Private Tales The Legend's Heir

[Serafina]

Sera pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"From now on we'll leave everywhere a little better," she promised. With his new mindset and with the band now eager to right wrongs done against them, she had every faith it would get better.

"I'm getting out before I turn into a prune," she commented with a sweet smile before pushing herself out of the large copper basin and wrapping herself up in a towel. For the first time in a long while she felt as though today she had done some good. That today... today she had helped someone. It was a feeling she realised she wanted to keep on feeling.

 

[Solgrin]

A little better.

He tried to keep that in mind. Tried to commit it to the very essence of his memory. Perhaps in the future he could hold to that. Could think that everywhere he ventured would be a little better off for when he had first come there.

A part of himself doubted it.

He had been a plague on so many cities, so many towns, that the very idea seemed almost comical in nature. Yet he couldn't have denied that he liked the thought. That the idea itself brought a smile to his face. "Suppose I should do the same."

Solgrin said with a smile.

Fingers gently pressed at the edge of the tub, pulling himself upward.

"I would hate to shrivel." Least more than his soul already had.

 

[Serafina]

Sera's eyes wandered over him with a hint of a blush in her cheeks as he emerged from the bath and she shyly held out a towel towards him. Fear, excitement, a muddy love she knew was tainted all fluttered in her stomach whenever she saw him in such a way. He had broken her, healed her, freed her. She didn't know what was right or what was wrong to feel towards him, merely that what she felt was... strong. It couldn't be ignored.

"I don't think that's possible," she murmured and then blushed crimson at such a comment.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin smirked. "The curse heals."

He told Serafina.

"It doesn't prevent water wrinkles." The Bandit chief wouldn't pretend to know the difference. He was no doctor or surgeon, but he had swam often and long enough to know that he still got wrinkly in the water.

The why or the what of it escaped him, but that didn't really matter.

"Didn't write that in the bargain." He chuckled. "An oversight."

Solgrin said as he grabbed a nearby towel.

 

[Serafina]

Sera stepped forward and place a hand on his wrist to stay his hand from wrapping the towel around him. Timidly she brushed a strand of wet hair from her face and looked up at him from beneath thick, dark lashes that still glistened with droplets of bathwater.

"Your skin wasn't what I meant," she murmured with heat rising once more to her cheeks but before the nerves could over take her she rocked onto the balls of her feet and drew him down to meet her lips in a sensuous kiss. The connection made her skin glow with that thrum of magic that still seemed to connect them on a level she wasn't sure she would ever understand but in that moment she didn't care to. There was only one thing she wanted tonight.

 

[Solgrin]

Lips pressed against hers.

Not soft, not timid, not for even a passing second. He was a man who had always known what he wanted, had always taken it so. That was no different now. Fingers drew gently over her skin, touching caressing, never groping or grasping.

It was a reverent touch.

So different, so unexpected.

A smile touched his lips a she peered down at her. Serafina's body rocking back and forth on her heels a she whispered her quiet admission. "Ah."

Solgrin said.

"Well." His head shook. "Maybe the curse does apply to that."

He'd never much checked after all. Though before she could ever be allowed an answer his lips pressed against hers in a forceful touch.

 

[Serafina]

Sera woke to new bruises along her delicate cream skin but she smiled slowly and stretched, luxuriating in the feel of them after a long night of pleasurable fun. Birds sung their sweet song outside and there was the muffled noises of a few early risers downstairs murmuring and drinking coffee to nurse sore heads after last nights revelries. There was a sense of calmness when she cast her magic out. As though a great storm had been building and it had finally broken over the town.

With them on their side there was only evil to combat now.

Knowing these were the last few moments of peace before the fighting of the day Sera leaned over to press a kiss to Solgrin's neck and jaw before curling up besides him in the warmth of the sun streaming through the curtains.

 

[Solgrin]

How many times has he awoken like this?

Calm, peace surrounding him. An air of quiet that hung around him before the chaos once again swelled and broke loose. He knew it was coming, and could feel it in his chest.

