Dim Prisons and Drakes, chapter 45. (Patreon)

So. First chapter of the new year, and one of my oldest stories. That strikes me as fitting. 

Please enjoy, as teleportation is explored, and characters are themselves.

The potion mocked me. I was up before I needed to, because I'd wanted to check it, and it was clearly done, a good hour early. It was as blue as the deep sky, or perhaps the shallow ocean, which was the correct color to let me know it was both done and had been brewed correctly.

It was not supposed to glow with its own light, bright enough to act as a night light on its own. Someone was playing fast and loose with the rules, and it wasn't me. I was hoping it was Les and his goddess, because if not my list of suspects is worryingly small.

I stared, and I could swear I felt the thing smugly staring back at me.

A knock sounded on my door.

It was too early. I still moved everything with me to the door, just in case. Then I went back and moved the potion, carefully, from its perch on my brewing setup and moved it to my kitchen table. That was as close as I dared take the thing. Did I have any other tea left?

The knock sounded again. I tried to suppress the sigh while I answered it.

It was Les; not at all who I was expecting. "Good morning."

"Good morning. What brings you here this early?"

Les answered in an expansive manner, with grand gestures, making sure I knew he was clowning just a bit: "Oh you know, the usual."

Right, the usual. "Could you feel the smugness from across town?"

Les looked away, taking in the glowing potion, and coughed. "Anyway, just checking to see how you are."

That was a yes. Was she listening in? Was she possibly watching us or something, from wherever she was? Surely not, right? Surely as a goddess she had better things to do, right?

"Hey, you okay?"

I came back to myself to find Les seated already, but halfway back up and headed my way out of concern.

"Yeah I'm fine. I'll... look for some tea."

What if the gods, any or all of them together... didn't want us to succeed? What lengths would they go to in order to stop us? Was something like that already going on? Were they already fighting among themselves?

Were we contending with, fighting, the agents of gods, even now?

"You don't look fine," Les told me. At least he was sitting down again.

"I just had a thought. A bad thought. It'll pass." There, some tea. Not as good as I'd like, but it was something hot to drink and it had caffeine in it.

Les sighed. "So she was right after all. What is it? Hit me."

"Your goddess?"

"Of course. Woke me up from a not exactly sound sleep and said you'd need to talk about something, so here we are."

So she was paying attention. She was even talking to Les directly. "Well, you coming here, after seeing that," I pointed at the glowing elephant in the room - "Led me to the thought that maybe the gods, or whatever other powers that be, might not like us figuring out what happened, let alone fixing it. That they might be against us even now, in little or not so little ways."

Les nodded, seemingly to himself, as I put water on to boil. "I'm surprised it took you this long to ask the question, really. But then again, gods are distant entities to you, or were before now. So maybe it isn't that surprising after all."

What? "What do you mean, were?"

Les looked up from the potion, blinking. "You surely don't think the gods of the elves haven't noticed you by now, do you?  There might even be others, besides. Some god or goddess is very interested in your life right now, just as mine is with me. I'd dare say that there are others interested in our other companions for various reasons. Not like we're all they are dealing with, but I think there is quite a crowd watching our antics."

Yeah that wasn't creepy at all. "What a horrid thought."

Les leaned in, snatching my hand from across the table. "That isn't the important thing. The important thing is, if they were against us, or even if some were against us and some weren't, we'd know. Because we would be facing far worse and far better than we have. This journey we've had so far? Has been blessed, compared to what could be happening. And yes, I mean exactly that. Don't worry."

So they the powers that be were just treating this as a reality t.v. show, rather than something to get upset over. Like survivor, swords and sorcery edition. Les was right, it could be much worse, and I'd take it.  "That... actually does ease my mind a little. Thanks."

"Any time."

The water was ready. I poured two cups... then added two more. The two figures making their way to my door in the dark weren't exactly making it hard to spot them, after all.

I filled the cups and then went to the door, unlocking it and throwing it wide. "Come on in you two, I've just made tea. Mind the pack by the door, I don't need boot prints on it."

Matt turned to Ethan and joked: "See, I told you she'd be up."

Ethan did not look even a bit amused. "Good morning, and sorry about this."

I went back to grab my chair; either one of them could shut a door without my help. "Don't worry, im used to it by now."

Matt clearly didn't expect Les to be here, judging from the double take. Les just smiled and waved, his mouth busy with my tea.

Matt saw the extra cups and was all smiles again in an instant, walking around Les and taking the chair nearest me, as if to stake out some kind of claim or something.

Which was just ridiculous, really. He knew who I was.

"I really miss coffee." Matt informed us all. For about the millionth time. He'd only been without four days.

"I do too," I told him again, just as I had before every time he told us this. "but the stuff can only grow here with help."

