Elironda

[Akirapryde]

Eclipse
 
It was a calm moonless night over the harbor. Along the docks, many fishing ships were moored. High above, the clouds of the coming storm cast their long reach over this great norther city of Casstleshade. Even before the full force of the showers had come, the first hint of rain had already started to fall. The early morning showers were common for this time of year, the rains were a welcomed sight to the fishermen who were just waking up. It meant that the Gods would grant them a plentiful catch today.
 
However, on a lone ship in the harbor, the rains and restricted visibility were far from welcomed. As the rain slowly started to pick up during the predawn hours, the grumblings of the two deck watches could be heard. “What do you think happened to Jezebel,” asked Goraidh as they walked from the stern of the vessel. The two watches were each armed with a long sword and a heavy crossbow. They each wore a chain shirt for armor.
 
The older watch, Joffrey, let out a sigh of disappointment as he glanced toward the shore. “If she is lucky, she gave up her life in the service of our Lord, Odjir.” He paused scanning the water between the vessel and the shore. “They should have sent us as well,” he said resting his crossbow on the railing.
 
“But, it’s Jezebel. You don’t think she’s….you know….” Goraidh asked as he walked up and leaned on the railing beside the over man. There was clear concern in his voice. As if his feelings were deeper than he wanted to reveal. “I am um….just worried. Do you think They’re coming back?”
 
“Nope,” he turned and glanced up in the riggings of the mast. “And I don’t care.”
 
Goraidh was disheartened by the statement from Joffrey. He looked up to what his partner was searching for. “What is it?”
 
“I thought I heard something.” Joffrey said getting his heavy crossbow ready. He moved it to a firing position as he slowly he scanned the riggings.
 
“You don't think They’re stupid enough to hit us out here, do you?” There was clearly fear in Goraidh’s voice.
 
“I don’t know,” his eyes narrowed as he aimed down the weapon and carefully searched for his target. “There,” he said with a half whisper. “On the upper yard!”
 
“The what? Where?” Goraidh said as he searched for the target as well. After a moment he laughed, “it’s just a stupid bird.” 
 
The all black bird was almost invisible against the night sky. It moved back and forth on the highest yard of the main mast crying and making noise. As it moved, it was if the bird was watching them, watching it. Once Joffrey took sight of the animal, it let out a cry and took flight in to the night sky.
 
“Bastard,” Joffrey mumbled as he aimed at the fast-moving bird. Then without warning, he fired. The animal cried out again, almost as if mocking the would be hunter. The sound of a thud against the main mast indicated the miss.
 
Goraidh laughed, “oi, ye Mighty Hunter!” He searched the sky for the animal with no avail. “Think those birds are called ravens. But they’re not common on these parts.” He scratched his head, “I wonder what he is doing here. Probably got lost or something.”
 
“I don't care, it won’t be back,” Joffrey said as he turned and rested his crossbow on the railing. “Go get the bolt,” he ordered as he pulled out the crank and started to set it up.
 
“Me,” cried Goraidh. He pointed up near the top of the mast, “I am not the one that missed!”
 
Joffrey half turned his head as he finally got the cranked in to position, “no, no you’re not.” He turned his attention back to the crossbow and started to crank the string back, “but if you don’t, you will be the one to slip and hit your head while going overboard.”
 
Goraidh half drew his crossbow before slinging it to his back. “You know if Jezebel were here, you wouldn’t be treating me like this.” There was anger and frustration mixed in with a bit of whining to his voice.
 
Joffrey sighed heavily as he manhandled the crank, “if Jezebel were here, I wouldn’t be on watch with a woman!”
 
As Goraidh started to climb as he braked back, “you’re a terrible father!”
 
Slowly the heavy string of the crossbow started to pull back. He sighed at the last statement from his son, “My Lord, Odjir, give me strength to make this weak boy, a man.”
 
A bit later, Goraidh returned holding a lone heavy bolt. Still grumbling regarding their earlier exchange, Goraidh made his displeasure clear. He waved his hand before his nose, “you smell like death. Have you been eating yams again?” He saw Joffrey bent over the side as if looking over board. 
 
“Don’t tell me, you lost your crossbow, again,” Goraidh said waking up behind his father. “Damnit dad.......” he started to say bit quickly cut himself off. “Dad,” he half whispered. Fear and desperation dripped from his voice. “Dad....” he said once more reaching out and touching Joffrey’s shoulder.
 
