Chapter 39. The No Good Very Bad Rescue

Injured from the fight, with more opponents possibly mere moments away, we needed to do something. I had stopped the flow of blood, but I could still feel the damage that had been done from that large brute. Turning to the chained captives, I call out to Yun and Geno to help me. As they pull out lock picks, I examine how the captives are bound. I single long chain goes trough all the shackles they are bound by, then each individual are cuffed. With no time for finesse, and not caring what they may think of me, I simply raise my axe, bringing it down onto the chain. The magically glowing blade cuts through the chain like butter. Just as Yun releases on set of wrists, the whole chain falls, and the captives are longer restrained to the wall. Hoping that would allow them a better chance at life, I turn around to find the new arrivals starting their attack.
A large man leads them, bald. Brutish and hefting a large Greataxe. An overgrown lumber axe, the blade is simply massive, and it looks like it wouldn't be balanced very well, but as we start our dance he proves able enough to use it. I hear the familiar high pitched sizzle whiz through the air, and feel the concussive blast in the hallway beyond where the incoming combatants are bunched up, waiting to get through.
A chaotic melee breaks out as Marda and I flank the entrance. I try to interpose myself between the axe wielding slaver, and the captives trying to meld into the wall behind me. Pulling from the energy within, I try to quicken my movement and strikes, but it still isn't enough to always get through my opponents defenses. From the corner of my eye I see a small blue ball similar to what Yun had just produced spear into the center of the room.
An explosion of lightning lit up the chamber, and horrible shocking pain wracked through my body. I could hear screaming come from behind and around me. MY vision filled with stars for a split second, and my hands cramped up, clenching down my the haft of my axe. Jaw forcefully clamped closed, I was finally allowed to breathe again as it had seemed like it was days since I could. I had only the time for a glance to look to see if any one was down before I had to concentrate on fighting for my life again,
Mikey charging in helped, goring and rending with his horns, Geno right behind him with the flail. The two of them stood at the front of the enemy group, holding the flood from getting through Steam streaming from Mikey's nostrils, light dancing and gleaming for grease stains. The four of us against the four slavers in the front. Melfina's prayers were heard behind us, then a horrible screeching buzz came from the hallway, where more screams were quickly drowned out. Flickers dots, tiny a quick would sometimes dart from around the corner behind my foe. The feel of a surgeons needle appears on my side where I had taken a blow. Melfina must have thrown some magic my way, my skin knitting back together, stretching under the scales uncomfortably.
Blocking a blow from the blade of the axe, I riposted, leaving a slice in the half plate armor in the slavers armor, but it left me open as the back end of the axe, a solid square of metal came and landed at the base of my neck, removing feeling from the area. Pushing past me, the armored hulk made a move to leave, but Geno's flail came down on the bald head from behind, caving it in, and the body simply dropped, coloring the water red.
I could see a short way into the hallway now that there wasn't someone trying to actively kill me, and I could see slavers, men, being bitten and eaten by insects as they stand or fall. The small bugs were either all white, or all black, and had long sharp legs, long pincers like a mantis, and were hacking away at any exposed surface. Skin and clothing alike. Needing to look away, I glanced back to see how the captives were faring. Faces of terror and pain met my gaze. Eyes open and accusatory they were all dead, killed by the explosion of lightning that had hit everyone else. Wrenching my head back, I turned just in time to see the thug that had somehow survived slip up and stab between the plates of my armor in my side. Falling, I started to feel numb. Feeling like I had been up for days on end, I just wanted to close my eyes. The water under me was easing the weight on my body, and I let my axe go. I let my head down, resting on my chest. I think a little nap right now would be fine. That way I can play with To'Li when she wakes up in the morning.
My body hurts. I can feel the water moving around me and my body is trying to move against gravity again, opening my eyes, I find that combat has just ended. The captives were all dead, still against the wall. No longer can I hear the buzzing of the insects summoned by Melfina. Geno and Mikey were no longer next to me, but I can hear Metal rubbing against Metal, which should be Mikey. We have lost all our leads here. Lost the people we were supposed to save, lost the prisoners we were going to question. Scrambling to find something, I start looking at the first body I can find, it's the man in Half plate armor that I had been fighting. I knew that the others were leaving, and I hurt, oh gods did I hurt, but I needed something to make any of this worth it. Going through the pockets and belongings, I find a pouch with naught but platinum coins, and a set of keys.
A cold blast hit all around the chamber, ice leaving a fine glaze across everything. As the water started to break, I couldn't feel my limbs again, but I knew I was still alive. A cold burning feeling was still there, and the Need to find something made me keep going. I saw Melfina run into the hallway, presumably after the rest of the group, and I knew I couldn't stay that much longer. Too late, I was aware of someone behind me, and I suddenly felt so very tired, only wanting to sleep. Closing my eyes, I fell face first into the water.
