Chapter 656: Treasure Island (1/2)

Chapter 656 Treasure Island

“You know Hallowfort?” Ilea asked. Maybe not wise to admit that I do know it too, she thought, having found herself too surprised to not ask.

Kyrian sat down opposite Verena, as far away at the table from Pierce as he could. He nodded at the quiet Elder.

She nodded back.

“Think you’re the only one who ever went north? Most die in the storms or to the Miststalkers, but once you understand the dangers, it’s quite a lovely place,” Pierce said.

“It is. I quite enjoy the storms to be honest,” Ilea said.

Pierce smiled. “Me too! Well I’m a little privileged with my magic. But I suppose with your power, you can just ignore them anyway. Makes me shiver, just to feel your presence. I’m so glad you’re not some stuck up asshole,” she said with a smile. “Are you attracted to women?”

Ilea gave her a long look, choosing not to reply to that question for the time being. She wasn’t necessarily not interested, but the Elder came off extremely strong. And she seemed a tad too chaotic. Not in this house. Nothing would be left.

“So you are. Well, I’m here. Just let me know. You came here with long range teleportation? That’s so lucky. I haven’t gotten anything like that yet. Can’t believe both you and Verena got that first. I worked so hard on my teleports too!” Pierce said.

Ilea gave the other Elder a look.

“Highly limited. I’m interested in your current objectives too. Maybe we can be of service. I want to see you fight,” Verena said.

“I see. You mentioned Hallowfort?” Ilea said, trying to veer the conversation back.

“Yes. Lovely place. It’s been… a long while. I sometimes think of Catelyn… ah… that creature had a way with fire,” she said.

Ilea opened her eyes a little wider. No. Please don’t.

“Descent was a little too dangerous so I let that one be. But there are lots of dangerous dungeons up in the north. Ancient ruins and all. Did you know there were once humans who lived there?” Pierce asked. “Freaked me out when I found out. As if everything we were taught was a lie! Inferior species my ass, we were far more powerful then. Doesn’t matter much anyway. I love the expression on an Elf or Feynor’s face when they realize I’m not the pushover they thought me to be,” she added, licking her lips.

“You do remind me of Elves. Just missing the hisses,” Ilea said, getting a look from Verena.

Pierce giggled before she hissed, lightning cracking around her. “Ah, I wish I could convince one of them at some point. But all they want to do is fight fight fight, kill, and eat.”

Ilea was confused for a moment before she smiled to herself.

“NO!” Pierce said and stood up. “No you didn’t!”

Ilea didn’t say a thing, avoiding eye contact as she glanced at Verena, the woman slightly squinting at her.

“You are on our side, I hope?” Verena asked. “You are still a Shadow, and I have seen your Sentinels, know what they stand for.”

“Of course,” Ilea said.

“Difficult that. Convincing someone to work with Elves,” Verena said. “I never tried. But I only met a few Hunters myself. Never friendly.”

Pierce dug her hands into her hair as she sat down again, her whole form sinking into the chair as she seemed smaller yet again. “You win… on all fronts… Lilith, Lilith, Lilith.”

Ilea used reconstruction on the poor woman.

She glanced up immediately, her eyes wide. “Ah… it’s you. Pleasant. Arcane healing. How rare. What was that healing order called, Verena?”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Verena said, looking between them.

“Something with rin. Rin rin. Balarin? No. Corinth?” Pierce said.

“Azarinth?” Ilea suggested.

Pierce smiled. “Yes! That’s the one. Maybe.”

“You met one of them? What do you know about the Order?” Ilea asked.

Pierce looked up, lost in thought for a moment. “Foundation. I think I read about them there. Ah and I found one of their temples at one point. Their blue elixir grass too, but hey, it was too late for me to eat random and dangerous elixirs. Who would do that anyway, half of them kill you instantly,” she said and laughed.

Ilea smiled a wry smile.

Pierce looked at her and laughed even harder. “Hah, you damn idiot. No wonder you’re so strong. Half a brain means half the fear, I say!”

“I didn’t have a choice,” Ilea said.

