Bound - NaNoWriMo2020 11/18

                 Miragg was not pleased, that was clear. The Devil was absolutely livid at the audacity. The scorl on his face could melt steel, and Kassadi just smiled at him. It was a cocky smile, to be fair, but not ungenuine. She tilted her head, taking the creature before her in and sizing him up. This did little to soothe Miragg’s disposition. His eyes flared with roaring flames and he outstretched his clawed hand, a finger curled in Kassadi’s direction. Wings suddenly appeared unfurling from his back where none had been, large and bat-like with a crimson colored webbing. His fangs seemed to grow and his entire body radiated a heat.

“You dare, mortal filth!” His voice was rasped and harsh, more of a threatening growl than words at all.

“I do!” Kassadi shouted. She was grimacing, his words hurt her ears to hear, an actual physical pain. Her hand was shaking but she didn’t back down. “You don’t scare me, big man! I don’t appreciate you trying to get Madrona to steal my spells like that! We were just starting to get along!” Madrona stood up and pushed Kassadi back.

“Leave!” She shouted to the devil, before turning back to Kassadi. “Kassadi just leave it.”

“You’re less fun with her around.” Miragg said. He adjusted his collar, still sneering at the Wizard. He turned away, and before he was fully away… he was gone.

                The two Goblins shared a glance, even Lidya now wondering what her generosity may have gotten them all into. The tense moment was allowed to pass and eventually Madrona relayed all of the information that Miragg had given her. Kassadi tapped her chin thinking the information over, then shrugging revealing she had nada. Lidya and Dulav were much the same.

“Well then we’re still at square one.” Madrona sighed, slumping forward in her stool.

“Yep.” Kassadi stated taking the opposite approach and leaning back into the couch. She glanced to Dulav. “Hey could I trouble you with something?”

“What’s one more thing?” Dulav said, a little too bitterly. Lidya shot him a glance and he sighed. “Yes what is it?”

“This.” Kassadi lifted her wrist, displaying the gold bangle. “The only reason we even went to Travlona was to see if she knew what was up with these cursed bracelets we got. You wouldn’t happen to know how to remove curses?”

“Removing a curse is… Difficult.” Dulav started. “I do have the ability to detect curses, we can start there. Once I know what afflicts you we may proceed possible future steps. Place your hand here.”

“You too, Madrona.” Kassadi said as she leaned in, stretching her arm over Lidya’s sitting room table. Madrona followed suit.

                Dulav stood from his seat, reaching back and taking up his staff from against the wall he had leaned it against. Gripping the stick he raised his free hand over the two bangles. He started a chant and called to the Mother Earth and Father Land, drawing his Druidic magic over the bands. A vibrant green energy encircled the women’s at the wrist, swirling around and through the gold. A moment later in an instant, the light vanished. Dulav stared at the two women with confusion in his eyes, he shook his head.

“There is no curse upon these items.” He said.

“What?” Kassadi shouted, exhasperated.

“That can’t be.” Madrona said, furrowing her brow. “We can’t walk more than fifty feet from each other, some sort of invisible tether links us ever since we put these things on.”

“And we can’t take them off!” Kassadi added, throwing her hands in the air. “Classic cursed magic item stuff!”

“I understand your perspective.” Dulav began. “But I can assure you I am quite skilled at detecting unnatural forces abound. And aside from the tinge of the Arcane imbued into the metal… Nothing unnatural exists in the bands.”

                Kassadi rubbed her temples, clearly frustrated, and began pacing the room. Madrona reached out to the woman, trying to alert her but it was too late, Kassadi cracked her head against a low hanging support. She clutched her forehead and wined, gritting her teeth and letting out a growl.

“Ooooow!” She hissed. “Frick, ow! This is so stupid!” She stomped her foot. “Everything we try just leads us to more questions and no answers! Well, one answer, Madrona’s a Warlock. Still processing that, though!” She threw her hands up with exaggerated siplays of angst and bewilderment.

“Kassadi calm down, this isn’t helping!” Madrona said.

“Nothing is, that’s the problem.” Kassadi slumped, dropping forward.

