Chapter 1-14: New Acquaintances (2/2)

“<You have three Domains.>” I was not surprised the Cleric could feel all of them. He rose to his feet. “<Whom do you serve?>” I obviously didn’t have a Symbol showing.

“The Souls caught in the Shroud.” He blinked in shock. “I was drafted. Don’t blame me.”

His expression was interesting, caught between disbelief and a smile. “<The powers of the divine are strange. How can they grant you spells?>” he had to press.

“They are stealing the faith caught by the Shroud from those beneath it.” He blinked again. “Obvious, right?”

He and Sir Pellier looked somewhere between outraged and remorseful. Helix just looked intrigued.

“<That... is very strange. Stealing faith and prayers already stolen from the gods...>” His dark eyes flashed white again. “<It makes the Shroud even more detestable, doesn’t it?>”

“<Amen,>” agreed Sir Pellier, and even Helix had to nod.

“If it is acceptable to you, Father, I’d like to borrow one of those cots to Meditate on, recover my Valences, and wait until my Dusk Renewal.” My smile kind of dribbled away at all their expressions. “Not my choice, either.”

“” he allowed grandly, giving me a shooing gesture. I hopped off the Disk, feeling much better. “<Do you have anyone to contact?>” he asked me.

I smiled sadly at the question. “If I did, they would have come for me,” I answered softly, and all their faces fell together. “Thank you all for your help.”

They all answered that it was unnecessary, as I picked out a cot without anyone nearby, and sat down on it cross-legged.

Focus. Remove all the distractions. Expand awareness out to the environment, touch the magic in the air, the ground... and the link to that dreadful darkness sticking and clawing at the Land.

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“Uruth!” Helix blurted out quietly as he was exiting the tent. The other two followed his gaze to where the young half-elfin was in a classic Meditative poise... and the lights were already gathering to her.

“That is a very impressive Draw,” murmured Father Bower. “It’s at least as good as yours, Helix.”

“I can feel that,” he murmured. “For someone who had just her Bloodline Awakened, she comes across as someone much, much harder...”

“If what she said is true, she’s a hard young woman. That is a lethal wound on her there, and make no mistake on it,” Father Bower told them quietly. “Someone has made a very dangerous enemy.”

“I’ve got to go report to the Captain about her. Keep an eye on her and make sure she’s not carrying around a ghost or demon or something for me, will you?” Helix smiled cheerfully, and both of the other men just shook their heads at him. He laughed and soared into the air exuberantly, heading back up the wall.

“What did you sense on her, Marvin?” Father Bower asked, as they watched the young Sorcerer fly away.

“She’s a Good soul, but there’s a Curse laying heavy on her. It’s not active, but it doesn’t want to leave her. That Shroudborn connection she has is what’s painting her eyes black; my touch returned them to silver for a moment, before they filled back in.” He hesitated, but forged ahead. “She’s got a hard, strong soul, Amos. You know what kids are like at her age; haven’t settled into any beliefs yet, trying shit out. Unless I’m half-blind, she’s as solid a Gold as I’ve ever seen, even if it’s not that bright.”

“Gold?” The Harsite glanced back into his closed tent. “I’d’ve thought her Green at best, the way she talks. How do you stay Gold with that kind of emotional trauma at her age?”

“Like I said, hard Gold. I got the distinct impression that she could watch the slaughter and horrid deaths of everyone here and it wouldn’t change her beliefs an iota.”

The Cleric sucked in a breath. “That is indeed very hard, Marvin.”

The Paladin clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ve got to rest for the night shift. I’ve a feeling that she’ll be wanting to go up there.”

---

Father Bower watched the Paladin go into his tent to rest, not envying the knight of Mithar at all.

Fearless and immune to charm spells, the elite Paladins and their ability to sense Evil made the perfect night guards for the Walls, but alas, there just weren’t enough of them around who would put up with doing guard duty.

Lesser men who pulled night duty had to be rotated out frequently. Even if they couldn’t understand what the spirits were saying, it could cause nightmares, and one of the things the Priests accompanying the units had to do every morning was gather the men and enact a Remove Fear Ritual, so that the men wouldn’t have nightmares after their shift.

The girl was going to go up on the wall? After escaping from the Shroudzone? For what possible purpose?

He thought about that, and then flicked his hand.

A pale white, cone-shaped Dart appeared above his hand. It was a basic orison, a defense against the undead if no better weapon was available.

He had never seen ones that were black, limned in silver, and seething with Banefire, holy fire, and whatever that white fire had been. Those little Darts had looked formidable...