"Yeah. Maybe later then. Or we could get it shipped... it couldn't get that expensive, could it?"

It would get super expensive if nothing changed. The one true-ism we'd found so far is that even the roads were dangerous. If we couldn't figure out how to change things, and this was the new fact of life for us, we'd still have dangerous roads, and coffee had a long path to travel. We'd end up missing many things we used to take for granted; which was all the more reason to fix things.

It might be an opportunity, if I was forced to deal with all this. Growing coffee magically and selling it might give me a pretty penny... or gold coin, as the case may be.

It sucked that I was trying to plan or recognize opportunities for a future I most certainly did not want. Other people could move on, but I wasn't about to. Maybe if I'd become something else, but I felt like I had a chance to change things, if I played my cards right.

I couldn't imagine how Karl or Matt felt, only being able to swing steel at problems, despite their very clearly sharp minds. They had to rely on me. They all had to rely on me, if the truth were told, because with all high technology gone my granted abilities are the only possible avenue we have to pursue answers.

Really, it was a wonder more of us, more people granted this power like myself, hadn't let it go to their heads and ruined more. Maybe I was just getting ahead of myself.

I could only watch my own small corner of the world in that case.

Someone else knocked on the door. Screw it. "Come in, it's open!"

The door opened immediately to reveal Randolf, Phil, and Thomas, surprisingly together. Thomas took one peek inside the kitchen and muttered. "Yeah, we'll wait outside."

Now I felt bad, as if I were excluding them. It was true we didn't talk as much as we probably should, but I didn't want any companion of mine to feel that way. "Wait! at least take some tea with you. Sorry about the lack of space, its first come first serve I'm afraid."

Neither Phil nor Randolf said anything, taking their cups in silence. Thomas answered for both of them when he replied: "It's fine, we get it. Thanks for the tea."

I searched the faces before me - they seemed to hold no ill thoughts. Even if Randolf and I didn't get along. He didn't seem to like tea though - he was looking at it as if it were some strange many-legged insect trying to crawl into his ear.

"It won't hurt you, and it's too early for something stronger."

Randolf grumbled but conceded the point. "You're right. And when you're right, you're right! and you, you're right."

"Yeah I see what you did there. Enjoy the tea, feel free to shout at us inside if you have something to say; my neighbors are already here."

Leaving the door open would let the cold in, but it would be worth it if my people didn't feel excluded.

"Thanks, we'll do that."

I heard a thump, and turned to find Thomas stepping away from Randolf... who was now rubbing his side and glaring at our friend. Whatever, I guess it wasn't an issue I was needed for.

I went back inside and found my chair. My tea was getting cold.

Never mind, it wasn't. someone had touched it up. With more than one suspect and no one talking, I could accuse none of the crime.

I didn't have enough breakfast unsealed to feed everyone here now, so it was too late to dig out my own. I'd have to just find a chance to dig out my fruit later. I hoped we'd have the chance.

"So, why is it glowing?" Matt pointed at my potion as if I wouldn't know what I was talking about.

"I don't know," I answered truthfully." You'd have to ask the goddess of healing."

"You know her name," Les stated mildly - but there was the steel of warning behind the velvet tone.

Right, wouldn't do to piss off the healer... or his God. "The goddess of healing, Minerva."

Les smiled, and some trick of the potion light made it look...different, for a moment.

Best not to pursue that.

"Right, Minerva," Matt repeated, leaning back. "Why would she want to make it glow?"

"She wanted to help, clearly." Les said, his own eyes unfocusing as he took the light in.

"She wanted to troll me," I told them both. I knew I was right; this was a gut check. I wouldn;t even be considering drinking whatever that was down if our situation wasn't so dire. Well, maybe not dire, but time dependent. We really couldn't afford to get bogged down by winter.

"That too," Les agreed easily, surprising me. That smile was still there, so I knew he was in on it.

They thought I wouldn't? I'd do it. Unless that was what they wanted me to think. Crap, there was no good way out of this, it was the iocane powder challenge all over again.

Whatever, if I grew a second head, I'd haunt someone.

"She likes you, you know." Les informed me - informed us all - suddenly.

I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel about that, but I bet Les didn't think the mere thought would make my blood run cold. I certainly didn't want any higher power casting their eye on me, even if that power seemed friendly.

Matt broke the mood, as only Matt could do: "How does she feel about me?" He asked with a clear grin, ready to hear the worst.

"She hates your guts," Les obliged, his own grin back and widening.

A small spark rolled across our priests' hands, and he winced and cast his eyes heavenward. "Ouch, ouch, alright, I know. Can't you just roll with the joke? Matt's not offended, I assure you."

Matt's smile seemed about ready to swallow his entire face: "So she likes me? Awesome. Maybe we can get together and party sometime."

