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When I came out of the tent, I discovered Bal Vyr had found our camp. I was impressed considering we had completely forgotten to go find him and tell him of Harbinger’s plan.
“You found us,” I stated.
“Yeah... people tend to notice a blue Goliath and a winged woman walking around. Plus the fire kind of gave you all away,” the Drow replied.
“Good point.”
We all gathered together and enjoyed a meal of goat. I made a note I would need to find myself a plate and utensils.
It wasn’t long into dinner that my thoughts wandered back to the orb. Like Bal Vyr said, people tend to notice me and Cloudbreaker Harbinger. Throw a deific orb into that mix, how was it the guards didn’t confront us while out and about today?
“So guys. I know we agreed to do research on the town and talk with the Elves as our focus for dealing with the Mayor, but I think we were lucky today to have not been wrangled up. I’m sure he knows we’re back and if I, or any of us, go into town again, they just might take us in,” I spoke. The guys gave a nod of their heads as they realized the truth in my words. “What should we do now?” I added.
“It’s clear we need to gain allies within town and strike tonight,” Harbinger stated.
“Tonight?” I questioned.
“Yes. It really bothers me that they have our friends and if you are correct in believing the Mayor knows we’re back, then surely our delay in returning will reflect poorly for Grendel and Trickfoot,” he explained.
“But who in town do we know that would want to take the Mayor out with us? We can’t just ask anyone,” Bal Vyr pointed out.
“The Sylphsbane Clade,” I piped in. The men looked at me for they knew of my reservations I had about them. “Harbinger, remember earlier when you asked Harry about the Mayor? He had nothing to say. To me that seemed evident enough that he was of a similar opinion about the Mayor as we are.”
“I don’t know Araja,” Bal Vyr continued, “They don’t seem like a group to trust.”
“But it’s the best we have.”
“No. I have some contacts that I believe we can get to aid us.”
“Even better Bal Vyr!” Harbinger interjected, “How about Blackwing and I go to the Sylphsbane Clade to recruit and you two can go talk to your contacts,” the Goliath suggested to Abu and the Drow.
I nodded in approval while Bal Vyr shook his head. “Are you sure you really want to trust the Sylphsbane Clade? I just... I don’t know. They don’t seem any better than the Mayor,” the Drow persisted.
“I’m certain of them. They still want our help with the Elven druidess. So we go in, explain that we four are of one mind to help, but alas we are unable to accept the contract for the Mayor has two of our comrades in bondage. I imagine if they truly desire our help with the druidess that they’ll assist us. And Blackwing is correct. Harry had nothing to say about the Mayor when I asked his opinion of him,” Harbinger elaborated.
Bal Vyr pondered for a minute, lips pursed, eyes narrowed. He began to shake his head, but let out an exasperated sigh and said, “Fine. Let’s do this.”
I helped Harbinger get into his armor once more before sliding back into my chain shirt and gathering my gear. Abu and Bal Vyr had thrown dirt on the smoldering embers, leaving the camp in the dim twilight. The Goliath then took my hand and began to lead the way back to town.
We approached the gates of the city and once the guards got a good look at us, said that the Mayor was expecting us. We told them we were on our way. Luckily they didn’t escort our party and so, once out of their sight, we split ways; Bal Vyr and Abu headed to the temple district while Harbinger and I went off to the Slyphsbane clade.
As the Goliath and I walked the dim streets, I couldn’t help but feel we really should have waited until morning. I looked up at Harbinger and was surprised to find him looking nervous like myself. It certainly didn’t help my nerves. Part of me nagged in the back of my mind that we were setting ourselves up for disaster seeking out the Clade’s help... but they were the only ones I felt who had similar opinions of the Mayor.
“I suppose it’s too late to say this,” I began, hoping to get Harbinger talking, “but perhaps it would have been better to have waited ‘til morning.” The Goliath’s eyes narrowed some. I let a sigh out. “I know I’m nervous to say the least,” I confessed.
Harbinger squeezed my hand. “I am too Blackwing,” he said solemnly. Then with more vigor, “But know this,” he looked deep into my eyes, “Whatever evil happens tonight, I will be by your side and protect you with my life.”
The gloom dissipated as a smile crept on my lips. And if I thought the joy I felt knowing I had him to protect me was enough, I was wrong.
“I love you,” he said as he lifted my hand to kiss it. I felt my smile falter as disbelief tried to play about my mind. Surely he couldn’t love me already. I was still in amazement that I was likable... but as he looked back at me, I couldn’t deny what I heard, nor the love that I felt for him too.
