Arek let out a low growl. His grip tightened around the guandao and his vision flashed red, but he didn’t move from where he stood.

“There’s a healer in my party that can save her,” Arek said.

“Are they with you?”

“No. They’re several minutes away, with a large group of guards,” Arek said. “But it doesn’t look like you can do much to heal her either – you’re just keeping Malissa steady.”

“And so we’re at an impasse,” Vint called up to them. “I don’t feel inclined to kill this woman after she saved my life, but if you come down, the curse will give me no choice. She won’t survive our fight.”

“What if you’re blindfolded?” Ming called out. “It only activates if you can see each other, right? We can make blindfolds for both you and Arek.”

“Why would I let myself be blindfolded? There’s another Blessed One right next to me. He’ll kill me in an instant,” Vint said, showing no surprise at the sound of Ming’s voice.

“Then my companion will die,” Arek said. “I have no desire for your power. I just want my friend to live.”

Vint didn’t reply immediately. “And what of after we reach your healer? Nothing stops you from running me through once she’s safe.”

Arek’s lips pressed so tightly together that they started to go white. “I give you my word. There is nothing else I can say that would convince you. I do not know why Malissa chose to save you. However, if she dies, I can promise you that, as much as it pains me, I will undo her last act. Either both of you survive today – or neither of you do.”

Vint let out a harsh bark of laughter. “Fine. I don’t think there’s much of a choice. I’ll haunt you if you kill me while I’m blindfolded.”

Arek held back a sigh of relief and glanced at Ming expectantly. She pulled two shirts out from her extradimensional bag and tossed one into the cellar beneath them. Arek took the other from her.

“How will we escape once we’re both blindfolded?” Vint asked.

“I can carry everyone on my back,” Arek said after a moment of thought. “If I can’t see you, the curse shouldn’t take effect. If you and my companion both hold onto Malissa, I can get us to safety.”

“We’re all going to die,” Vint said. Arek heard him spit on the ground. “Get away from the trapdoor. I’m getting the blindfold.”

Arek forced himself to step back, but Ming did no such thing. She watched carefully for a few moments, then gave Arek a small nod.

“There,” Vint said. “I did it. Malissa is with me. Have your short friend help me bring her up. And make sure you’ve got your own blindfold on.”

“I’m right here,” Ming said irritably.

Arek wrapped the shirt around his head and turned away from the trapdoor, tossing his guandao from hand to hand anxiously as he heard Ming help Vint transport Malissa out from within the cellar. A few moments later, the dull thud of the man’s shoes on a ladder echoed through the room.

“Move a little to your right,” Ming instructed him, her voice wavering slightly. “And Arek? Don’t look at Malissa.”

Arek nearly ripped the blindfold off at that exact moment, but he restrained himself with the last ounce of his will.

“It might have been better if you didn’t say that,” he said through clenched teeth. “Just get moving before the wyrms kill us all.”

They shuffled around for a short while. Then Ming’s light footsteps approached him.

“We’re going to get on,” Ming said. “Hold still.”

Arek nodded. He felt someone jump onto his back. A moment later, a much lighter body hopped onto him. They shuffled around for a few moments before settling down.

“Okay,” Ming said. Her voice was tense. “We’re ready.”

Vint grunted in agreement. Arek reached up and removed the shirt, handing it back to Ming without turning around. His passengers were unwieldy, but the magical armor provided enough extra balance that he could still move.

His movements weren’t as smooth as normal and his center of gravity was completely askew, but there was no time to figure out another solution. Arek dropped the guandao, which burst into motes of green light and flew back into his claws.

“I’m not going to be able to fight any monsters like this,” Arek said, adjusting his stance. “I’m focusing on getting to safety as fast as possible. Don’t let go.”

He strode forward, peeking out the door of the shop. The smell of war assaulted him as soon as he stepped outside and his vision started to turn red. There were still no wyrms in the small alley, so he squeezed out and started towards the small square.

The orc’s walk turned into a jog, which turned into a run. His footsteps fell heavier and heavier as he accelerated, lowering his body and barreling forward like a rampaging bull. He charged into the center of the square.

The wyrms had pushed inwards. Several had already reached the area that Arek was heading through. They let out snarls as Arek approached, but their beady eyes widened in fear and they dashed away.

Arek stormed past them, not even giving the creatures a second glance. His eyes were focused on the two story building before him. When he grew close enough, the muscles in his legs bunched up and he launched himself upwards with enough force to break the stone beneath him.

He crashed through the walls on the second story of the house, but they didn’t even slow him. The armor absorbed the brunt of the attack and the orc continued forward, bursting through the other side of the house and flying across the rooftops.

“Everyone still on?” Arek half asked, half growled as he landed on a roof and thundered forwards.

“Barely,” Ming said with a strained grunt. “I squished my bag of food.”