Interlude The [Rower] and the [Bartender]

Interlude The [Rower] and the [Bartender]

(Trigger Warning. Click here for details.)

You should have taken my hand.

He heard it again. Again, and again as he fell.

Sinking into the depths. Something denser, deeper, darker than the waters engulfing him.

Things in the murk, tugging at him. Whispering.

On the Summer Solstice, Luan Khumalo met a stranger. He was offered a choice.

He refused.

The [Rower] from Earth, the Olympian, saw the flash of fire again. He heard his own voice, a scream. Burning followed by the cold embrace of liquid.

And darkness. Until only the voice remained.

A petulant ___, enacting vengeance. Luan struggled, but he was sinking deeper. And he was not alone.

Shadows circled him. They swam around his mouth, his nose, wriggling. Trying to get in. Speaking in tongues he could not hear. Frustrated, they dragged him further down.

This was death. He knew that. And death would be a kinder thing than being lost, consumed by the half-things, little reflections of what the man had been. They were the same. But where the stranger had beenintactthey were only fragments.

They terrified him, even so. So he did not breathe. For a little while, he waited to drown.

And then he realized he did not need to breathe. Because there was not only a lack of air here, there was a lack of need for it. Whatever surrounded him was made of the same thing as the Summer Solstice.

A time out of time. So he had hope. But he was still

falling

The further down he went, the stronger they became. They were trying to burrow under his skin. He struggled, keeping them away from him. But his motions faded. His limbs grew weak.

There was no point to his strength. The body he had built out of hard work, his knowledge, acquired over countless years of practice, his ambitions, levels, Skills, all of itwas worthless.

He was vanishing down here. They all were. Luan realized it. That was why they wanted him. This was oblivion for everything.

But he was vanishing so much faster than they were. Luan looked up and had not the strength to climb. There was not even a single shaft of sunlight.

Still, there was one last flash of color. Something followed him into the depths.

A flicker of gold.

He saw it shining as he stopped moving. His eyes fixed on the words. And there were only two.

Nandi, Lubanzi

Written on his arm. The man stared at it. And he remembered.

He had met her while training and dismissed her as someone who was chasing fame. After all, she had never so much as picked up a set of oars. She had no idea what sculling was, so he had thought she was disingenuous.

When they suggested joining him in kayaks, he had played along right until he lost his patience with his team flirting. He had set them onto a long trip, far longer than amateurs could handle.

Sure enough, everyone else had fallen away, giving up. But when hed looked back, there shed been. Determinedly paddling after him.

She followed him even here. He looked at her name. She would have jumped after him, like the time he had accidentally struck his head and been drowning, underwater, disoriented, having flipped over.

Two names. Dimly, the man heard a voice. It was his own. Coming to a slow conclusion.

I never got to hold my son before I left.

He hadnt known. If he hadhed been in the airport, heading back after an overseas training trip with his team. The South African hopefuls for the Olympics.

When he had come to the other world, hed forgotten them both. Forgotten, as if war or the shock of another world was an excuse.

Never again. Luan stared at the glowing, magical ink of the tattoo on his arm. Lubanzi.

He wasnt old enough to walk.

Somethingwhispered to him. Shadows tried to obscure the light. Give it all to us. Abandon this vessel.

No. The [Rower] moved. He flailed his arms. If he died here

I will never hear him speak.

He began to climb. Noswim. How long he had drifted in oblivion, he did not know. But as he began to struggle, this otherness began to recede.

Cold liquid surrounded him. Suddenly, he did need to breathe. He felt water, pressing in, terrifying in the actual darkness, but reassuring because it was real.

Still, the shadows tried to pull him back. Luan swam upwards, lungs bursting. Light. He needed

His world began to deteriorate again. Not because of the nothingness, but because of the real lack of oxygen. Luan realized he was deep underwater.

Deep. So far that while there was now the hint of light, it was so far above. Hundreds of feet. And he had no air.

He began to choke, swimming with all the strength in his arms. Bubbles passed him, but his limbs were leaden. An Olympian. The only one from Earthbut what use was that kind of ability without air?

Air. So sweet. Luan kicked his legs and couldnt bear the pressure in him anymore. He opened his mouth.

Saltwater entered his lungs. He began to choke. At the same time, his ascent was making him dizzy. Nauseous. He was

Flicker.