Should I step in? I feel I should. "I don't think the goddess of healing is going to drink with you Matt. She likely has better things to do, and better people to hang out with."

"Ouch," my friend declared dramatically, falling back into his chair, causing my poor furniture to creak alarmingly. He wasn't fat, but he clearly had at least some of his armor on under that first layer of clothing. Come to think of it, metal armor must be very cold when the temperature dropped. How would that even work? Would I or Les be treating hypothermia cases soon? I mean there were undershirts and stuff sure, but even with that....

"Penny for your thoughts?"

I turned to Matt. "Sorry, seems to be a day for random thoughts. I'll put a pin in it."

"Sure," Matt agreed loftily, "but what was it?"

"Just thinking how cold your armor has got to be getting."

Matt shuddered involuntarily. "Tell me about it. I mean it warms up, don't get me wrong, but its cold as ice to start."

"Pussy," Ethan muttered. "A real man enjoys that bracing feeling."

I was going to stay out of this one. Mostly. "Really? I don't think you want to use that word to stand in for weak behavior. I doubt you could handle the punishment one takes, after all."

My guests all looked at me as if I'd grown a second head, and not just spoken sense. Finally, Matt roared laughter.

I wasn't completely sure, but I thought maybe someone outside was laughing as well, smothering it... almost.

Ethan finally got his brain under him again. "Right, I stand corrected. My point, however, is a good one; privation toughens a person, and makes them better able to survive even harsher conditions and problems."

I couldn't really fault the logic there; even if I was one of the pampered weak people who wouldn't be caught dead encasing myself in iron or steel.

"I think you're right enough, but on the other hand, ignoring how we feel and what pains us is a good way to lose sight of ourselves and what we may need to thrive. Survival is one thing, but around a warm kitchen with a blazing fire, admissions of cold hardly seem capable of sapping our strength of will, and more just an acknowledgement of reality."

"I guess so," Ethan replied, backing down, staring into his cup of tea as if it held some answer for a question not posed.

"I'm touched," Matt told me. "It's nice seeing you stick up for me."

And just like that, any moment that could have been had was gone. I decided to ignore it. "Okay, so I get that you guys have undershirts, but what about the leg pieces? Surely those get cold too."

Ethan took it upon himself to answer. "We use padded cotton for those, Lady. They can be switched out depending on the season, and do a good job of keeping us warm even if the greaves can cause frostbite to the touch. Of course, nothing is perfect."

Cool. No pun intended. I was glad I hadn't said that out loud.

"Hello." Karl called from the door.

I guess it was time. "Alright, close enough then, grab your gear."

I hustled them out ahead of me, grabbing some charcoal from the stove before putting the fire out. It wouldn't do to forget the potion, so I grabbed that too. Getting my pack on while my hands were full was awkward, but I persevered.

I kicked the door shut behind me, and locked it with a word; whatever mess was left in  there would be preserved until I got back.

"What are the burnt sticks for?" Matt asked.

"They are for me not using my stash of powdered silver." I could draw this from memory, but I wasn't going to. Anything to decrease the risk. I carefully set the potion down and reached into my bag for my notes.

I couldn't enchant a teleportation circle, not yet, but I did know what one was and how to draw it. So, I'd draw it, and make sure of my target location and use the least power possible. Even if I had to etch the thing into my yard crudely with sticks.

I took my time. The sun wasn't up, so I could afford to sandbag a little, no matter who was getting restless.

I made sure I was finished as the first rays of light beamed our way; at our target, the sun would already be up, and that was good enough; sunlight would stop most undead in their tracks - oddly enough only the zombies wouldn't be affected, at least from the undead we'd seen before. Only the weakest... and of course, the strongest enemy present, the necromancer themselves.

If we appeared next to the necromancer, I was calling our luck trash forever.

Everyone had stayed silent while I worked. "Alright, everyone gather round. Take a spot in the wheel and don't move from it. Try and keep still altogether, in fact." The less movement the spell had to take into account, the better.

They all moved, and after some initial sorting and muttering, everyone managed to find an empty spot. Once they were done, I grabbed the potion from its resting place in the grass and slid past Matt and Phil, into the center. Poe came from above, a small feathered missile which plonked on my shoulder, and then stiffened as if stuffed.

It probably didn't need to be said, but I'd say it anyway: "Alright, I don't know what this will do... so keep an eye around us, and an eye on me, just in case I blow up or something."

Les didn't exactly laugh, but it was clear he wanted to. At least Karl was serious.

"Starting."

Everyone dutifully moved just a little, and I began the incantation; there were a few extra words in it this time, to better focus things. Enough, I threw my thoughts away and envisioned the location I wanted us all to be - just outside the town where everyone had been suspicious of us, even paranoid of us - just out of arrow shot of their roadblocks.

