Ibis was a powerful creature of the void, so powerful that the minotaur was having a hard time keeping up. Of course Ibis could climb walls like a spider and breath fire like a dragon, the demon only had strength and one arm left to work with. Talia didn't pause for a second as she continued to drive the hound forward.
She stayed at the beast's flank while Ibis commanded the front. The beast couldn't keep up with both, he could parry Talia's attacks or he could block Ibis's feral bite. In the end it decided to keep the fangs of Talia's hound at bay. That left her plenty of opportunity to cut away at its flank. She was using a summoned sword of flame which consumed mana she didn't have to waste, but time was short and she was desperate.
The beast screamed as Ibis's larger head grabbed onto his right arm ripping it off and devouring it before the demon could even react. With that Ibis was able to push the minotaur down onto its back where it held it down.
"Pause, hound." Talia ordered sharply as she stepped forward. The demon tried to roll but without its arms the attempt was futile. The creature snarled venomously as she pressed her foot into its cheek.
"I'll ask you again, demon. Can you recover if I have Ibis devour you piece by piece? Can your arms grow back? Will your head grow back? Will you die?" Her bloodlust was insatiable. She grinned evilly as she allowed Ibis's smaller head to take a chunk from the demon's leg. The creature screamed and thrashed though she had a feeling it was more from rage rather than pain. The wounds weren't healing. There was no coming back from what she was about to do, the demon would never crawl its way out from Hephatus's void. Or Ibis's stomach.
"Nothing will stop us. You'll always be running, rider. There will be more stronger than me and they will find you. If you had this hard of a fucking time with me, you'll never make it." He started to laugh.
"Finish him." She spat in the creatures beady dark eyes before stepping away. The crunching of bone as Ibis ripped it apart was enough to turn her stomach. She never liked that sound, perhaps it was because she was usually the one making it.
She turned back to the temple to see the dwarves all huddling in the doorway with fearful eyes. Nico was pressed in the center, either they were holding him up or he was simply unlucky she couldn't be sure. But the sight brought a smile to her face.
'Thank you Hephatus for protecting them... And me. Your blessings are truly appreciated.' It was a weight off her shoulders to see them alive. They were hurt, she was hurt, but they weren't dead. That was something.
"Talia!" She flinched at the shrill scream that ruptured the night. She could recognize Lotus's voice from anywhere, especially when it was filled with fear and rage. She looked up the street to see the woman, rugged and covered in mud with wild eyes and a snarl.
"You missed all the fun." Talia managed to choke out. Now that the danger was over and the adrenaline was fading her body was failing. She could tell the dwarves and Nico were in the same boat. It almost looked like Bromyr and Floki were about to pass out. They needed to find a safe place to recover and fast.
"Fun? Fun? By the gods what happened here?! I could hear the fighting from over a mile away!" She screamed as she pulled at her hair. Talia paused, her thoughts swirling slowly in her head. A mile away?
'We're... Fucked...' It was her only thought as a battalion of guards quickly approached. She could hear the clanking of armor.
"Those fucking pigs are late." Lotus huffed as she trotted up to Talia. She squinted,
"Did you lead them here?" Not that there was a great need for them to be lead if the battle really was as loud as Lotus claimed. Lotus looked peevish, her dark eyes suddenly darting as she shrunk away.
"I uh... I thought you guys needed help. Things sounded really bad." Talia pinched her nose just as the guards came into view. There was no escaping unseen now. Quickly she banished Ibis before it's hulking flaming form could draw attention. Luckily at that point the hound had already devoured the demon wholly.
"You better hope this doesn't turn into something more than friendly guards helping us out." She leaned in to whisper dangerously in Lotus's ear. The woman gulped and nodded vigorously.
"Cut her some slack, she was trying to legitimately help. Besides, maybe they can get us to some real healers." Reezara spoke softly. Talia humphed at her, but relented at her persistence.
"Fine, you're right. We'll see how this plays out. I don't have the strength to fight off a battalion anyway." She grumbled. She blocked Reezara off just in time to address the battalion captain who was now standing before her. He was an old looking man with sunken eyes and a rather tired demeanor. All of his soldiers looked similar, though not nearly as old. He had white hair, he looked as if he were nearly on death's door already. But she could tell he was not nearly as weak as he appeared, even with tired eyes she could see the spark of a sharp intellect.
"Good evening m'Lady, we heard the sounds of a ferocious battle here. I see there's been a large amount of damage dealt, may I inquire as to what you were battling? Do you require assistance? The King's guard offers it's most humble aid." He bowed deeply before her, even going as far as to remove his leather helmet to showcase a head full of long white hair. She shuffled nervously through the growing pain taking over her senses. Lotus moved to stand just behind her as she lay a quivering hand on Talia's back. She winced before replying,
"Our quarry has passed. I killed him. It was a formidable creature but you need not worry yourselves, he will terrorize this city no more." It was the most formal tone she could muster. She would have offered him a slight bow but it was nearly impossible. The leader raised a brow, a frown settling on his deeply wrinkled and tanned face.