With a pull, Goraidh caused Joffrey to fell backwards towards the deck. A single narrow puncture showed the path of the blade which claimed the old man’s life. It ran up from his chin, through his mouth and in to his brain. Joffrey’s eyes were wide open as if looking at something. It was clear that he was dead before he even realized he had been attacked.
 
Goraidh stepped back with horror gripped to his face, his mouth opened to scream but fear held his voice. Then he heard it. A sound that few mortals have heard and lived to tell about. It sounded like teeth chattering, or maybe bones grinding. A primal fear told him it was far worse than that. He turned to see a half decomposed skeleton creature standing behind him. It's flesh dripping from its body. The stench of death invaded his nose sealing the vision in his mind. In its hand was his father’s heavy crossbow. Frozen by fear, Goraidh could only stare in to the empty eye sockets that at one point in this creature’s life had been eyes.
 
At that same moment, Elironda saw the young man her son had once been. She let go of the small bag attached to her belt that held the teeth from the cultists and bones from small animals. Lost in the moment, she heard his voice calling out to her from beyond the grave. Memories flooded back in to her mind. She recalled how her son wore that same look after her husband had been murdered by those human monsters. But she couldn’t hate this human. He was no different than her own son and now she was no different than those human monsters. She wanted so much to just walk away from this poor young man. To leave him to mourn the death of his father. But she knew she couldn't. He was no different than the rest of them. ‘They all are slavers and murders alike,’ she thought remembering what the cultist Jezebel had told the group. But then added to her thoughts, ‘maybe not….’
 
Goraidh clumsily reached for his sword. Still gripped by fear and outclassed by her natural speed, he had no hope of winning this contest of speed. She brought the heavy crossbow up with both hands and slammed it across his face. The awkwardness of the attack and the weight of the weapon caused her to lose her balance. Elironda stumbled sideways, slipping and fell to the deck.
 
The impact of the crossbow across Goraidh's face sent him spinning. Blood filled his mouth as he stumbled to the side. Lucky for him, the railing prevented him from falling to the deck. In one action, he turned and drew his sword. “Back to hell, demon!” He said as foam started to form in his mouth. Raising up his sword over his head, all he could think of was sending this demon back to whatever hell it crawled up from. 
 
His eyes fixed on the skeleton creature which lied on the deck before him. But there was no attack. Instead his sword slipped from his fingers. It fell blade first in to the water, making only a slight splash. Goraidh eyes grew wide as his body started to shake. More foam flowed from his mouth as his knees buckled under him. The skeleton creature slowly rose to her feet, as she watched the poison tooth take its toll on him. With calm silence, it reached out and caught him as gravity took hold. This prevented the body from following the sword overboard.
 
With great care, she lowered his body to the deck. Elironda felt for the young man. As his eyes started to glaze over she felt the poison rushing through his body and claiming what was left of his life. She calmly gazed in to the eyes of this man while his life slipped away. Once he was gone she lowered her head in silent mourning.
 
“It is a great sin, when a parent leads their child on to darkness,” she said closing his eyes for the last time. She lied to herself once more, stating that she felt nothing. She rose while picking up the two heavy crossbows. Her mind focused on her mission. Any sympathy was driven away by the thought that, ‘they’re all slavers and murders. Nothing more!’
 
From high above, she heard the soft cry of a raven. Elironda looked up at her familiar, Lenore, who was keeping watch of the deck. She knew what the warning meant and moved behind a stack of barrels. Carefully she set the two heavy weapons down as she silently moved to a better position. Her hand moved to the hilt of her dagger as she focused on the footsteps and the vision of what her familiar was sending her. She moved deeper in to the shadows and waited. She heard the woman calling out for one of the guards. She smiled as she heard his footsteps grow closer. Using the eyes of her familiar, she positioned herself perfectly for the surprise attack.
 
Slowly Elironda lowered herself as she plotted out her attack. As the woman walked passed her, complaining about the smell on deck, Elironda struck like a coiled snake. Her poisoned dagger sank deep in to the back of the woman’s right knee. The tip of the blade ruptured the front of the woman’s knee cap.
 
This caused the female cultist to stumble and drop to one knee. The woman let out a cry in pain from the sudden attack. The dagger ran so deep that it ensured the poison would reach the bloodstream fast. Instead of withdrawing the dagger, Elironda let it go as she drew her rapier instead.
 
Once more, the cultist was out classed by Elironda's speed. Looking down at the back of the woman’s neck, Elironda drove the full length of her rapier through her neck. Before her victim had realized it, it was over. The woman’s tongue was skewered by Elironda's blade. The cultist’s eyes shifted from side to side to figure out what just happened.
 