His consciousness shut off for a second. He had seconds left. He forced himself up another dozen feet. And then began to drown.

No. Not like this. Not

His desperate flailing had no sense anymore. Hed lost track of direction. Luans last thoughts were that he was letting the golden light down.

And then he heard a real voice in the darkness. Louder than the whispers. Louder than his fading thoughts. It whispered to him.

You are dying.

This was so. The man couldnt respond even if he wanted to. But suddenlyhe inhaled. And thought resumed.

Yet his lungs were still filled with water. He flailed, but somethingsoothed him. The voice, not quite words, continued. And he realized it was a single message.

You are dying. Accept salvation from the sea.

He realized something was on his face. Circling his throat. Piercing his skinbut the pain was a lesser thing.

Join us. Breathe the depths.

The [Rower] felt something moving across his face. Half his body. Something hadfound himas he was drowning.

He knew what this was. The last gift to the drowning [Sailor]. The choice presented to the lucky at sea, or made voluntarily.

The Gift of the Drowned Folk.

Something was on his face, his throat, acting as gills. Somecreaturewas trying to meld with him. Turning him into one of the Drowned Folk.

Half man, half sea creature.

Luan looked up towards the light. So far away. He began moving his arms and legs again as sense returned to his oxygen-deprived mind. He swam upwardsbut the voice grew insistent.

Dont move. He was causing the other distress and they had to be one thing.

Luan kept moving, ignoring the instinct to remain still. He felt pain. A shock as something suffered.

Stop!

If the connection failed, both would die. Luan would drown, certainly. Yetthe man kept moving. He felt the water in his lungs turning to death again. What was he doing?

Didnt he want to live?

The answer was yes. Yes, of course. But Luan kept swimming. He would have accepted any help rather than die. But a thought kept pressing at his head. Even nowthe gold spoke to him.

Nandi. And my son. I never got to hear him speak.

Stay. Live. Breathe the depths.

I want to. I want to live. But if I dohe will never know my face. Will he even recognize me?

And the voice had no answer to that. So Luan swam. Ignoring the pain. It was just pain. The voice was begging, pleading, now.

Join us.

No. I want to be me.

Rage, then. Suddenly, the thing disconnected from his throat. He caught the last thought as he began to choke again.

Then die.

Never.

Alone, the man swam higher. And the light was growing. He had been given a second chance. He felt hands dragging him below. They had followed him.

He swam higher, though his lungs had long emptied of air. Shadows clutched at him. They whispered in his ears, half-remembered words. Broken pleas.

I was your g

ship me

rememberplease

They would rather he drown than go without him. And they had a pull. Luan fought, but he could not swim and resist them at the same time.

He was beginning to despair when one of the half-remembered things whispered in his ears.

regretmy blessing

Luan did not know what it said. But suddenly the grip of the shadows abated. And he left them behind, kicking, rising. Then at last, finally

His head broke the surface of the dark waters. Luan vomited water, he coughed, drew breath. He breathed.

He lived.

The man treaded water for minutes, just breathing. Justhe looked around as the crash of waves drew his attention. One nearly engulfed his head. And he realized

He was at sea. And his scull was nowhere to be seen. The damned [Bounty Hunters] whod accidentally hit him with the [Fireball] spell? Nowhere to be seen.

And neither was the coast. Luan slowly turned in the waters. And he realized he didnt seeBaleros.

His skin chilled. The [Expert Rower] looked around. Compared to the meeting during the Summer Solsticethe dark promises below, this was still better.

But only just.

How far at sea was he? Luan gasped for air, panicking. But then he had an idea. Now that he was able to do more than struggle for the surface, he kicked while his hands searched downwards.

Clothingno oar, none of the items in the scullbut

Yes.

He gasped with relief as his hands found the bag of holding. The most precious item in this moment to him. He reached into it, holding it above the surface. The waves were large, but they didnt have the crest of deadly force of a storm.

Small blessings. And another washe fished out the glowing compass, holding it so tight that the edges cut into his fingers.

A nautical compass. The friend of any [Captain] or person who ever risked the sea. He had never had to use one before. But he was no fool. Luan opened the compass and saw the needle swing.

There were no directions. No North, South, or any other superfluous icons. This was a compass enchanted to one purpose.

