A Bone to Pick, Coda

---

The group of adventurers exit into the twilight gloom after leaving the cave entrance to the Sunfast fortress of Vorsthold, starting to head in the direction of the Feythorn Forest. The windswept landscape is all together rather barren, sparse copses of trees dotted here and there, but their trunks are thin compared to the larger forest a few hours walk away. There is hardly any shale underfoot, this path travelled often enough before the undead attacks started increasing in the dwarven stronghold. It is starting to loosen from disuse however so their exit is careful and meticulous.

There is an unspoken disquiet amongst them all but no one seems willing to break it for some time. BB could draw up the Teleportation Circle on the uneven earth and they would be back in Daring Heights quicker, but she said she would prefer to do it on a more dirt-packed ground. The normal chatter isn’t there as they pick their way down the wind-battered slope, skeletal trees and large rocks casting dark shadows across their path as the sun sets.

Thankfully, they do not have to walk all the way back to the Feythorn Forest. Taffeta spots a patch of earth suitable enough for BB’s needs near a cluster of twisting trees that somehow manages to look like contorted forms either in the throws of ecstasy or agony, one cannot tell which in the gloom. Baine checks the straps on Margrave’s saddle where he’s affixed the bundled up body of the fallen knight they found after defeating Morin, claps Arkadius reassuringly on the shoulder and makes his way to the others in the group, attempting to address what is seemingly on everyone’s mind.

He tries to get Ghesh’s attention first with a nod in a direction away from the group, but the dragonborn is exhausted. Knowing it will take some time for BB to prepare and draw up her Teleportation Circle he plops down on the ground, completely missing Baine’s unsubtle nods. The half-orc turns towards the firbolg next, trying to catch her attention in the hopes of getting his message across in between her arcane scribbling. Baine, by his own admission, has never been much for discretion and inevitably Sheryl notices these oh so subtle communiqués.

As if on cue, Arkadius comes up beside her, intending to lay a hand on her shoulder as he says, “Let’s just… step over here, shall we, best friend?”

Sheryl casually steps away from him and gives Arkadius an inscrutable look.

Baine manages to lock eyes with Taffeta and, nodding in Sheryl’s direction, says, “Don’t worry, it’ll be sorted.”

The fae-bard looks at Baine confused and slightly concerned. “What will be sorted?” she asks, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Baine, Arkadius, what’s going on?” Taffeta asks doubtfully. “If this is about what Sheryl said to Rangrim, I don’t think it was what it seemed like. We should let her explain.”

Baine smiles and nods reassuringly at Taffeta and Sheryl. “No, go for it. Absolutely.”

BB nods along to what everyone is saying, though she is a tad confused. She comes over to Sheryl and squats down to be more at the halfling’s height.

“You okay?” she asks. “I sense this may be getting a bit confusing and overwhelming, but I think we’re all just trying to figure out what’s going on. I’ve also got a helping hand here if you need it.” BB presents her hand to Sheryl and then wiggles her eyebrows slightly at her terrible pun.

Sheryl looks at the offered hand, a slight contrite smile teasing her lips. She lifts her own hand to take it, speaking directly to BB as a crease forms between her brows.

“There is something going on,” Sheryl starts, hesitantly. “I can feel it – have felt it since the Rift War. Scared isn’t the right word for how it makes me feel. Trepidation, maybe?”

She is looking at BB’s face when Sheryl catches a glimpse of Baine’s expression from the corner of her eye, reading his dismissal of her words as if he were an open book. BB sees the shadow pass over Sheryl’s face, like day swiftly turning into night. She pulls her hand back and BB looks regretfully to where Sheryl’s hand has retreated to.

“Sheryl, this is what we talked about back in the Four Fair Winds,” Arkadius entreats. “You know we all care about you, we all love you. For who you are. And lately… You haven’t been you. We all just-… want to get to the bottom of why you haven’t been yourself.”

Sheryl turns to Arkadius, giving him a pointed look before she speaks to the others.