Within seconds the woman’s life faded. Unlike the young man, Elironda felt nothing for this human as she removed her blade. The body flopped to the deck and laid there in a pool of its own blood. Elironda stood there for a moment as she returned her rapier back in its sheath. Slowly she lowered herself and withdraw her dagger from the knee of the body.
 
Elironda stood up and carefully removed the dagger sheath. She checked the level of poison. Letting out a sigh she said, “only one more dose left.” She slid her dagger in to the sheath. It made a soft clicking sound insuring that the blade was locked in place. Some lard at the top of the sheath ensured that the poison wouldn’t drip out. Carefully, she hung the sheath on her belt. She moved over and picked up the two heavy crossbows once more. She slung one and carried the other one.
 
On that note, she moved stealthily towards the stairs at the back of the ship. The two heavy weapons slowed her down, but she didn’t want to move fast anyway. She looked up to Lenore, “if anyone else comes up on deck, let me know,” she commanded her raven. Once the raven replied with a cry, she slowly moved down the stairs and in to the lair of the monsters.
 
As she moved deeper in to the ship, she heard a man crying out in pain, “oh god, it burns! Fucking whore! Shit, Fuck……god damn, WHORE! Oh god, the burning!”
 
From deeper in the ship, Elironda heard another man call out, “Damnit, suffer in silence. It serves you right. Next time, listen to us when we tell you to leave the dirty ones alone.”
 
She heard a door slam as the first man continued to cry out in pain. She followed the voice of the man suffering. She finally reached a door near the very back of the ship. It was more curiosity that drove her now. She readied the heavy crossbow and flung open the door.
 
Before her, she saw a man sitting on a bench with his breeches down by his ankles. His shirt pulled up revealing his larger than normal belly. His face covered with sweat and twisted in pain. The man’s head snapped up to see a decomposing skeleton creature before him. The entire world faded away as his eyes locked on the image of this monster. The sound of defecation filled the space between them.
 
Time seemed to slow for both as each took in what they saw. The skeleton creature was holding a heavy crossbow aimed at his chest. There was only a short few feet between them. The odor of death seeped in to his nose. Something splashed in to the water under his seat as the crossbow let loss it’s bolt.
 
At point blank range, Elironda couldn’t help but hit. The bolt ripped in to the man’s chest and sunk deep. The sound of wood cracking as the tip of the bolt plunged in to the wall behind him. The man's face twisted even more as he cried out in pain. Elironda was quick to drop the crossbow and ready the second one. She pulled the trigger and once more a bolt ripped through his body pinning him to the wall.
 
There wasn’t time, as she knew the other man would be coming soon. She closed the door and hid in the shadows. Within seconds she heard the man screaming, “I swear, I am going to rip your thing off.”
 
She waited as she heard the footsteps drawing closer. Her fingers coiled around the hilt of the poisoned dagger. She patently waited for her prey as he complained about the scent of death aboard. Slowly the grumbling and footsteps grew closer.
 
As he entered her trap, her first surprise attack was with her dagger. She drove the dagger to its hilt in to the man's chest. But the man was faster than she suspected. He grabbed her by the arm and flung her across the large galley. Elironda vanished in to the darkness as she slid across a table. He let out a scream in pain as he stumbled back from the attack. He cried out, “we’ve been boarded!”
 
Using her acrobatics, she rolled from the table and on to her feet. She came up with her rapiers in her hand and ready for the attack. She thought that having the large table between them would help keep the man at range. She held her action as she plotted out her next action.
 
Once more he cried out as to alert the others as he wondered where the watch was. His mind couldn’t believe that the other four were already dead. So, he kept calling out for them. He reached up and ripped the dagger from his chest. He tossed the dagger to the ground and reached for his own sword. It was in that moment that he realized sword and armor were back at his hammock.
 
Unwilling to turn and run, he raised he moved forward and grabbed the heavy table. He tossed the table to the side with little effort. This left an opening for Elironda to attack. She moved in and attacked with her Rapier. The man moved and took the attack. To her surprise, he grabbed her weapon and yanked it from her grip. Disarmed, Elironda moved back and shifted to a much more defensive strategy.
 
His first blow missed, but the second one caught her in the chest. It was a powerful hit that caused the creature to get slammed up against a nearby wooden door. The force of the impact winded Eliroda.
 
It was then that Elironda realized that this one wasn’t a fresh recruit like the others. He would be harder to take down. She needed to buy time. She sidestepped trying to keep from being cornered, but the man grabbed her by the neck and tossed her like a rag doll. Once more she was flying across the rooom and crashed down on some boxes. The man laughed as he slowly advanced on her once more.
 