Land. It was meant to take someone only to the nearest body of land. In case he was ever blown out to sea or had to evade pursuersLuan had never used it. He held his breath.

The needle swung as the magic activated. Searchingit pointed to the side. Held steady. Luans head turned hopefully.

There wasnt anything on the horizon. Not even a shadow.

Despair engulfed him for a second. Still, he had escaped death. He had refused the gifts of the Drowned. He had refused the offer made on the Summer Solstice.

Oceans be damned if he would give up now.

Luan began to swim, following the compass.

-

The first hour was easy. Luan Khumalo was a rower. He had trained for it and while swimming was not rowing, you tended to need one with the other. He could swim for as long as need be.

Or so hed thought. Luan had never dreamed hed be this far out to sea. He knew what other people had done, clung to rubbish or even buoys to survive.

But his scull was gone. There was nothing to hold onto and besidesif exposure didnt kill him, the oceans predators would.

This wasnt Earth. Sharks were a lesser concern to the hundreds, thousands of species that could kill a man. Luan swam. But he had one advantage and that was his bag of holding.

Inside of it, Luan had any number of things to stay alive with. Not least of which, after the first hour, he knew he had to ration:

Food. He had dried energy bar substitutes hed made up with Kiranas help in the United Nations headquarters. Water, too! He gulped greedily from the canteen, then forced himself to stop.

Stamina potions? Even a few healing potions. And best of alla flotation device.

Not an actual life-jacket. Luan had been going to invest in a ring to do the same, or best of all, a Ring of Waterbreathing which solved most problems. So he had no actual jacket. But as night fell, he improvised.

A waterproof blanket and pillow were some of the things he put in the bag of holding so he could sleep anywhere he wanted. He tied a knot with all four corners to make a rough sphere, catching air in the blanket, creating a buoy which he could cling to when he got tired.

He hoped he didnt have to use it. But as the daylight faded, Luan had swum for five hours by his reckoning.

And he couldnt tell if hed made any progress. Nothing appeared on the horizon. Luan realized he needed the makeshift buoy.

The water grew cold. Luan, buffeted by waves and trying to cling to the buoy, did not really sleep. But he did pass out and wake. He began swimming as soon as he had energy left. Following the compass.

He did not despair the first day. Or the second.

Or the first week.

-

He was rationing his food and water. It rained twice during the first two weeks, and he held up all the containers, even the bag of holding, his mouth open.

The waves grew stronger during the storms, though. Twice, they threw him about, threatening to drag him into the depths again.

He swam through it, clinging to the blanket at need. It gained two holes over the first week, which he desperately tried to plug.

Land never appeared. A vast shadow passed over him, once. Something tried to take a bite out of him three times. He fought them off by kicking and thrashing twice.

One time something appeared out of the water with barbs for a face and savaged him. It was half his size, but dense, and tore chunks out of him with each thrashing movement.

Luan killed it with the backup knife in his bag of holding. All but one of the healing potions went into that battle and he left the water bloody behind him.

Two weeks of swimming passed. Still, he followed the compass, despair on his tongue as his body weakened with each passing day of decreasing food, sleep, and water.

He might have truly given up, or at least, lost all hope. But Luan stared at the names on his arm. And though he saw no land, saw no relief day after day, there was one thing that gave him some hope.

[Swimmer Level 5!]

The first day, he gained the class.

[Swimmer Level 9!]

By the fourth day, he was able to lie on his back and rest. [Indefinite Flotation] was the Skill that let him rest, though a wave could still wake him with water engulfing him.

Two weeks. Then, as the third dawned, Luan heard the voice.

[Athlete Level 14!]

The [Swimmer] class had changed at Level 10.

Luan swam. Cutting through the water faster, tiring slower. His body was shriveled from ceaseless contact with the water. His beard, hair, salt-crusted, unkempt. A scar around his throat from where he had rejected the seas gift.

But the Olympian refused to give up. And then, at last

He spotted land in the distance.

-

It was a simple tale that engulfed Noa. A tale to break up the mundanityand sometimes terrifying dangerof her watch duty.

Similar to many stories shed heard. But it was better, realer, because it was happening. It was the story of a Human too stubborn to die.

She was sure of it after the third day of staring through her spyglass. And her superior finally admitted she was right after the tiny, tiny disturbance became clearer to both. He breathed out at last.

