A Cappella Part 215 - Looking To The Sky - Silrana

AC215-Looking To The Sky

I'm looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn out bright
I'm looking for a complication
Looking cause I'm tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly

“Learn To Fly,” Foo Fighters

Anomen ducked beneath the sword of one of Yaga Shura’s warriors. The swordsman was skilled, but he was not prepared for the strength that Crom Faeyr gave to its wielder when Anomen returned the favor. The warrior brought up his blade to parry the strike, but died too quickly to realize that both sword and hammer had been driven into him by the force of the blow.

Anomen turned, seeking his next foe, and saw Jarran lunge forward to bury his halberd in Yaga Shura’s chest. As the giant stumbled backwards, Jarran and Sarevok collided with each other and fell into Imoen. The priest’s momentary flash of amusement died when the three vanished.

“Jarran!” Jaheira cried.

Yaga Shura looked down at the wooden shaft protruding from his chest, and his mouth fell slackly open. His eyes glowed, then glowing golden specks flew out in a burst of light as his face dissolved. It seemed for a moment as if a small sun had appeared in the darkness, and when the light was gone his armor fell to the ground with a loud clang.

The battlefield fell silent. Yaga Shura’s warriors seemed confused as they stared at the empty shell of metal. The fire giants muttered to each other in their guttural tongue, and the humans backed away in shock.

Anomen stepped forward and spoke in a loud clear voice. “Your leader is dead. There is no victory for you here. Go now, and your lives will be spared.”

The leaderless fighters looked at each other, and finally a giant stepped forward. “We fought for Yaga Shura. No more fighting.”

Word was passed through the troops, and slowly a stream of men emerged from the gaps in the city walls.

Valygar scowled at the dusty remains of the fire giant. “Where are they? What has happened?”

Jaheira clutched her staff as if her life depended on her grip, but her voice was steady. “They were not killed, we know that for certain. If they had, their equipment would be here.”

“That still doesn’t tell us where they are.”

“I suspect…”

“What? Suspect what, Jaheira? Tell us.”

“After… after Jarran and I killed the Bhaalspawn who tried to kill us in the sacred grove, we were pulled to his stronghold by a solar.”

“A solar?” Anomen said in surprise. “’Tis rare for such a creature to speak to a human.”

Valygar snorted in disgust. “The gods meddling again. I should have known. So you think it snared him again?”

“Possibly. She said that she had much to teach him about his abilities, and that she would do so when he was ready.”

“Then all we can do is wait.”

“And pray,” Anomen said softly.

As the companions watched, the camp was taken down. One by one, cook fires were extinguished. The night was still lit by the flames that ate away at Saradush.

The three companions moved to a nearby fire to warm themselves. A twig snapped in the darkness, and Valygar tensed for a moment, then relaxed. “Oh. It’s you.”

Melissan stepped into the light, her hair mussed and smeared with ash. “Is it true? Is Yaga Shura dead?”

Anomen nodded. “It is true. The giant has been slain, but too late for the poor souls of Saradush.”

“But where is Jarran? Oh please, do not say that he was killed as well!”

“No, no, he lives. He is… attending to another matter at the moment.”

She shivered and moved closer to the fire. “It seems strange to feel cold, when I have spent hours avoiding the flames.”

They stood in silence until a deep voice said, “Are we too late? Surely the three of you have not killed the rest of Yaga Shura’s army.”

Anomen’s head snapped up. “Sarevok!”

“Do not sound so astonished, priest. I did not claw my way back from the Abyss to die from my brother’s clumsiness.”

While Sarevok chuckled, Jaheira embraced Jarran in a slightly embarrassed manner. Valygar had no such reservations, and kissed Imoen soundly. Then the three siblings noticed Melissan.

Jarran gave her a sharp nod. “So you made it out alive.”

“Yes, I and a handful of the townspeople. Yaga Shura… he and his men ran the other Bhaalspawn down like animals. In spite of everything I tried to do… dead, all of them.”

“A handful? Saradush was a large city, surely there are more.”

“Perhaps. I do not know. The flames blocked the streets, and it was all that I could do to escape with my life.”

Jarran rubbed his face in frustration. “Too late. Too damned late.”

“I… I offered you information for your help. Even though Saradush could not be saved, I still owe you that. I discovered that Yaga Shura had banded together with other powerful Bhaalspawn. I do not know how they planned to share Bhaal’s power, but they seemed to work together peacefully. I first encountered one of them, an elf named Illasera, when I began to gather Children together. She hounded us relentlessly, but suddenly vanished.”

Jarran nodded slowly and said, “She is dead.”

“The others I know only by name. Abazigal and Sendai are determined to kill all their siblings. Together they are unstoppable.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“Do not dismiss them so easily. You saw what just one of them could do, and they too have their armies. However, they do not trust each other enough to share strongholds. If you attacked them individually, you would have a greater chance of destroying them.”

“To be blunt, why? If nearly all the other Children are dead, then what is the point?”

“There is still a great deal of damage that they and their armies can do. Even now, the two of them are gathering forces for some dark purpose. Can you turn your back on that?”

The bard sighed. “No, I suppose not.”

“I will give you the notes I have written. I hope that they help.”

Jarran held the papers up to the flickering light and frowned. “These places are in the desert. Do you know of anywhere nearby to camp and find supplies?”

“A small village named Amkethran is nearby. One of my allies is the head of a monastic order there. Balthazar can be… moody, but he will assist you.” She began to walk away, then stopped. “Please, Jarran, you are my last hope… and perhaps Faerun’s last hope as well.” She turned away and vanished into the dark.

Jarran lifted his eyes to stare at Saradush. “That’s an awfully big thing to ask of me. I couldn’t even save one city.”

Anomen said, “Surely there is something we can do. I simply cannot believe that an entire city has been slaughtered.”

Jaheira looked up at the sky. Thick clouds drifted overhead, blocking the moon at increasing intervals. “Perhaps… Jarran, there is something I would like to try.” She grabbed her pack and staff and strode towards the city.

The others followed her. She stopped a short distance from the walls and peered through the smoky glare. She nodded with satisfaction. “Ah, I was sure that there would be a few looters.” She began to chant.

The sky grew darker and rumbled ominously. A bolt of lightning flashed, and they heard a piercing scream. Jaheira chanted once more, and again lightning struck. The clouds began to flicker with electricity, and smaller flashes danced and streaked. After a time, the first drops of rain could be felt.

The companions retreated from the walls and found an abandoned tent. They huddled inside as the rain fell heavily throughout the night.

Anomen watched the light of the fires dim as he peered through the tent flap. As the night grew silent, he whispered, “And all of nature weeps for the dead. Helm have mercy on them.”

“But where is Jarran? Oh please, do not say that he was killed as well!”

"I'm not done using him yet!"

*snicker*

Um, I'm not gonna touch the implications here.

Jarran: Ewwwww!

I always assumed time was frozen when the Solar did her thing. Or something like that. But you handled it very well.

WEll, this is assuming that time is in fact a fourth dimension, and it runs parallel to the other three, and around them and.....I have a headache....

There, there. Just say to yourself 'It's magic!' and you'll feel better.

The companions retreated from the walls and found an abandoned tent. They huddled inside as the rain fell heavily throughout the night.

Lucky that eh?

Armies always leave stuff behind.

Another great chapter
Thanks
Daie

Thank you!

A Cappella Part 215 - Looking To The Sky

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