Chapter 18

She didn’t notice the two eyes fixed on her since she left the tunnel. They grew bigger the more they saw and when Eleonora left the plaza Linda stayed in her hiding spot for a full five minutes. ‘Move…’ she told herself ‘Move move move’ and she did. After arriving in their hiding place she went to her things and sat down. “Anything wrong Linda?” Matt asked, seeing her distress. “No no, just got a little too close to one of those things.” She said, dismissing her friend. ‘Who was that? Why was she killing the monsters…that speed and power…’ she was awed, the only thing keeping her from feeling fear the fact that the woman had killed monsters. ‘And she was smiling through the whole thing…a controlled massacre…and that last charge…’

Linda decided not to mention what she saw before meeting up with the king and the people who already went up, not to create a panic or sudden shift in plans that could end horribly. ‘What was that aura and those tattoos…incredible.’ Linda tried to ignore what she saw for now and after claming down went back out to scout. ‘Where are they?’ she ran through the streets that just a day prior were crowded with monsters. Not a single one of the beasts could be seen. ‘She led them away…the ones she killed at the plaza…’ she thought as she looked in the direction where she witnessed the slaughter.

‘There were more though…way more…where are they all.’ She stealthily approached the seemingly empty tunnel to the top and looked inside. ‘What…’ the tunnel was completely empty. Not a single one of the monsters was inside. ‘This is dangerous…very dangerous. If she set a trap…’ she thought as she rushed back to their base. ‘But what reason for that would she have…she could simply attack them outright…with that kind of power…’ Linda wasn’t sure if their group would be able to stop that woman. ‘Plus she was killing them…’ it was certainly a risk but so was waiting and splitting their group up even more.

She made a decision then, getting up all the people in one go, not mentioning what she saw. ‘We have to be together before I tell them, they would argue to no end and we’d be stuck for even longer probably wasting the opportunity that woman created. Selmar and Alice will decide together. And it’s not like we could leave at this point, even with the presence of that powerful being.’ She arrived at their shelter and entered.

Eleonora waited in a broken house near the tunnel entrance, sitting in cover, looking out a window. It took three hours for the group to arrive. ‘Finally…how long do you need to use an opportunity….’ She looked at the cautious group as two corrupted burst out of the snow next to them ‘Oh I didn’t kill those two…’ she thought ‘And I guess it’s reasonable that they took so long…’ power filled the air as the group diverted into two groups, immediately surrounding the corrupted ‘…it is rather strange that hundreds of them suddenly vanished.’ She grinned ‘I’m like an unseen hero…’ remembering some of the stories she read her mood was at a high.

The group finished off the creatures after only ten seconds. Nobody was hurt. ‘She’s not here….’ Linda thought as she scanned the surroundings. “They really are all gone…” Matt whispered. Alice motioned him to be quiet but didn’t do more, it was very strange indeed. Alice took the lead and motioned for the group to follow in formation. They reached the house after only fifteen minutes, it was close to the cliff after all.

Peter saw them from afar, crouching on top of the building and waved. The group continued cautiously as he hadn’t signaled an all clear. They didn’t know if any of the monsters had moved in the night and hid themselves again. Alice entered the house, greeting the guard that stood near the torn down wall. “There’s plenty of space upstairs.” The guard told them as everyone made their way up the stairs.

Josh immediately rushed to Selena, who was still sleeping, and started working on her arm. “What happened?” Alice asked Selmar, who was sitting next to his injured friend. He didn’t lift his head as he talked “A lot. We need to talk. You, me, Lucien and our new friend over there.” Alice had already noticed the unfamiliar person leaning on the wall in one of the corners. Alice nodded “There’s a cellar, you think you need anyone else there?” she shook her head “Josh, but I can see he’s going to be occupied for a while.” Glancing at the healer who was lost in his trade.

Selmar got up and nodded towards the corner. A woman with black hair and green eyes appeared, her steps controlled and seemingly deadly. Alice couldn’t feel any magic from her but the hairs on her back stood up looking at her. Linda froze when she saw her. “Lucien, a word.” The scholar stopped unpacking his maps and books and followed the king downstairs. The four were already gone when the people started asking questions about the new addition. Linda was just smiling to herself in a corner of the room ‘She’s on our side then?’ absorbed in thought Linda simply didn’t have enough information to decide.

The four people reached the cellar and sat down on some chairs that still remained. Alice formed a crystal on top of the table between them, lightly illuminating the room in a blue hue. “Alright Eleonora, everyone’s here now. I won’t ask about the sudden disappearance of the monsters blocking the tunnel and nobody else will either.” He sternly looked towards Alice and Lucien before continuing “This is Eleonora, she’s a citizen of Duneswatch who traveled north to explore uncharted lands and train.” It was obvious that the king wasn’t saying everything but Lucien was on a payroll and Alice trusted him enough, especially with people.