Dead gods. It is a Human out there. Same as you saw last week.

He grudgingly passed the spyglass back. Noa smirked, but hid it as he glared at her. Ekrn didnt like being wrong.

Hes been swimming towards the coast for a week, you said?

She nodded, eyes on the horizon. You couldnt even see the tiny Human without help of the spyglass.

Thats right. He must be a survivor of a shipwreck or something.

Ekrn grunted, tapping his foot on the ground. Noa wanted to know what had been the accident; her immediate superior was less enamored by the idea of the Human doggedly coming their way.

Wonder how he survived. Bag of holding and luck that nothing ate him?

Maybe. Or fish. It rained as well, so thats water, food

As he mused, Noa danced from foot to foot. Her nice, new crocodile-skin boots, a copy of his, made her feel wonderfully secure.

So whats the plan, Ekrn?

Plan?

He gave her a blank look. Noa wanted to know if they were going to send out a rescue party. Of coursehis look told her that was a stupid idea. Of course they wouldnt do that.

Keep an eye on the Human. If he lives or dies, thats up to him. Odds are a hundred thousand to one he doesnt come this way of all the places he could land up. If he even makes it to shore. If he does

His expression was not a kindly one. Crestfallen, Noa watched Ekrn stomp off. She turned and kept watching the Human.

-

Two weeks. Four by Luans count, when he finally neared the shores. He was moving faster now, and Noas sentry post wasnt the only one that had called him in.

She was dancing as Ekrn watched, grimly, the Human coming to shore.

Crazy bastard must have leveled. Hes moving faster than he has any right to without Skills.

Hes entering into the inlet. Ekrn.

There was a river pouring out to sea; they had made their home along it, although further inland than was comfortable for access to the water. But that was out of necessity. Ekrn shook his head as he adjusted the bow on his back.

Bad idea. If he had any sense, hed circle in either direction.

Noa bit her lip. She wanted to say that this Human had been at sea for at least two weeks, trying to reach shore. He had to be starving, and taking a few hours detour wouldnt occur to him.

But Ekrn was right.

Bosscant we do something?

No.

But he

Hes a Human. You have your orders. Hold position. Lets see what he does.

It was callous. But it was survival. Even so, Ekrn himself looked a bitdisgruntled. This Human had survived what few did, swimming to their continent on his own power. And nowhe was going to die.

Because he would have been well served staying clear of the river. The river of Baleros jungles was freshwater. And all manner of predators lurked there.

We rotate by day, sir. Youre not on the list

May I go through?

Rufelt didnt normally like to lean on any favors he had due to his fame or success. Today? He couldnt care less. The Pallassian [Guards] exchanged a glance. They knew him. They had a quick conference, and the [Sergeant] gave the nod.

We dont know when the door will be open, Mister Rufelt. We could ask them to hold itbut you might be waiting for a long time. The inn is

Kel, the [Guard Sergeant], trailed off. Rufelt replied, face blank.

Thats fine. Ill wait.

He stood there for nearly forty minutes, ignoring the looks. Lasica was beyond it. He was sure. There was an image playing out in Rufelts head.

A scene, a hope. Like a play of its own, hed find her at Erinsgrave. Theyd make up. It would be better once he found her. He would find some closure with Erin, some hope in her, that she could come back and they could

When the door opened, Rufelt started. He stepped through slowly.

Iexcuse me. Mister Rufelt, isnt it?

The Gnoll was younger. Ishkr. Hed opened the door to Pallass, but hadnt expected anyone to come through. Rufelt looked at him.

He knew, too. Rufelt nodded slowly.

Yes. Yes. Ishkr, right? Have you seen my wife? Lasica?

No, Mister Rufelt.

The dream fell apart. As it did again and again. Rufelt looked around.

Oh. Thank you.

Im sorry. Can I offer youthe inn isnt open, but we have something to eat, to drink?

Rufelt realized Ishkr was eying him. He wondered what he looked like. He hadnt bathed or combed his fur or

No. No. Im fine, thank you. Hows the inn? Is anything?

No, sir. Not much has changed since the Potion of Regeneration failed.

The potion of?

Rufelt hadnt even heard about that. He listened dully, as Ishkr explained. Something in the younger Gnolls tone betrayed what he must have suffered. Hope lost again.

