanks to Don and Shard. And to you with your obsessive training! I have been doing what ya’ve taught me but somehow all ya see is where I fail! What about when ya ran off!? Was that my fault too!?”

Sylis blinked rapidly, his mouth searching for words.

“I was just worried. I don’t want anything to happen to you or the baby-” he tried to explain.

“Whatever,” Lana interrupted, continuing toward her destination, “I just need a night to cool down and be away from everyone’s scrutiny.”

“Just the one night, okay?” Sylis called after her.

I’ll stay away as long as I want, Lana thought irritably. Once she walked into Rasuvius’s office, she would be free of her debt and had no intention of returning to the guild.

Even after telling Rin everything that had happened, Lana’s mind was restless. She had every right to be angry, yet part of her hated it. All she wanted was to go back to being carefree.

Lana began to reminisce the past three months she had known Sylis. She loved the spontaneity he embraced. Seeking fun wherever they were. Whether it was running through the streets and rooftops of Sharn or throwing their magics at children, Sylis was exciting. They lived in their own world when he wasn’t so focus on her.

Then there were the times he would teach her some of his magics. Sylis would channel his energies through her, intertwining with her own powers. It was probably more intimate than the physical connection they had.

So in spite of the hellish day, part of Lana longed for Sylis... and hated him all the same.

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XIX: Lana pt.1

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LANA

Child, may the God’s let you live.

Lana was curled up on the bed, arms hugging the faint bump on her stomach. Rin was sleeping next to her, his arm mingled with hers. It should have been enough to comfort her and allowed her mind to shut off for the night. Instead Lana’s thoughts turned to the day’s events like an unrelenting torrent of water. The slaughtered Centaurs, her pregnancy being discovered, Sylis’s constant nag about how to fight better, and another brush with death.

A suppressed sob made an escape. Quickly Lana’s hand went to her lips to silence the wave of emotion. Rin shifted, but remained asleep. Carefully Lana exhaled and inhaled as she tried to not think. She closed her eyes, but visions of her companions’ eyes bore into her eyelids.

All of them stood around watching her- questioning her- with their worried stares. Lana was on top of a Centaur, her dagger and hands covered in gore. Sylis was the only one who didn’t seem perturbed by her loss of control, but she couldn’t help feeling self conscious. The high slipped away like it always had and all she could feel was sick for having been so brutal.

Lana quickly slid from the Centaur’s lacerated back and rummaged through her pack for a potion to give Don. Sylis had asked if she had one for the Druid, which was what snapped her back to her senses. Lana had only killed the creature because a friend of Don’s, a Centaur named Kodiya, was being pursued by her kind. She was only trying to help protect the Druid’s friend.

As she walked over to Don, she began to channel her magics to clean the blood from her hands and clothes. Her mind fought for control, to keep the tears at bay as she wondered what the others were thinking. Did they wonder if she was losing it? Or would it be cause for a write up with the guild for using excess force? She only had to last long enough to finish the competition, win the prize money, and finally be rid of her debt she owed Rasuvius.

The thing that broke her from her internal reflection was Don’s hand suddenly sliding from the proffered potion to Lana’s wrist, wrapping tightly there while his other hand was placed firmly on her stomach.

“What are ya doing!?” Lana demanded. She knew what he was doing, but her mind was in too much of a frenzy to tactfully warn him to keep his mouth shut.

Don opened his eyes that were barely visible behind his elk skull mask. They were full of admiration as a grin stretched across his face.

“Lana, I didn’t know you followed the traditions that the women of my tribe uphold!” he announced. Don then released Lana to reach into his own pack.

With eyes all on the two of them, Lana shrugged her shoulders, replying, “I guess, but let’s not worry about that. We have bigger game to find if we’re to win the King’s Hunt.”

Don, and the others, agreed, but as they began to move, the Druid placed into Lana’s hands a bag of herbs with instruction to brew some tea with them every morning.

“Why?” Lana asked thoughtlessly.

“You do know, don’t you?” Don questioned.

Lana cursed herself, especially when Sylis jumped in, asking, “Know what?”

“Don’t worry about it Sylis,” Lana tried to intervene.

“That she’s pregnant,” Don answered anyways.

It was as though time stopped at the statement. Everyone was lost for words momentarily. Lana wasn’t sure which was worse, the truth being made known or the silence that followed. With Rin, when she had told him a week ago, he was quick to show his joy at such news. But Sylis, he stood in disbelief.

“Are you really pregnant?” Sylis asked Lana.

Breathe. Just breathe, Lana told herself. It took everything inside her to not lash out at Don for revealing her secret in front of the party. But it was pointless to try and lie about it any more. With a smile, she acknowledge the truth Don spoke.