“You’re welcome to spend the night here, ladies.” Lidya said, a concerned look on her face. “You’re not gonna get anywhere ranting and raving like this. Take a rest and get your bearings back. The guest beds are a little small for your folk, but I can attest to them being soft and comfortable.”

“We can’t.” Madrona turned her head to Lidya, a slightly pained expression on her face. “There’s a Hellhound after us, it’s only a matter of time before it catches back on to our scent. If we’re here when it does, your village and all of it’s people will be in danger.”

“The friend will not find you here.” Dulav stated firmly. “Your Devil was allowed admittance here because you were. You are linked for as long as your contract with him binds you. The hound, however? He has no link, a summoned creature from the Hells. And this, this land is my charge. You will be masked.”

“Thank you.” Madrona said, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’ve been far too kind.”

“We have.” Dulav said, Lidya swatted at his arm, but he paid her no mind as he turned to leave. “If they are in need of me again Lidya, please let me know. Until then my garden needs tending.”

“Druids.” Lidya said, clicking her tongue. “Too attached to the land sometimes if you ask me, always lose some connection to it’s people.”

“He’s not wrong, though.” Kassadi said having seemingly calmed down from her little temper tantrum. Her forehead was red, however, from excessive rubbing after her bump. “He uh… Mentioned Maryl? That you were too kind?” Kassadi grimaced slightly, not really wanting to bring up the Goblins they had faced in the maze again, but she was also really curious.

“Yes.” Lidya said. She was staring at the teacup in her hands, Kassadi could tell she was doing so to avoid looking at anyone. She could tell this because the cup was empty.

“You don’t have to tell us.” Madrona assured her, stabbing a glance at Kassadi.

“No it’s fine.” Lidya said. “She was my failure. I don’t dwell in it, but it’s important to wear your failures, not hide them.” She finally looked up and there were tears in her eyes. “Maryl was my daughter. She was always a bit of a trouble maker, but no more than any child.” She cleared her throat, neither Kassadi or Madrona said anything.

“Everyone said I was too lenient with her, no discipline, no boundaries. Said she walked around like she owned the town, knowing that everyone would be too afraid to reprimand the village leader’s child.” Lidya shrugged. “I thought it was just an abundance of spirit, she would come into her own and become a remarkable woman. And she did… in her own way.” Lidya chanced a smile.

 “But it all went so sour about six years ago, the village up north… They started overfishing the river. Well, we are down stream, so suddenly our own fishers couldn’t make their catches. Maryl wanted to do something, wanted to go to that Village but she was much too aggressive about it. I was able to calm her down, decided to send a convoy up there to explain our plight… Our message went unheeded.” She paused. “They laughed at our request. I wasn’t deterred however, I decided we would shift our focus to hunting the woods and things were good again.” Lidya trailed off.

“then Travlona arrived, and suddenly the woods were off limits. Maryl wanted to attack the manor, kill the Witch and her statue man. I said no. I didn’t want to lose my people… Maryl had had enough of my attempts at an even hand. She screamed at me in the town square, told me I was a soft woman and a weak leader. She said that it was going to be the entire valley eventually would have their bootheel on us, and that we should do something about it.” Lidya glanced at the women before her.

“So she suggested we go to the Labyrinth, take it for our own and make it a fortress to stage a campaign of war from. I was aghast that my child would suggest such brutal methods… Others in the community were less so. They joined her that night. I begged them to stay but none would listen. Less goblins than needed to start an army, they ended up as simple bandits and thieves. I don’t know, perhaps if I had been more stern…”

                Kassadi and Madrona both looked at each other. Neither knew what could be said to ease this woman’s burden. Though they both figured she didn’t the burden gone.

“Sorry for…” Kassadi stopped, trying to find the words. “For what happened between us and them.”

“I may feel guilt over my failure to stop them from leaving, but they made their choice. I know what they have done since entering the Labyrinth. I can’t blame you for defending yourself.” Lidya cleared her throat, a little hoarse. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m not as young as I once was, I think I’ll be getting myself to bed. Guest room is up the stairs and to the left, please help yourself to a meal.”

“Thank you.” Madrona said.

“I mean it. That’s not an idle offer, go eat something, both of you. I doubt you’ve eaten since you woke this morning.” She pointed at the both of them, gave a gentle smile, and headed to her room.