It was somehow comforting to know someone else was suffering. A bitter tonic. Rufelt hesitated. But since he was here

Illcheck on Erin Solstice. If I may. Pay my respects.

Of course, Mister Rufelt. Do you need me to call the door?

No. Ill take a walk andI know how to get it.

Rufelts vision had changed to him finding some inspiration and sharing it with Lasica. That was what was so wrong about hope. He kept having it, and losing it. Better if he didnt believe things could be better.

And better if he had never come here. Rufelt did not realize his mistake at first. But the Gnoll had forgotten. He was in the main room of The Wandering Inn, taking something from the vast emptiness of the [Grand Theatre], almost relieved to be alone in a place like this that was not his bar. He was going over to the bar to

When he heard the scampering paws. Rufelt froze.

He saw a flash of white. Then, the little Gnoll raced around the corner of the hallway, panting, smiling.

Mrsha was running, fleeing the rolling, magical ball which was set to tag mode. Selys present to her. She was having fun.

It was not her fault. But Rufelt took one look at her and recoiled.

Mrsha stopped when she saw Rufelt. She didnt even realize why the Gnoll turned pale under his fur. Why he had to sit down. She stopped, grabbing the ball with her paws. She only realized why after a while. Shed forgotten about Rufelt. Thenshe ran and hid.

Thoughts of visiting Erin fled Rufelts mind. He lurched to his feet. To go. He brushed past Ishkr and went for the door to Pallass. He never met the [Shaman]; he fled The Wandering Inn and went back to Pallass. There was no magic for him here. No relief.

-

In the days after her miscarriagewell, the weeks afterLasica Feltail visited her mother. She visited her sister.

Rufelt would have been wrong to assume his wife was visiting her friends. Lasica was not embarking on a wine and gossip night, or whatever her husband imagined. She, like he, had no time for people who had no idea what she was going through.

She did seek out people, female friends, family, to talk to. That she could cry with, take hope from. Reassurance that something would change, that this was not the end of the world.

It might be a Drake thing. Or a personality thing. Or just her family in general. Her sister was matter-of-fact about it.

Its a miscarriage, Lasica. A magical attack. But women go through it. Get over it and stop your husband from drowning himself in his own tears.

Lasica had promptly thrown her cup of wine in her sisters face. Theyd fought, but tough love was still a type of love. In theory. Her sister had gone through it, too.

She was trying to put it in perspective. RufeltRufelt wanted to process it together. Lasica needed to be alone, sometimes. That was why it was hard and he wasnt helping. He did not understand.

She supposed she was to blame, too. She wasnt communicating. The fightwell.

She didnt want to go to this [Thought Healer]. Theyd get through this together. Lasica was going to go back tonight. Theyd reopen the bar. It wouldnt be easythe first week would probably be hell. But the work would give both of them a direction.

They could cry into their work. This was not the end.

Lasica kept saying that. Pushingperhaps too fastto move along. What else was there to do? She and Rufelt grieved differently. Everyone did. It did not mean one or the other was right.

Herself? After the fight, Lasica had prevailed on her mother for a second time. Shed gone out and gotten properly wasted on rotgut drink Rufelt would have turned his nose up at, with two friends. It did not make her feel better, but shed stayed at an inn for a night.

Not The Wandering Inn, but Pallass ritzy inn, The Nobles Fancy. She would never, ever have gone to The Wandering Inn, even if it wascheerfulto stay as a guest. Shed seen Erin Solstices idea of customer service and tasted her cooking. Now, she was heading back to her bar. Wondering if Rufelt had stayed there all three days.

That was Rufelt and Lasica. Not united; going through the same thing, differently. Trying to deal with something that nothing in their lives would ever have prepared them for. Searching for a solution to something that no one had ever solved easily if at all.

Perhaps both had forgotten the objective truth. That both loved the other. Or if they knew it, it seemed like a distant, uncertain truth. Shaken by themselves as much as anything.

It did not change the fact that Rufelt would have followed Lasica wherever she would have gone. Waited for her.

And that she would have never abandoned him. If they could have been certain of that, if they could just connect for a moment.

Perhaps it might be alright someday.