“Faq æae daa (fall yay day),” I responded, my grin returning. I said it in Angelic, because... well it seemed safe. I love Harbinger, but I didn’t want to confess how much yet. I’m sure it was the disbelief that someone could love me that held me back.
The Goliath gave an endearing smile and continued to lead me toward the Sylphsbane Clade.
We were able to gain an audience with Harry right away when we arrived. Once we were in a private room with him, Harbinger explained our dilemma to Harry. He listened to every word with particular care. It was hard to read his expression. Part of me wondered if he was noting our words with treason or comradery.
“Have you told anyone else this?” Harry finally asked.
“No we haven’t,” the Goliath responded quickly. I almost corrected him, considering Bal Vyr and Abu were out recruiting others, but I noted Harbinger was being honest. We haven’t told anyone else.
Harry then said the Clade would be ready by tomorrow night for handling the Mayor. We then explained that we weren’t able to return to our place since the Mayor was expecting us and it was pertinent that we struck tonight. The Clade member thought a moment before suggesting that he’d have us taken to a safe house.
“We were to meet our other two members at Larland’s Chalice Inn in a few hours,” Harbinger said.
“No worries. We’ll send someone there to retrieve them,” Harry responded. The Goliath then pulled out a symbol of Naki-Uthai and handed it to the Clade member, telling him it was so the others knew that we were with the Clade.
Harry went and fetched a few members. One escorted us through the club to a room in which he revealed a hidden door. It was narrow and the member apologized to Harbinger about the conditions, but promised it wouldn’t be so tight once they made their way through the passageway.
I followed after the Clade member sent to guide us, the Goliath squeezing through the passage after me. Hearing the stone against his armor made me cringe some... he had just retrieved the new equipment earlier that day...
The passageway did open up to a spacious corridor. As we continued to follow our guide, I couldn’t help but recall what Dale had told me about his God’s temple.
“Are these the catacombs of Larland’s temple?”
“Well, there are catacombs for that, but rather this whole city is made up of them,” our guide answered. He took us through many turns and only once did he pause a moment before selecting the corridor we needed to go down. Eventually we came to some stairs that lead up another narrow passageway.
We ascended the stairs and soon entered into a room. It was a small home in which a meager table was set up and straw scattered about. It almost looked to be a stable of sorts, but with a front door and two small, glass windows.
Once Harbinger squeezed up and through the passageway, our guide warning us that it would not be wise to go into the catacombs alone. He then added that by tomorrow night someone should come for us when it was time to confront the Mayor. We then thanked him for his help and watched as he went out the front door, locking it behind him.
The Goliath took a moment to take his armor off while I paced nervously. It was quiet, other than the clanking of metal. The only illumination we had was from the lantern the Sylphsbane member left in the home. When Harbinger finished, he settled himself on some hay and offered me to sit with him. I went over and sat down, leaning on the Goliath as I hugged my legs.
“Still nervous?” he asked. He seemed more confident in our ally than I was. Still, I nodded. It was hard trusting in someone I hardly knew and with roughly 24 hours until we confronted the Mayor... it was easy for my anxieties to work up. “I’m sure Naki-Uthai will watch over us,” Harbinger said.
I felt myself smile. This will probably seem strange, for that is what I still think, but when the Goliath said that, I couldn’t help but feel the truth in it. We had just prepared shrines for his deities, surely they will bless Harbinger for his faithfulness, maybe even me for having helped.
“Læ Saoer,” I uttered, turning my head to face him, “I really enjoyed being part of creating your God’s shrines. Your devotion is admirable.” I then repositioned myself so I was facing Harbinger and holding his hands. Looking at him all calm and composed, I couldn’t help but feel grateful to have him back. My eyes burned as I fought back the emotion that was overcoming me.
“It was very profound honoring the Gods again,” I continued, before nearly slipping in my own pessimism, “I pray that-” I quickly cut myself off. How could I taint Harbinger’s faith with the hurt I still felt toward Heironious? Who’s to say his Gods will betray him?
Feeling shamed I would doubt his Gods integrity, I felt tears fall down my cheeks. But I wasn’t really sad. I was happy! I had Harbinger who loved me!
“I’m sorry,” I started, “I don’t mean to cry. I'm not sad or anything. You’ve given me so much to be grateful for-” the Goliath placed a hand on the side of my face and used his thumb to wipe a tear from it. I smiled and placed my free hand on his. Despite the roughness of the mark on his palm, it felt nice to have my head cradled in his hand. Considering he could have been gone forever... I had the mark to thank.