It was like a weight, something pressing at his innards. A familiar feeling, and in ages past…almost a comforting one.

Yet in that moment he found no comfort in that weight. No, and he knew exactly why. It was the small figure pressed at his side. The rest of the Band that lay outside their door. All of it now colored in a different light. All of it now tinged with far more concern and worry than he'd ever felt before.

Solgrin wasn't sure if it made him stronger, or weaker.

Slowly he took in a measured breath. Shaking his head as he began to rouse. "I think it's time."

He declared softly.

 

[Serafina]

Sera opened a single eye when he began to shift himself off the bed and gave him the kind of look women gave a man when they thought the things outside the bedroom would be far less fun than what was in this bed. But she knew he was right. More people were awake no doubt waiting for Solgrin to lead them on this last stretch. Sera had done her peaceful part and now what they needed was a war chief.

She sighed and eventually rolled out too after allowing herself a moment to admire him as he rose from the bed. She'd left her own marks on him last night but they were gone now, healed by a curse that would one day kill him. Maybe there was another way to imbed her own claim on his skin. One that would stick. She mused over the thought as she got dressed in the wide pants and a blouse she preferred now.

"Have you got a plan?"

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin laid there for a moment more, his eyes closed as he took in a deep breath.

"The beginnings of one." It was something he had been mulling over, attempting to plan out as best he could.

There were a dozen moving pieces here, but two of them were most important; The Pact and of course the Temple itself.

They knew precious little about either, more about the pact than the temple thanks to Serafina. As far as they knew the Necromancers wanted the pact in place, which meant that when it was threatened they would very likely come calling. "We break the pact."

Solgrin said, sitting up.

"They'll come looking." He slowly pushed himself out of bed. "Then when they do, Einar, me, and Maria go into the Temple and get his daughters body."

The rest? The rest would have to stay and defend the town. An idea he didn't particularly like...especially given Sera would have to remain, but one...one they couldn't do without. Not if they wanted this place to survive.

 

[Serafina]

"You want me to stay here?!" Sera turned incredulously. She had merely assumed she would be going. She had magic after all. What better thing to use against the undead? The young girl planted her hands on her hips and did her best to draw herself up to her full height to look as imposing as she possibly good. It might had worked if there had been a speck of confidence in her or her words.

"I-I would be way more help with you, what if they have mages of their own?!" she half pleaded and then frowned deeper. "The others can more than handle this place once I finish the breaking of the pact!" All they had to do was set the document on fire. That was all it called for to purge it clean now everyone's blood was on it.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin winced.

He knew that this would become something of an argument, that Serafina would want to break with them into the tomb and make sure they got Einar's daughter. But...tactically the Bandit chief knew that it would be the wrong move.

Serafina was right, she did have magic. That made her the most valuable piece on the board, at least for their army.

Waltzing her right into enemy territory was no general's idea of a good plan.

A small breath flowed into his lungs, and he slowly stepped forward towards Serafina. He kept his expression neutral, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "The temple will be dangerous, but not so much with eyes pointed to the village."

He reminded her.

"This place, those we leave behind. They haven't fought Necromancers, magic." Solgrin said softly. "They'll be ignorant and unprotected. They need someone to tell them what will happen."

Plus, he would much rather keep her here. Surrounded by folk he trusted.

 

[Serafina]

Anger scolded the tops of Sera's already rosy cheeks. How long had he decided she would be staying here? They had lain together, they had had moments she would cherish forever last night and now... every time she felt a step closer to him he pushed her three back.

"Kit can do that! Even Scout!" she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air and then beginning to pace the small room. How would she be able to explain what was going on when she had no idea herself? Any type of siege or battle that would come to this place would result in the other Bandits taking charge. They might have decided she was now one of them rather than a captive - a toy - but that didn't mean they thought highly enough of her to let her lead.

"The main fight is going to be in that temple, you need me."

 

[Solgrin]

It was the exact argument that he knew she would offer. The pincer that she would bring into the conversation.