Hope for those days again. Lasica had a hood on, and cloak. Some of the [Guards] gave her looks of curiosity, but their Skills didnt reveal criminality. She didnt want to attract attention or false friends. She was walking down the grand staircase on the southern side; the 5th Floor, home to Tails and Scales, was her destination.

But the wrong side of Pallass. And there was at yet no horizontal elevator to take you across the city. Yet. The [Engineers] were talking about some kind of movable walkway, but that was just hypotheticals. They were surprisinglyconfidentthat it could be made, though.

Lasica could have used it now. She briskly walked, trying to think about buying groceries, what to say to Rufelt. Justtell him to get to work. Justdont get engaged in talking about the fight. Move on, keep moving.

Someone called out to her, beyond the [Hawkers], [Shopkeepers], the [Crier] still trying to attract attention for the play tonightLasica had no time for any of it. She could brush all of them off, even Skills meant to entice heras if any of them would work on her nowbut the persons voice was more insistent.

You are Lasica, arent you? The [Chef]?

I am. Excuse me, Im in a hurry. Not interested in shaking your hand or buying anything, good day.

Lasica replied without even looking around. Unlike Rufelt, she was happy to be aggressively rude. But the person just followed her.

I understand that. If I could have a few words?

Heres a few; Im not interested.

The Drake still ignored the person. But this super-[Hawker] orLasica heard the voice again.

I understand youve suffered a loss. I wanted to extend my condolences.

This time, the [Chef]s eyes widened. She swung around and confronted the person.

Thank you, but I dont want your

Her angry words were going to be accompanied by the verbal lashing of this womans life. Not physical; Lasica didnt wave around kitchen knives, for all she had a few nasty cutting Skills. But she was not sparing with her tongue.

She halted, though. Because something was strange about the person whod accosted her.

It was a woman. Gnollish, taller than Lasica, older, with grey in her sable fur. Beyond that? Lasica hesitated, because there was something soaverageabout the woman that it was disconcerting. She was like a composite of Gnolls. No scars, no peculiarities at all to make her stand out in memory. No coloration of fur

If this same Gnoll had gone to the city of Salazsar, a particular [Consort of Change], Xesci, would have recognized her. For all she was no Drake. The Gnoll smiled.

Or her lips moved.

My condolences. I am told you suffered a terrible accident. Dark magic. You lost your child.

Thatsnone of your business.

The Gnoll tilted her head. There was something uncanny. All the words were there. But her condolence was more like a slap to Lasica.

I believe it is. Such a terrible thing that happened. Your unborn child. Gone. Demons took it. You are grieving.

How dare you.

Lasica whispered. That? Thathurt. Her claw drifted downwards, then balled into a fist.

The Gnoll was stillnot exactly smiling. She kept tilting her head, regarding Lasica. And then, the [Chef] noticed something.

The street she was walking down was deserted, an oddity in Pallass, home to millions. Second? The Gnoll woman had sought her out. She knew Lasicas name.

The scales on Lasicas arms began to tingle. She took a slow step back.

What do you want? ActuallyI dont care. Im busy. Leave me be, or Ill call the Watch.

The Drake looked over her shoulder. The Gnoll woman spoke.

I heard of your loss. I thought I should approach you. It is so, so very difficult for parents after a loss. I know it hurts.

Get away from me.

Lasica stumbled away. Where were other pedestrians? The Watch? She looked up, and saw a Garuda in mid-flight. Flapping her wings as the Street Runner traversed Pallass in the distance.

But she was caught in the air. She was moving fast, but it seemed as though Lasica could watch her forever and the Garuda would still never reach her destination.

I will not take your time. But I thought you should know, Lasica Feltail, that there are people who can help you in this dire hour.

If youre talking about [Thought Healers], I dont want any. Thank you, but if youre using Skills

I am not talking about them.

Lasica knew it. She turned to face the female Gnoll. The woman spoke.

There is someone who can make your pain go away, Lasica. Not help you deal with it. Not offer you potions or temporary relief. All your agony can be gone. And your husband, likewise. You two can be happy again. And. Your child can return to you.

This time Lasica recoiled. She fumbled for her side. The wand Rufelt made her carry around out of overzealousnessshe dropped it. She picked it up, cursing the woman.

How dare you!

I am not lying.

The Gnoll woman didnt flinch as Lasica raised the wand. Lasica uttered the activation commandan impact spell struck the Gnoll in the chest.