Water filling my mouth, a sharp pain in the back of my head. and someone pulling my ankle, I wake once again. Flailing around a bit, I look up to find Melfina looking worriedly at me. Shooting glances at the corner, I notice we are in the hallway now, with dozens of horrid bugs, dead, floating on the top, slowly disintegrating. Standing up, Angered at the outcome of this excursion, I poke my head around the corner and see a horned humanoid figure in robes standing in the corner. Knowing that figure had not been there before, and knowing the others would be here were they a friend, I opened my mouth and let a roaring torrent of fire loose. Turning, I then used the last of my energy, and speed up my movement like I had before, simply to leave. Thanking Melfina on the way out, she started moving too, her whole image blurring like it had several times before. I knew she would be able to catch up, so I kept moving, quickly out of breath. Hearing shouting up ahead, Marda was calling us, telling us that she had caught the other two idiots up here.
Trying to keep moving, Melfina ran past me, to fast to make out much, but for the fact that she had what looked to be Geno under her arm. I paused for a pace, not quite sure what to make of that, but I knew I had to keep up. She had come back for me, and I needed to prove still worthy of her companionship. With the last of my energy, I Stepped forward, magically moving sixty feet forward to the turn in the hallway, to find Marda engaged with the guard that had been at the entrance of the tunnel. Two other men, slaver thugs, lay in the water, bleeding out. With all the moment, and energy my tired body could muster, I swung my axe into that last man, knowing him to be a conspirator in slavery. Blood already seeping from his eyes, nose and ears, the blade hits him in the chest, sinking in, and I quickly hit him again. My arms leaden, I would have hit him again if I could have, but the body curls upon itself, gurgling noise coming from the hole in his chest and his mouth. With the urgent need to leave, we head out into the streets.
A this late hour there were not many people out, but still more than I would have liked. Mikey was with us, and we were covered in blood. Geno solved the problem of Mikey by making him invisible again. Melfina relayed the message from the spectere that the caster had gotten away and that caused quite a bit of problems. Apologizing for staying behind, I explained that I had simply wanted something to clue us in on our next step, My voice weary and hopeless. I knew it would do no good now if I gave up, and morale would be important. With my head on a swivel, I finally noticed that Yun wasn't with us. With a bit of alarm, I asked where they were, to find Yun had left the tunnels altogether, and we were not really sure where they were. Gathering her strength, Melfina cast her spell to talk with others.
“Where the hell are you, we killed what we could, Heading to Madam Curie's.” after a short pause, she tells us he went to find Max for Help. I was upset at first, as I didn't want to take anything away from protecting To'Li, But I knew it was a good call. In the shape we were in, another fight would be a big problem. We needed a fresh fighter.
The series of cottages that was Madam Curie's was in view when Max and Yun came caught up with us. He was looking around, paying better attention than I was. Approaching us looking concerned, I simply looked at him. “We couldn't save any of them. Not a one.” He didn't say anything, just handed Melfina his giant Mace, and engulfed me In a great big hug. Hanging onto my arm, he put it over his massive shoulders and supported me, grabbing his Mace back, and simply walked me to our cabin.
“What do we know anymore?” I ask no one in particular. More thinking out loud, but I'm nearly too tired to do that. “The slavers no longer have their 'Shipment', so they have nothing to guard anymore. The caster got away, so they know what we look like and it will be easier to find us. We don't know where anymore of their network is hiding, so we can't follow them. And we have no idea who their boss is, and it could be anyone.” So much for staying quiet for morale.
Forced to leave Mikey outside, we all gather in the room together, now rather cramped as everyone is here. Asking Max to set up the tent, he takes it with a remembering smile. He sets it up and we head inside.
The interior of Max's pillow fort is very similar to His fathers. A large pillowed trunk spires up to the ceiling in the middle, with seating set into the floor around it, like a meeting pool. Hot chocolate sits on the flat but pillowed Various branching rooms lead away from the center, but each one had a different architecture style. Great sweeping pillow arches in one room, with a vaulted ceiling. Fancy embroidery and curved pillow windows for another room. One was simple 4 quilted walls, spartan and minimal in construction. Sitting in the middle, I tell everyone that all I could find was a very well made axe, which I left behind, a bag of platinum, and some keys. Remembering that we also still had nails from the mysterious engineer stand in, we could follow up on that, but we had a dead guard and were covered in blood. Not needing to be here anymore, Max lets us know that if we need them too, he and Leona could maybe come up with something to let us slip out of the city, but otherwise, he would get back and watch over my Daughters. Giving him another hug, and thanking him, I see him out. With us all tired, we decide on who is taking what watch, and head to get some rest. Stripping out of my sodden gear, and leaving it where it lay, I crawl into a bed, head touching the pillow as I fall asleep. On purpose thank you.
