Embers in the Dust

Lyla stared in shock, then gestured to her neck. Leaf matched her glance, pulled the necklace out from under his shirt, and nodded. She smiled, then walked up to them both.

“Lyla. Nice to meet ya, Wulfgar,” She said, holding out her hand.

“Likewise,” He responded, taking her hand and shaking it excitedly.

“You were dead?” Rhokhishi asked.

“It’s not as long of a story as it seems. A couple months ago I awoke in my coffin, dug myself out, and after finding that Leaf would be here, made the trek from Rutherglen to here,” Wulgar stated matter-of-factly. “I’m still a little unsure as to how it happened, but I seem to be in working order.”

She looked over to the rest of the party, concern stretched across their faces.

“I just want to check,” Rhokhishi said as she placed her hand before him.

With a nod of understanding, Wulfgar stepped forward and allowed Rhokhishi to check for any impurities in his body. Lyla watched as she looked over his hands, face, and eyes, before closing her own eyes and causing a glow of divine light to emit from her palm. Seconds later Rhokhishi closed her hand and opened her eyes.

“There is nothing undead about you, which means that you were revived whole.”

“Well, that’s good to hear,” He responded, smiling again. “So, what happened here?”

“That’s a lot to explain, but there’s another thing to get to. Gisela?” Leaf questioned.

Gisela didn’t look as she had when they last met. Almost as tall as Lyla, she was slender and lacking any of the muscles she had before. She also was missing her wings, was paler than usual, and some purple accessories were the only color against the rest of her monochrome attire. She had been standing next to Rhokhishi, but when the half-orc rushed forward to check on Lyla, had left her alone as they examined and questioned Leaf’s companion.

“Hi guys.”

“You look different.” She stated.

“Yeah. Nine years in the Fae Plane will do that, I guess.”

“Nine?” Myla asked.

“Time is vastly different across the realms. It’s been only what, a couple months since we met at Stillmight Campground?”

“Something like that.” Mr. Muffins added.

“It’s a long story, but we can talk more about it tonight. What’s going on here? Where are we?”

“North of Berkton. Leaf was taking his Mastery Test.” Lyla answered.

“Oh, goodness! How did it go, Leaf?”

“Well, one of the Deans tried to kill us, and the drow-diseased dragon was involved. It was sent away though.”

“I saw that part. Wasn’t sure what was happening there.”

“Should we… Is Kirdoth something we should be worrying about?” Myla asked.

“Well, it’s in the Fae Realm currently, and unless Leaf can open another portal for us to help out, I’m sure the Winter Court will do just fine.”

“Um… I didn’t make that portal.”

“What?” Gisela asked, shocked.

“Myla. What was that?” Leaf asked.

“I’m still not sure. I reached out to Odin, like you mentioned I could, and he said it was possible. I held my hand out and it just happened.”

Do you think this is part of what he said at the inn? About you gaining new abilities over time? Lyla asked her secretly.

Maybe? I don’t even really know how I did it.

“I’m a little worried about Berkton,” Leaf stated, breaking the silence they found themselves in. “With the Deans not here, did they go back to the academy?”

Lyla shook her head, not knowing the answer.

“Well, we need to start by figuring out how to get off this island,” Muffins interjected. “Lyla and Rhokhishi, why don’t you go get some trees knocked down. Gisela, go and get some rope or something we can use to tie it together. Myla, why don’t you check the area out, and see if there’s anything we can forage for food or supplies?”

“And me?” Leaf asked.

“Why don’t you take the first rest. I figure you’d like time alone for a bit.”

Leaf nodded, then turned away with Wulfgar, who found a quiet place near the shore. Lyla turned to see Mr. Muffins pull his blueprint journal out and flip through the pages. With a plan in action, she walked over to the tree line and pulled out her various woodcarving tools. While they weren’t the best for taking a tree down, she assumed they could use it to cut a weak spot into the tree, then use their force to push the tree down from there. It would be time-consuming, but she guessed that Mr. Muffins planned for that.

A few hours passed and Lyla was covered in sweat. They had managed to take down fifteen trees of various sizes, and Rhokhishi walked over to each stump and cast a spell on them, causing small sprouts to appear and grow from the wood, where the trees would one day regrow. She was happy with their work, but knew they needed more. Gisela had walked over multiple times, trying to start a conversation, but would walk away moments later. After the fourth try, Lyla spoke up.

“Can we help you?”

“Sorry, just wanted to… I have an idea that may help.”

“What’s that?”

“Here.”

Gisela walked over to a row of trees and placed her hands against the bark of the first. She closed her eyes and focused for a moment, then pushed against the tree. As if she sent a cannonball through the tree, it burst from the center, then fell over to the side. Behind that one, and the next three, a singular hole had appeared in those as well, falling over also. Rhokhishi was excited to see the speed in which they could knock the trees down, and rushed to the first tree to place her magic on it. She waited, but nothing happened.

“I think the fact magic was used, I can’t regrow this tree.”

“Oh no… I’m sorry.” Gisela stammered.

“Thanks, Gisela. Now we have some dead trees. Weren’t you supposed to be getting rope?” Lyla asked.

“I don’t even know where to start looking. It’s an island, where would rope even be?”

“That whole area is filled with jungle-like trees and vines, Gisela. Why don’t you start there?” Rhokhishi answered.

Gisela slowly walked away, clearly hurt and remorseful for her actions. Lyla and Rhokhishi grabbed the new trees and added them to the pile. Rhokhishi helped, but seemed to be giving a wide berth to her.

“What?” Lyla asked, feeling the tension between them.

“I get that she messed up, but she was only trying to help.”

“By doing something she wasn’t supposed to?”

“Well, yeah, but-”

“No,” Lyla interrupted. “I got yelled at every time something went down and I was involved. Every time something happened, I was the one blamed. I get the shit-end of the stick, but I have to forgive everyone else?”

Lyla chucked the tree she was dragging, causing it to smack against the pile loudly. She breathed deeply, trying to keep her calm. After a few breaths, she turned back to Rhokhishi.

“I’m just tired, okay? We’ve been running for months, and we’re about to go to Hell. None of this is going to get easier, Kiki. Then, Gisela just happens to show up, looking completely different, with magic? That’s gotta set off some warning signs.”

“I agree that it’s odd that she’s so different. I’m sure we’ll have time to ask about it soon. Plus, I already gave her the arcane check. It’s really her.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It’s her, just looks different.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want to talk about your sister’s new ability, while we’re at it?”

“There’s not much to talk about there, yet. I do want to ask her about it, and see what she knows.”

“We’ll wait, then. Let’s get these logs moved and get some rest.”