In a way she was completely right. The Temple was going to be a problem. There would be magic. There would be strength they could hardly imagine, but Solgrin had fought these battles before. He knew that the most opposition would be here at the village.

"It's not." He said softly. "Not...not really."

Solgrin's voice was calm, quiet. "They will be looking to wipe this place out Sera."

A slow breath filled his lungs.

"They want to make an impact, show that resistance will be the end." He knew that. Knew it because it was what he would have done. "They want to wipe these people out. Erase them, but...but if they resist."

He frowned. "It will draw them. Pull them away. Piece by piece."

Exactly what they needed, wanted. "For them this is a goal they need to achieve. That is what we want."

 

[Serafina]

Sera shook with her anger. What he said made sense, a tiny voice at the back of her mind said, but she couldn't help but feel that this was being done to keep her away. To coddle her. Giving an infuriated noise she spun on her heel and wrenched open the door to the room before stomping out.

"Someone got told the plan," Einar murmured low to Maria as Sera clattered down the stairs muttering to herself. Even Marion's wide smile didn't stop Sera's thunderous path through the inn and out the door. There was a wince from a few of the other Bandit's as they watched her go.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin reached up and ran a hand slowly through his hair. At least she hadn't decided her magic to glue him to a wall or something, that had been a small fear when he'd initially thought about having this conversation. Sol could swing a sword, but Serafina could do...

Well pretty much anything. "Aye, well.."

He said to himself, frowning and shaking his head as he made his way down the stairs. Einar stared at him, a small smile on his lips. Maria did the same, though her expression was far muted.

"What are you staring at?" He asked. "Shouldn't you be getting ready?"

The Bandit Chief shook his head, Einar only chuckling. A bitter sound.

"Been ready for weeks, boss."​

 

[Serafina]

Blinded by her anger Sera walked until she found herself at the wooden wall that ran around the town. The gates were thrown open and as usual two guardsman stood looking half asleep though today they also winced whenever they looked towards the sun. She wondered if either of them had managed to get any sleep before their shift started and after the festivities had ended. They were poor protectors of the town and she felt her resolve waver momentarily. Maybe she would be better here.

"Or maybe I can just make sure they never come here in the first place," she murmured. It would take them a while to mobilise whatever force they had to use against the town once they felt the pact break. Sera had enough time to get there before they even left the gates. Maybe then she could keep everyone safe.

Filled with determination she started off on the road out of town.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin, of course, did not know that Serafina had left. He was as ignorant as a baby in a crib. In his mind she had stalked off to go join some of the others, brood with Marion or perhaps find a place somewhere to be angry at him.

He had no clue she wandered out of town. "Blades, arrows, bolts?"

Solgrin asked calmly, Maria tilting her head in a quick nod. She flashed him a quick smile, something that was probably meant to denote a level of confidence. He felt none of it of course, but didn't let that fact show as he slipped a knife into his sleeve.

Einar hefted a heavy axe, and then the three of them were off.

Half an hour after Serafina departed, Solgrin and his two companions stepped out as well. They cut north almost immediately, making their way not to the Temple directly, but instead towards the east of it, knowing it would be the easiest way.

In the distance, a brooding structure of stone came into view. It's edifice carved from mystery, and from it spewing dozens upon dozens of bone white skeletons sheathed in armor.

 

[Serafina]

The ground beneath one squadron exploded upwards in a fountain of earth sending shattered bones flying in different directions. Amongst another group lightning suddenly arced from the sky and smashed into the ground charring troops until they were nothing but ash.

The dead marched on but there were panicked shouts from those living who commanded them. They pointed vaguely to the North and the direction of the town. Arrows flew from the white walls of the Necromancer's temple towards a single spot but seemed to hit a shimmering wave of heat and disintegrated into dust.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Why."

He asked himself quietly.

"Why does nobody ever fucking listen." It did not take a genius, hell, it did not take even half-wit to understand what had just happened before his eyes. Even the most foolish of his band could have said where that blast came from.

"Because you set a poor example."

It was Einar who said the words, though Maria's face split into a smile.

