“Ow!” Joan said before trying to pull her arm away from Bauteut, who refused to let it go. “That hurts!”

“Well maybe you should be more careful then,” Bauteut said. She continued to, very gently, sew the gash across her arm closed.

“Can’t you just use magic and heal it?” Joan asked before letting out another hiss of pain.

“Yes, I could,” Bauteut said. “Except you have already had that kind of magic used on you far too often as it is and I’m trying to limit it as much as possible. This will be far easier on your body anyway.”

“It hurts!” Joan said again, failing to keep any sign of whining out of her voice. “How am I going to practice like this?”

“With this arm? You won’t,” Bauteut said before she finished the last knot and clipped the thread. She then wiped the blood off with a cloth before she started binding it with a bandage. “I’m surprised this even happened, you should know better. You of all people should definitely know better. Especially now of all days. What would even possess you to do this?”

Joan gave a soft sigh, but gave up trying to fight. At least it was almost done. And, in many ways, their journey here was almost as well. “I still won,” she said softly.

“You’re both lucky I don’t tan your hides,” Bauteut said.

“We could both beat you,” Joan said quickly.

“Is that really what you want to say to the person who heals your wounds?” Bauteut asked.

Joan didn’t respond to that, primarily since she knew it was true. Arguing with her healer wouldn’t be the smartest thing even if she wasn’t currently being bandaged up for a ‘training’ exercise.

“I swear,” Bauteut said gently, her voice radiating with displeasure. “How could you be so careless?”

“We were careful,” Joan said softly.

“If you were careful you wouldn’t need these stitches,” Bauteut said. “Just be careful with this arm and try not to go ramming it in the mouth of a troll or anything.”

Joan nodded before glancing back towards the arm. She wanted to argue that it wasn’t her fault, but she knew it was. Once Qakog had heard she was leaving today he had begged her for a duel. One more chance to prove his worth. She’d finally given in and fought him, using some of the training weapons that the soldiers sparred with.

The rapier he used had a lot of little cuts and dents from prior sessions, she knew she should have been more careful. Should have realized that they needed to grab different weapons, ones that hadn’t been so worn. Instead she had ignored it. Now she had this big gash down her arm and was going to have to deal with that pain for the next week or so. At least it didn’t hurt nearly as much as it could have and it certainly beat having half her bones broken or getting sick again. It didn’t stop her from feeling like an idiot considering she got more hurt from a sparring accident than she had investigating an ancient, lost tomb.

“Is everyone this delicate or is it just me?” Joan asked.

Bauteut paused before nodding. “Everyone is. Well…”

“Korgron doesn’t count,” Joan said quickly. It had only been three days and already the chosen was back on her feet with only the smallest hint that she had even been hurt. She couldn’t help feeling a little bit of guilt over all the times she had felt annoyed or held back by all the ‘normal people’ whenever they got hurt as the Hero. The fact injuries like the ones Korgron had experienced healed in only a few days while she’d be suffering with a small stitched arm for at least twice as long made her feel more than a little jealous.

“Then yes,” Bauteut said. “In fact, you probably heal faster than most people because you’re still pretty young. Though I wish you would stop getting yourself hurt, it’s not healthy to end up torn up as often as you do, especially when your body is still growing.”

“It’ll be fine,” Joan said.

“You can keep saying that but it won’t make it true,” Bauteut said. “You’ve already suffered more damage than you have any right to. Don’t forget how much effort the queen had to put in to keep you alive before.”

“That was months ago,” Joan said.

“Yet there are still effects,” Bauteut said with a small smile before pausing. “I often wonder if that’s why you’re so small at your age. It can’t… huh. You know, now that I think about it we have been working together for a while. When is your birthday?”

Joan blinked a few times. Her birthday? What did that have to do with anything? Either way, she shrugged. “I don’t know. I usually just base it on when the snows melt. I’m probably a spring child anyway.”

“You don’t know?” Bauteut asked.

“Orphan, how could I possibly know?” Joan asked.

