The Blue Pearl 26 Spoils Of War

When Tristan and Olean returned, Ava was with the elder and some of the adults in deep discussion. Kolte, Devon, even Lepin were there. Nicola sat nearby, intently listening and smiled at Tristan as soon as she saw her. Strange coming from her but not unpleasant. They stayed by the corner not approaching the others but thankfully Ava noticed and excused herself and came to them. She ducked around the corner toward them raised an eyebrow as her eyes fell on the ma.s.sive weapons. "Didn't find him." Olean said with a shrug.

"But found something else in return, I see…" Ava quipped and approached the hammer. She leaned forward and traced it with her finger. "Hmm…"

Then without a comment she stood and turned the sword.

"And what is this?"

Olean gripped the handle showed it to her. Ava again leaned to touch but didn't try to lift it. Tristan felt a slight disappointment as he wanted to see if she could do it too.

"I want to keep this." Olean whispered.

Ava didn't comment and again approached the hammer by the wall. "And this?"

"This was the only weapon I sensed him with." Olean answered and lifted the heavy weapon to her face. "It is very heavy."

"Can you fight with it?" Ava leaned even lower to check the bottom of the hammer.

"Not very well. It is slow." Olean shrugged.

"But someone did use it as a weapon." And then Ava straightened. "Could your master have used it Tristan?" She asked without looking at him.

Tristan stared quietly and only realized that he was to answer when Olean elbowed him softly. "N-no ma'am. He could barely even move."

"What about when he was better? Before the monster."

Those days it was not much different than later. Nowsen was still old and groaned with his every movement. Even before he was old Tristan had hard time seeing him lift that monstrosity.

"He couldn't have." And so he answered.

Ava knelt this time, touching and tracing her fingers over the markings, "These… I don't know these." She uttered, sounding slightly surprised.

Suddenly he felt the world saw around him and was caught by Olean as he was about to fall face forward.

"Tristan! You okay?" she asked with a slightly concerned voice.

Ava suddenly gripped his hand and squeezed it, "Nora's effect is wearing off…" she muttered again, under her breath. "Olean, take him to his room, he needs rest."

"No I-" he tried to protest, pushed himself away from the girl but only managed to stagger. Suddenly feeling no strength in his legs feeling too weak to even stand.

"Come." Olean said with a hand holding him by his side and effortlessly carrying him as they headed for his room. Somewhere after a few steps, Tristan stopped remembering.

***

"I am ready." Said Nina around late evening, still in effect of her physical disguise but were now in her traveling clothes.

Ava looked her up and down, her gaze critical and face unreadable.

"Alone?" Ava asked.

"Yes, I don't want to spend even a minute in this h.e.l.lhole. Now that path is open I need to leave."

Now that she had overcome her initial shock of meeting Ava she really didn't want to be there. She needed herself out of her disguise and alone with her thoughts. What to do, her next path. Ava no doubt would take her straight to the guild. And with her, she felt too stressed to really think. She also wanted to study the medallion she had 'taken' from Tristan. It belonged to the priest, according to what the boy had said and she had a feeling that his disappearance was somehow related to it. And her not mentioning about it to Ava didn't seem right. But it was the only thing she had to show from this place and wasn't willing to give it up no matter what.

"You have everything packed then?" Ava asked again and she nodded. Though it was not quite true. She didn't have enough coin and food she had was scarce as Ava decided to use everything in the feast. It didn't sit well with Nina but she supposed the villagers did deserve some comfort after all that they went through.

Sighing Ava fiddled with her belt and handed Nina a small pouch.

It seemed Nina had been caught.

"It is not much, but I am sure it will be enough before you can work something out." she said as Nina check the contents. Actually it was more than she needed but she took it without complaints. She would return it once back.

"Come with me."

Nina followed the older woman through the tunnel and waited at the back entrance of the hall. Where the entire village seemed to be gathered. She saw them, all busy eating and drinking, laughing and talking. Some even decided to lay down and sleep right there with their plates in front of them. So strange looking at them like this, almost happy. But she had her own concerns.

"But everyone-".

"-Too busy to notice you."

Ava said and together they walked around the all. Keeping to the corners where no one was present. Like Ava had said, no one had paid attention to them. Few that did noticed them only waved, but barely. Whatever Ava had given them to drink was strong.

Nina wasn't allowed to take part in the feast with the rest. Not that she wanted but it still was strange. A suspicion had crept in her heart about it but she didn't dare voice it out. It was one of the reasons she wanted to leave as soon as possible and guessed why she was allowed to leave alone too.

They headed out to the foyer. It was bright under the moons outside, light reflecting on the thin fog that seemed to swallow the whole village. So strange that just yesterday everything was different. She had seen the fog in effect when the monster was there, like a black sea swallowing everything.

"Olean." Ava called the young girls name loud enough that only someone close by her would hear. The girl came still, jumping down from the roof, a ma.s.sive sword strapped to her back, which she had apparently found under the temple.

What else was hidden inside the temple?

Maybe someday she would be back to satiate that curiosity of hers but it was not the time.

"Olean, take her down."

"Okay." "What?!" Olean and Nina both said at the same time, cutting each other off.

"I don- I don't need it." Nina protested.

"It is two days journey from here just to descend the mountain. And not to mention if there is any danger still lurking." It was true. She was somewhat nervous traveling so far alone in an unfamiliar and wild territory despite everything being dead here.

"Olean will take you down by the morning." Ava said again not caring about what she thought. "And it will be safe."
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"How?" Nina asked softly not liking the implication.

And before she was answered and could protest farther she was in the young girl's arms.

"She'll carry you of course." Ava spoke in her flat tone.

She turned to Olean. "Be safe and return as soon as done."

Ava's eyes were hard and cold as she said that. Olean nodded seriously above Nina who hung into the girl's neck in a death-grip.

"Ready?" at the edge of the stairs Olean asked. Nina shook her head and Olean jumped into the air.

Far up that they crossed the ledge in one leap. Wind whipped past her hair, her ears like thunder. They touched the ground and another leap that took them even farther, down below was the mountain, jutted rock and dead forest and they were rising toward them quickly. She closed her eyes trying to ignore the death that were nipping at Olean's heels, tried to not think, not feel the speed that they were climbing and falling but she failed and screamed into the night air.