Retreat to the Basement
What the gods don't know won't hurt them.
The darkness in the basement grew deeper as Brigit impishly toed the line of erasing a point of a rune. “Just how powerful will I become, Ancient one?”
The Hooded figure raised its head and peered at the mage. His red-tinged eyes seemed to flash as he imagined himself being free of this prison of her making. “Tha eíste pio ischyroí apó tous perissóterous mágous tou styl sas.”1 He stated as he stretched his essence against the barrier of draoidheacd that kept him bound.
A satisfied smile crossed Brigit’s face. “Will I be as strong as he is?” She didn’t have to mention the name of her self-appointed nemesis, for she had cried it to the night sky for many years, and the darkness in the form of the Ancient One had answered her.
The hooded head tilted to the left as he considered her question. “Tha échete énan epimerismó tis dýnamís mou. Eímai avévaios an tha eínai arketó, allá i dýnamí mou den eínai asímanti.”2 Again, he reached out and brushed against the barrier, causing the draoidheachd to roil. “Kai páli, prépei na sas ypenthymíso óti eínai to paidí tis mageías, pou megálose i Mitéra Dimiourgós aftoú tou kósmou.”3
The mage glared at the being and huffed, “I know. He’s the special one. He’s so strong and powerful.” She stamped her foot, “I don’t care. I just want to see him fall.”
The hooded head tilted to the other side, and the red eyes flashed as he considered, not for the first time, that this woman might waste his power. “Tha échete tin efkairía sas, tóte an o Eru to krínei, boreí na kerdísete.”4
“So be it,” The mage nodded and broke the circle with her toe. “Enjoy your feast, Ancient One.”
The Ancient One took a deep breath and sighed greatly. It seemed to ooze toward the unconscious woman and hovered over her. His eyes flashed as tendrils of darkness oozed down and flowed over Heather. “Ti eínai aftó? Giatí prostatévete aftó pou échete prosférei?”5 The Ancient One inquired as the tendrils were stopped inches above the woman.
“What are you talking about? I have done no such thing.” Brigit stated, walking over to join the Ancient god as he leaned over the bound woman.
The cowled head raised and perused the woman at his side. “Eínai prostatevméni. Den boró na tin angíxo.”6
He turned his attention back to the unconscious woman. “An den to kánete aftó, tóte poios eínai ypéfthynos?”7
The mage shrugged even as she brushed her fingers through Heather’s hair. “As you can see, I can touch her.” She glanced at him. “I could even cut her throat, should you want it.”
“Ochi óchi. Dóse mou chróno na to skeftó.”8 He paced around the bean-cheangail, his eyes examining her closely. He once more attempted to touch her, only to be stopped. His breath hissed out slowly. He was never angry, for anger was wasted energy. “Ti eínai aftó?”9 He whispered as a tendril traced the edge of Heather’s bond mark. “Pou ti vríkes?”10
“In a tavern, behind a bar. Why?” She inquired and lifted Heather’s hair as the Ancient One directed her.
The Tendril traced the bond mark, and he chuckled as he realized what it was. “Eínai deméni me álli kai prostatévetai apó ton Anán'ke..”11 Then, taking a step back, he laughed softly. “Den tolmó na prospathíso na afairéso tin prostasía tou Anán'ke”12 When Brigit stared at him in disbelief, the head dipped in amusement. “Den échei simasía. Tha páreis akóma ti dýnamí mou.”13
“I don’t understand.” Brigit was confused by his response to failure. “Why aren’t you mad?”
If anything, his amusement grew. “Den eíchate kanénan trópo na xérete óti ítan desmevméni, kai óso gia tin élleipsi thymoú mou, den kánei kaló na cháno chróno thymónontas.”14 He reached out with a tendril of darkness and caressed Brigit’s cheek. “Eláte, échoume douleiá na kánoume.”15
The mage shuddered in ecstasy at that touch. “As you wish, Ancient One.” She looked down at Heather. “What do we do about her?”
“ Típota. Tin afínoume,”16 was the answer from the Ancient god as he raised his head and stared beyond the ceiling. “Ti tha ítheles na káno stous aprósklitous kalesménous sou?”17
Brigit looked up as well, a frown crossing her lips. “Can you kill them?”
Tendrils of darkness sampled the air. “Tha boroúsa, allá aftoí, ópos aftí, prostatévontai apó állous, kai distázo polý na xekiníso mia máchi eíte me ton Prostáti tou trochoú eíte me ton Megálo Oneiropólo.”18
The mage froze, concern for her followers evident in her tone when she asked, “Can you save my followers?”
“Boró, allá prépei na érthoun grígora prin emplakoún sti máchi.”19 The Ancient god stated as he turned back towards the vortex in the middle of the room.
Brigit stared at him for a long moment, then closed her eyes and reached out to Yarrowsmith and his fellows. The Ancient one says you can’t beat them, and he’ll save us, but you have to disengage and get down here. Now!
There was silence, then a grudging, Understood, we’ll be down in a minute. They are attempting to trap us. She could easily imagine the look on the assassin’s face. It’s odd, but like the Ancient one, I don’t think Yarrow could get mad.
Almost as if reading her thoughts, the Ancient god laughed softly.