Bauteut sighed and gave a small nod. “I guess. Still, you always struck me as more of a winter child. Tougher than most, prideful, arrogant.”

“Korgron is a winter child,” Joan said.

“As I said, prideful and arrogant,” Bauteut said in a deadpan tone.

Joan barely resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at her. “The cut isn’t going to change our plans, is it?”

“If I said you shouldn’t be teleporting across the continent today, would you listen?” Bauteut asked.

“Yes,” Joan said quickly.

“Is that a lie?” Bauteut asked.

“Entirely,” Joan said.

“And that is why I am stitching you up rather than using magic, because I fully expect you will manage to, somehow, nearly get yourself killed today,” Bauteut said. “Then it will be my job to try and put you back together and I would rather not have you collapse into another bout of healer’s shock flu. You know, you should try and have a bit more care for me. How do you think it makes me look if the child I’m supposed to be monitoring and keeping safe is constantly getting over healed?”

“I got stitches this time,” Joan said softly, before holding up her arm. “It barely hurts.”

“You shouldn’t have been doing anything that requires stitches today,” Bauteut said. “And you weren’t saying it ‘barely hurt’ a minute ago.”

“I was bored,” Joan said.

“Oh, of course, you were bored and you decided to nearly maim yourself in a sparring session. I thought you didn’t even like him,” Bauteut said.

“Qakog? Eh. He’s not so bad when he’s not talking about the marrying me. Honestly, he kind of reminds me of the Hero at those times. Loud, boisterous--”

“Reckless,” Bauteut said. “Apparently doesn’t know how to take no for an answer. Are you at least packed and ready to go?”

“Of course,” Joan said proudly. “Not like I have a lot to take with me. You?”

“Same,” Bauteut said. “We’ll be back in the castle soon. Do you know what you’re going to say to Queen Emeline?”

“Bye followed by running,” Joan said. “I don’t know. I’ve tried not to think about that much. She’s going to be an experience. But who knows? Once we get to Skystead, maybe whatever I figure out from there will force us to alter our plans and we won’t have to go back to the castle at all.”

“They’re expecting us,” Bauteut said. “They’ve already setup a beacon for us to teleport there. Like it or not, we’re going to be talking to her highness before the day is over.”

Joan nodded before glancing at her arm. She tried to push the nervousness and fear away, but it refused to disappear. There had been so much to do, so much to focus on, that she had managed to push away the thought of facing Emeline again.

But now the time was finally here. She’d have to face the queen. Possibly tell her exactly who she was. There wasn’t any more avoiding it now. As excited as she was to, hopefully, find out what it was about Skystead that drew her attention so strongly, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something dreadful was going to happen once they arrived in the castle.

After all the times the Queen had stared at her with contempt, with hatred. After all the times she had all but tried to kill the Hero. After all of the conflict the two had in the past, how would she react to knowing that he had failed and been reborn as Joan?

She wished Hardwin would be there. He had to be returning soon, right? Childish or not, she wanted to hide behind him when the time finally came. Instead, she’d have to make due with the other chosen and hope they’d be able to help spare her from the queen’s wrath. Or who knew? Maybe she was just blowing things out of proportion. As terrified as she was of the queen, Emeline had shown Joan nothing but kindness. Maybe that would continue even after she knew who she was.

------

“Okay,” Korgron said once she, Andreas, Searle and Bauteut were standing once more in the center of the teleportation array. “I found a location that should be near where Skystead once was. It wasn’t easy to find and I’m not sure how stable a trip this will be.” Bauteut gave a soft whimper, but the demon ignored her. “But once we are there I want everyone to stay near me. It doesn’t feel as if the array had been activated in ages, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be anything near it. Once we arrive, if I think it’s dangerous, I’ll teleport all of us out and to the castle. Assuming everything is fine, stay near me. We won’t be there for very long anyway, but if anything goes wrong I’ll be getting us all out quickly.”

“Quickly?” Bauteut asked.

