Bound - NaNoWriMo2020 11/13

                 The next few hours of the journey were a tense affair, both women constantly checking over their shoulder and staring into the fields for a distance black spot. The Hellhound didn’t appear again, however, and they marched forward. Eventually they came to a split in the road, one path continuing the main thoroughfare, moving down south towards the Elven Kingdom of Thresh’nal. That was not the path they would take. They would be taking the fork, on a road that was barely a road, more a wide walking path. In the distance the grassy plains gave way to trees that slowly grew in density until a forest dominated the land. They gave each other a glance and moved forward.

                The forest did not provide the travelers with any comfort, now surrounded by coverage that could hide any manner of attack, they shuffled forward anxiously as the foliage ahead slowly swallowed the mid day sun. Kassadi lifted her hand and swayed it through the air leaving six glowing orbs in the wake. The orbs provided light to them, and it eased their worry somewhat, now able to see through the false dusk of the forest. Two orbs lit their path ahead, the remaining four flanking the women at just above head height. Madrona bit her tongue on the fact that while the light did chase away the darkness they also acted as beacon to them, but Kassadi was a human and did not possess the Inferni ability to see in the dark.

The sounds of the forest caused Kassadi and Madrona both to jump with a startle on more than one occasion, though Kassadi more often. The Wizard was animated and full of nervous energy, Madrona did her best to keep her fear bottled, having no use for it. Though one particularly embarrassing moment came when she placed her hand on a tree that had overgrown into the path to duck under it’s branches and a small green gecko crawled along her digits. She yelped, Kassadi said she shrieked, but it was a yelp! It was a moment that eased some of the tension as Kassadi giggled and snorted, and Madrona tried her best not to smile at her own foolishness.

“How much further is it?” Madrona asked eventually, feeling an ache in her feet that she had been desperate to ignore up until now.

“Shouldn’t be much further.” Kassadi replied. “I can’t exactly see the sun through the treetops so I don’t know exactly what time it is, but we’ve been walking a couple hours now.” She huffed and leaned against a tree, her own weariness starting to take over.

“This Travlona, she’ll let us spend the night? I want walls around us before we sleep for the night.” Madrona asked.

“Maybe?” Kassadi was non-committal even in her non-committal. “She was pleasant enough last time I was here, but then sometimes, with some people, seems like they really really wanna see me go.” She bit her lip, contemplating.

“You have a very strong personality.” Madrona stated flatly.

“What does that mean?” Kassadi turned, glancing at Madrona with hurt in her eyes.

“I mean you have a lot of energy, it can be exhausting for people with… less.” Madrona shrugged.

“So it’s not that they don’t like me?” Kassadi was pouting now. Madrona stared for a moment.

“No, I’m sure they don’t dislike you.” Was all Madrona could manage.

“What about you, Madrona? Do you like me?” Kassadi asked, a bit more chipper.

“I don’t like anyone.” Madrona said calmly.

“Woof, why not?” Kassadi seemed genuinely interested.

“No one’s ever given me a reason to like them, and most give me a reason to not.” Madrona’s words were cold but lacked any bitterness, seemed to be a simple truth she’s accepted.

“Welp, guess that means I gotta find a reason!” She smiled as she spoke, nodding as if she had just made the agreement with herself.

“That’s really not necessary, Kassadi. You’re a fine person,” Madrona began. “But when this is all over and we can be more than fifty feet from each other I think that is when we’ll part ways.”

“Aww.” Kassadi bemoaned, seeming honestly disappointed. “That’s sad.”

“I don’t think so, Kassadi. I may not like people, but people tend to also not like me.” She said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

“I mean.” Kassadi said. “I like you just fine.” She stopped and turned to the Inferni.

                Madrona would have said something else but she spotted something in the clearing that grabbed at her attention. A clearing! More than that the road became cobblestone! She pointed it to Kassadi and the two rushed forward. They came upon the clearing, upon the stone pathway, and found themselves about 100 feet off from a massive manor. The domicile looked both refined and incredibly foreboding. An ancient home that has weathered the ages as best it could, with the help of it’s inhabitants, well maintained but still showing it’s vast lineage. The two of the women felt a great weight lift from them, and Kassadi bull rushed Madrona, grabbing the Inferni woman into a large and aggressive hug. Madrona struggled.

“Ack!” Kassadi!” She shouted to the woman, arms pinned to her side from the surprisingly efficient bear hug Kassadi was currently sharing. The Wizard was too busy hooting and hollering in celebration to hear the protests.

“We did it we did it! Yay! Madrona look we did it! We’re so badass we faced down a Hellhound and lived to tell the ta-Oop.” Kassadi stopped as she finally realized that Madrona’s normal scarlet skin had gained a shade of purple due to the difficulty she found drawing breath. Kassadi released Madrona, who gasped. “Sorry.” She said with a chuckle.

“It’s…” Madrona said, drawing breath. “Fine.” She leaned slightly, and took an unconscious step away from the Wizard. “Lets just get through this.”

                The two walked up the pathway to the front door. Madrona noted there seemed to be no grounds keeper, gardener, or any sort of hired help visible from the outside. Seemed strange since the land around the manor was clearly maintained. She shrugged at this, perhaps they had all finished their daily tasks. The two approached the door and Kassadi knocked, taking the doorknocker and giving it three resounding raps against the wood. They waited a moment, two, three… Kassadi gave three more, more firm this time. After another minute of waiting Kassadi took the knocker and smacked it against the door over and over. Madrona reached over and grabbed the Wizard’s wrist instigating a small struggle between them and that is when the door opened. A large man, significant in his largeness, opened the door to find two women wrapped in each other’s arms and shouting obscenities at each other in various languages. He tilted his head.