I held onto the image, the scents, how the wind felt as it drifted across my skin, all of it. The circle would help with this as well, and sure enough the image stayed firm as I took my time going through the words in a silence broken only by the action of insects and the song of birds.

I felt the spell take hold, and caught myself in the act of tightening my metaphorical grip; it took some effort to relax and let the spell take us. From the feel I wasn't alone in that, as those around me twisted as if tied with rope against their will.

Then it was over again, and we were there.

I was on my ass again, trying to hold my stomach in, wishing I'd eaten a breakfast I could throw up. From the sounds and scents blooming around me, that wasn't a problem for at least three of my companions.

"How the hell was it worse? With an entire day to prepare!"

I found my voice. "Yes thank you Phil, I didn't realize."

Vision started to return, and it told a tale. There were corpses to the west of us, dozens of them. The smell of decay reached over the sharp acidic tang of fresh vomit to ht me all at once, and my insides tied themselves into knots again. Poe came alive and took to the air.

Most of the corpses were down, riddled with arrows, but had been dead long before. There were a few small fires in the village proper, their smoke winding upwards to join the clouds.

Still those villagers seemed unbowed in the distance, behind cover and with hard, eyes directed our way.

"Whatever it was, I think we missed it."

"For the best," Karl responded, straightening. "We were in no shape to do much for far too long, and our mage probably would have puked the potion she spent all day brewing."

There was nothing around immediately trying to kill us, that was for sure. "Possibly, but I still have it close." I lowered the bottle from my lips and corked it. My belt would be close enough, why take it if I dont have to?

"How bad is it?" Karl asked.

"I've got enough for about three small spells; after that I'm out of juice. Still, no sense taking the thing if I don't have to."

"Not sure you won't need to after all," Matt broke in idly, pointing to the two men breaking cover in the village to join us.

"They don't look happy to see us," Les mentioned.

"They never looked happy to see us," Phil stated.

That was probably the most true thing I'd hear all day.

"Well, that was disappointing," Randolf finally rumbled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and studiously ignoring the mess of food and drink he'd puddled in front of him.

"I don't know, I for one am glad we didn't need to fight for our very lives while surrounded by undead from the very second we arrived."

"Hold that thought," Ethan whispered, only loudly enough for people half a mile away to hear him.

No, these people, as pissed off and as paranoid as they were, were not going to pick a fight with us. They likely had casualties, wounded, and needed the support only experienced adventurers could provide. Because the numbers of angry dead, some of whom were still twitching? A fraction of what I'd seen with Poe.

By the time the two had reached earshot, I was recovered enough to stand up; everyone else had already made it, and even Randolf looked dangerous again.

At least none of us had yakked on ourselves... that would spoil the image for sure.

Our two new friends recognized us, and one seemed quite angry by the fact; the one I only vaguely recognized myself. Had it really only been two days since we'd seen these people? It felt like much longer.

The one to the left, the one that had been leading those at the barricade when we crossed through here before."What brings you back here?"

"Just looking for some safety," Karl replied calmly. I was impressed by his casual lie; we'd actually come here to check on them. At least half way.

"Well, you won't find it here. As you can see, we were attacked last night. Undead of all kinds tried to destroy us, and they had magical support."

Wow, staring a hole right into me as he said it. Why don't he just accuse me directly? "Sorry to disappoint you, I'm not a necromancer. But I see some fireballs, and not all the undead here are the easy kind. So, what's your secret?"

The man waited a beat, taking Les in before answering: "Priests. They managed to keep the undead out. Things were going well until the mage started throwing fireballs."

Fireballs, huh? Pretty weak if the damage I was seeing was it. I guess that is to be expected of a necromancer. Where were the priests now? How many did they have?

Silly question, the answer was 'enough'.

"Anyone still hurt?" I didn't ask about the dead; there wasn't anything I could do for them that a priest couldn't.

"They are being seen to," the man told me. Right, okay then.

"Alright," Karl said. "Good luck then."

And he turned around and started walking. Just that simple. I turned around and fell in behind him, in my usual place. Poe was still watching the two, and the village beyond however; I could only be so trusting.

Things were going to be a bit more dangerous out there in the wild - at least on paper. I couldn't help but breathe easier as our feet once again carried us out of sight of that place. I wished them luck, just like Karl, but I didn't want to be there. Far better to be in the wilds than hoping my back wouldn't find a dagger in it.

"So," Karl started: "Can you do that teleportation spell now? Is it a tool we can count on? I can't help but notice that we all lived, nausea aside."

Oh no, best to nip that in the bud. "Still emergencies only. At least until I learn a bit more. It'll leave me too weak to do much else, like now, and even with the circle it wasn't easy. Any loss of focus at all, and we won't even know we're dead."

Karl lost himself in thought a few steps. "Noted," was all he said, at last.