“Emergency teleportation,” Korgron said before a rather wicked grin, even for her, formed on her lips. “Imagine normal teleportation. But the entire time you’re just flashing back and forth between a dozen different places, while also on fire, while also the entire world has decided to go upside down while--”

“Please stop,” Bauteut said, the color entirely drained from her face and a hand over her mouth. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“If you’d like, I could just send you straight to the castle?” Korgron asked. “It’d only be the one trip.”

“I wish,” Bauteut said before shaking her head. “But no, I should be there in case Joan--” The rest of her words were cut off when she suddenly disappeared, making Joan jump.

“Korgron!” Joan said, turning to her. “That wasn’t very nice, you could have given her a bit more warning.”

“Eh, it’ll make it easier,” Korgron said with a shrug. “Besides, you heard her. She didn’t want to come with us anyway. We’ll see her later tonight.”

Joan sighed and shook her head. She didn’t want to even think about how poor Bauteut likely felt now. It was rough enough teleporting when you knew it was coming, having it suddenly done like that probably… well… she hoped that she wouldn’t throw up on anyone. She really hoped the queen wouldn’t be too annoyed to have Bauteut show up alone. They’d be arriving in a few hours, she was sure it would be fine. Probably. Maybe.

“Is everyone else ready?” Korgron asked.

“As ready as we can be,” Searle said. Joan couldn’t help but notice he was keeping his shield arm close to her. She gave him an appreciative smile.

There was no telling what they’d see when they got there and the last thing they needed was for her to die because she ended up getting murdered by a sudden falling boulder once they arrived or anything else.

“Please, be careful,” Isla said. “All of you. I know what you’re doing is important, but do try to come back.”

“Don’t worry,” Korgron said with a small shrug. “It’s me. What could ever pose a real threat? And don’t worry, I’ll bring home your fiance. If for no other reason than he is at least somewhat tolerable compared to others you could have.”

“Your grudging acceptance is appreciated,” Andreas said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He then walked to Isla, giving her one last hug. “I’ll return as soon as I can. Once this threat is over. I promise.”

“I’ll remember that,” Isla said softly. “Don’t you dare break this promise to me.”

“If he does, you know I’ll make him pay for it,” Korgron said. “Now come on, we don’t want to spend all day on a tearful goodbye. The sooner we get all this done, the sooner we can get back.”

“I know,” Andreas said before giving Isla one last hug and letting her go. He then glanced to Joan before walking back to stand by them. “Stay near us when we get there.”

“Trust me, I plan to,” Joan said softly, before inching a little closer to Searle. Three of the chosen, they’d be fine. She knew they would.

“Here we go!” Korgron said before, a moment later, they teleported away.

------

The feeling of having your body stretched out across the continent was still not a sensation she could get used to. While Joan had done it millions of times, she couldn’t deny that it felt so much worse now than she remembered it. She suspected it was because she wasn’t the Hero anymore.

But at least she didn’t throw up. She did, however, have to lean against Searle and hold his arm once they arrived. She couldn’t see anything, though. As far as she could tell they were in complete darkness. Very softly she whispered the incantation for the dark seeing spell of Bauteut’s. Sadly, her practice was still not good enough to see in such darkness. “Can anyone see anything?” Joan asked.

“Hold on,” Searle said.

“Don’t,” Andreas said suddenly. Joan felt a hand on her arm and then she was pushed, a little roughly, into someone else. It took her a moment to realize it was Searle. “Keep her safe. There’s something here.”

“What?” Joan asked. “Why can’t--”

“Don’t yet,” Andreas said. “Korgron? Can you see anything?”

“No, can you? Can whatever it-- wait, what’s that? Ugh, it’s sticky,” Korgron’s voice said. “Okay, that’s it.”

“Wait, don’t--” Andreas said.

But it was too late. Flames erupted from Korgron’s hand, lighting up the chamber they were inside.