“The Raven Queen has marked me in some way,” she says, almost reluctantly. “My magic feels darker, colder. Like the Summer is being taken away from me.”

Arkadius comes over carefully to sit down near her, his expression empathetic.

“I know how it feels, to be… To feel watched, every minute of every day. To feel like something is being taken away from you. To have… someone else seemingly take control. We just want to help. We just… We just want to help.”

“Now hold on mister,” Taffeta interrupts, “You don’t speak for me, thank you. Of course I want to help but I’d also like to know what you’ve got in mind before you go talking like I’m part of whatever you two have cooked up.”

She gives a stern look to Arkadius and Baine. A small grin passes over the half-orc’s lips at Taffeta’s words and he raises his hands in a ‘don’t shoot’ gesture.

“Sheryl, what you just said is quite concerning.” BB’s voice is laced with worry, and it draws the fae-bard’s attention to her. “Something is changing your magic? I do not know what Baine and Arkadius are planning to do to help, but I have some restorative magic myself now. If you want I can try the spell and see if that helps you in some way? It might be worth a try?”

BB pulls her component pouch out and puts it on her lap. At the same time Baine lowers his hands, reaching them towards Sheryl in an amiable way.

“Mate. I don’t mean to pick a fight here,” the big man tries to assure her. “I think I know what’s going on with you is all, and honestly, I’m surprised that you’re aware of it while it’s happening.” Sheryl raises a doubtful eyebrow. “When it happened to me, I wasn’t aware. I don’t think Ghesh was either, were you mate?”

“Ah yeah,” Ghesh says, looking at Baine in understanding. “That was really strange. I didn’t feel any kinda change, but I also couldn’t make myself let go of it.”

Baine nods. “Magic items can be really fucking tricky that way. But if you want our help, you know you have it.”

“Still I dunno what Arky and Baine are thinking of here,” Ghesh says. “If you are alright with BB trying some magic to help, it’s probably a good idea. It is up to you, but I think you know that they won’t be happy to just leave it with no more conversation.”

The dragonborn glances between Baine and Arkadius trying to discern what their intentions are. Arkadius is solely focused on Sheryl, his cat-like eyes glued to her face, not giving much mind to what everyone else is saying. Baine merely shrugs and looks resigned.

“Do you guys actually have something in mind?” the dragonborn asks, his tone becoming serious. “Spit it out, it’ll be easier for everyone if we know what you’re thinking of doin’.”

Sheryl shifts from foot to foot, almost as if she is struggling with something. She looks from Arkadius to BB, then Ghesh who are all clustered around her. Taking a few tiny steps back from them, she closes her eyes and her hands ball into fists.

“I think… I’d like to know what you have in mind, Baine,” she enunciates, her breathing a little shallow.

“While you’re at it you can come out and say what you think the problem is,” Taffeta says pointedly. “’Cause it seems like everyone except me already knows somehow!”

Baine grins a little at the halfling woman again.

“Only ’cause you’re smarter than all of us by half when it comes to items, Taff.”

He turns to Sheryl, a small, reassuring smile on his face.

“I think you’ve picked up a cursed item,” he starts to explain, speaking slowly and calmly.

“I think it could be that fancy cloak of yours, ’cause of Arky telling me you don’t wanna take it off. When I had Phil, my talkin’ sword, I kept it in the bed with me when I slept. Didn’t want to fight with any other weapon. I didn’t even realise it at the time. Not until Sunday lifted the curse.

"If you’d let her try, I reckon BB can do the same kind of magic. If not her, I know for a fact that Varis can. If you’d let one of them try it, it’ll either lift the curse or nothing else will happen, I promise. That way you can at least rule that out as something that could be affecting you. How do you feel about that, mate?”

Ghesh had been nodding as Baine spoke. Now he turns to Sheryl. “You mind us tryin’ that? I hope we aren’t making you uncomfortable with all this, it’s a lot to take in. And hey, if it turns out not to be that cloak, nothing bad will come from us trying, and we can see if we can help some other way. You did say somethin’ strange is going on with your magic, that’s it’s got all cold and dark? Do you want it to go back to the warm and light type you had before?”