“If not for her Selena would be dead right now, I talked to her and trust her to an extent. She offered to share information as soon as everyone of us arrived.” He looked towards Elly “Does that offer still stand?” the woman with green eyes nodded and looked towards Lucien. “Do you have paper and something to write?” he removed a piece of paper and a sharpened piece of coal, ready to write. “One for me too please.” She said, as he removed another one, his complete attention fixed on this mysterious woman before him.

Eleonora made a mark on the paper. “I left Duneswatch two years ago and went north.” She tried to draw a line and wrote her time of travel next to it. She didn’t feel a need to lie about the time ‘They’ll find out anyway as soon as they get back to Duneswatch. Plus Selmar will trust me more. I can leave out enough…he already knows the only secret I really have to be careful with anyway.’ She drew a line north “I found a cave system after several months of traveling and explored it, finding a flag that indicated that there were people there before.” She drew the flag on the paper “The Empire of Usir. I found an old guardian powered by magic. After destroying it and going through the tunnel that was sealed until then, I found a city.”

Lucien gestured around him when he heard that and Eleonora shook her head “No, I didn’t find this valley until a couple days ago. The city I’m talking about is called Isindur, although I think this valley and the city below is part of it too.” She turned around the paper and drew a circle, then marked two places. “I’m fairly sure it was the capital of this empire and held around five hundred thousand people. Most of them are still here and you’ve met some of them already.” She then explained what she had learned about the people and the city, leaving out how many of the monsters she’d killed already ‘They’ll see the corpses though…oh well…’ continuing on she told them about her scavenging and the cave she stayed at. Lucien’s eyes got even bigger as he heard about the books and documents she’d collected there.

“So you’ve been there for two years…” Alice said, looking at the woman, still on edge by her presence. “Well you’ve been out there for three…” Elly responded. The king started chuckling and the others joined in soon after. “What’s your goal here then? Why haven’t you gone back?” Alice asked Eleonora, who looked at Selmar before talking “I was wanted when I left. Selmar knows about the specifics and we’ll deal with that in time. As a favor for saving the captain and providing information of course.” Alice wasn’t sure she agreed with Selmar but she was in no place to argue. Selmar was surprised and glad that Eleonora had shared this, it would become much easier to justify a bounty removal afterwards. “That’s the main reason I haven’t returned. I’ve been training the past two years and even though I feel strong enough to avoid some guards or headhunters now I can’t leave. Not until every single one of the corrupted is dead and whatever caused this catastrophe has been dealt with.” She paused to let the though sink in.

“And I think this aligns with your plans as well.” They had a lot to process, Lucien having written down several pages of information. He already started to scribble down theories before Eleonora stopped him “Wait with that until you’ve read my collection…oh and Selmar” he lifted his head as he cleared his mind from the things he’d just heard. “The bounty was for providing info and saving Selena. For showing you the entrance and getting you to my home I request for…what was his name? Lucien?...I want him to teach me the language of Usir.” The king nodded first towards her then to Lucien, placing a smile on Eleonora’s face. “We’ll leave whenever you like. Daytime preferably.” She said before getting up and walking upstairs.

The three people sat there in silence for nearly twenty minutes before Alice broke the silence “Well this is convenient.” She said “Any of that true?” she looked at the others. Lucien replied first “With what I learned so far it seems reasonable. Won’t be able to tell until I see that collection…I’d take the risk. Plus what could she do to us alone?” Alice shifted uncomfortably in her chair “You’ve felt it too haven’t you…” Selmar said. “Which is another reason I trust her. She’s certainly dangerous but I believe she hasn’t lied with a single thing she’s said. There are things she didn’t mention I’m sure. Some on accident and some on purpose but we gained a lot by meeting her.”

The others nodded absent-mindedly at that “The city sounds nice.” Alice said “A place to truly rest. If what she said about the pyramid is true, we could sleep safely for the first time in three years.” Selmar got up. “It’s decided then if you don’t have any objections. Lucien you’ll teach her the language.” Alice nodded and added “Is it alright if we train her a little?” she looked at Selmar who understood her intentions “Sure, just tell me what you find out.” They got up and went upstairs before Selmar stopped “Alice.” As soon as Lucien was out of earshot he closed in on her and whispered in her ear “She’s a Bloodmage.” Her eyes widened a little before she nodded “Awakened before she left, her killings focused on the monsters on her way here and the corrupted. I believe her. Tell me what you think in a week or two.” He left Alice to her thoughts and joined the people upstairs.