They were in the middle of a very, very, very old summoning circle, so old Joan could only barely make out any of the lines anymore, though they seemed to have been carved into stone. They were inside the remains of a collapsed stone building and, while Joan couldn’t see very far, it looked like there were other buildings nearby. Most in about the same state of repair.

But it was so incredibly dark. It should have been day time, which told her one thing. They were underground. While the stonework had long since faded, she only knew of one race who would make massive underground cities. Dwarves. But, unfortunately, that wasn’t the worrying part. The city had long since been abandoned.

The worrying part was the webs. Though some had been burned away by Korgron’s magic, thick, long webs covered the ground and trailed high up into the darkness above. Even with her slightly amplified vision, she couldn’t see how high up the roof was.

What she could see was that there were things in the webs. Dark, moving figures climbing along them. Shifting about on the edges of her vision.

Korgron gave a light squeak before lifting her hand up--

Only for Andreas to grab it. “What are you doing?” Andreas asked, his voice so low she could barely hear it.

“Pest removal,” Korgron whispered.

“They’re not attacking us,” Andreas said.

“Yet,” Korgron whispered. “In case you forgot, we need to go through here.”

“There are hundreds of them, possibly thousands,” Andreas whispered. “If they’re not coming at us, let’s not try to antagonize them.”

“Do you have a better idea?” Korgron asked.

Joan blinked and looked around. There were definitely things moving on the webs, but nothing was coming closer, despite the flames. Could they not see it? Searle moved around, keeping one arm around her, the other holding up his shield. “I could illuminate the chamber,” Searle said. “Without burning everything.”

“If we need to, we can try that,” Andreas said. “So long as they’re not attacking us, let’s try and get out of here before they change their mind. Korgron, snuff out that light.”

“I can’t see then,” Korgron said.

“I know,” Andreas said. “Darkness is my domain, though. Take my hand, I’ll lead us through this. Let’s try to avoid as much attention as we can, okay?”

Korgron gave a soft sigh before nodding. “Fine. Don’t mess this up,” she said before waving her hand, the flames dying.

“If I do, teleport us away,”Andreas said. A moment later Joan felt herself slowly being guided along by Searle. It honestly felt a lot like when they had tried to crawl through the demon camp, having to move slowly and steadily. Never knowing if something might snag them before they made it through. Except this time the thing that might find them were hundreds of massive spiders.

Joan was already beginning to question the idea of coming here at all. How was this place the closest location to Skystead? There wasn’t supposed to be anything like this nearby, they were miles from dwarven territory. They--

Her eyes caught sight of something off in the distance glowing. “Huh? Hey, what’s that?”

“You’ll need to be more specific,” Korgron said. “But I’ll go ahead and say ‘the dark’, was I close?”

“No,” Joan said. “The not dark. I mean, that glowing thing. Over there. Where you can’t see me pointing.”

“I see it,” Searle said.

“Is it really important?” Andreas asked.

“I don’t know,” Joan said. “I can’t see it. But it’s not like there’s a lot of other light here. Maybe it’s a sign.”

“A sign for what?” Andreas asked.

“I don’t know. It’s an underground city, maybe a sign saying what it’s called?” Joan said.

“Do dwarven signs glow in the dark?” Korgron asked.

“Some of them do,” Searle said. “She has a point. It could be directions on the way out.”

Andreas gave a sigh and, slowly, they began to make their way towards the glow. “At least none of the webbing is ne… oh. It’s nothing. Let’s go,” Andreas said.

“Huh?” Korgron asked. “Why woul-- oh. Oh. Yeah, let’s go.”

“Probably just some fungus,” Searle said.

Joan frowned as they dragged her away from it. Why were they all suddenly so disinterested? Why would they all just shift their minds like that? Then it dawned on her. Andreas knew what it was. More importantly, he was telling Korgron and Searle. Not her. She dug her feet into the ground and tried to stop Searle, but he barely seemed to notice, dragging her for a few moments before stopping. “Joan? Are you okay?”

“You know what it is,” Joan said firmly.

“What?” Searle said.