There’s a brief pause as they all look at Sheryl waiting to hear her response.

“My cloak,” she scoffs. “Of course Arkadius said that to you…” Sheryl shakes her head in disbelief. Then straightens up, hands relaxing at her side, and looks between Baine and Arkadius. “My cloak is not the problem,” she says with conviction.

Arkadius closes his eyes, hand rubbing the one not covered by the knave’s eyepatch, before shaking his head and standing up.

“Of course I said that this all started when you got that cloak. ’Cause that’s when it did, back in Avernus. And honestly, Sheryl, I’d like to not keep thinking about our time in Avernus, because as you well know, things happened that I still haven’t processed fully. But alas–”

He stops himself and takes a heavy breath before starting again, talking slower in an attempt to be calm.

“This isn’t about me, this is about helping you. If the cloak isn’t the problem, then let us prove that for you. Let BB cast the spell and then we can be done with it. We can go down a different angle, yeah?”

“Maybe we should hear what Sheryl thinks is the problem?” Taffeta interjects, glaring at her taller companions. “Or at least hear why she reckons it isn’t the cloak?”

Sheryl glances at BB and sees genuine concern trying to draw her in – and part of her wants to go to her big blue friend and accept the offer. She tentatively steps closer, glancing at her best friend and there is sadness in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Arkadius, I truly am. I do not mean to make you relive what happened in Avernus.” She turns towards Ghesh. “And my magic isn’t always cold and dark. It only happens when I feel Her, the Raven Queen, in the shadows or in the darker parts of my Song…”

As she looks at Ghesh, Sheryl sees something in the way he is looking at her that draws her up short. Glancing past him, it is even more prominent in Baine’s expression. Sheryl scowls, her face completely transforming. Sharp, cruel and wicked lines make her look almost Unseelie.

“Tch. It is hard enough to explain, let alone when you won’t even listen to me,” she bites out, hurt laced in the sharpness of her words. She steps farther away from them all, gesturing at Baine and Ghesh. “Clearly there’s more issues than just mine that need airing.” Sheryl turns away.

Baine nods, completely unsurprised and a little sad. Ghesh looks genuinely taken aback and a bit upset. BB’s face stays impassive as she continues to project calm into the growing tension.

Arkadius takes a few steps away from Sheryl, giving her more room.

“Sheryl, we are listening. You have the floor, you have the space to speak. I am always willing to listen to you. You know that, deep down. Tell us what it is like, when do you feel Her presence? When does She appear in the shadows? The more we know, the more we can address things.”

A tear appears, falling slowly from his eye down his cheek in the silence as he waits.

“You know you are my main concern. Baine and Ghesh’s issues, we can deal with another time. Right here, right now… You are my main worry. And I am here. For you. By your side.”

“I’m listening as well, Sheryl,” BB says, her voice calm. “If you don’t think it’s the cape, then I believe you. But going by what you’re saying, you didn’t ask for this dark presence of the Raven Queen that is affecting your magic. I don’t like that. Unlike the Raven Queen, or whatever is affecting you, I’m giving you a choice here. A choice to let me help you understand. I’m sure you probably have questions you want answered. Maybe my spell can help answer them, maybe it can’t, and if not then I’ll help you go find those answers like you did with me. Please trust me to help you like I trusted you to help me.”

BB stays where she is sitting and gives Sheryl an encouraging smile.

“You want to understand…” Sheryl says quietly, a humorless chuckle escaping past her lips. “You say I’m cursed, but how can you know that, Baine? Do you really understand the arcane like I do? Let alone how BB or Arkadius does? How can you when I don’t fully understand what is happening?”

She shakes her head as she looks up to the sky.

“Why would a god have her eyes on me, choose me to be her herald when I do not wish to be?!”

The outburst is unnerving. None of them have ever seen Sheryl like this before. Shadows ripple in the trees, creeping closer and an uneasiness encroaches around their group.