"You appear injured, may I offer the Kings best healers to assist you and your party?" He motioned to the dwarves who had retreated to the shadows. She hadn't even noticed them retreat, yet he did.
"I would hate to bother the King. I deeply appreciate his offer however I humbly decline." She stepped back in the hopes that they would accept her refusal and move along, or at least let her leave with the others. But it would seem this particular captain wasn't taking no for an answer.
"It is not a bother at all m'Lady, please. We will provide you with lodging, food, and medical assistance for as long as you need." His continual push was starting to annoy her and raise her suspicions.
"And just why would the King extend such services to a party of travelers? Travelers who have yet to even make their way to an Inn? You don't know us, nor our status. We could be poor. Destitute. Assassins." She added the last one with a little bit of a snide tone, the captain was literally inviting vipers into a mouse den if he wanted them to accompany him into the castle. The man smiled brightly, teeth flashing as he replied,
"Do you think I do not recognize the princeling of the dwarven kingdom? It is an incredible honor to host crown-prince Bromyr and his party. I only wish he would have alerted us to his travels so that we could properly greet him. What brings you into the city on such an evening? Are you hiding from something?" The way he spoke did nothing to assuage her suspicions or her paranoia. She was growing weary of their idle threats.
"I'll leave the excuses to the crown-prince, I am but a humble guard." She snapped bluntly. The guard captain bowed slightly before turning towards the decrepit temple,
"Please feel free to step out from the shadows. My men have assured me it is now safe. We will escort you to the palace where you and your party can receive medical attention." There was no room for argument, Bromyr stepped from the shadows with an uncertain expression. Floki stumbled after him. Talia watched the princeling's right hand man closely along with all the other dwarves. They were in bad shape, maybe it was a good thing the guards had come. A good thing that they recognized Bromyr.
"I thank you for your kindness sir knight. May I ask your name?" He held forth a hand in greeting. The knight peered down his nose at the dwarf with a frown before turning on his heel and marching back towards the palace.
"My name is of no importance m'Lord. Please follow me if you can. If you or any of your party needs assistance making it to the palace let me know, I can arrange for transport." His tone shifted slightly but Talia couldn't quite place it. Was he happy? Unhappy? Welcoming?
"What do we do about... Me?" Reezara hissed inside Talia's mind. She startled, looking around to see just where her dragon had gotten off to.
"Oh gods curse me for forgetting about you! I... I don't know. Where are you hiding?" She tried not to look too suspicious as she looked around.
"Nico stuffed me into his cloak. I'm wrapped around his midriff." Reezara whispered. Talia didn't know why she was whispering when their mental conversation couldn't be heard by others.
"When we get to the castle I'll try to find a bag or something to hide you in... If you don't mind? It sounds kind of demeaning when I say it like that." Reezara was a dragon after all. She couldn't keep hiding her away in a satchel.
"Whatever works rider, I don't want to have any attention on us here." Talia couldn't agree more with her dragon. She already regretted stepping foot into the city, need for supplies or no, and now they needed time to recover.
"Nico, are you alright?" She hobbled up to him, laying a hand on his shoulder she tried to assess just how beat up he was. His arm was a bloody mess... She bit her lip wondering if it would be better to straighten it up there or wait for the healers.
"I think so... I just never realized how much breaking bones hurt." He tried to laugh but it came out weak.
"I can..." She reached a hand out as she started but Nico pulled away.
"No, it's alright I'm ok with the pain. I can take it." He grit his teeth as he said it. Her heart twisted, she wanted so badly to reduce his pain regardless of his objections but she had to respect his wishes.
"He'll be alright... We all will." Reezara spoke softly. Talia sighed, maybe the dragon was right. The demon was dead now, so their problems had gotten infinitely more manageable. They had to be better now, humans were far easier to kill than bull-monsters. She continued to hobble in silence as she contemplated their next move.
"Don't you think you should focus on getting rest? Healing... Recovering in general?" Nico's sharp attitude filled voice was enough to bring a sour smile to her face.
"Spying on my thoughts again?" She tried to catch his gaze from the corner of her own but holding her left eye shut was limiting her vision again.
"You make it far too easy. You literally put the phrase 'thinking out loud' to the test around me. You buffet me with your worries." Was he angry or not? She couldn't tell.