“Yes?” The voice was booming even as he whispered at them, a soft rasp in his voice.

“Oh.” Kassadi said, peering over Madrona’s scalp, one of her horns poking her cheek. “Hey Gild, I’m uh.. I’m back to see Travlona again?”

“Do you have an appointment?” The man boomed in a whisper. As Madrona was able to detangle herself from Kassadi she noted that he was Giant-Kin, seven feet tall and skin like carved marble, what were they called again? Jotun, a people created by the Giants. They were known for their size and their skin like smoothed stone, some were onyx, amber, or even jade. He was wearing a tailored black suit that even still looked ready to burst off of him with one tense of a muscle.

“Uh… Nope!” Kassadi stated. “Just like last time I kinda just decided to show up…” She grinned widely at the man and added with frustration. “Cause you never told me how to call ahead, Gild.”

“Mmmm.” The giant-kin stared down at the wizard, narrowing his eyes. “I will ask the Mistress. Wait here.” He turned and slammed the door, Madrona wondered if he was capable of not slamming the door with his size.

“What was that?” Madrona hissed, turning to Kassadi.

“What?” Kassadi cried out. “You grabbed my hand!”

“Cause you were being obnoxious!”

“It’s a big house I wanted to make sure they could hear us!” She stomped her foot and frowned. “And your horn is pointy.” She began rubbing her cheek. Madrona rolled her eyes.

                They were eventually granted access to the house. Gild showed them to the parlor, told them to sit, and not go anywhere. The inside, Madrona marveled, was exquisite. Tapestries of red and purple adorned every wall and surrounded large paintings, all of which depicted scenes of the same woman. Sometimes it was a simple portrait of her, raven black hair straight and pulled into a tight braid that encircled her head like a crown, a hawk nose and copper skin with sharp piercing eyes that seemed to demand you revel in her beauty. Other paintings depicted the woman in battle, covered in gleaming dark metal bracers and a flowing robe of sheer fabric that left nothing to the imagination. Power, every painting screamed power. The one above the lit fireplace had her in her battle regalia, sitting upon a throne, black banners draped against stone walls behind her, hand outstretched as if inviting you to look upon her splendor, and demanding that you worship it. Madrona decided this woman was her personal hero in that moment.

“Hello, Ms. Weaver.” Came a voice that broke Madrona from her admirations. The voice was high and it carried that aura of self-importance that some people tended to speak with. It made Madrona’s skin crawl. Madrona turned her gaze to an Elvish woman with strawberry blond hair, high cheekbones, and a look face that seemed like it never didn’t have an expression of mild disgust on it. She was in evening wear, a simple red gown that flowed down her form as she walked. She entered the parlor and took a seat next to the fire.

“Hi Ms. Travlona!” Kassadi said. “Sorry for showing up so late in the day but it’s kind of an emergency.

“I’m sure it is. And why might I ask have you brought into my house a fiend?” She asked, eyes snapping to Madrona. Madrona felt her blood boil.

“Uh, actually she’s Inferni?” Madrona corrected gently.

“I know what she is.” Travlona snapped, glancing at Kassadi now. “Why is she, and yourself, in my home?” Kassadi swallowed hard.

“Well,” The wizard began. “We went into the maze-“

“The Passionis Vault.” Travlona interrupted, correcting Kassadi with the Labyrinths given name.

“Yeah that.” Kassadi said awkwardly. “Anyway me and Madrona,” Kassadi gestured to Madrona as she spoke. “Met down there. We managed to find a chest and some Magic Items, they seem to have been cursed? And now we can’t be more than fifty feet from each other. We don’t know if we can find a Cleric to see if they can help, and probably can’t afford it if we do. So we were wondering if maybe since you’re the expert you could help us get them off?” Kassadi grinned widely, Travlona was steepling her fingers together staring at Kassadi unamused.

“What magic items?” Was her only response.

“Oh these.” Kassadi lifted her arm, flashing the bracelet. She glanced back at Madrona, gesturing for her to do the same. As Kassadi turned however, Madrona watched Travlona’s eyes widen. Just for a second, before the expression of mild disgust Madrona hated so much returned. Kassadi gestured again, and Madrona showed her bracelet.

“Well.” Travlona stated. “They seem like baubles to me, I assume you already ran a magical detection spell on them?”

“Yeah. Bracelets of Spell Empowering. Should just make our spells beefier. Wasn’t expecting a leash on my arm.” Kassadi frowned.

“Well Valel was known for her sense of humor.” Travlona grew a malicious smirk across her face. “I can tell you how to remove them.”

“You can?” Madrona said, a brow raised.

“Yes, simply remove the hand. Then the bracelet will slip easily off the stump.” Her smirk now bared teeth as she glanced between the women. Kassadi shuffled uncomfortably.

“Yeeeah.” She spoke up. “We were kinda hoping for a way that let us, um, keep our fingers?” She lifted her hand and wiggled her fingers.

“If you insist.” Travlona shrugged and leaned back into her chair. “I will look into it for you Ms. Weaver. But the day done and I will not be doing so tonight. In the morning I will see what I have in the archive, perhaps a command word or the like could be dug up. You may stay here for the night.”

“Yeah, even the fiend?” Madrona said sharply. Travlona’s eyes snapped to her, but Madrona met the gaze with no fear.

“Yes Ms. Daee, even yourself.” Travlona stood and left the parlor. Madrona stared at her as she left, a sneer etched across her features.

"How did that woman know my name?" She asked.