Sylis wrapped his arms about Lana, tears forming in his eyes. She would have been touched by the show of emotion if she knew it was solely Sylis’s child that she carried. Instead, that was just another secret Lana suppressed.

The moment was soured though as they continued on their search for the Dao (an earth elemental like creature) that was said to be roaming the woods freely. Kodiya said the elemental was in distress, having been transplanted to the King’s Woods for the holiday. The Dao was having a negative effect on the forest because of that, which could leak over into Sharn.

As they walked, Sylis couldn’t stop talking about the reality of the new life inside Lana. It was a conversation Lana wished could have been savored from the comforts of their guild room. She had rehearsed the moment in front of her mother’s epitaph for days, trying to get herself to believe that the child within was solely Sy’s. Funny enough, while there, she noticed the leaves and overgrowth obscuring Emma’s headstone. Lana cleared the debris away and revealed something she hadn’t noticed before: The truth will set you free.

It’s enough to say Lana did not heed the words of her mother. Rather she continued to torment herself by keeping her secrets.

In their search, Sylis noted another companion in the woods, their fellow guild member Shard. Lana looked about but saw only Sylis, Don, and their new companion, a Teifling named Kari. The Wizard continued to lead the skeptical Lana around a cliff face to show that the Warforge indeed was there. Once Shard came into view, Lana was eager to go greet him. All thought about the Dao and pregnancy were far from her mind as she called out to him. She proceeded to run in her excitement but ended up running into a wall.

If the stinging in her nose wasn’t enough, Sylis’s words were like daggers. “That’s why we don’t go running into a fight,” he scolded.

“I was running to Shard!” Lana snapped. She looked at the pillar of earth that she ran into, wondering where it had come from, for it wasn’t there just moments prior.

Right then a strange, earthy growl rippled across the scene. Upon the cliff stood a creature so large, Lana was surprised she hadn’t spot the Dao sooner. In spite of her irritation with Sylis, Lana quickly went into training mode.

Stealth is your best friend. Strike and hide, Sylis’s instructions sounded in her head. Quickly Lana maneuvered behind the pillar of earth, waiting for the Wizard to join her.

It would have been a lie if Lana said she wasn’t scared. A fight had never been truly daunting when it was just her. Now she had to think about a child. Yet thinking was a luxury as the Dao unleashed its wrath. Pillar after pillar of earth kept sending Lana and Sylis up a few stories. They managed to slide down the sides every time, there free running antics playing well into their safety.

Sylis then took off, leaving Lana behind. She called after him only for the Wizard to tell her that she needed to catch up. Right then a fourth pillar sent her sky ward. In her rush to meet up with Sylis, Lana landed roughly on the ground, scraping her knee and jarring her wrists.

Lana worked through the discomfort, running after Sylis. She even threw another bolt of fire toward the Dao, missing it. That was the tipping point of Lana’s wits. For the past minute, every opportunity she had, Lana would try throwing her fire magic at the Dao, but kept missing. So, scared and frustrated, she began to mutter irritably under her breath as she took cover under the cliff.

“Point and shoot! POINT AND SHOOT!” Lana began as she hugged the cliff face, trying to find Sylis, “Simple as that! And where the hell are ya Sylis!? ‘Stick together’ ya said. ‘Don’t run into battle’ ya said. Well where the hell are ya now!? It’s not like I’m carrying a child- AH!”

In the midst of her murmurings, the ground under Lana’s feet gave way. She ended up falling into a very deep pit. In the narrow space, she began to shout and cry out her frustrations. Amidst her lamenting she made the mistake to temp fate as she sobbed, “At least it can’t get worse.”

Lana had been working her fingers into the earth, pulling herself up toward the top of the hole slowly, when the ground trembled and dirt began to fill the cavity. Shaking the dirt off as fast as she could, Lana attempted to ride the rising earth to the top, but the dirt was relentless. It clung to her and began to fill her mouth and soon her vision of the surface vanished. Still, she wasn’t about to give up. Lana wiggled and scrapped at the dirt that encased her. She coughed and sputtered in her effort for freedom.

Her attempts were beginning to seem futile when light pierced through and revealed Sylis. His face was etched with worry, but the fire that was Lana’s anger blazed on.

“Are you okay?” Sylis asked, reaching out a hand to help her out.

“What do you think!?” Lana shrieked, “You left me! You didn’t even follow your own advice! You-” but Lana’s accusations fell short as the earth trembled once more. All air left her as the earth crushed her ribs. Unable to breath and her body screaming out in agony, Lana blacked out.

✻  ✻  ✻  ✻  ✻

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