The mirror again shifted and
swirled in the way it did two nights previous, Annice stared into it with anxious
anticipation, like a child knowing they were about to be scolded. Her heart leapt
once the mirror shifted one last time and the visage dissolved into the face of
Nim, and once the woman’s face was clear Annice’s heart sank. The gnomish woman
looked a mess, eyes deep and surrounded by dark bags, lines creasing the face,
stained wet with fresh tears. Annice’s brow furrowed as she stared into red eyes,
but Nim was smiling.
“Oh child, I am so happy to see
you!” Nim called into the mirror, and Annice watched as the weight of worry
vanished from the woman. “Are you safe? Where are you?”
“I’m safe Nim, I’m safe.” Annice said
soothingly. “I’m at an inn in Boughbrook. I’m perfectly safe.” It wasn’t… a lie…
per say.
“Boughbrook?” Nim’s face contorted
into concern, and then realization. “Tell me that brute of a man didn’t march
you through Lost Road!” She called out, shock in her face.
“Yes we took the Lo-He’s not a
brute!” Annice called, frowning deeply. “He didn’t even want to take the road,
we had no choice!” Annice added defensively.
“Oh I’m sure there was a choice.”
Nim said, a bit of acid in her voice. “First bandits, then ogres… That man will
be the death of you!” She called.
“And my death will be Syrene’s
will.” Annice snapped back, reminding Nim that she was on a Holy Quest. Nim’s lips
pursed at this and her eyes narrowed, but the old woman took a breath and
calmed herself.
“If Syrene be with you, she will
keep you safe.” She stated with a nod.
“And Syrene is with me, High Priestess,
she has to be.” Annice stated, though a bit pleadingly. Nim’s lips were still
pursed and set into a frown, but her eyes lightened.
“Has she made herself known to you in
your journey?” Nim asked.
“I don’t know.” Annice slumped onto
the desk, resting her head on one arm and holding the mirror slant ways. “I
thought I heard her again… but it might have just been a memory.” She sighed. “I
do feel like I’m being watched all the time.” She said, frustration in her
voice. “Oh Nim, I’m so confused.” She said, burying her face into the back of
her wrist.
“Watching you?” Nim asked, leaning
in to the mirror to peer at the half-elf. “Why do you feel this way?”
“I don’t know.” Annice said,
raising her face to rest her chin on the back of her palm, no longer looking at
the mirror, instead staring into space ahead of her. “I dreamed of green eyes
the other night.”
“Green eyes.” Nim said wistfully. “Interesting.”
“What, what’s interesting?” Annice
turned her head back to the mirror, but found no face in the glass, instead she
was staring at the wooden lattice of the ceiling. Annice’s face twisted in
confusion. “Nim?”
“Yes child I’m here!” The voice
came from the distance. “I’m just searching for a book…”
“Oh… Okay.” Annice said, trying to
angle the mirror which to her frustration did not change her vantage. “Why?”
“Nothing to fret about, child.” Nim’s
voice was closer, the mirror lifted and Annice could see the woman again, a
fairly large tome tucked under her shoulder. “Now, I have some research to do,
you get some rest, you look positively exhausted.” She smiled softly.
“Nim!” Annice called out, an expression
of utter shock and betrayal on her face.
“I cannot help you with information
I do not have. Bed. Now.” She stated sternly. Annice was the one to purse her
lips now, but she wasn’t about to argue with the woman.
“Yes High Priestess, good night.” Annice
said.
“Syrene’s Love be with you, Annice.”
Nim responded, the two shared a smile, an honest one, and the mirror faded back
to Annice’s face.
Annice felt no closer to any
answers and in fact felt that she had only created more questions. The half-elf
stood and paced the room for several minutes. Her mind raced with all the
uncertainty she had within herself, the question as to whether Syrene was happy
with her, the Goddess had to be, right? Otherwise why would the Cleric still be
granted her spells? But if Syrene wasn’t upset, why did the blessing of the land
not work that first night? Why did they encounter all three of those Ogres and
just barely escape the female? What in all the good in the realm was Nim studying!
Annice collapsed face first onto her bed and shouted into the bedding. Crawling
into the bed she emboldened herself, strengthened her resolved, and made the willful
decision to bin it all, and get some sleep. Rolling into her side she let out a
sigh, and waved her hand through the air, the candle light suddenly snuffed at
her magic and plunging her into darkness. Sleep would come, and she would once
again see the green eyes, they gave off a radiant light that threatened to
consume Annice, the eyes peered into the Half-Elf, into her soul.
Annice came to a start in the bed, flailing
in a fit as she bolted up in bed. This was the first time she had ever been
awoken by a roosters call, and she did not enjoy the experience. She groaned, and
fell back into the bed, intending on going back to sleep. It had been days
since she slept in a read bed and she planned to enjoy the experience, but that
accursed bird didn’t shut up. Annice pinched her head between hands and pillow,
trying to muffle the crowing, but relented and gave up her plans to sleep when a
knock at her door joined the noise. She sighed and got up, heading straight to
the door, it was Wilhelm.
“Breakfast in a half. Get yerself
ready, wear your bracers under your robe and strap the club to your hip as
opposed to your back.” The man was bright eyed and well put together, obviously
having been awake for some time. Annice hated him a little at that moment.
“Mmmrng.” She said in response, Wilhelm
quirked a brow.
“You okay? You looked more disheveled
than when we was sleepin in the dirt.” He asked, peering up and down at the
woman. Her hair was wild and she seemed unable to keep herself up, leaning into
her door.
“Thanks Wilhelm.” She said flatly, glaring
at the man. “I’ll be ready, thank you. Why at my hip?” She asked, parsing out
what he asked of her as she was speaking.”
“More casual, not sneaky, lets
people know yer armed.” He stated, leaning into the doorframe. “Also when your
prayin, any healin magic you can ask fer, and maybe a couple spells that actually
do some damage.” This seemed to wake Annice up.
“I… uh…” She stammered. “There
gonna be a fight?” She blinked a few times, eying the man.
“Hope not, but Rikkard is takin me
on a boar hunt today, think he’s gonna try and get me to sign on with the
Supremacy, he was bein real coy about it last night, clearly gauging me. Now he
takes me out on huntin, gives me the real deal of what his little groups about,
and asks if I want in. I say yes, we eat like kings that night, I say no, well…
the tragic end of Wilhelm the Unyielding, gored by a boar.” He shrugged. “I
wanna be prepared.”
“Spells that do damage?” She asked
sheepishly.
“Yeah, holy fire, divine strikes of
lightning, wrath oh the gods shit.” He stated, but noted her hesitance. He
sighed. “Or spells that will make me fight like a Hill Giant and them like a pack
of kobolds in the sun, just something that gives us the edge, yeah?”
“Yeah.” She nodded, and moved to
close the door. Wilhelm gave her an awkward glance, clearly not realizing he
may have crossed a line asking that of her, before moving back towards his
room.
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