Sheryl turns around and looks at the faces in front of her, at the people she has grown close to, and those who are kind souls but whom she barely knows. Is it a genuine concern she reads from Taffeta? Or is it like Baine, a hidden jealousy that is showing in how he wants to make her less powerful, less special? The thoughts whirl through her mind and she starts to pace back and forth, brushing at the tears that have started appearing in her eyes.

“I don’t know what to do,” Sheryl half sobs, anger and fear in the tone of her voice. She starts tugging at the feathered cloak on her shoulders, looking like she wants to take it off but never getting her hands close enough to the intricate metal collar-clasp that lays across her chest.

“I think I lied earlier when I said I wasn’t scared,” she mutters so quietly, the others almost don’t catch it. She stops pacing and stares into the shadows, like she is looking at something. “I am terrified of what the Raven Queen could want with me.”

Seeing his friend lose herself in a maelstrom of emotion, Baine raises his maul and slams the handle of it into the ground, setting it ablaze. It shines brighter than ever, a glow echoed in the sunflower pendant resting against his breastplate. The sudden noise jolts her, causing Sheryl to look at him. He speaks with a low, firm voice, dragging up every memory he has of Red, hoping to wake something in Sheryl as well.

“The boss wouldn’t like it.”

A shadow of something passes across his face but it melts into sincerity again and he continues.

“Varis wouldn’t want you to be hurt like this, Sheryl. So either let BB do it or come with me to him and he can lift it.”

For just a moment – like the space between notes in a song – Baine locks eyes with Sheryl and he sees her as she truly is: a young female, touched by the Feywild, Daughter of Summer, playfully mischievous, but with love in every fibre of her being. Her eyes are alight with recognition, seeing him and who he’s trying to be. But then, from behind her, the shape of dreadful dark wings fans out and they drape themselves over her, the cloak she has been clutching at rustling in the breeze. Her hands fall to her sides and her face closes off, the tears that had been falling down her cheeks stop and her blue eyes turn cold and indifferent as glaciers.

“No.”

Baine closes his eyes. When he opens them again they are dark and determined.

Sheryl tries to flee but Baine is quicker than her in this moment. Arkadius gets out of the way, retreating behind a nearby rock, turning his gaze away from what is about to unfold. Without looking Sheryl in the eye, Baine picks her up, locking his arms around her entire body. Taffeta starts forward, shouting, “Hey, hang on!” But it’s too late. Sheryl struggles against Baine, trying to break free but his embrace is unrelenting. He maneuvers her so her face is pressed against the sunflower pendant hanging against his breastplate, ensuring Sheryl is turned away from BB so she cannot see her.

“Just do it, BB. Get it over with.”

“What are you doing! Let go of me, Baine!” Sheryl shouts in anger as she tries to break free.

Ghesh turns his head down, muttering, “Sorry ’bout this Sheryl. If it doesn’t help feel free to take a shot at me after.” Then he gets up and comes over to stand near the half-orc. Sheryl glares daggers at him before her expression shifts, attempting to entreat him.

“I am telling you it’s not the cloak!”

BB also stands up, her expression hesitant. “I want to give you a choice, Sheryl, I really do. But I don’t think whatever this is, is letting you make a choice. I’m sorry I didn’t notice how scared you were sooner.”

She reaches into her component pouch, getting out a vial of diamond dust which she uses to draw a smiley face on the palm of her hand. She comes over to Baine and Sheryl and reaches out as she utters a few words under her breath.

“No! Please, stop!!”

“Wait–” says Taffeta hesitantly, but BB’s light blue hand touches Sheryl’s sun-kissed skin, the light of her divine spell seeping into the fae-bard’s form. There is a moment as everyone holds their breath and Sheryl goes still.

Click.

The metal, two-bird motif clasp undoes itself and the elegant, woven metal collar falls open. The cloak of dazzling colourful feathers slips from Sheryl’s shoulders and falls crumpled to the ground.