"I'll try harder to leave you in peace." She knew it was passive aggressive to say it but she couldn't worry about that as she stumbled on the brick road. They had made it to the upper portion of the city where the streets were brick and the waste water flowed underground rather than on it.
"Don't be so dramatic. I'm just glad you're nearly back to normal."
"And I'm glad you're alive. So lets keep it that way." She watched the castle grow ever nearer with an increasing level of anxiety.
"Do you want me to slip Reezara to you? I think if we hang back..." Nico started to offer but the guards closed rank to lock them in to their circle. Talia tensed as she contemplated forcing them to back off. But Lotus grabbed onto her arm and leaned in,
"Just go with it... They're just men. They may think they've got all the power here but you could kill them in a moment even in this state." She whispered encouragingly. Talia sighed. Of course she had to be nice. And helpful. And encouraging. And maddening.
The inside of the palace was as grandiose as Talia had remembered. She hadn't stepped foot in the gilded halls in years, not since her job to assassinate Duke Gerard. It had been a successful job but it required months of preparation. She had spent weeks wandering the halls and memorizing every shadow to hide in. The only difference now was the state of decay, the layers of dust, the absence of workers. It was as if it were dying.
"The healers lie just on the eastern wing of the palace, they have plenty of beds if you require them. The King will most likely wish to see you in the morning if it isn't too much trouble." The captain spoke quickly but it was difficult to determine who he was speaking to. His eyes were locked on Talia but he was facing Bromyr as he spoke. She squinted at him irately and he turned away.
"Everyone needs to see a healer." Bromyr grumbled. Was he as suspicious as she was? The guards were barely allowing them any space to walk freely, almost as if they expected trouble.
"We will most certainly abide your needs. You, page, summon the King's best healers. Be sure they have everything they need to aid these people." A younger man took off running down the halls without pause. Talia eyed the other guards who closed in again. They weren't allowing for a single gap to arise. She was beginning to feel more like a prisoner than a guest.
"Certainly any healer would do sir Knight, you needn't summon the King's best." Bromyr tried to stop and turn to face the Captain but they pushed him on.
"Think nothing of it Crown-Prince, it is the least we can do for you and your party." Somehow the words sounded hollow and empty. She scowled, it was too late to escape now. They needed healers, it was convenient after all. That didn't make it any less dangerous however.
"Here we are." The captain announced as they entered through two large dark wooden doors. The room behind the doors was a vast one filled with empty stone-slab beds. It was obvious that it had once been a large healing center, tables lay scattered with empty cracked vases that she imagined once held flowers. Large panes of glass hung above them allowing in the growing light of dawn. She sighed wearily.
"Where are the healers?" Lotus broached cautiously. There wasn't a living soul in the room besides them, and it was a rather large room. Talia eyed the doors she could see past the guards. Height played a distinctive advantage for once, she mused with a small frown.
"Here." The sage burst through the door with several healers in tow. Talia recognized their traditional gray garb. They cloaked themselves, hid their faces, and gloved their hands. The head healers wore metal headgear to distinguish them, though their purpose was lost upon her. Two wore the head-garb, though she couldn't perceive their age. None dared to look up as they pushed past the guards to prepare.
As the healers pushed past the captain of the guard turned to watch, a grim look on his face. He had cold calculating eyes, a grim snarl pulling at his lips,
"Each of you will have your own private room to rest within and to receive one on one care from your healers. Please allow them to escort you to your rooms. I will send a messenger in the morning to inquire about your health." He turned away and marched out of the doors taking his guard with him. Talia would have heaved a sigh of relief if the healers wouldn't have pressed in like rabid dogs.
The taller of the two head healers grabbed Bromyr by his arm before leading him towards the back of the hall. There were lines of doors which Talia assumed had to be the private quarters for more serious wounds or for the rich. The others were slowly pulled away, no one offered much argument. Even Nico was happy to oblige, following with an almost eager sigh of relief. In the end she was left alone with three healers, each one closing in slowly.
"Come, we can fix you..." The head healer reached forward. Talia shivered at the raspy death-like tone of the person's voice. She shrunk away at their hands too, they looked as if they belonged to an ancient man. Knobby joints, papery skin, bright blue veins, and a pale pallor that could only befit the dead. They were not the hands of any healer she knew.
"I think I can handle well enough on my own." She mumbled as she tried to take a step back. Her legs were no longer willing to function, each passing moment lead to a growing sense of numbness and cold. But this time it didn't feel like death was looming. Though the three healers surrounding her certainly looked like death.
"We have been ordered..."
"His will be done...."
"Our life to serve..." they all moaned in unison.
'Because that's not alarming at all...' She thought to herself warily. But she didn't have time to react, she felt a sharp piercing pain in her lower back and everything went dark.