“What the Ifrinn?” Balgair cursed as fingers of darkness reached out of the basement doorway and crept down the hall toward where the assassin and his cohorts were standing. For a second, it seemed as if Yarrowsmith were just as confused as he was, then the assassin glanced toward Balgair and flashed a grin. There was a moment of absolute darkness as the fingers closed around Yarrowsmith and his men.
“Get ready,” Brandyn warned as he watched the inky darkness. “They are ..” he paused, shocked as the darkness lifted slightly, and the assassin and his cohorts were gone. He fixed Balgair with a shocked look, and the mercenary shrugged.
“Maybe they ran?” Arien whispered as she looked over Balgair’s shoulder. “But why?” She froze as the tendrils slowly withdrew into the basement. “Oh my, she released the Ancient One.” She looked at Balgair, “I hope your bond is okay.”
Balgair met her eyes, his expression matching hers. “I do too.” I’d hate to lose her so soon after bonding with her. He blew out a shallow breath. Dearest Lady, please let her be okay. He didn’t know if his goddess had heard his prayer because, for once, he couldn’t feel her or any others. It was almost as if the gods were holding their breaths. “That’s odd,” he whispered, “it’s as if the gods are waiting for something to happen. I’ve never felt anything like this.”
“Like what, chain-maker?” Brandyn asked as he looked back down the hall.
“How can I describe it?” The mercenary looked lost. “It’s as if everything is frozen in time. I can’t feel Heather, I can’t feel Lady Ananke. It’s so strange.”
The ranger closed his eyes and whispered a prayer, then blinked and stared at Balgair. “Mixcoatl isn’t saying a word. Whatever this is, has got him concerned.”
“That’s not good,” The archer commented. “When the gods get worried, I usually try to lie low.”
“Well, that’s not going to happen,” Methak replied with a growl. “We’ve still got a woman to save.”
Balgair listened as everyone put in their two copper. He was about to suggest that they get a move on when Rique poked his head out of the door leading up.
“Hey, what’s gives?” He questioned as he caught the mercenary’s attention. “Why is it so quiet here?”
Balgair could only shrug. “Come on, guys, let’s get a move on.” Then, before anyone could stop him, he stepped through the doorway leading down to the basement. Almost instantly, he was surrounded by the inky darkness and reached out and placed his left hand on the wall as he started down the staircase.
“Not that I’m complaining, but why did you …?” Yarrowsmith asked as he stepped out of the inky darkness and faced the Ancient One. It only took him an instant to realize who he was looking at, and he fell to one knee. “Great one. I didn’t know that you were here.” He stated as he bowed his head.
The assassin’s cohort followed him and came up short, only to find their leader on his knee with his head bowed. The first one and then the others examined the Ancient One momentarily before joining Yarrowsmith on the floor.
The cloaked figure accepted each supplicant as his rightful due and gestured. “You may rise.” He watched as the assassin slowly rose to his feet. “You were about to ask about something,” he stated in the common tongue.
Yarrowsmith nodded, meeting the Ancient One’s gaze. “I was going to ask about why we were pulling back.”
The Ancient One merely gazed at the cohort momentarily and then cryptically stated, “I dare not draw the attention of the others, and Ananke cherishes the man you were squaring off against while one of the others is under the Dreamer’s gaze.” He turned to the maelstrom. “The time is not right for the others to know I am here.” He stepped toward the maelstrom. “You can, of course, do what you wish. However,” he gestured in Brigit’s direction, “she and I are going to meet up with some people I know.”
The assassin watched the Ancient god briefly, then shook his head. “If you will allow it, we will go with you.”
“It is of no consequence to me.” The Ancient god commented as he stepped into the darkness. “If we wish to leave, it must be now,” The Ancient god murmured as it manipulated the portal. He pointed to Brigit, “You lead the way, then your cohort, then the Assassin, then myself.”
“Yes, Maighstir,” the mage hummed as she took a deep breath and stepped into the darkness.
“What about her?” One of the crossbowmen asked as he looked at the unconscious ban-tràill.
“Leave her,” Brigit replied as she followed the Ancient One into the vortex. “Our Lady of Chains protects her.”
“Shame we can’t take her with us.” The man commented, then lined up to follow his companions into the darkness.
Yarrowsmith patted his friend on the shoulder. “We’ll find you another doxy when we get to wherever he’s leading us.”
1 You will be more powerful than most magicians of your style.
2 You will have an apportionment of my power. I am uncertain if it will be enough, but my power is not trifling.
3 Again, I must remind you that he is the child of magic, raised by the Mother Creator of this world.
4 You will get your chance, then if Eru deems it, you might win.
5 What is this? Why are you protecting that which you have offered?
6 She is protected. I can not touch her.
7 If this is not your doing, then who is responsible?
8 No, no. Give me time to think on this.
9 what is this?
10 where did you find her?
11 She is bound to another and is protected by Ananke.
12 I dare not try to remove Ananke's protection.
13 It matters not. You will still get my power.
14 You had no way of knowing that she was bound, and as for my lack of anger, it does no good to waste time being angry.
15 Come, we have work to do.
16 Nothing. We leave her.
17 What would you have me do to your uninvited guests?
18 I could, but they, like her, are protected by others, and I am very hesitant to start a battle with either the Protector of the Wheel or the Great Dreamer.
19 I can, but they need to come quickly before they are engaged in battle.