From the shadows of the twisted copse of trees and the craggy rock formations around them there is a soft rustling that builds and builds and builds into a crescendo. Everyone looks around trying to see what the source of the sound is but they cannot see anything. Then, from the darkness suddenly bursts forth dozens upon dozens of ravens, the sound of their wings beating in the air as they call mournfully out into the night. They swirl above Baine, Sheryl and BB before flying off into the twilight sky, the echo of their cries lingering in their wake.

Sheryl collapses into Baine’s chest, a sheen of sweat glistening on her brow. BB gives a small gasp as she sees what is on her back. Dark, jagged talon marks that start from her shoulder blades tear down Sheryl’s back, going below her studded leather armour. Taffeta reaches forth and lays a healing hand on her back, and though it seems to ease Sheryl’s pain a little, the marks remain.

“Sorry,” Baine whispers softly to her.

He gently lowers Sheryl down to Taffeta, who steps forward to take her weight. Sheryl’s knees buckle and Ghesh steps forward too, lending a hand so she can steady herself on her own two feet. Taffeta stays close just in case, trying to not touch the wounds on her back. Baine takes his hands off of her before turning promptly on his heels and walking away from the group.

“How do you feel?” Ghesh asks kindly.

“Did that help?” BB inquires, hopeful.

Sheryl feels the healing magic Taffeta is pouring into her and she stands a bit steadier on her own, the sheen disappearing from her brow, though her breathing is still a bit shallow. She nods a little, looking around at everyone, and then frowns.

“I feel…”

With a shaking hand Sheryl tries to reach around to touch her back, but stops and winces. Taffeta takes a quick look. The gashes have healed somewhat, but she thinks something stronger than her healing magic will be needed to get rid of them entirely – if they even can be.

“I feel… okay,” Sheryl tries again, uncertainly. Her brow draws together further as she looks around again, noting one person is not there.

It’s at this point that a tiny squeak and the small form of a weasel pokes out of Sheryl’s armour, working it’s way out and climbing onto her shoulder. The weasel reaches out with a tiny paw, patting Sheryl’s neck in a reassuring way. A moment later, Arkadius slowly steps back into view, tentatively looking around at everyone.

“Is… I don’t know why I am asking, I know it’s done.” He looks at Sheryl. “Are you… are you okay?”

The crease eases from Sheryl’s brow but there’s a weariness to her eyes as she looks at Arkadius.

“I don’t know. I think so, but I thought I was fine before.” She looks down at the cloak on the ground. A myriad of emotions flicker across her face – anger, fear, sadness, confusion – and then they are gone.

Sheryl looks at BB. “Where’s Baine? Is he-?”

Taffeta jerks her head in the general direction he went off into. She doesn’t speak, concentrating on Sheryl’s face and manner, searching for any sign of anything still wrong. After a few moments she seems to relax.

“He’s okay,” BB assures Sheryl, “just taking a moment. I’ll check on him soon. You just concentrate on yourself right now.”

But Sheryl is already heading after Baine. As she passes Arkadius, she takes Ida from her shoulder and hands her over to him without a glance. BB, Taffeta and Ghesh keep an eye on the half-orc and halfling farther down the path. Arkadius leans against one of the twisting trees, bowing his head and closing his eyes, Ida looking after Sheryl, her little nose twitching.

“That… that was the right thing to do, right?” Ghesh asks them.

Taffeta is silent but BB answers him.

“I think so. It didn’t seem like she had a choice to take it off if she wanted. At least now she can do with the cape what she likes. Could we have gone about it in a better way? Maybe.” BB shrugs.

“I tried persuading her before, we all did before it came to this,” Arkadius points out. “This was one of the only ways of resolving this. But that doesn’t mean we have to like it or be happy about it.”

“Hope she’s not too mad at us for it…” Ghesh vacillated.

Taffeta shakes her head. “She isn’t,” she says evenly.

“Ghesh, would you like to have your own diamond smile?” BB asks, holding her hand out to him as a sudden realisation comes to her.