She went stumbling backwards. But not flying as a normal person or [Thug] should have been. Lasica saw the Gnolls arms flail. Like a rag doll, she went over backwards. Thengot up.

The entire impact, stumbling fall, and return to her legs unnerved Lasica. The Gnoll woman picked herself up without pushing herself off the ground. Her legs planted on the ground; her waist and torso rose with incredible strength.

As if pulled up by strings.

Whatwhat

I have come here to tell you this, Lasica. For you and all the other grieving parents in Pallass. But you areextraordinary. One of the best [Chefs] in Pallass. The woman I speak of can help you. And for you, Lasica, she can deliver true happiness.

Woman? Whowho are you? Dont get any closer! Ill summon the Watch!

The Gnoll woman did not advance. The half-smile on her face hadnt changed even after the spell had hit her.

No. I will not. I am not here to force you to do anything, Lasica. Just listen. She can help you. And if you summon her, she will restore all you have lost. Your child. Your relationship. Even the memory of loss, if you will it. As if it never happened.

No one can bring back the dead. My child is gone. Tell me that again and Ill gut you like a fish.

Lasica spoke, harsher than she intended. To this, the Gnollwomanonly tilted her head again.

Everything is possible for the right price, Lasica Feltail. Ask yourself only this: what would you do if it were possible to truly bring your child back? To have another chance? For you, I think she would work all her craft.

Who? Who is this person who can apparently do all this?

The Gnoll woman watched Lasica backing away. She did not move. Lasica was feeling behind her, for the edge of this spell, this Skill. There had to be one.

Look up her name. Look at history. You will find her if you want to. Her name is Belavierr. Think on it, Lasica. Whatever you wish

Lasica turned and ran. She burst out of the barrier and time resumed. The Garuda winged onwards. She whirled, panting, as a gaggle of Drakes came around the corner.

And then I saidwhoa!

They recoiled at the drawn wand. Lasica turned, ignoring them, and aimed back the way shed come.

At

Nothing. The street was empty.

The Gnoll was gone.

-

Of course she had vanished. And of course, Lasica reported it to the Watch.

She was not a fool. They took her seriously as well. Rufelt rushed into the Watch House as Lasica was making the report.

Lasica! What happened?

Just a stranger. Rufelt. I

He embraced her without a word. And all of this should have been the first step. A scarebut Lasicas refusal. Rufelt running to get her, them eating an actual meal in their home, around their table.

Youre filthy. Have you eaten anything since I was gone?

She whipped up a fast meal on the few items they had left. He grinned at her, looking lightheaded from hunger. She fed him, that silly Gnoll, and he agreed to talk tomorrow, about the bar. About

Lasica was not an idiot. Strangers approaching you out of nowhere and offering you everything you wanted? She knew all the warning signs.

But that was the insidious thing. It was probably one of the worst sales pitches out there. And yes, Lasica knew the stories. And she had a strong will. And shed told the Watch.

However. Curiosity was like hope. It gnawed on you.

She had to know, if only to refuse.

-

The next day, Rufelt was running around, restocking the bar. Shopping for Lasica. Calling in their workers. Finding clients. Exasperated, she let him do it.

He was clearly glad to have a purpose. So was she. Normally, she would have told him to let her get all the good ingredients and stop hogging the workload.

But she let him do most of it. Because Lasica had to make one stop in her day. Rufelt didnt notice, preoccupying himself with work. He did walk her to her destination, but he thought she had another purpose.

Looking up new recipes. And while it was true that Pallass Grand Library had them

Lasica walked down lines of shelves. Telling herself this was stupid. But she had to see it. Then she could put aside the strange offer. Because nothing would change her mind.

Nothing

There were many history books. She feared shed have to search. But the name shed withheld from the Watch, which shed give them right after this, was easy to search.

Belavierr. The Stitch Witch of Terandria. Spider. Temptress. Threadbreaker. The Mistress of Strands.

She had so many names. Lasicas scales tingled as she pulled out the historical book on one of the old monsters of this world.

The [Chef] ran the tip of her claw down stories about her. Sightings. Her list of crimes was legion. Lasica read, and the more she read, the more she was convinced.

A powerful [Witch]. A powerful, dangerous [Witch], considered immortal, responsible for war and atrocity. But still, a [Witch].