“You always have a choice. We just don’t like the other option,” Pierce said, her voice more serious.

“Do you remember where the temple was?” Ilea asked.

“No. But I destroyed the elixir, if that’s why you’re asking. Just creates trouble,” she said. “So you stumbled into a temple and got the Class. At least it was good for something then. Hope you didn’t share it around.”

“Just one girl. She survived too, luckily,” Ilea admitted.

“Good. So what are you up to?” Pierce asked.

Ilea looked at Kyrian, and then the two women. Both were intently focused on her. What the fuck should I tell them? They broke into my house.

“What did you say your name was again?” she asked instead.

“Dragonkiller. To be. I haven’t yet been successful, sadly. They’re… quite something,” she said and laughed.

Verena just rolled her eyes.

“You two are Elders, are you sure you should be sitting here with me? I’m sure you have more important business to attend to,” Ilea said. Or so I would hope, but I suppose it’s better than summoning demons into Ravenhall. They’re adventurers that fit very well into the Shadow’s Hand, that much is true.

She looked at them, waiting for an answer.

“She’s deflecting,” Dragonkiller said.

“She is,” Verena added.

And you have no right to ask anything of me, Ilea thought. They are Elders of the Hand. Hmm. Adventurers at that. Maybe I can get their voices on my side.

“Which means you’re not just wasting your time. You have a purpose, a mission. Some grand quest perhaps? Come on, out with it, we’re all adventurers here!” Pierce said.

“You put in Claire. We have no responsibilities other than killing monsters. Not anymore. Thank you for that,” Verena said.

Ilea wasn’t sure if the woman was annoyed or grateful.

“Pretty much. Adam the idiot betrayed us and left, Lucas is who the fuck knows where in the north, Urn is dead, and now we have a council and independence. Sulivhaan and Claire got more done in a few years than the previous Elders did in centuries. No offense, Verena,” Pierce said.

Verena shrugged. “I just managed the Order.”

“I always thought the Shadow’s Hand would’ve done a better job handling Ravenhall. But now you have a bunch of laws and the Shadowguard anyway. Disappointing really. Could’ve been the first truly free place for people like us,” Pierce said and shook her head lightly. “Never mind, tell us. Either you tell us or I destroy your lovely house here.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Ilea asked, heat gathering within her.

“Ah, see, now it’s getting exciting,” Pierce said. “Come on, spill it,” she added and hit the table with both her fists, a broad grin on her face.

“I’ll rip out your limbs and feed them to you if you so much as break that table,” Ilea said calmly.

Pierce just waved her off. “Empty threats. We both know a lack of pain makes that barely worth a mention. And I’ll have at least a moment to wreck this place before you kill me!”

“Are you sure about that?” Ilea asked with a smirk.

“Ask Claire to vouch for us,” Verena interrupted.

“You’re so boring today. It’s very unlike you, Verena,” Pierce said, deflating onto her hands.

“I’m actually interested. And your threats push her away. You’ve been rude from the start,” the other Elder said.

“Fine,” Pierce added.

“Got Pierce and Verena here. Can I trust them?” Ilea sent to Claire.

“I’m sorry. Yes. Shadows to the bone. Talked to both,” came the answer.

“Alright, I suppose I can trust you. To an extent. For now I’ll tell you that I’m looking for treasure. Not to get it yet but to scout out the locations,” Ilea said.

“A treasure hunt in ancient dungeons, protected by… a dragon perhaps?” Pierce asked with a smirk. “That sounds interesting enough, let’s join Verena.”

“We know the lands well, have fought many beings. We can guide you, or help you into cities and vaults,” Verena said. “If that sounds acceptable.”

“Sure, but again, why exactly do you want to help?” Ilea asked.

“Missed you the last few times I came back,” Verena said and shrugged.

“We’ve fought plenty. If we die, we die,” Pierce said. “Now let’s go. I haven’t killed anything in ages.”

“Didn’t you kill that deer?” Ilea asked.

“Ages I tell you,” Pierce added and stood up. “You coming too?” she asked Kyrian.