Bladesinger - Keith Francis Strohm [98]
"Where… where is Rusella?" she asked. v
The others all looked at her with the same mask of concern on their faces, but it was Taenaran, at last, who spoke. "We don't know," he said gently. "She flew away when you were taken on the bridge. I wouldn't worry too much; if anyone can find a way out of here, it would be her." He reached out to her and grasped her shoulder gently. "Rusella will probably be waiting for us when we leave this place."
Marissa wasn't as certain, but she offered a prayer for Rusella's safety just the same. If anything happened to her companion, she would never forgive herself. Then, to draw some of the attention away from her, she asked, "How are we coming with the circular inscription?"
Marissa watched the half-elf's face fall into a frown. Taen ran slender fingers over his head before answering.
"Well," he said, "I'm sure that the circle functions as a teleportation device, and I'm reasonably certain that there are no hidden arcane traps upon it. I only wish I knew where it might lead."
Roberc stepped forward, finishing off a draught of wine before speaking. "Marissa, do you remember anyone else besides the half-orc using the portal?" he asked.
She thought about it for a moment, only partially successful in repressing a shudder at the dark memories that would haunt her for the rest of her life. "I… I think so," she answered hesitantly at first then, "yes, I do remember. Most of the time, the hag walked through the doors and back into the citadel, but several times after… longer… sessions, she would use the circle."
"Does little witch know where hag go?" Borovazk asked.
Marissa shook her head. "No, I'm sorry," she said, "all I can remember her saying was that she needed to go back to the cave. If the portal leads there, then perhaps we can use it to surprise her."
"If she's there," Roberc said.
"There is that small detail," Taen commented.
The druid thought some more, trying to recall her last session with the hag. "If I'm remembering correctly, Chaul used the circle during our last session. She might still be wherever that portal leads."
"Little friend speaks truly," Borovazk said, "if evil one not have another way in to the Rashemar."
"It's a better lead than we've had," Roberc growled, "and besides, it beats slogging through this dank place, cutting our way through wave after wave of ghouls and goblins."
"Then it's agreed?" Taen asked.
Marissa nodded in agreement. Personally, she would take any chance to end this mission sooner, and she suspected that the others felt the same.
They did.
Within moments, each of them began their preparations. Marissa watched in fascination as Taen drew forth a pearl, which he then crushed beneath a heavy rock. Carefully, he gathered the crushed pearl fragments and poured them into a silver goblet.
"I need to uncover the command word to activate the portal," he said, obviously noting her interest.
"The spell I'm about to cast will take some time. You should probably rest a little bit more before we head through."
Marissa hesitated a moment before speaking. "Taenaran," she began at last, "about that conversation we need to have."
She had nearly lost him once on this journey; then their enemy captured her. Though this clearly wasn't the time for such a thing, the druid didn't want to waste another moment.
Taen stopped what he was doing at Marissa's words, stood up, and went to her. "I know," he said, drawing the slender tip of his fingers across her cheek. She shivered at his touch. "I've had that conversation a thousand times with you in my dreams," he continued. "We don't have the time now, but please understand that I do know."
Marissa felt his arms enfold her, and she yielded to that embrace. They held each other for a moment, a moment that she would have stretched into eternity if she had the power, before Taen kissed her lightly upon the lips and drew back gently.
"Now," he said, staring deeply into her eyes, "go get some rest. You're going to need it."
The druid nodded and walked toward a corner of the room, dazed