“Oh, really? Yeah, that sounds great,” Ghesh accepts her hand with a grin. The exhaustion he had been feeling leaves him, and his eyes get brighter. “Thanks a lot BB, you want me to replace that diamond dust for you later?”

“Nah it’s fine,” she says. “I need something to spend my gold on if I’m honest, and this seems a perfect way to do that.”

Then they all fall silent, and wait.

Baine did not go very far. Sheryl sees him doing his best Varis impression; hands on his hips, searching for some middle distance to brood at. When she seemingly materializes at his side he takes a small step back, away from her.

“Hi,” he says quietly. “You alright?”

“I am,” Sheryl says, surprised at how sure she is when she answers. “Baine, I-… I’m sorry. You were right. I knew what was going on and yet I didn’t know.” She looks up at him and tentatively reaches out. “I’m sorry you had to help me like that.”

He shakes his head immediately.

“No, that’s not- This isn’t about me feeling bad. I forced something because I didn’t see a way out and I don’t- you didn’t know. You were cursed. I know you couldn’t get out by yourself. But I still grabbed you like that without your permission and that’s not cool.”

Sheryl’s bright blue eyes search his face.

“Baine, you helped free me. I’m trying to come to grips with exactly how much of all that was tied to the cloak, and how much may be something else. But, please, please believe me when I say this to you.”

She comes closer to him, taking his hand from his hip, her touch warm and gentle. Baine crouches down next to her and he works his jaw a couple of times, trying to settle on what to say.

“I guess I’m always gonna be scared of becoming what people back in Aschenwald thought I was. But that’s on me, not you. Don’t worry about me, please. Just. Don’t put the cloak back on and like… Take care of yourself, alright?”

“I will not put that cloak on again,” Sheryl says vehemently, closing her eyes as a little shudder goes through her. When she opens them again, the blue is warm and open like an ocean.

“I will worry about you though, because you’re my friend and I care.” She brings his hand up to her lips and gives his fingers a soft kiss. “Not once have I felt unsafe with you, Baine. Even then.” She looks into his eyes. “Your light is strong and good.”

As Sheryl says the words she smiles brightly and Baine can see she really is herself again. She looks down to the sunflower pendant and then back up to him.

“Gretcha would be proud of you.”

Her eyes glisten in the twilight gloom, the light from the imperial topaz in her circlet casting a comforting glow between them which is briefly echoed by the sunflower pendant. Baine doesn’t say anything, but he does not have to. Sometimes, words aren’t necessary. Sheryl leans in and gives him a warm hug and though he reciprocates, she can tell he is being careful, like he’s handling something made of glass. She doesn’t linger too long, giving his hands one more brief kiss before she steps back and nods in the direction of the others.

When they rejoin them, Baine picks up his maul and goes over to check on the dead knight. He busies himself with wrapping her in a spare cloak he pulls from Margrave’s saddlebags. It’s clear he wants some space and he tries to keep Ghesh between him and Sheryl, despite what she had just told him.

Sheryl goes over to where BB, Taffeta and Arkadius are, looking at them earnestly and openly. She seems a bit nervous but she starts to speak before they can say anything.

“I would like to hold onto the cloak. But before you say no,” she continues on seeing Taffeta’s eyebrows shoot up, “I want you to understand why I am asking. I swear to you now, I won’t put it on again. But I cannot merely move on from what has been happening to me these past few weeks.” A flicker of determination and a glimpse of her fey side dashes across Sheryl’s face. “There are schemes afoot and I would like to have this cloak in order to root out the ones who are behind them.”

BB nods. “I understand and I trust you. But the minute you feel anything weird going on again you tell me okay? You had me so worried!”

The tall firbolg draws Sheryl into a hug then, being careful to not touch her back. Sheryl is surprised for a moment but returns her friend’s embrace gladly.

“I will BB. I may need your help soon with all of this.”

“What is it, anyway?” Taffeta asks. “What do you think happened? It sounds like you think someone did this to you – it wasn’t just some cloak you found and put on?”