Once again I wake up to Melfina hovering over me. Telling me that some guards are looking around the other huts, I should get ready. My body ached, which told me it could have been between 5 minutes and 5 days. Deciding together that we should stay in here, we move to get closer to the entrance. Finding the best place to be is at the sitting area in the center, I am tempted to grab a mug of hot chocolate. After a few minutes of waiting, the temptation grew to great. Grabbing on of the ever steaming mugs, I move to take a sip when suddenly the whole pillow fort shakes While most of the liquid had stayed in the cup, a large wet stain was now spreading across my chest, and a couple star shaped marshmallows, courtesy of Max's whimsy, where sticking to my already dirty vest.
With a frown on my face, I look up to see Melfina grinning slightly. “Yes. Ha ha, that was funny. You think we should check on that?” I ask. We decide to wait for just a few moments more, and as we get up to check, someone comes in. an old woman in a black dress comes in with a consternated look on her face.
“It's OK,” she says. But it isn't the voice of an old woman, but Yun. “I got them to go away, but I think they saw Mikey, and I had to throw a spell at one to suggest he left. I need to make sure I keep a connection on that spell, meaning I can't sleep. We also need to move sooner than we had hoped. If the other guards decide to come back we will have trouble.”
Geno had slipped out invisibly and secreted Mikey away, and Marda had stayed in the room outside the tent, and once we had everyone back together, we tried figuring out what to do. Melfina had dedicated some of her blood to her goddess, which had given her just a bit more power to cast spells, but it have cost her blood. Now she used some of that energy to message Dani, seeing if she could help.
“Help. Guards are looking for us, we need a place to stay.” A frown appears on Melfina's face as she gets the response. Dani is busy for now, she needs a few hours before she can do anything. Resigning ourselves to wait, we settle down until we can move. Grabbing my gear, I decide to clean it as best as I can, see what needs to be done.
Tears and cuts have damaged the cloth of my vest, and I sew shut what I can. Pulling the plates out, I find more dents than I would have liked, and a long slice that would have cut open my belly have the blade been just a bit more forceful. Most of the dents would need to be done in a shop, and may even warrant replacement. The plates were still going to offer adequate protection, but it was no longer pristine. The clothing was in need of a good wash, but that wasn't going to happen any time soon. A Really good wash.
We waited for a few hours, but as more time went on, we never head anything from Dani. I was able to rest a little, but didn't get any sleep. I could feel my energy come back a little, but that was more my battle energy. I could cast spells and heal, and I was even able to check on my wounds a bit, but I was still physically tired. Once six hours past, we decided we couldn't stay here anymore. With a suggestion of going to see Lenny pots at the Sanctum outpost, we gathered our things, checked to make sure it was clear, and took the side streets.
It was very early in the morning when we left. Taking two hours to get across town, we made it there in time for Yun, now back in their usual form, to collapse on the door step of the outposts shack. A small sign on the door informed us that Lenny was not here. With a little investigating, Marda found that she could open the door using the badge she had revived, showing her rank with the sanctum. A rune appeared, then vanished with a click of a lock, and the door was open for us. Getting inside, we half carry Yun with us, and have to twist Mikey's head to get the horns through. As Tired as I am, I tell everyone I'm not sure if I can set the tent up, but I will try anyway. It takes a couple of tries, but thoughts of To'Li let me get the tent up. I really hope they didn't follow Max back. I can't let her get involved in this.
Worried about Dani, Melfina send another message to her. “We found another safe house are you OK, we have not heard from you.” after only a slight pause she turns to us. “Dani is dealing with more slavers.” turning away again, she casts. “We are not in a condition to help at this time, is it an emergency?” Turning to us again, she fills us in. The Slavers are still coming into town, the boss is still going to come. They think they will be OK for now.”
I don't really like the sound of it, and ask if I should go look for them, but as I say it I know it's ludicrous. I can't go by myself, and the shape I';m in would be more of a detriment. The others agree, and we decide not to even take watches in here. With the magical lock on the door, we all go to our rooms, the normal ones I had imagined for them. I find the now familiar nest in my room as take great comfort in it. Covering up in blankets and pillows, I drift back to sleep, body aching, and try to figure out who we could talk to in town to clear our names. We did save the town from the infection. Maybe we could send a message to the mayor, or the captain of the guard. They might remember us. Otherwise we may be in trouble.