Both of them hadn't known, but they had enough brains to guess what had happened. Just like Solgrin did. The Bandit chief let out a loud exasperated sigh, turning to his two companions with a growl. "Maria, find her and make sure she doesn't get herself killed."

His voice left little to argue with.

"Einar, we go in." Solgrin wouldn't waste the opportunity, knew that it was their only chance. He just hoped it didn't cost them too much.

 

[Serafina]

Sera let the magic vanish as she quickly turned to duck behind a large boulder. Arrows whizzed past, some burying themselves into the dirt and others into tiny cracks within the rock. Despite how close she had come to death a grin split her face in two. She was winning! And the armies hadn't managed to get near their gates. Every attempt to leave had been foiled by one of Sera's explosions.

She used the momentary lull to take a swig out of her water canister and splash some on her face. There was no tiredness like she had expected from this amount of magic. If anything the desire to use it more just seemed to grow. Even now it was hard to force herself to take a break. She just wanted to lose herself in the feeling the magic gave her.

Rolling her shoulders she stood and turned and started the next series of violent earth shattering blasts.

 

[Solgrin]

He wouldn't admit it to her face, mostly because he was pretty sure the next time he saw her there would be a lot of yelling, but Serafina's magic was doing wonders as a distraction.

Not a single eye fell on them as they skirted east and around the temple.

No sign of watchmen. no undead, nothing at all that might rear it's head as a threat. Einar and Sol moved through the patches of grass like ghosts, darting through until they reached the expansive banks of the walls. He rushed toward it first, crashing against the hard stone.

Fingers laced together.

Einar moved immediately, using Sol's hands as a jumping off point and climbing the wall.

Seconds later his hand extended down, and then the two rushed inside the temple. Moving like skulking thieves as explosion after explosion rang out.

 

[Serafina]

"Sera!"

Serafina jumped at the sound of the voice behind her causing one of her strikes to deviate several yards to the left. The result was the explosion of an entire outbuilding and she grimaced at the sound of screams in the air. She'd been attempting to avoid the buildings themselves in case there were innocent people inside forced to stay and work for the monsters who ran it.

"Maria what are you doing here? You could have gotten hurt," she motioned to the carnage before them. It wouldn't have taken much for her concentration and fear to have turned one of those strikes on a person sneaking up on her. The other bandit grimaced in understanding.

"Sol's.... pissed. This wasn't the plan."

"Yeah, well, his plan was stupid," Sera bit off angrily and used that simmering rage to destroy another battalion of skeletons.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin and Einar moved through the temple as quickly as they could.

It quickly became evident that Sera's little attack had the opposite effect of what she had hoped. Yes, the skeletons were dying, and yes the Necromancers did not make it to the village. But the bastards were a cautious lot.

Instead of striking out, trying to stop whatever was going on or breaking through. The scags had decided to retreat back behind their walls and into the Temple proper. Deciding that their thralls could take care of the problem and allowing them safety.

A fact which became evident as the two Bandits made their way inside.

"What is happening, Lector?"​

A voice burst from around one of the corners.

"I do not know, Diathel, but we are sending the bloodhounds to sniff out this new magic. It is likely those meddling within the town."​

For a brief moments silence reigned, then the first voice again.

"See it taken care of. Keep to the Temple until the hounds take are of the problem. We are too close to the resurrection to lose anyone."​

Fuck. Solgrin cursed quietly, looking at Einar. His face telling the fact that there would be no retreat for them. Not when they were already inside.

 

[Serafina]

"Sera, you're going to burn yourself out - just stop!" Maria grabbed her arm and jerked her away from the view of the city below. Sera blinked the colours that danced across her vision away and forced herself to focus instead on her friends face. The other woman was a good few inches taller than her which meant she had to tilt her head and that made her slightly dizzy.

"I'm not. It feels so good," she attempted to wrench her arm free but the other woman dug her fingers in tighter.

"I've seen it before. Just stop. Breathe for a moment child!"

The sudden sound of a horn had them both turning back towards the city.