“That glow. You all know what it is but you don’t want to tell me,” Joan said.

“No, we don’t,” Korgron said.

“Yes, you do,” Joan said. “Don’t lie to me. Andreas, you saw it, didn’t you? But you told them and didn’t want to tell me. Why?”

“It’s nothing important,” Andreas said.

“Then why can’t you tell me?” Joan asked.

“It’s just mushrooms,” Andreas said.

“That’s a lie,” Joan said. “Stop lying to me. Oh, fine. Enough of this. Searle? What is it?”

“What?” Searle asked and she could feel him tense.

“What is it? You trust me, don’t you?” Joan asked. “I promise I won’t do anything stupid. Just tell me.”

“Fine, fine. You win,” Korgron said before giving a soft sigh. “It’s another door to the realm of the gods.”

Joan blinked a few times, her eyes going wide. “Wait, what? That’s not, there’s one here? Why would there be-- wait. We need to--” She stopped herself. “Oh. That’s why you didn’t want to tell me.”

All of the chosen were deathly silent after that. Joan gave a sigh before nodding. “Fine. Let’s go. It’s not like I want to do it with all these spiders around. Besides, I made an agreement not to go in alone, didn’t I?”

“Really?” Searle asked. “So you’re not going to try and sneak off into it by yourself?”

“I would really like to, but now isn’t the time,” Joan said. “Besides, for all we know even trying that will set the spiders off and the last thing I want to do is make it harder for us to get out of here. We know it’s here, we can teleport back in the future if we need to. So no, I don’t plan to. Nothing stupid or reckless today. So please, stop trying to hide things from me.”

There was a moment of silence before Andreas sighed. A moment later she heard his voice in her head. ‘Very well. Let’s keep going, then. As far as I can tell, they aren’t coming anywhere near us. Just keep following me. Joan, stay by Searle. It’s hard to navigate without touching any of the webs.’

‘Of course,’ Joan said though the bond. As much as she desperately did want to go back to that door and test it out, she knew better. It’d just cause them issues in the end if she got hurt there. Unfortunately, she really couldn’t remember anything about this city or, more importantly, that door. From what little she had seen the city appeared to be dwarven, but that didn’t tell her much. The place was in ruins and the spiders had long since claimed it. If there was anything to help her quest here, it would have just been that door. If she couldn’t remember it, then she must have never found this place.

Or she had and her memories had been lost of it, but she really hoped that wasn’t the case.

‘We’re almost out,’ Andreas said into the bond.

A soft clicking sound could be heard and they all stopped. After a few moments she leaned in a little closer to Searle, gripping the arm around her. Whatever it was, the clicking and clattering kept going.

Then, a moment later, there was a loud squishing sound and the clicking began to get further away.

‘What was that?’ Joan asked into the bond.

‘You don’t want to know,’ Andreas said.

‘I do,’ Korgron said.

‘No, trust me. You really don’t,’ Andreas said. ‘I wish I didn’t know.’

‘What’s that smell? Is that blood?’ Searle asked.

‘Deer blood,’ Andreas said. ‘Let’s go.’

Once more they were moving. She didn’t know how long they traveled through the darkness, occasionally brushing by light, sticky threads in the dark. But finally Andreas stopped and then sighed. “We can make some light now,” he said out loud. “I think this is going to be your turn, Korgron.”

“Huh?” Korgron said a moment before Searle formed a ball of light, illuminating the tunnel. “Oh. Eh, easy enough.”

The way forward was blocked by collapsed stone and rubble, whatever exit there had once been long since collapsed. The tunnel itself was far smaller, with only a handful of spiders inside it, far smaller ones than the massive ones within the main cavern. Korgron cracked her knuckles and adjusted her crown. “This will only take a few minutes, don’t worry.”

Joan couldn’t help but smile. Well, even if they didn’t have Thalgren, having Korgron was almost as good. Even if she couldn’t make quite the same creations with stone, she could at least tunnel through it well enough.

MelodyAvant

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