Elironda dodged his next two attacks and moved to keep distance on him. Elironda stumbled back giving up more ground as the man laughed, “I have fought your kind before demon,” he taunted. “You don’t scare me!” He managed to land a hit across her head. The hit snapped her head back and sent stars in to her vision. A second attack added planets to those stars. Elironda fought back the blackness at the edge of her vision as she was losing her footing.
 
Elironda got her footing and her vision cleared. ‘The man hits like a warhorse,’ she thought. She knew that there was no way she could take him in a fair fight. Her lips curled in to a smile as she saw his neck. Thick black lines ran up his neck like snakes working their way through his veins. She slowly rose to her feet using a barrel for support as she laughed at him.
 
The move confused the man as he didn't know how to take this sudden change in mannerism. “Fool,” she said in her disguised, hollow voice. “You’re already dead. Your soul just hasn’t realized it.”
 
The man took a step back and looked at his arms. Long black marks flowed through his veins. He turned his eyes to the demon that had poisoned him. His eyes spoke volumes as his mouth hung open. He dropped to his knees and then to the deck. His last moments were that of a fish gasping for breath as his heart and lungs slowly shut down.
 
Elironda moved to pick up her dagger once more. Watching the man on the deck, she walked over and picked up her rapier. A cut across the men's throat would ensure that he would not be getting back up. After searching both men, she found a set of keys on the larger man. She decided to hang on to them.
 
Her body screamed in pain from the beating she just took, but she knew she had a mission. She was confident that there was no one left, she started to search the ship silently. Unwanted items would be left in the hallway while things like coins and gems found their way in to her pocket. Carefully she searched for the stone and the paintings.
 
At the bow of the ship, she found a locked door. Using the keys that she found, she quietly unlocked it and slid in to the room. There she found what she had come for, the paintings. Lots of them. But she also noticed another cultist, sleeping on a small straw bed at the very front of the ship. Silently she drew her dagger and closed on the cultist. As her eyes focused on the sleeping figure, she finally realized it was just a boy. Ten, maybe eleven.
 
Hovering over him, she gazed down on the sleeping child. His tattoo stood out as plain as day. “Kill him….” She heard from the decomposing monster in the corner of the room. “Kill the monster while it sleeps.”
 
She didn’t have to look to know that the creature was there. It was always there, in her mind. She slowly lowered herself down to her knees and moved the blade up to the child’s neck. Carefully she pressed the tip up against the neck. “Yes…..kill him…..kill all of the monsters…..”
 
“It’s just a child…” she whispered softly pulling the blade back.
 
“A child of a monster will grow in to a monster,” the creature hissed at her. “KILL IT NOW!”
 
Startled by a sudden chill down her spine, she moved the blade back to the child’s neck. But she stopped once more. This time, she heard another voice. The voice of the Father… “Everyone deserves a chance at salvation…..everyone…”
 
“Damn priest….” She said without thinking. The boy’s eyes snapped opened in fear. Elironda was fast to cup his mouth and knock him out. She searched his mouth, “thank the Gods, no wooden tooth.” She flipped the boy over and tied him up. A gag would keep him silence.
 
She returned to searching the ship as a pair of unseen servants would load the painting and loot in to a long boat. Once she was sure she didn’t miss anything, she moved to deliver her message. She hung the five dead cultists from the mass by their feet. Naked as the day they were born. Throats cut and their tongues removed. Their eyes and jaws were also removed to further disfigure the bodies. Their mutilated bodies were plain to see once enough light and attention were created.
 
While it was a message to the rest of the cultists, it had a practical purpose. The disfigurement would ensure that the spell speak with dead would fail on these bodies. That the cultists would never know who carried out this attack, and more importantly, who had survived. Now an innocent life was at stake, and that ‘Damn priest,’ Elironda cursed the man who had tainted her heart.
 
She lowered the bound boy in to the long boat. She made once more pass through the boat before setting her firebombs. Using candles, thread and the bottles of Greek Fire she took, she made five firebombs. She wanted to give herself plenty of time to escape the boat and be well on shore before it erupts in a small fireball.
 
Still using her unseen servants, she paddled to the docks. Loaded within the boat was the paintings, what loot she gathered and more importantly, a young child. As she got further away from the ship, she changed her hex in to the peasant elf maiden. Her head hurt, her body hurt, and she was exhausted. As the dock came in to view, she saw Arwen on the docks.

Elironda smiled as the long boat came up to the dock. “Arwen? Always the good, second-rate thief. You showed up when all the real work was already done.”