"Harbinger, you have no idea how thankful I am to have you back," I finally said.
The Goliath smiled warmly as he pondered. I placed his hand back in my lap with his other as he let out a long sigh.
“When we were fighting the Goblins, I remember in the moments before all went dark, I was desperate to cut a way out for you, to save you. I couldn’t have lived with myself if you hadn’t escaped that place,” Harbinger spoke. He broke eye contact with me as he continued, “You may not blame me, but despite my loss of control, it still hurts to know that I, my demon, was responsible for your death. For that I am still sorry Blackwing,” the Goliath said with a heavy voice. I shook my head.
“There’s nothing to apologize for Harbinger,” I began, “Part of me knew I was going to die at your hands. I had hoped I would have been able to reason with you... but it was evident that that wasn’t going to happen.” I felt the corners of my lips turn into a grin as I finished speaking. “Oddly enough, for the first time... death didn’t scare me.”
“Well, it would seem that I’m more like Bal Vyr than I had thought-” Harbinger began to respond.
“You’re nothing like him,” I interjected.
“Blackwing, we both turn into monsters upon our death,” the Goliath tried to explain, “And you... you became more of yourself filled with light that saved us!”
I traced Harbinger’s rough mark. It still baffles me as to why I didn’t become a monster.
“Is it weird to say I value my mark? My demon seems to have given me my sister’s gift. She was a savant healer,” I said solemnly.
“You have a sister?” the Goliath asked, seeming intrigued by the thought, “I have a brother and sister myself; Bonefinder and Ravensong... I miss them.”
“I miss her too.”
“What’s her name?”
“Meryth.” Oh how I miss my sister... “It does make me wonder about our marks though. Why me? Why was it I was made to heal while you, Bal Vyr, and Lash became murderous? Is there a purpose to it all?”
“I don’t know Blackwing. We can only hope that in time we’ll learn more,” Harbinger responded.
“Here’s to hoping then. I certainly want to free you from the mark.”
“And I you. Together we will rid this curse from ourselves.”
I held my tongue to that. For the first time, I truly embraced the mark. I was able to bring about good with it... and clearly it would keep me alive.
Harbinger gave my hands a squeeze and put a smile on his face. “I’m tired of this dreary mood as we talk about what happened. We’ve been given a second chance and I don’t plan to squander it on the past.”
The Goliath gently cupped my face in his hands before leaning down and giving me a quick kiss. “I too am thankful to be back with you. I may no longer be Cloudbreaker, but that is a good thing. He was riddled with fears, doubts, and loneliness,” Harbinger said as he looked deep into my eyes, “How can I feel lonely with you by my side? How can I know fear and doubt when you give me the courage to act?”
I closed my eyes to try and prevent the tears from coming. That failed unfortunately, but it was impossible to contain my joy. Part of me didn’t want to believe the Goliath valued me that much, yet that was the part of me that couldn’t believe something this good could happen to me again.
Harbinger then moved his hand down to my neck, brushing my braid back. When I looked back at him, his pupiless blue eyes filled mine as he smirked at me.
“So what does ‘Læ Saoer’ mean?” he asked. I smiled coy like back at the Goliath.
“Your new nickname,” I said. I took a moment to think. It was my turn to express how much he meant to me. “Hajarikn, Honorable, will always be a noted characteristic of yours, but now... you mean so much more. So I thought ‘My Heart’ is exactly what you mean to me.”
Harbinger’s expression shifted as he took in what I said. “‘Your Heart’?” he began, clearly trying to process the meaning, “Are you... what are you saying exactly?” he prodded.
I suddenly felt bashful. I hadn't expected to explain it explicitly, but I wanted to be honest despite the nervousness that coursed through me.
“Well... as you know, I love you. Faq æae. However, um, uil æaer (ool yay-r) would be more accurate,” I looked daringly at Harbinger. I could hear my heart thumping in my ears. My hands were interlocked together, anxiously fidgeting. I could only hope the Goliath would understand my sincerity.
“Uil æaer is the deepest form one can say ‘I love you’ in Angelic. It literally translates to ‘I’m yours.’ That’s how I feel and that’s why your nickname changed for me," I explained, hoping he wouldn't reject my devotion.
Harbinger looked back at me with such warmth in his eyes that I knew he understood. With his hand still on my neck, he gently pulled me toward him.
“Kuli’gol ananaka,” he said as our faces became a few inches apart. My head spinned, I knowing what he had said, though I had never heard it in Gol-kaa. Still, he translated the phrase for me, “I love you too.”
Harbinger then gave me one final kiss for the night.
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