Not to be trusted. That was the point. The history book was clear. The [Historian] was no fool. He or she spelled it out: Belavierr made deals of a terrible nature. By contact alone she caused other peoples schemes to fail.

That was what Lasica had needed to see. Because she didnt want

Puppet-children? Spells cast upon bereaved lovers?

She shuddered. No. No, no false simulacra, no half-measures, terrifying, too-costly fake dreams. Never. The history book just reinforced her decision, quashing curiosity.

Belavierr had nothing Lasica wanted. Except maybe extreme spinal strength. Lasica rubbed her lower back after an hour of reading. She moved to close the book.

And then her eyes travelled a bit too far down the page. And an excerpt stood out to her.

brought back to life

Like a magnet, a spell, the Drake looked back. And she read the entry again.

The tribunal of the City of Zeres ruling was unanimous, if contentious. Whereupon it was confirmed that the Child, Meree Sailclaw, was brought back to life such that the best [Healer] could not claim she was a puppet, artificial life, and had indeed been subject to formal resurrection at cost to the Wall Lord and Wall Lady Mena and Merul Sailclaw, the tribunal decided a formal execution of the Stitch Witchs magic could not be carried out, for the child was innocent.

However, the Serpentine Matriarch of Zeres overruled the tribunals findings and ordered the execution of all three. The Admiralty of Zeres was forced to oppose her; martial law was declared and the Serpentine Matriarch ordered Zeres army to enforce her orders.

In the ensuing battle, Meree Sailclaw disappeared, along with Lady Mena. Merul Sailclaw was apprehended. However, he did not live to face judgment. He expired in front of the [Soldiers] sent to capture him. With his dying breath, Merul claimed he had made a second pact with the Spider and ensured his familys safety.

That Meree Sailclaw was brought to life was the subject of debate for decades. But the evidence is clear: to the confirmation of the Archmages of Wistram, multiple [Healers], and [Sage] Yinelt of the era, she was revived at great cost.

Meree Sailclaw returned to Zeres once to lay a final proof to the bargain for her life. She returned to visit her fathers grave sixty years since the inciting incident. The new Serpentine Matriarch ordered her executed, and it was carried out publically. The Stitch Witchs warrant is still extant.

There was more. More cautionary tales. More words. Lasica sat there, not bothering to read more. Head blank. If she had not read that section. If she had closed the book a minute earlier, she would have been able to go on with her life.

But now she was caught in the Spiders web. For all the [Historian] had tried, they had played into Belavierrs plans by recordinghistory. Fact.

Now it was there. Lasica searched. She found, of course, all the other entries. It was far, far rarer. But she had done it more than once. It was no fluke.

She was shaking. The [Chef] felt it, now. A second wound, torn open. She had moved past it. Yet the hand dragged her back. Right to that night. Right back to hope and despair.

The book lay in front of her, enchanted pages resisting the tears. It had to be enchanted to survive so long. To faithfully tell those who wanted to know the truth.

Slowly, a hand closed the book. It replaced it on the shelf. Lasica stared at the table. The dark blue cloth. She looked up.

Belavierr stood in front of her. Her vast hat left her face in shadows. But her eyesthe orange and dark rings caught Lasicas eyes.

The Stitch Witch looked down. And then she did smile.

Authors Note: I was revising 8.11 E. So this chapter was written after revising over two days. It is not long. But it has something.

Interlude The [Rower] and the [Bartender] I think Ill call it, rather than 8.13 since its not a full chapter. The full chapter will be on Tuesday, and Ill release the revised 8.11 E as well. If youve been waiting, I apologize, but the revision has been good. I think I spent 6 hours revising and it was taxing.

But I noticed some of my problems, like starting sentences with but and using and too much too. Im working on it. For now, I hope you enjoy the revised chapter when it comes out. This chapter? I dont necessarily expect enjoyment. But the story continues.

If you wanted more, you should have voted for either. Nowyou still get it, so if you didnt want that, its coming when you least expect it. Like Belavierr. Thanks for reading. Look forwards to Tuesday.

Meetings, Erins Speech, Pawn, and Blues Ants by flingering!

Vigil by kapilkk!

Faces of Klbkch, Mrsha, and Flowers by Jennannkane!