The smile that had been on her lips, vanishes as Sheryl pulls back from BB to look directly at Taffeta.

“It was gifted to me by the Commander of the Glorious Company of the Summer Court, Arvel Morningdew.” Her eyes flick over to Arkadius. “As for what it is, I guess it is a tool, but for what purpose I do not know. That’s what I need to find out.”

“It came from the Summer Court?” Ghesh asks her. “But what you said it was doing sounds like the opposite. Maybe some kind of… sabotage thing happening here?”

Sheryl gives a pointed look to Ghesh that seems to say, Bingo.

“I have to plan this right. Going to any Fey Court unprepared is foolish but I do have some advantages…” A mischievous grin spreads across her face as she looks at BB and Arkadius. But when she looks back to meet Taffeta’s searching eyes the smile is gone. “Please,” Sheryl entreats, “let me keep the cloak for now until I can get some answers.”

BB looks at Taffeta and the halfling gives a small nod. She keeps a careful eye on Sheryl as the tall firbolg picks up the cloak of many features and holds it out a little awkwardly to the fae-bard. Sheryl methodically reaches out for the cloak, holding it a little farther away from her than one might normally a garment they are handling before she expertly folds it and puts it into her handy satchel. Her face betrays nothing of her thoughts but Sheryl’s eyes are shards of ice as she handles the cloak. The moment she closes the interdimensional bag, she stands a bit easier.

There is a collective sigh of relief as soon as the cloak is out of sight.

“Well, seems there’s more to do about that later,” Ghesh says, breaking the relieved silence. “But right now there’s still this dead knight to do something with.”

“Before we do, I didn’t say it before to you all, but allow me to do so now.”

Sheryl looks at each of them in turn. From Taffeta’s unrelenting gaze, to BB’s relieved face, to Arkaidus who is silently observing her. Then to Ghesh, who looks more lively and Biane, who pauses to glance at her.

She smiles and it’s like a midsummer sun breaking through the clouds. They all feel how much love and gratitude she has for all of them when she speaks.

“Thank you.”

Each in their own way smile or nod, sigh and relax as they put as much as possible of what just transpired behind them.

Sheryl turns to Ghesh and Baine. “Let’s get back to the compound and deal with this knight.” They nod and she moves off to the side to wait for BB to draw up the Teleportation Circle.

“I’ll leave you with that,” Arkadius says, nodding to the bundled up figure on Baine’s horse. “Me and Ida have had enough for one day. I think I’d like to go home.”

Ida squeaks in response, her little whiskers quivering as she glares up at Arkadius, but he resolutely ignores her.

As BB adds the finishing touches to the Circle, Ghesh puts a hand on Baine’s shoulder.

“Hey, you doin’ alright? Having to go against a friend is… hard, I know. But you know it was the right choice and hopefully that helps make it a bit better.”

BB, carving out the final rune, stands up to her full height and shoots Baine an unusually serious look. “Yeah, and whatever bad thoughts you’re having about yourself. Stop. You’re not the bad guy here Baine.”

Baine nods at Ghesh, still taking care to keep the warrior between himself and Sheryl, and looks a little relieved. “Thanks mate. Just. Stay there, yeah?” He leads his warhorse over to BB and the circle, giving her a small grimace.

“I know. It had to happen. Don’t mean I have to like it.”

BB gives the half-orc a look then pulls him into a big hug. Baine hugs back very gingerly, nothing close to his usual spine popping force.

“Let’s go home, yeah?” he asks as BB lets go. Baine nods to Ghesh, who does as his friend asks, keeping himself between the half orc and Sheryl. As the party gathers in the circle, Arkadius once more quietly offers to help out with components and to pay his way.

“Arkadius, honestly, it’s fine. Thank you for the offer,” BB says sincerely before throwing him an exaggerated wink. “Ask me again though and I will turn you into a badger.”


Continued in ‘The Dead Knight Rises’ 🦋